I would bet most of you have given up on your lofty New Years resolutions of finally getting those washboard abs or buns of steel.
I know this is a winning bet because I have seen the number of eager fitness fanatics in Southwest Rec center dwindle with my own two eyes.
January 8th: Sorority girls pulling each other’s hair over who’s next on the elliptical machine.
Mid January: Less of a crowd, still a couple stragglers trying to hide the fact that they’re watching the Food Network on the stair master.
Present: Southwest is back to the original gaggle of healthy people that realistically did not make “go to the gym” their resolution at all.
So, if you happen to fall into that last category and are still making the gym a consistent part of your weekly routine, this article is for you.
We all deal with the same awkward situations when it comes to hitting the gym here at UF, so let’s all get on the same page and make those workouts a little more copacetic.
1) Girls, feel free to come to the gym looking au natural. If you don a face of make-up and a push-up bra, you are setting yourself up for judgments paralleled only by scenes from Mean Girls.
2) Guy, keep tank and shirt sizes to Large and above. If you notice everyone tenses up when you start your set, it’s not because they’re impressed, it’s because they’re afraid your shirt will tear off (And not in an intimidating Incredible Hulk way).
3) If you see someone you know, WHICH YOU DEFINITELY WILL, find the balance. You want to be marginally friendly without making everyone uncomfortable. Smile warmly, maybe even wave with a free hand, but I don’t recommend you saunter over to the person dripping sweat on the treadmill. If you desperately need to ask “So, uhhh, you going out tonight?” Fight the urge; shoot them a text after. We all go to the gym for personal reasons and to Cantina for social reasons. Let’s not mix the two. (Unless you’re a girl from tip number one, then by all means, meet some hotties, girl!).
Follow these simple tips and I guarantee you can work off the beer and sweat out the Skol in peace.
Happy exercising and if you find yourself in similar dilemmas at Library West, feel free to apply the same tips.
(Photo: UF RecSports)
