Does anyone...........

[LondonChick]

.......ever get discouraged that no-one else around them works out or has any sort of interest in it? I get so fed up of the "glazed look" when people ask how I stay in shape and I tell them about my routine - the moment they know work's involved they just don't want to know and it sucks. I work out at home (we have our own gym) because I prefer the privacy but of course the down side is often feeling really isolated and not getting much support from anyone or not being able to share workout highs and lows with anyone. DH has no interest in fitness whatsoever *sigh*

 

[wyst]

I work out at home too, and I do miss the being-around-other people-who-work-out thing. I guess that's why I've been spending more time here.

Are you actually in London? Is there a pretty big fitness subculture like there is in the states (I'm in NY/NJ) there? I mean, are there lots of women BBers and real fitness types to be found? Not that there are lots here, but they exist.

Wyst

 

[Sassy69]

Often this is one of those things that you have to do simply for your own personal satisfaction. Add ot the list of frustrations - the social activities that you give up to get in your workout, and the reality is that you don't mind missing out on those extra cocktails or whatever. And the friends who get pissed at you because you opt to go to the gym.

But definitely - I know plenty of people who think I"m strange for spending the time that I do in the gym or getting excited about doing cardio at 6 am and dragging 4-5 meals per day around with me.

You are doing it for yourself and sometimes you just have to revel in it by yourself, but its kinda fun to have a killer pump and go back to work or whatever and just be running on that "high" -- you know - make them wonder what you're smiling about!

 

[MrMuscle]

yeah i think it sucks as well. i go to a gym, but there are few people that really train hard, and keeps a diet. so i got nobody to discuss training, diet and such with...thanks god for this board.

 

[LondonChick]

Far from it!!!

No, there isn't a subculture of fitness in the UK at all! It's got such a small population compared to the States and it seems that the typical English way of life is terribly sedentary with people eating stody pies and chips all the time.

I love working out on my own and thank God every day for our own gym. I can choose the music I want, wear what I want, sweat and shout and no-one's there but me. It's my "me" time and I guard it jealously. It makes life so much more vibrant. And the high after a good workout !! I hated having people watch me at the gym and felt too self conscious - and I was (and still am) in good shape when I was going to the gym. It's just the camaraderie of actually being able to talk about workouts that I really really miss.

And yes, thank goodness for this forum!! A late Xmas present for me!!

I'll be here often!! LOL!

 

[TheProject]

Okay, I gotta pop my ugly mug up on this one.

To use spats's terms, I was a sayer for a long, long time. I'd talk to her casually about working out, health, diet, etc., and never get around to doing something about it.

I can't really pinpoint the moment when I successfully made the transition from sayer to doer, but I'm sure glad I did. I feel and look much better.

Since I started working out and fixed my diet, I've tried to get some of my friends involved. A couple of them work out, but don't want to change their diet. I give them suggestions, based on what spats has taught me, if they want them, and then I let them go on their merry way.

I would just say don't give up on all the sayers. Thankfully, spats didn't give up on me, and I'm much, much better off for it.

 

[Cheetarah]

I have found that, since I started posting on elite, I feel less of a need to prove, educate, explain, help, or otherwise come to the rescue of my friends and family. I know from talking to people here, that MOST of us have friends and family that aren't "in to it." I have also learned to avoid conversations that will raise my BP (mostly nutrition issues) and to surround myself with people that walk the walk.

I break it down to the "doers" and the "sayers." These two groups NEVER get along. They are content to talk about what they want or need to do, or are going to do, but never actually have the discipline to do it. You will often find these "sayers" making comments about the "doers" that sound something like, "It's so easy for you," "You don't have my genetics to deal with," or my most recent favorite, "Everything you touch turns to gold." Oh yeah...I sit on my ass to have this kind of strength.

They don't get it and never will. The objective isn't to make THEM understand, it's for YOU to accept that they DON'T.

WORD!

Well said Spatts!

 

[TheProject]

Do you remember how pissed off I got when you asked me to help, though? I told you point blank that if I invested one iota of my time toward your physique, and you dropped it, I was gonna have a BIG PROBLEM with you. I told you a few times that I didn't want to get involved because I can't deal with quitters. I also think that having a couple guys at work enter the BFL Challenge played a part in sparking things...competition usually does.

Oh yeah, I remember that..

I did have several conversations with someone at work about BFL and how he'd done it before, and was going to be doing it again. He was going to actually enter the contest, and all this other stuff. I remember thinking that if he could do this, surely I can do it.

 

[muskles]

beats being fat and lazy and having lots of people to share it with

 

[Gladiola]

Hi LondonChick!

I totally understand the isolation thing... but for me it had a bit of a different spin... I was very often surrounded by people who worked out a lot - but, being an aerobics instructor at 2 women's-only gyms, they were all cardio queens who just wanted to "Tone up" and "Wouldn't want to BULK UP!" OOOOoooh - the horror of such a torment to have bulk! Hence, I would be pumpin iron - gleefully growing & feeling like resident FREAK!

It made me wonder why I find muscle to be sooo beautiful & everyone around me (including my boyfriend) thinks it's nasty on a woman. Is something wrong with me that I see things so differently?

My solution... cut back on teaching aerobics (not worth the hassle anyway) and work out elsewhere. I just had a chat today with a dude trying to gain & yes, thank goodness for EF!!!