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Ever since I was 17, I've liked going to the gym. I've pretty much always had a gym membership somewhere, even if I took long breaks from it to focus on my running.
That is, until last year. 2011 was my least active year ever, and I have the padding and slight out-of-puffability to prove it. It definitely does not take long to happen, especially if you like your food and drink as much as I do.
I love running, but I think my body is just not built for it; I'm always getting injured. I hardly ran at all in 2011 because of this. I don't know what else to do but give it up. *sighs* I will miss you, half marathons, 10Ks, cheery crowds, goody bags, PBs, wind in my hair, bugs in my teeth and yes, even obnoxious white van drivers with open windows.
So what's left? Walking? Nope, boring. Keep fit videos? They work, I'll admit, but I can't be bothered to do it often enough, realistically. Sports? Well, they involve other people, and I don't do that very well.
So it has to be gym. The trouble is, the older I get, the worse my social anxiety gets. Well, some things improve while others worsen. But if there's one thing that made me quit my last gym, it was that the people there started to get to know me. It may sound antisocial, but I don't want that. I want to be an anonymous gym user to whom no-one pays any attention. The stress of knowing that there are people who half-know me and might say hello to me is enough to put me off going to the gym at all.
But with this new gym, I have new hope, and a new strategy. By being as bland and humourless as possible to all who speak to me, I will discourage the development of any social ties. They might recognise me, but they won't say hello. And I'll be able to work out in safety.
That is, until last year. 2011 was my least active year ever, and I have the padding and slight out-of-puffability to prove it. It definitely does not take long to happen, especially if you like your food and drink as much as I do.
I love running, but I think my body is just not built for it; I'm always getting injured. I hardly ran at all in 2011 because of this. I don't know what else to do but give it up. *sighs* I will miss you, half marathons, 10Ks, cheery crowds, goody bags, PBs, wind in my hair, bugs in my teeth and yes, even obnoxious white van drivers with open windows.
So what's left? Walking? Nope, boring. Keep fit videos? They work, I'll admit, but I can't be bothered to do it often enough, realistically. Sports? Well, they involve other people, and I don't do that very well.
So it has to be gym. The trouble is, the older I get, the worse my social anxiety gets. Well, some things improve while others worsen. But if there's one thing that made me quit my last gym, it was that the people there started to get to know me. It may sound antisocial, but I don't want that. I want to be an anonymous gym user to whom no-one pays any attention. The stress of knowing that there are people who half-know me and might say hello to me is enough to put me off going to the gym at all.
But with this new gym, I have new hope, and a new strategy. By being as bland and humourless as possible to all who speak to me, I will discourage the development of any social ties. They might recognise me, but they won't say hello. And I'll be able to work out in safety.
