G's G

I love gyms. When you grew up at a time when gyms were out of the way holes in the wall, you can't help but marvel at how far we've come. But, at some point in the late 90s, it got to the point where if you walked into a big-as-a-mall "fitness center", you'd be mobbed by sales reps, just like you would at your local car or furniture dealership. If you couldn't escape their clutches, or if you were actually interested in exercising, they'd sit you down (notice the irony there) and discuss "options". You couldn't just "go lift".

Sales Rep: "Plan A gives you access to the weight room, the cardio theater, day care, towel plan, exercise room, the Zumba class, the Pilates, class, three free training sessions minus gratuity fee with an assigned trainer, a private locker, three drinks per week at the juice bar, and the pass code to the sauna."

Me: "Wow. That's a lot of stuff. How much is that?"

Sales Rep: "Well, it's very reasonable."

After about 30 minutes of nailing down details, I'd end up walking out of the door investing "a dollar a day" into a $1000/year family plan... 

HOWEVER, apparently some things DO change. About three weeks ago, I walked into an area big-time chain gym (I won't give away which one, but the initials are G's G) and walked away with minimal sales talk and a 3x/week pass for only $10 A MONTH! There are no lifting platforms, chalk, or bumper plates, and for a gym of its size there should be more squatting racks, but I'm enjoying it immensely. I've missed the sparkling clean facilities, the upper body Mr. Olympias, the television monitors, the pop music blaring in the background, and the round middle-aged grunter-men in tanktops.


What am I doing there that I could not at my home or school? Very little, but a change of environment is good every once in a while and getting to see people (regular people, not meatheads like me and you) train is healthy. I keep to myself for the most part. I made the mistake of making eye-contact with round middle-aged grunter man in tank-top last Friday, and less than a second later I was his "spotter-boy", avoiding a moist grunty exhalation on every single rep... It's good to be back!