GYM "REGULARS"

This is the worst time of the year for us gym "regulars".

Yes....I admit, I am one of "the regulars". You'll catch me at the gym a minimum of four days a week, but usually six days a week. The past few months have been great! I go during the busiest time. The time period from 5 to 7 pm M-F and 11am to 12pm Saturday. Why have the past few months been great? Because during the months of October, November, and December, it's mostly us "regulars" that you see. There is always a treadmill or stairmaster available. If someone is using the weight machine you need, they are more than willing to let you work in. If they were on a piece of equipment you want, they might even be kind enough to wipe their sweat off before you use it. I find that it's the "regulars" that are typically the friendliest people at the gym. But maybe that's because I'm one of them.

I have my "gym" friends. These are the people I have known and talked to for several years. I know quite a bit about them...and they know quite a bit about me. However, our contact is strictly limited to the gym. There is my good friend Dwayne. I met Dwayne about 5 years ago. I heard him talking about working for JCPenney. I piped in that I owned JCPenney stock....thus, he worked for me! From there, a friendship developed. Dwayne and I currently have a weight loss competition going. Of course, we always have had some type of competition going on. Then there is Louis. He competed in his first body building competition a few months ago. He looks incredible for a man of 50! I admire his drive and discipline and have hopes to experience that same drive and discipline to achieve my goal of doing a figure competition someday. Then there is Louis' wife, Sherry. Sherry and I could chat for hours on end. She is 45 years old . I pray that I look as good as she does when I am her age!!! Then, of course, there are the people that I know their names, and say "hi" to, but never really stop to talk to....but it's always nice to see them.

One of the good things about being one of the "regulars" is that when you miss a few days, they notice. The next time they see you, they ask "where have you been?" It's also nice because it's the "regulars" that understand why I eat the way I eat and work out the way I work out. Sherry and I were talking the other day, in fact, about how we get ridiculed when we talk about trying to shed some weight. Sherry understands where I'm coming from and what my goal is, so it's nice to talk to someone that shares my interests.

Of course, there does come a down side to being a regular which I have recently taken note of. Since I am at the gym all the time and see many of the same people each day, you do tend to notice when some people watch you. If I notice someone has been watching me and they smile at me alot but won't ever say anything to me...and this goes on for weeks, I'll usually say "Hi" to break the barrier. Sometimes I'll even ask their name and chat with them a little. That way, instead of just watching, they can actually say "Hi Kelly." Sometimes this leads to a new friendship....sometimes it leads to a new person to just say "Hi" to. Recently, though, this friendliness has come back to bite me in the butt! An older guy, we'll call him Larry, I think has mistaken my friendliness for interest. The day I met Larry, he admitted to me how he stares at me, but stated he can't help it...his eyes are just drawn to me. I didn't know what to say, so I smiled and walked away. He now has taken to the role of "complimenter." I don't know what his game plan is, but he compliments me non-stop. I was on the floor stretching, eyes facing the ground, when I noticed a pair of feet standing next to me. After a few minutes, I finally looked up and it was Larry. He complimented me on how flexible I am, how good I look, etc, etc., etc. Less than 10 minutes later, when I was at the water fountain, I turned around....and there was Larry. Again, complimenting how I look good from all angles. So, needless to say, Larry is starting to creep me out.

Anyhow, back to the main topic! This is the worst time of year for us regulars. Why? It's because of those "New Years Resolutioners!" It's inevitable...the first Monday of the new year, the gym is PACKED with the "New Years Resolutioners!" They take up all the cardio equipment! They don't know proper gym etiquitte! And worst of all....they have no idea what they are doing on the weight floor! Oh if only I could easily go up to one of them and say "NO! You're going to hurt yourself doing it that way! Use less weight so you can use the proper form!" As much as I want to help, I wonder if it would be worth my time in the end....they'll probably stop coming in a few weeks anyhow. If they truly wanted to know what to do, they'd take advantage of the Personal Trainers.

As much as I want to applaud the "New Years Resolutioners" for starting their new year off on the right foot, it's bittersweet because I know that eventually they will return to their old sedentary ways. We "regulars" see it every year. It's during this time of year that you may not see the "regulars" that often. No, it's not because they stopped working out....it's because they are trying to avoid those "New Years Resolutioners." It's during this time of year that you may see the "regulars" give each other a certain look......a look that we all recognize as "Those damn New Years Resolutioners are taking up all the equipment!"

We "regulars" know the drill. January will be the most packed month at the gym...and it will stay packed for at least the next month and half. Around mid to late February, the crowd will start dying down. By March and April, it will be an even lighter crowd....and by summer, it will be back to normal....back to the "regulars."

I'm proud to be one of the "regulars!"