Gym Etiquette

Americans are fat! It is because we are fat that there has been such a huge push for universal healthcare, dieting and exercise and rightfully so. Obesity is a big problem (no pun intended). And when your fat ass takes up 2 seats on the bus, or you arteries become so clogged with bacon fat and milkshakes, it's the taxpayers who suffer. We pay for the jaws of life that are used to get you off the couch you're stuck to, we pay for the industrial strength lube needed to grease your behind through the door. We also pay when we're getting slapped in the face with your mounds of fat and when we have to listen to your heavy breathing as you grasp for air. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against fat, chubby, thick, portly, or rotund people. I have friends who fit these descriptions. My problem is with the obese. But that's not with this post is about.

This post is about the results of this new found desire to get fit. Because of it, gym memberships are at a all-time high, every athlete and supermodel has a fitness video and people are popping pills, smoothies and running to the doctor for all types of surgery in an effort to get healthier. Congratulations and thank you for answering the bell. Inevitably some of the people are trying to be fit now, have never lifted a finger a day in their lives and have no idea what they're doing and herein lies the problem and is the impetus for this post. It's ok to go the gym but when you get there you must practice the proper etiquette or risk being bench pressed by Lou Ferrigno (the guy who played Incredible Hulk in the tv series). To help the cause I have decided to document the rule of Gym Etiquette. This isn't an exhaustive list but just a few guidelines to follow when you get started.

 

1. No Staring.
   

   On the gym floor or in the locker room, nothing makes a person more uncomfortable than to find someone staring. Whether you're impressed with abundance of muscles, the size (or lack thereof) of your comrade's love muscle, or are daydreaming; DON'T DO IT.
   

   
    

2. Get 'er Done
   

   This is not just the battle cry of the Blue Collar Comedy tour but a mantra you should live by in the gym. Not many of us have much time to waste when we're in the gym, so it's imperative that we get in, get out and get on with our lives. That's incredibly difficult to do, when you have some guy who falls in love with the crunch machine and never wants to leave. The only thing you're doing is causing severe abdominal discomfort and pissing off the people waiting for the same equipment.
   

   
    

3. Wipe it Down
   

   You should always bring a hand towel to the gym to keep from dripping all over the gym and so that others don't have to lay in the pool of sweat you just left on the workout bench. Inevitably, you're bound to forget it one day as you sprint out the house for your 6 am workout. Never fear, in most gyms there are paper towel dispensers all over and some gyms even provide towels. Use them. Just because you're forgetful doesn't mean I want to swim in your sweat pool. Wipe it down!
   

   
    

4. No Leering
   

   Freedictionary.com means to look with a sidelong glance, indicative especially of sexual desire or sly and malicious intent. It's creepy, scary and can get you in trouble with your HR Dept at work. Don't do it at the gym either. You're scaring the pretty women away and while I go to the gym to work out, eye candy is greatly appreciated. NO LEERING!
   

 

Again this list isn't exhaustive, just a jump off point to get you on your way. Hopefully this post helps someone, somewhere correct some reprehensible behavior which may have gotten you booted from your gym and stunted your desire to get healthy. If you need more help with gym etiquette, see an employee at your local gym, an experienced vet, or me. And if remember if it's questionable, don't do it. Stay up, stay blessed, stay healthy!

That's What Friends Are For

I know people, tall people, short people, white people, black people, I know people and I know a lot of them. Despite the hundreds of people in my outlook contacts I only count a handful of them as friends. I’m a private person and pride myself on keeping my personal life…personal. However, I have let a few people into my inner circle and value their opinions and greatly appreciate their presence in my life. We travel together, we laugh, we listen, we give advice; we’re there for each other. People are always quick to boost you up and just as quick, if not quicker, to tear you down. Despite the moderate amount of success I’ve had I can always count on them to treat me as a regular person and to keep me grounded when I began to think about acting out of pocket. No matter what’s going on in my life they’re there. Thanks friends!

I love all my friends equally but I have to give a special shout out to Dani. I’ve known this woman since I was 12 and we have been friends since we were in our teens. It’s safe to say that I love her like a “play cousin.” One of the reasons why I love her so much is because she’s ride or die. She was there before the ex, she was there while the ex was here and she has certainly been helpful after the break up. She never asks me for anything more than my time and good conversation. When she told me she was planning to fly to Chi-town to visit me I was excited. When she told me she booked her flight I was eager for her to get here. When she got here I was extremely ecstatic.

I have a good time when I’m out with my folks in the Chi, but they only know a side of me. Dani knows all of me, the good, the bad and everything in between, which makes it easy to be myself. She’s been here for 2 days already and we’ve had a blast. We’ve seen the city, gone out to eat, shopped, talk and our time spent together and going to revitalize my hustle and my focus on taking the next step. Being away from home, family and friends can weigh on me sometimes, especially with the 15 hour days I’ve been putting in as of late. The time away from the office, away from the grind and with Dani has helped me to see why I work as hard as I do and why my hustle isn’t just about me.

Thanks for visiting, thanks for spending time, thanks for listening, thanks for keeping it real, thanks for the LOVE!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, You're Far Too Kind!

Anyone who really knows me knows how much of a family man I am. I love my family and anyone I consider a friend, not just a co-worker or classmate, is a part of my family. I keep my circle tight because I share my world with them and I don’t think it’s something I should be giving away like day-old bagels. Opening up has never been an easy task for me, which makes it easy to limit the number of people I open too. But for those who have seen underneath the surface and can truly say “they know me” I’m thankful to have around. Because I keep much of what I’m thinking to myself and amongst friends, spending my birthday without them was REALLY tough. The thought of being without a girlfriend in God knows how long, my friends and family on my birthday brought much anguish.

I’ve always felt that you should celebrate birthdays and holidays with loved ones, something that was nearly impossible for me to do 1,200 miles away from most of my family. This sadness was exacerbated by the fact that thoughts of the ex had been controlling my thoughts lately as 2 years ago on my birthday I proposed. It seemed like a good idea at the time, you know, so I would never forget. But now that we’re not together, it seems like the worst idea ever; right up there next to voting Bush to a second term and wearing corduroy pants to the beach. Believe it or not, I wasn’t really looking forward to my birthday at all.

However, the hundreds of birthday wishes I received from family and friends all day long really touched me. Feeling my phone vibrate constantly throughout the day in court never felt better, knowing that there were well wishes coming through. I just want to say thanks to everyone for making my day such a great one, in spite of my circumstances. I enjoyed the cards, the gifts, the texts, the calls, the facebook messages, the drinks, everything. To you it may not have seen like much effort to say or do what you did, but to me it meant a lot.

Shouts out to the special lady I kicked it with on Sunday. You’ll never know how much that day meant to me and I’ll never forget it.

Big ups to some of the best co-workers in the world who started things off on Saturday with dinner, drinking, skating and more drinking and finished up strong on Monday.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this day more than bearable, but fantastic. I'm sure when I go home this weekend the madness when continue. But even if it doesn't, I've had more than enough to last me til next year. Much Love!