The Gym, Douche Bags, and other awkward moments.

If you live in Utah and are between the ages of 18-35, then chances are you are a Gold's Gym member.  At least that is my observation.  I remember when I first started going a few years ago, there was always plenty of parking spaces and I had free reign to use whatever machine I wanted.  It was kinda nice. 

Times have changed.

Now, it takes me a good 10 minutes of aimless driving in the parking lot to find a place to park, regardless of which location I go to.  There are 5 locations in Utah Valley alone.  By this fact alone, you would think that the vast majority of the people alone in Utah Valley are in great shape, and somewhat attractive.  Also not the case.  All this seems to have done is manufacture a large population of douche bags. 

I'm not usually this cynical, but seriously people.  If you are not going to actually work out and be productive at the gym, please don't go to the gym and take up space that other people could do something productive with.  It's like the gym has become the new breeding grounds for jocks and cheerleaders post high school.  Meat market.  Dudes walking around puffing out their chests looking at girls puffing out their chests.  I can't believe that some of these girls get this dressed up just to come to the gym.  Makeup fully done, and color coordinated matching outfits.  And the best part is the glass walls outside of the "Dance class" room so that all the D-bag pervs can stare at the girls stretching, bouncing and bending over.  You're not fooling anybody dudes.  Walk away and try to calm yourselves down. 

When I go to the gym, I try to keep to myself and focus on why I'm there.  To work out.  I do not go there to socialize.  Typically, I have my headphones on and music blaring loud to drown out any other noise, which helps me stay somewhat amped and focused on what I'm doing.  I am not going to pretend that I don't notice the plethora of hotness around me at nearly all times.  It's quite distracting to be honest.  But I do not go to the gym to meet girls, and don't think that I could ever bring myself to even hit on a girl that I saw at the gym.  It's just too cliche.  I don't want to be that guy.  I refuse to be one of those douche bags. 

And this brings me to an awkward moment that I experienced yesterday at the gym in American Fork.  It was chest and arms day for me, and I was at the tail end of my workout.  I walked up to the fly deck station to the end unit, and it looked like the girl who was currently doing a triceps push down was finishing up her set.  I walked up and as she finished her set, I asked her if she was done.  She replied, "I still have 2 more sets, but you can work in with me if you want.."  So I did.  I put my earbud back in my ear and adjusted the weight from where she had it to where I wanted it.  As I started my set, I couldn't help but notice that she was standing rather uncomfortably close and watching me.  I instantly felt myself turning red and could feel my face getting hotter.  How retarded.  I hurried through my set, and then went to adjust the weight back down to where she had it set previously and stepped back.  She smiled, and then went on to do her set as I walked over to get a quick drink of water.  I walked back up just as she was finishing her set, and she asked me what I had the weight set to.  I told her 160, and she gave me a funny look.  Then she laughed and said that was 4 times as much as she was doing.  I gave kind of a half laugh and awkward smile, and then said "Thanks." 

Thanks for what?  I don't know.

Now here is where the awkward moment happens.  Just as I was about 4-5 reps into my set, I feel something touch my arm.  I quickly looked up and this girl is touching the backside of my arm with the back of her hand.  She says, "You've got pretty big arms..." and then smiles and walks away. 

For a minute or two, I stood there thinking to myself.  Was she just making a friendly observation?  Was she trying to flirt with me?  Was she being sarcastic?  I was completely caught off guard and confused.  I finished my last set just in time to see that she had walked up to some dude that was sitting at a chest station.  She smiled and faced him as she reached him, then picked up his shaker cup and took a big drink of some funky red drink.  This dude has to be her boyfriend.  Further bewildered, I did my last set and then walked away. 

Today, I was at the gym again after work.  Thought I would make it a quick workout, and hit the 8th North gym instead.  I decided to skip the cardio and just go straight to the weights to work my back, shoulders, and core.  My plan was to stick to 2 sets of 15 reps for each exercise and keep moving.  This way I would keep up my cardio and hopefully finish up quicker as well.  Just as I was especially out of breath and winded, I looked up and saw a friend from high school.  She's pretty cute.....and tall.  I felt especially awkward as she gave me a hug and then I realized how tall she is.  Holy cow.  All I could think of was how not toned my core is.  Kind of retarded. 

I think I'm done going to the gym this week.  ha ha