Gyms are Gross

Training For: Springtime Tallahassee 5K

Cardio: 0

Weights: Upper Body - two of each muscle group: chest, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps
Calories burned: unsure

Food: Breakfast - Total Cinnamon Crunch w/ skim milk (213)
Lunch - Sahara Greek Restaurant (probably a few hundred)

Dinner - Famous Dave's (another few thousand)

Total Food: at least a million

Self Confidence: 8


I came across this article today, and it amused me somewhat:

Exercising Etiquette: Don't be a gym diva

It made me think of some of my own pet peeves that I come across (many of which overlap the article) when I'm at the gym - so here they are:

• This is a gym, not Happy Hour - I really really can't stand the Skinny Minnie girls that show up in their short shorts, revealing tank tops, and trendy hair-down hairstyles that come to the gym. I mean, really, you show up, spend 20 minutes doing 2 sets of 8 reps with 3lb weights. What is the point? I honestly think you spend more time fixing your hair and makeup than you do working out. If you want to get noticed, do it at the bar, where I'm least likely to care about your annoying behavior, as stuff like that is expected in bars.
  
• No, I do not need a spot - If I really wanted you to gawk at me, more or less talk to me at all, I'd be the person I mentioned in bullet point #1. And, yes, I am probably stronger than you.
• Deodorant is your friend - while sometimes being hot and sweaty can be hot & sexy, if you are smelly - its just plain gross. I realize, sometimes we all forget to swab our pits on the way out the door, but, I'm sure that a nice travel sized stick can fit in your desk drawer, center console, or gym bag. And, by the way, cologne is NOT a deodorant. The last thing I need is to be next to someone on the treadmill who forgot their deodorant, doused themselves in eau de whatever, and get a massive headache. I'd rather smell your B.O. I don't get headaches from B.O.
• I'm not interested in laying in your sweat - is it really hard to bring a towel? Even if you forget, there are paper towel dispensers all over. This goes for weight machines and cardio machines. Nothing is more gross than stepping on the treadmill and seeing sweat droplets splattered all over the machine. Ugh, I'm getting nauseous already.

Anyway, I probably notice at least two of those every time I go to the gym - which, on a good week, is everyday. This is part of the reason I hate going to the gym. Unfortunetly, I am not rich and famous and cannot afford my own home gym with my own 24hr personal trainer. So, until then, I have to put up with the public. No pain no gain right?

This is MY year!

So, I figure since its the new year, its time to address my "resolutions" or so-called "goals" for the new year:

1. Finish my Master's **cop out goal - there is no way I won't be doing this - I figure its good to start out small
   
   
2. Improve my 5K time and finish under 30 minutes (and then some) **I'm already working on this
   
   
3. Travel outside of the US **while a semi-cop out, Canada and Mexico will count - so long as the visit is considered part of a vacation - my real goal is Jamaica, and possibly Japan to visit my brother.
   
   
4. Get back to my "Pre-Florida" weight **The South has taken a toll on my health since moving here, and taught me bad eating habits. You can love through food, but, please, make it healthy food!!!
   
   
5. Prove to the world (or at least my friends) that 30 is the new 20 - except I can drink (legally!) **For those of you who don't know, I turn 30 this year, and I plan to enjoy every last second of it - and you all better come to the super sweet bomb-diggity party I expect Steve to throw me (someone might want to let him know about that)
   
   
6. Become more well-read **This was a resolution I had last year, but school got caught in the way, so I only have 5 months of that excuse this year, I need to read more - makes me smarter and more interesting!
   
   
7. Spend more time in my music **Again, for those of you who don't know, I play violin, piano and guitar - well, I'm still semi-learning piano and guitar, so I need to brush up on those skills, and then re-harness my super sweet violin skills, maybe play at church a few times for fun and practice my quintet music regularly! No, Rock Band and/or Guitar Hero will NOT count!
   
   
8. Get ahead in my career (kind of goes along with goal #1) **In essence, find a job that respects my education and my experience. This includes interviewing in potential new locations such as Chicago, Boston, DC, and Upstate NY.
   
   
9. Participate in a triathalon **I write 'participate' vs. 'compete' because, I may or may not already have lined up a team sprint triathalon - if however, one of the gals can't make it, then, I plan to do it myself - in total! Of course, I'll rock the swimming portion, do great on the biking, then, pray I don't die on the running portion (why does it have to be LAST?)
   

Anyway, I'm sure I'll add to this list, and as time passes by I will get to cross things off, but until them, this is where I am.

Hippie No Ear to Everyone!

Myspace Duplicate Posts!

Ok, if you guys read my myspace blog then, read no further. You have already been filled in on the annoyances of my life. Otherwise, if you haven't read my myspace, why, by all means continue!

Part One - I expected Grad School to be fun

So, I got to class early today for a few reasons...one: parking. Parking is horrendous at FSU. EVERYONE who enrolls in even one credit gets a parking pass. Not to mention, they don't have separate parking areas for dorm kids vs. commuters like CSU did. So, basically, if they live on campus, they can park anywhere, which is annoying. Two: I cannot register until Friday. So I had to get a waiver from the professor saying yes its ok to add me to your class. Stupid state employee waiver deal is turning out to be a crock. I have to wait until AFTER add/drop has closed, then I have to physically walk down and turn in my paperwork. Pretty annoying if you ask me, especially if the class is a required credit.

Anyway, I get to class, relieved to be in AC again, and who shows up. A coworker. This *particular* coworker tends to strut around like he is a know-it-all when in fact I know that he really doesn't know jack. That, and, he was snotty to me in an email, after I did what I was *asked* to do by his bosses boss. And, he got snotty because he was in the dark, and he was in the dark because he chose not to show up for a meeting. Needless to say, I'm not to fond of this person. Well, I was pissed because, I'm going back to school so I can get OUT of my job, and get away from these types of people. Now, I have to spend an entire semester dealing with a person I seriously dislike from work. And, its not like I can be rude and ignore the guy....I guess I just have to hope that he doesn't ask to work on a group project or some crap with me. Ug!

Part Two - What annoys me about gym goers:

• People who save cardio machines by putting a magazine, water bottle or towel on it *BEFORE* they go into the locker room to change. Yes, the gym is crowded, but you don't have special priveledges.



• I realize its a gym, and there will be sweaty people, but, if your stank is permiating into my workspace, then you need more deodorant!!! Just because everyone smells, doesn't mean you can skip the Degree applciation!



• Girls who show up in tiny sports bras and mini shorts. They are never there to actually "work out." They are there to strut their anorexic-selves around to show off to the guys. Their "workout" consists of abotu 10-15 minutes of walking on the treadmill, a few crunches, and about 2 sets of 10 curls with 3lb weights. Break a sweat why dontcha!