One Of The Guys
I don’t take very much personally at all. Unless something insulting is directly said to me, I don’t assume to know what people think of me. Nor do I really care…unless they think something good about me 
So, when I go to the gym, there are always the same people there at the time I go. The women who are always on the cardio equipment and the men who are down on the floor working out with the weights where I am.
None of the men ever said hello to me or gave me so much as a nod when we’d pass by. If I said hello, I’d never get a response back, or it would be a quick mumble of sound.
I didn’t put judgement on any of it thinking that I’m not welcome in a predominately male section of the gym.
But, lately, the guys who I see regularly have begun to actually say things to me. I feel like I’ve made a breakthrough like the woman who helped Coco the gorilla use sign language to communicate with humans. 
On Tuesday, there were 45 lb plates on the Smith machine bar, but no one was near it so I asked a guy nearby if he or anyone else was working there. He said it’s all mine and even went as far as taking off the plates for me since he was the last to use it. Usually I’m left to my own devices which is perfectly fine. But I thought it was nice that he did that.
And then I was over by the light dumbbell rack curling some 20 pounders While I was resting, one of the regulars asked me if I was using the Cybex machine. I said I wasn’t as I was about to pick up the 20 pounders again He said, "Are you sure?" And I said, "I’m positive…it’s all yours", as I began my curls
I was resting in between sets of the same exercise and was pacing a bit. Another regular came over and asked if I was going to use the pullup machine. I said, "No. I’m not using it." He said, "Are you sure? You can use it if you need it." I was like, "No, it’s all yours."
Afterward, I went over to use the preacher bench and I saw the JYD who let me work in with him working on a nearby machine. He actually said "Hey how are ya!"
I felt like it was the dawn of a new era for me at the gym.
Weight Training: shoulders, back, calves
Cardio: 600
Breakfast: 5 eggs (2 whole, 3 whites)
Maltex
coffee w/ milk
Snack: banana
protein powder
Lunch: steak
mashed potatoes (no fat)
Snack: almonds, apricots
Dinner: chicken
sweet potato
January 29, 2009 at 7:24 am
You are making it into the inner circle. I hate it but I subconciously do the same thing. I don’t speak to people until I see them in there consistantly and not being an idiot on to of it. I hate that I do I just don’t notice it until someone points out that I didn’t talk to them the first month they were there. Turnover is to high to be talking to all the one month wonder’s. (I don’t learn names for like 6 months)
January 29, 2009 at 7:31 am
I don’t usually talk much at the gym either, or have someone talk to me. Since I hit the gym at 5am, most of us are there to get in & out, get it done. Plus, I have my mp3 player going.
I’d also have to say that I wonder if the women would think I’m coming on to them if I spoke to them. But I do occasionally smile at one if she’s a regular.
January 29, 2009 at 7:33 am
Nice story.
From what I’ve seen, weight room regulars will often wait for months before talking to a new person. It could take months after that to find out the persons name. I don’t know why that is, but it seems to have been true for all the places I’ve trained.
I guess we want to make sure that the persons not just "slumming"
January 29, 2009 at 7:40 am
I must admit - I do the same - don’t spend much time talking - and mostly talk to those I already know. If eyes meet - I usually give a smile (if its a female) and a nod if its a male.
Just find my workout productivity suffers if I talk too much. Secondly, at our gym, unless people come together to workout - don’t find there is much talking between people going on anyway.
20lbs dumbells - great job girl! Think I’ll have to give them a try sometime
January 29, 2009 at 7:53 am
To back up what Al–1961 said… I know I worry about talking to women in the gym, because I don’t want to give them the wrong impression… Plus if I talked to women in the gym, my wife would catch me and there would be hell to pay…
January 29, 2009 at 8:10 am
I’m with AI-1961, I usually have my Ipod blasting so I dont hear anything. I will attempt to smile or nod at those I see on the regular. Hey I told my friend about you. We cracked up at the thought of "naked man" and his speedos pulled up to his throat with his you know what’s hanging out. I couldnt life for laughing. TOO MUCH!!
January 29, 2009 at 8:10 am
I’m with AI-1961, I usually have my Ipod blasting so I dont hear anything. I will attempt to smile or nod at those I see on the regular. Hey I told my friend about you. We cracked up at the thought of "naked man" and his speedos pulled up to his throat with his you know what’s hanging out. I couldnt laugh for laughing. TOO MUCH!!
January 29, 2009 at 8:10 am
I’m with AI-1961, I usually have my Ipod blasting so I dont hear anything. I will attempt to smile or nod at those I see on the regular. Hey I told my friend about you. We cracked up at the thought of "naked man" and his speedos pulled up to his throat with his you know what’s hanging out. I couldnt lift for laughing. TOO MUCH!!
January 29, 2009 at 8:31 am
You are one of them. I think guys are frightened of being accused of being pervs if they talk to you right off the bat, and now they’ve grown accustomed to you and think of you as a bud.
January 29, 2009 at 8:40 am
coco was a chimp, babycakes.
January 29, 2009 at 8:50 am
WRONG. (Actually I spelled the name wrong)…Koko was a gorilla, honey.
January 29, 2009 at 11:26 am
Koko?! HAHA! TELL’EM SHAN!
I bet you were all smiles after the gym today. There were at least 7 smiley faces on your post alone! Thats awesome though. Your gym cred is now on fire!
January 29, 2009 at 12:05 pm
listen here cupcake . . . oh wait, you’re right. never mind. carry on, nothing to see here.
January 29, 2009 at 1:11 pm
yummm cupcakes. My gym is so tiny that there aren’t many people when I try to get there about 2pm. Ahh, it’s usually all mine. But when I worked there, it was very interesting to watch the "guys" lift. Oh how I wanted to drag some of those ladies to the iron area.
January 29, 2009 at 7:30 pm
KoKo named her cat All Ball.