gym envy

How do you cope at the gym?

Might be low self esteem but I find myself constantly clocking the person next door's times, speeds etc?  Im competitive by nature, but why is it, I find myself on hypervigilant alert in the gym?

And why is it always me who ends up next to Miss "6ft-Blonde-I dont-eat-a-thing-but-can-run-at-14kph-for-45- mins" Model on the treadmill?

I get off looking like a sweaty, frumpy bag of mess, she gets off looking as fresh as daisies, all the guys drooling!  And as for the guy that hollored "oink-oink" as I walked past, that's just great Mr.

Just say to him "yes you are a good little piggy".

As for other part of the post, that is just something you have to work on and keep in mind why you are going to the gym. Is it to be in imaginary competition, or improve yourself?

UD

Oh, I don't cope. I make a point of kicking their ass if it kills me.

I was on a tredmill once, and this 18 year old guy gets on next to me. I'm doing about 5 mph, so he sets his to 6. I bump mine up to 7. He bumps his up 8. Then 9. Then we're both maxing out the speed trying to see who can hold on the longest (I lost, but not by much, and he was 4 years older than me!) I've made some friends that way and gotten myself quite a reputation there, whether or not I win. The whole point is to push yourself, so don't think of that competitive nature as something you have to "deal with"! EVERYONE respects someone who's willing to work hard.

Screw the guys. You're not there for their sake. If you're NOT sweating, you're doing something wrong!

I don't know.  I have a lot of those types at the gym I belong to and I find it quite motivating.  It's like, maybe with a little more effort and a closer watch on my intake, I can look like that someday, too.  It never makes me feel bad about myself.  I mean, I am at the gym working on it, right?  At least I'm not sitting on my couch watching TV and eating junk food.  Things could be a lot worse.

I'm more independant at the gym. I don't like bringing my friends to work out with because they just interfere with my workout routine. And I prefer not to talk to people I recognize from school, etc... don't know why lol. I simply get on each different machine, do my thing, and get off. The people around me don't bother me at all. I do notice the "regulars" though. :)

The only advice I can give you about envying those "model" people you see at the gym is to et your goals and strive to work harder so that one day you can be at their fitness level, and you can look like that so that others will envy you. But in order for that to happen you need to motivate yourself to work hard.

And remember, that "model" person might have been 50lbs+ overweight a few months ago and now are just trying to maintain their hard work. Good luck :)

Original Post by lanochka:

And remember, that "model" person might have been 50lbs+ overweight a few months ago and now are just trying to maintain their hard work. Good luck :)

 Totally. I used to get a lot of comments from people at my kickboxing gym that I "wasn't fat" so "why was I there?" Because I lost 80lbs kickboxing! That's why!

I was also sure to tell anyone who referred to me as "that bitch" that I worked my ass off in the gym every night.

I don't get that so much now that I'm not kickboxing 2-3 hours / night! Heheh.

OP: I wanted to share something with you that really spoke to me: That woman you see "who doesn't eat a thing" might be a "perfect 10," but imagine the kind of pressure and obsession she may be under to be "that way." She might suffer daily with messages about her weight and image. Do you really want to be envious of that life? Or would you rather be healthy with a well rounded life outside of just diet & exercise?

It's a struggle, for sure. I love the idea of using that other person as motivation to kick ass :)

You're very right freshbakedpi,

I imagine and remember what it's like to have a lifestyle like that and I'm not envious of being able to eat AND be fit (though I would love to be super fit again).

I doubt the model girl has ever been overweight.  This was student gym (I work at a university and I'm 29) so there was a high proportion of young, slim girls who most likely spend a LOT of their waking hours devoted to NOT putting a single pound on.

My bf and I were in a young clothing store - Topshop, the other day.  When I came out of the changing room after trying jeans on he actually asked if we could leave. He felt so uncomfortable...he said it was like a "hotbed of low self-esteem tension" in there! and he was appalled, in some cases, by the size of some of the girls.

I dont miss being 18 and feeling the pressure that's for sure!

I am having a body fat test done next week, I hope that might give me more personal motivation and achievable targets rather than comparing myself to others, 10 years younger than me! 

I also work out at a university gym where I am 5 years - 5 significant years! - older than the average.  Despite still being in my 20s, I feel frumpy and middle aged in there a lot of the time (maybe in part because I wear greying men's  concert tshirts with saggy sweatpants rather than crisp new Lululemon gear that I can't afford).

I get the best workout if I'm not distracted. On the elliptical I wear headphones and close my eyes to envision myself climbing a mountain or kicking ass a la Buffy the Vampire Slayer :)

A bunch of guys were hogging the box where I do my deadlifts. I laughed at them when I saw they were all doing a ton less than I do deadlift. I hope they died a little inside, I freakin' needed that dang box.

But then yeah I feel like a lazy lump on the treadmill when everyone around me is galloping at 8 minute miles. I really hate that :(

Put a sweatshirt over the speed meter on the treadmill, and let the perfect 10 wonder how fast YOU'RE going...

I wouldn't say that I'm competitive but I usually take a mental note.  I've seen all types of people on the treadmills.  There are those that hop on and sprint all out but only last 10 minutes.  There are also those that up their speed every time I up mine.  What they don't realize is that it's been planned since last week to up my speed at that exact time.  There are also those that hop on every machine and weight bench in the gym for 2 minutes and then leave.  If they keep coming back then maybe some day they'll figure out what works for them.

I also put my towel over my display but just because I don't like to stare at my distance and time.

As for the weight machines.  I really try to avoid people when lifting.  Mostly because everyone lifting weights thinks that they're a personal trainer.  They love to go on all day about what you're doing wrong or what they would do differently.