Follicle release in the wrong places

This really doesn't fit the label of Confessions of a Gym Dweeb per se. This particular experience doesn't happen at the gym but rather at home.

For the past couple of years, my hairstylist has found that I'm slowly starting to show a thinning crown in the form of a horseshoe. This is serious; especially since I am only 38 years old. I can't accept the concept of me growing old.

To resolve my hair loss, I decided to purchase the Framesi follicle release shampoo my hairstylist was selling. She told me a pearl size amount would be plenty and to only apply over the area where I am starting to thin.

"Okay. Pearl size. Apply in area where I am thinning. Got it," I responded to her direction.

"Don't rub it all over your head. My ex did that and his hair in the back of head was becoming bushy."

"Okay. Pearl size. Apply in area where I am thinning. Not everywhere or I will get bushy. Got it." I responded confidently as I said my good-byes and left her salon.

The next morning I applied a pearl size on my palm and lathered it on the crown of my head as she instructed. I pulled my hands from my head and looked at my hands. There were a few strands of hair on my soapy palms as if slowly suffering a painful death.

To add to this dilemma, I didn't know where I should wash off my soapy hands. Typically, if it was my normal shampoo, I rub it on another part of my body (I'll leave it at that). But this was a different situation. I remembered her tell me specifically apply it on the area I was thinning. The last thing I wanted was a much hairy ass.

I turned around, leaned forward and washed my hands with the shower. I did the same with my soapy hair and tried to avoid having the lather wash down any other part of my body.

This has been my bathing life for the past couple of months. I returned to my hairstylist and asked if she saw any progress. Unfortunately, she had no good news to report. She said I still had the same amount of hair. No new follicles.

Well, I guess I'll still be applying the shampoo until I see some results. In the meantime, I'll need to purchase a new set of trimmers to take care of my lower body hair.

"I forgot my headphones"

I was driving to the gym, when I realized that I had forgotten to pack my headphones.

This is a big deal, since I do have a selection of workout music.

Driving along I-35, I had a choice to either forego the gym and go home or go to the gym and suffer through my workout without my tunes.

While stuck in traffic I debated with myself as to why I should skip one more day.

I argued with myself, "I did lift boxes and mowed the yard this weekend, and I did drive between Austin and Midland through torrential rain and wind. That was a workout."

It's hard to avoid the gym, since the exit I take also leads home.

Good sense won the debate. I couldn't let headphones be the only reason to skip the gym. Plus, that only gave me one day this week I know I'll be able to workout since my son has a dentist appointment on Thursday and god-forbid I work out on Friday--it's fun-day.

I found a decent parking spot at the gym. "Perhaps my gym experience won't be that bad," I thought to myself.

As I walked into the building, Brandy by Looking Glass was playing over the intercom.

"God, I wish I had my headphones."

Looking too good in a Green Lantern tee

I wear Green Lantern tees to the gym. I'm not the only one either. There are also others to where we can actually create an unofficial Green Lantern Corps.

The cool thing is that us geeks don't have to look good wearing the insignia on our chest. We are comfortable in our own body form (bony, beer-belly, pear shaped, etc.) and still feel as if we are some kind of superhero.

Then a body-builder had to ruin it for us geeks.

via moviepilot

This well muscled guy, who could be the the John Stewart Green Lantern, wore a two-sizes-too-small Green Lantern tee that exposed his chiseled upper body with precision.

While us geeks who could only dream of being in the Green Lantern Corps, this muscly man could easily be chosen by the Power Ring.

Him wearing the Green Lantern tee made me more self-conscious a feel more like a dweeb.

The next day, instead of my Green Lantern tee, I choose to wear my Sacramento Kings tee. "No one wears Sac Kings tees in Austin, I should be safe," I thought.

But why should I care what others wear at the gym. I had to remind myself that a shirt is only a shirt. Then I realized that body-builders can be sci-fi and comic book geeks too.

The following week, I returned to my rotation of wearing my Green Lantern tees.

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

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.

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.

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