Myth Debunking: Pumping some Iron

So Purdue's fall break is over which means that we actually have to go back to class now. The only good thing about break being over is that we only have a three day week which is always nice. Professors think that just because we came back from break we are suddenly rejuvenated. We are the complete opposite. Well most of us. Nothing too exciting has been happening since I returned to Purdue. I've been studying quite a bit, catching up on some homework, and I even made it to the gym a couple of nights ago. Since I like to point out common roles and norms of society, I had a great time coming up with a list of the average people you will see at your local gym. They are as follows:

1) The really strong guys who grunt/ make loud awkward noises.

Okay so your arms are twice the size of my head. Congratulations. While you were busy trying to catch up to Arnold Schwarenegger and taking your steroids, I was out being a bit more productive with my life. It's perfectly okay to work out but unless your going for the Strongest Man In the World competition, it's not something that has to consume you to a point where you look like Hulk Hogan or other wrestlers from WWE. As for the steroid use.. no we won't even go into that.

(I am not inferring that every really strong person uses steroids. Just the good majority of them)

2) The awkwardly strong girl

Guys love girls that are in shape. Key words: in shape. Not the girls that can bench press more than us. I mean come on if you want to take that approach, chop off your hair and call your self Mike (sorry michelle). There is a fine line for women between what guys consider working out, and actually working out. As tricky as that may sound, there is a difference. Be careful girls just how strong you get, because that is something that guys get easily offended at, and that is where most of the allegations of steroids and beaver tranquilizers comes from.

(Again, unless you are competing for the Strongest Female in the World, which I am not even sure if that exists, then you should really moderate your workouts.)

3)The weak guy who always tries to do more weight than he should.

So for a really long title, this role is actually pretty common and pretty self explanatory. There is always one gentleman; one young guy who thinks he is really stronger than he is. I know I know you are thinking how will I ever get stronger if I do not try more heavier weights. You're scared because sometimes you can't lift the weight that you go up and you are now thinking that you are this person. No, that is not necessarily the case. This person is more clear-cut. He usually doesn't visit the gym very often, and therefore he does not know proper gym etiquette (look it up). If you do at any time feel like you are becoming this guy, or you know that you have been in the past. I would recommend going and getting the second lightest set of dumbells and cranking out a quick 20 set. This shows that you can do some lifting, while not being so degraded to have to lift the lightest set.

4) Marathon Runner- The guy/girl that runs on the treadmill... FOREVER!

Whenever you go to the gym, there is a guy or a girl, sometimes both, who are running on the treadmill when you get there, and they are still running when you leave. It's like they are running every second of every day, on this journey to be the next Forrest Gump. The first problem with this is that they hog the treadmills. Good for you marathon man you can run for hours on end, so go outside and run and leave the treadmills to those of us who actually need them.

5)The Averagers.

Basically, most of the other people fit into this category. They are the people who just go to the gym because it is something to do. They run, they life, bike, whatever, but they don't get super serious about it. It's more of a hobby for them than a lifestyle. There are so many more roles inside this category, but it would take too long and be too annoying to describe them all. Some of them include: the sweaty guy, the Stair master, the Ab pro, and the Wanderer. However, when taken at a larger angle, all of these people are really just common goers, who are there without fail.

Now I have described some of the pretty common roles at the gym up on Purdue's Campus; yet, these are the common roles for most gyms. The people change but the roles are pretty consistent. How do you know if you are falling into one of these roles and what can you do about it? Well, the first thing would be to ask your friends. The second would be to video tape yourself working out. Just kidding. Don't do that, we don't need another Richard Simmons workout video out there floating around.

So next time that you go to the gym, if ever after reading this, you will know the common roles that people fit into. You may even be able to try and pull out some of this knowledge in a really pathetic pick-up line to the hot girl who is currently on the treadmill like

"Look, I know you're a marathon runner, so I am just going to run next to you and maybe by the time I turn 25 we can have a drink somewhere." Perfect. But seriously, guys that try to go to the gym just to get a hook-up are pitiful. It's a place to exercise, not to date.

That's about all I have for today's blog! I have to run to class so I'm going to wrap this up with the usual stuff, but I hope that everyone has a fabulous weekend and I will post something within the next week!

Closing tip for the week: For all of us people who live from Meredith and farther west (Shreve, Earhart, McCutcheon, Harrison, Hillenbrand), I am sure that you are all perfectly aware of this, but if you aren't then this will be helpful. There is a back entrance to the CoRec that makes things so much easier and quicker. Look it up

Closing thought for the week: "I don't like going to the gym because I don't like being with people I don't know in that intense environment. " ~Utada Hikaru

Throwing up the NW333 and throwing down The Rock,

Signing off,

JD