Gym Observations P. II

Besides the obvious, I can tell it is the beginning of a new year.  When I came into work the first day back from vacation, the lunch fridge was stocked full of Lean Cuisine.  Yeah, that'll last.

The other thing, is the huge influx of people in the gym.  I joined the gym before Xmas and hard started my working out then.  It was about a week before Xmas, and I went in, and there are 3 rows of elipitical machines.  There maybe 1-2 people per row.  Not a whole lot.

Now, I get off work at 4pm, so I beat the big rush that usually comes between 5pm-6pm.

But, I go back to the gym for the first time this new year, and holy shit!  Almost every elipitical machine is occupied.  The next day, I come in again around 4, and there are even more people...  

It's diffenately a new year.  It won't last.

My other gripe, if you want to call it that, are people who aren't really working out.  They're fooling themselves.  The lady next to me, who's reading a book or magazine while she maintains a lazy pace of probably 1,000 strides over 30 minutes and a working heart rate of about 105.  You're fooling yourself.  You aren't going to get into shape doing that.  You have to get your heart rate going...  over 130 to lose weight, over 160 to get a good cardio workout.  And you have to do it for at least 30 minutes. 

When I get done with 45 minutes, I've gone over 6,500 strides, 4.5 miles, burned over 500 calories, and kept my heart rate up over 150 the entire time.  Now, I sweat, and after 45 minutes, I'm typically soaked...  and people stare.  WTF are you staring at?  Someone who gives 100% on his workout?  You're looking at the fruit of my labor.  Stinks, but at least I can feel good about my work-out and not lie to myself that I worked out while reading a magazine or watching Oprah, Sports Center, or whatever is on the 6 TVs they have in front of the machines.

/rant.