Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Why I can't bring myself to do Yoga?


My wife does yoga, which I sure do enjoy watching. I also helped my office get yoga started during the lunch hour. I've even suggested yoga to my best-friend as a solution to his back issues. So why can't I bring myself to do yoga?

1. Too feminine. Yes, it's stupid. Yes, its sexist. I'm in no way masculine to even think this way, and I've seen guys who are more manly that do yoga.

2. Too intimidating. I haven't done yoga. I think the only pose I've ever done has been the seated meditation. The poses I see my wife do looks complicated and painful. Why do I want to balance on one leg and lean forward like the woodpecker toothpick picker upper?

3. Too intimate. I can't see myself participating in a yoga class. I would be afraid to accidentally let one loose. Plus, I have a thing for feet. I'd be focused on looking at other people's feet, while I should be concentrating on yoga.

However, personal trainers do suggest to change workout routines, especially if you find yourself hitting a plateau and not seeing results, which is happening to me. Yoga is considered a great alternative. Even Gold's Gym advertised Broga®, yoga for men, and my wife suggested that I try out her yoga app and do it by myself at home.

Maybe one day I'll give it a try, but for now, I'll stick with my boring workout routine.


via yogaholics


Saturday, January 18, 2014

Make it a Routine



I haven't done a blog entry on Confessions of a Gym Dweeb since November.

I've been going to the gym on a regular basis for the last three years, and yet I'm still a dweeb. I try to avoid the men's dressing room. I don't talk to people. I try not to stare. I do my routine and leave.

Being a regular, you do get to recognize the clientele. There's the guy who I always see in the hot tub. There's the guy who once gave me my keys which I left on a stationary cycling machine. There's the well-toned brunette that you'd never know she was pregnant. And there's the cute redhead with the incredible thighs I like to take a glimpse at before she go into her fitness class.

But the new year also brings new clients to the gym--the clients who make it their resolution to lose weight or get toned. Although this is a great start to get healthy, many of them only last a few months and disappear. Then we are again left with the same clientele.

I joked with my friends that this year it's slim pickings at the gym. The past few years, I'd notice milfs and young professional women joining the gym. This year there are more older couples and men. Just an observation. Really, I do try not to stare.

So, the key to personal fitness is making it a routine. In other words, during the first few months, make time on your calendar to go to the gym. Write it down with a permanent marker. Stick with that personal appointment. If you have to miss a day, make sure to get back on the routine quickly.

Another important thing is to start slow and low. Don't be intimidated by the buffs--they started low at some point too. If you are doing cardio for the first time, don't strain yourself. Work on getting your heartbeat up and don't tire yourself out.

Just my two cents.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Members Survey


I received an email from my gym asking if I would participate in a member survey.

...we are working hard to ensure that your experience with us is not only a positive one but one that also delivers the results you expected when you joined our gym. 

Please tell us what we're doing right and what we can improve..." 

As I indicated in the survey, my experience at the gym has been satisfactory. Not great. Just satisfactory. As I explained in the survey, there are several treadmills that are either out of order or not functioning properly. For example, on one treadmill the belt slips. On another machine, the speed button gets stuck and the runner that is going 5 miles per hour is then running at 10 miles per hour. These issues can cause injuries.

So, I was pretty honest in the survey. And to be honest, I thought the survey was going to be anonymous. My assumption was proven incorrect when I received a email response from the general manager of the gym.

First I would like to thank you for putting in the time to take our survey.

Okay, that's nice. He appreciates my thoughts.

It has taken me a few days because after reading your email I spned (sic) time going on all of our equipment and as of... through today we have only a few piece down and after using all the treadmills I would love to hear which one you have issue with as all worked fine when i was on it. 

Okay. I understand he'd like for me to point out the treadmills that I've had issues with.

We have been planing (sic) catch up on fixing equipment due to a staffing issue but Hoping that is not going to be a issue anymore due to fact we have a great new guy putting in alot (sic) of work to get up back up and running.

Now he's sounding defensive.

I have to say, however, that the gym has been working on the equipment, especially the treadmills. The one that was slipping has been fixed. The one that has the sticky button, however, is still being worked on.

Naturally, it is expected for equipment, that is being heavily used, to show signs that required maintenance. Regardless, I appreciate that the manager responded to me about my response. And it is great to see machines being worked worked on.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Preggo Creeper Part 2


Wow. It's actually been over a year since I posted about me staring at a pregnant lady while working out at the gym. You can read the "Preggo Creeper" post HERE.

Well, it had been a while since I had seen her at the gym. Naturally, my guess was that perhaps she focused her attention on her new born baby and maybe rescheduled her fitness.

The reason why I think she may have rescheduled her fitness is because she looks incredible. Her figure is as if she was never pregnant. However, it's been found that working out during pregnancy does help mothers-to-be gain less excess weight and allows muscles to stay strong and toned.

If you or your significant other is pregnant, please check out the links below for more information on pregnancy and fitness.

Source: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/effectsofexerciseonpreg.htmlhttp://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/580466http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0415/p1846.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2384387/Pregnant-women-encouraged-engage-regular-exercise-Working-improves-mood-reduces-fatigue.htmlhttp://www.uwo.ca/fhs/EPL/http://www.uwo.ca/fhs/EPL/resources.html

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Do I smell?

This is probably the most embarrassing confession I have ever shared. It's not gross. It's not disgusting. But I'm sure it'll get a giggle or a laugh (I hope) from you.

First of all, our bodies do the weirdest things. Some are hard to explain, but we're all organic and we expose to our bodies will have some sort of affect on way or another.

It may have been the food I ate the night before, or perhaps it was the leftovers that did me in.

Allow me to backtrack a bit. After certain meals, I like to store leftovers in Glad containers and place them in the freezer. Many times, these leftovers are from meals we had weeks or even months before.

I decided to take one of the containers out of the freezer for lunch on Friday. To me, it's a mystery meal, until it thaws to reveal the content. This particular lunch, the leftovers was spaghetti, but the spaghetti had a interesting taste to it. Perhaps it was left too long in the freezer. Regardless, I finished my meal.

I went to the gym, about four hours later. This is where the story gets a little funny.

So, I got to the gym. I started on the circuit weights, then made my way up to the treadmill. Around that time, I started to feel my stomach ache a bit. Something was wrong, but that didn't stop me from continuing my workout.

I got on the treadmill and started to run. At this point, I felt my body working on getting rid of whatever it had inside and didn't like.

It wasn't farting. I didn't feel gassy. But something was up. Perhaps something that is just un-explainable. 

I slowed from seven miles per hour to four miles per hour to assess the situation. That's when I smelled a stench.

"Is it me or is it the conveyor belt?" I wondered to myself.

I didn't feel anything. I didn't fart. It must be the conveyor belt. I moved to another treadmill, hoping that the smell would disappear.

It didn't.

It followed.

Of course, I thought, "Dude, who smells bad? It must be that guy over there."

Then it slowly dawned on me that perhaps that smell was coming from me, myself, and I.

I stopped. Again, assessed my situation, and decided that perhaps... oh, yes indeed, I'm permeating that disgusting smell, but how?

After noticing more people around me at the gym, I slowly collected my stuff and made myself to the exit.

The smell continued to follow me. It followed into my car. It even followed me to my son's day camp. And finally, it followed me to the house.

I couldn't let this awful stench continue--my wife was coming home within the next few minutes. I stripped out of my clothes and jumped in the shower.

I showered off that disgusting smell and came out feeling much more refreshed.

Perhaps I was emitting silent tiny sulfuric farts.

Monday, August 5, 2013

My Workout Playlist

I can't workout without music. I've tried. It's hard.

I've found myself getting to the gym and deciding that I wasn't going because I forgot either my phone or earphones.

So, what's my playlist?

Well, I rely on Pandora for my playlist, and I've put together a pretty good mix that keeps me entertained while breaking a sweat.


MY WORKOUT PLAYLIST includes:

Afrojack - Take Over Control (Extended)

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat

Araabmuzik - I Remember

Avicii - Levels

Avicii - Fade Into Darkness (Vocal Radio Mix)

Bad Boy Bill - Do What U Like

Calvin Harris - Feel So Close (Benny Benassi Remix)

Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love

Calvin Harris - You Used to Hold Me

The Cardigans - Erase/Rewind

Deadmau5 - Not Exactly

Deadmau5 - Alone With You

Deadmau5 - Everything Before

Deadmau5 - The 16th Hour

Deadmau5 - Faxing Berlin

Deadmau5 - Moar Ghosts 'n' Stuff

Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina - Stereo Love






Kaskade - 4 AM (Adam K & Soha Mix)

Kaskade feat. Martina from Dragonette - Fire in Your New Shoes (Sultan & Ned Shepard Electric Daisy Remix)

Kaskade - Move For Me

M83 - Midnight City

Martin Solveig & Dragonette - Hello

Martin Solveig - Racer 21

Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (The Juggernaut Remix)

Skrillex - Reptile's Theme

Skrillex - Bangarang

Swedish House Mafia - One

Swedish House Mafia - Save the World (Radio Mix)

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Return

It's been while since my last "Confessions of a Gym Dweeb" blog entry.

Uh... what was my last entry? Oh yeah, it was about changing my gym time from after work to middle-of-the day. I changed my schedule mainly because my work load piles up between January and April.

Now that my work load has somewhat returned to "normal," I'm able to return to my old routine.

Since my last visit to my gym, I did notice a change. For example, mildew was growing on the air ducts. It has since been removed. The air ducts look brand new. The machines were also switched around, probably due to the cleaning. New paint also covers the walls.

The same dedicated people are there. The guys look the same. The girls are more toned. There are also new faces--new customers who are starting from scratch. I remember those days.

Although, I love my gym, I do miss escaping during the day to the uptown gym; the staff are friendly, and the gym is practically empty between 10 and noon.