The Types of People You Meet at the Gym

Remember that scene in Mean Girls when Lindsay Lohan's character, Cady Heron, learns the ropes of North Shore High School by seeing the layout of the lunchroom?  Well, the gym is kind of like that ... but a lot sweatier.

Regular gym goers know that you can expect to see more tight, neon clothing than you would at a rave.  But the people are really what makes the whole experience, well, interesting.  Even though each gym commercial loves to say that its centre is "unlike any other gym," let's face it:  you can expect to find the same three things at every one — treadmills, free weights, and that strange dude who wears jeans to get his fitness on.

Image Source:  HBO

 

The Stereotypical Gym Bro

Image Source:  Giphy

A gym wouldn’t be a gym without at least one guy with huge muscles wearing a cut-off shirt, who just had his pre-workout.

 

The Avid Texter

Image Source:  ABC

This person is probably texting on the machine that you’re waiting to use and can feel the burning sensation from your glares — and he doesn’t care.

 

The Girl With Caked-On Makeup

Image Source:  Giphy

“Wow, I love that girl’s mascara!!!” said no one at the gym ever.

 

The Fit Couple

Image Source:  Giphy

This duo is straight-up #RelationshipGoals.  The couple that sweats together, stays together?

 

The Mirror Selfie Advocate

Image Source:  Giphy

You know how you see those gym-bragging posts on Facebook?  Yeah, they were posted by this person.

 

The Person Who So Doesn’t Want to Be There

Image Source:  Universal Pictures

There is no enthusiasm here, and it’s very, very obvious.  (Hello!  The gym is the happiest place on earth!)

 

The Dude Wearing Jeans

Image Source:  MTV

There are so many questions here, but the main one is ... why?

 

The Newby

Image Source:  Giphy

“Cool!  What does this machine do?!?!?”

 

The Gross Person Who Doesn’t Wipe Down Their Machine

Image Source:  Bravo

This person gives "The Avid Texter" a run for the most-hated-person-in-the-gym spot.  Whatever you do, don't be that guy.

 

The Over-Enthusiastic Runner

Image Source:  Focus Features

No one is this happy at the gym — especially if it’s a morning workout.  Let’s take this down from a 10 to a seven.

 

The Weight Machine Hog

Image Source:  Bravo

It’s totally fine if someone is actually working out, but the hog is probably taking more time in between reps than actually doing them.

 

The Show-Off

Image Source:  Giphy

"The Show-Off" and "The Stereotypical Gym Bro" may be the same person, and if that’s the case, expect an ego the size of Michigan.

Posted by Richard J. Wood on Wednesday 25 January 2017
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Things to Never Say to a Healthy Eater

All healthy eaters have one thing in common — they can get extremely cranky.  It's not easy to refrain from consuming every carb in the cabinet after a long day of Greek yoghurt and salads.  Although we have great self-control ("no thanks" is a staple in our vocabulary), sometimes it's just downright impossible to keep our mouths shut when it comes to moronic comments.  So keep these things in mind the next time you want to question a healthy eater.  Remember, we are probably starving, hangry, and would kill for a donut.  You've been warned. ... Tread lightly.

Image Source:  NBC

 

1 “Oh, you’re on a diet?”

Image Source:  New Line Cinema

It’s not a diet; it’s a lifestyle!

 

2 “One cookie isn’t going to kill you.”

Image Source:  NBC

Wait, it isn’t?!  I’ve been walking around this whole time thinking that it would!

 

3 “You must think I eat so unhealthy.”

Image Source:  TBS

As long as I’m not the one eating it, I couldn’t care less!

 

4 “Just have one bite!”

Image Source:  Warner Bros.

You know just as well as I do that no one can have just one bite of pizza.  NO ONE.

 

5 “Don’t you get tired of eating so healthy?”

Image Source:  NBC

Would I love to pile my plate with pizza and cake?  YES.  But, call me crazy, eating healthy actually makes me feel good.

 

6 “What will happen if you eat a cupcake?”

Image Source:  MTV

What will happen?  I mean, I won’t die at the taste of sugar, if that’s what you’re asking.

 

7 “It’s too expensive to eat healthy.”

Image Source:  ABC

Excuses, excuses ...

 

8 “Live a little!”

Image Source:  VH1

I do!  I just prefer to do it without feeling like a total blob.

 

9 “That’s all you’re eating?”

Image Source:  NBC

Thanks for the reminder.

 

10 “I work out so I don’t have to eat healthy.”

Image Source:  Universal Pictures

Let me stop you right there before you say anything else, well, stupid.

Posted by Richard J. Wood on Wednesday 25 January 2017
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Types of Guys Women Meet at the Gym

The gym.  It's your haven.  You might feel a little more at home at the gym than at work, or heck, even your own home.  It's the place you are at your worst and sweatiest, yet it's also the place that you're at your best.  Your most hopeful.  Your most powerful.

But as women, chances are hight that during a "moment" in our safe haven (aka the gym), our sanity and Zen attitude has been jarred by at least one of these five guys that women always seem to run into at the gym.

Image Source:  Giphy

 

1. The Creepy Guy

Image Source:  NBC

Some of these guys have actual issues and others don’t have proper social graces, but the weird man who stares, as if he’s from The Silence of the Lambs asking for “the lotion, Clarice,” is so unnerving that you almost wished you joined an all-female gym or decided to work out at home that day.

Even when you give him your pitiful “please don’t chop me up into pieces” face he still stares back blankly at you as if he doesn’t register your pain and the awkwardness of his stare.  The struggle is real.

 

2. The Out-of-Shape Guy

Image Source:  Giphy

There you are, diligently executing each skull crusher to define your triceps with precision and good form but since you’re a gasp — girl — the out-of-shape guy has to come and save you with tidbits of advice.  It doesn’t matter if his form is so awful it looks like he’s doing the robot while trying to do bicep curls.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve got less body fat than he does.  You’re a girl!  Of course you need his advice!  He’s just here out of the goodness of his own heart to help you learn a “little something” at the big old gym for the boys.

 

3. The Nice Guy (Really)

Image Source:  Columbia Pictures

He’s the best.  He’s not pervy or macho, and he’s just plain-old great.  Do you want someone to do some abs with you?  He’ll join.  Need a spot with that heavy lift?  He’s got your back.  This guy is a gym friend and one you can get and share tips with, without feeling like he’s trying to make the moves.

This guy always racks his weights like a gentleman.

 

4. Mr. Thick Neck

Image Source:  Voltage Pictures

You know Mr. Thick Neck, the guy who lifts four hours in the morning and four hours at night.  He might even do push-ups in the middle of his day job, if he has one.

He leaves his three-pound weights on the machine right before you use it and, ahem, forgets to put them away.  Why?  He’s too busy admiring himself, occasionally lifting up his shirt to view his abs in case they had disappeared from the time he last looked 15 minutes ago.

He’s too busy slamming his weights down like he's trying to mark his territory, showing everyone else that he’s strong and able.

You envision him picking up chicks by saying, “I pick things up.  I put them down.  You know?  Wanna see my guns?”

If that’s not terrible enough, you start to wonder if you have asthma because you’re hyperventilating until you realize, it’s just his combination of cologne, aftershave, and deodorant that is making you feel dizzy and wanting for air.

 

5. The “Wanna Go Out Sometime?” Guy

The “Wanna Go Out Sometime?” Guy

Image Source:  Fox

While you’re in horrific pain squatting or while you’re doing those thigh machines that make you feel like you’re at the ob-gyn, there he is, sticking his head in saying, “Wanna go out sometime?”

It’s not that you mind getting asked out.  It’s more that you’ve already said no about 20 times and you’re starting to feel a little stalked.

Thankfully, the gym has more Mr. Nice Guys than the creepy one or Mr. Thick Neck.  But still, we wish there was some sort of Mr. Gym Conscience who walked around to deal with those few annoying stragglers.  Wink.

Posted by Richard J. Wood on Wednesday 25 January 2017
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If Soda Commercials Were Honest Video

Oh sweet, sweet liquid sugar.  It's so cold and refreshing and so, so bad for us.  But the soda companies don't want you to realize that it offers absolutely zero nutritional value — they need to profit, right?  Yes, even diet soda is bad for you.  But we don't have to tell you that.  This hilarious commercial spells it out perfectly.  "Mmmmm, caramel dye."

 

Posted by Richard J. Wood on Wednesday 25 January 2017
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Funny Video of Figure Skater in Dinosaur Costume

We don't know the when — or the why, for that matter — but there appears to be a new fitness-related trend involving massive dinosaur suits.  And it's awesome.

Facebook user TrexTuesdays has been sharing videos of people doing pretty ordinary things in T. rex costumes.  One, in particular, depicts said T. rex ice skating — and it's seriously so good we don't know how it hasn't been nominated for an Academy Award.

Watch the video below, and prepare to laugh until you cry.  (And yes, you should listen to it with the sound on.)

 

Posted by Richard J. Wood on Wednesday 25 January 2017
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