Going to The Gym is Like Going on a Human Safari
Story by Angel Luna

I just finished an eight hour shift, and its three hours before the start of my second job.   I'm tired, but its work out time. It's on like Donkey Kong, and I picture in my mind how many sets I'm going to do today. For most of us, the concept of going to the gym evolves around New Year's resolutions, protein shakes and looking good. Girls, popularity and power trips are sold separately. For me, the gym represents therapy, and I feel that it actually has changed my life in a good way by teaching me discipline and by helping me to release my anger and my frustrations, plus it feels good to be healthy.

The gym can be a really intimidating place if you don't know what you are doing and also can be a really good place to make friends and maybe even hook up with somebody. The gym is more than weights, treadmills and aerobics classes. After being a gym rat, I have seen people come and go. I've seen all the usual characters -- the regulars, the occassionals, couples and the one-timers. All these characters, plus the people that work there, from the front desk person to the custodian, play an important roll in gym culture.

This is not a playground, this is not the cafeteria of your school, this is an arena where gladiators are made -- well not exactly gladiators, but let me tell you that a lot a good things come out of a daily routine.

As you enter, you see your typical front desk person, offering you a towel and asking for your membership card. Look around the gym habitat and trust me you will find a character in this fitness jungle. It's like a human safari, you see all kinds of creatures.

There is steroid freaks that are always trying to show off in the free weights, or the guy who always walks around and pretends that he's doing something. That guy carries his towel, and looks like he's playing musical chairs, just jumping from machine to machine. Then there is the treadmill people. They usually have bad looks on their faces. They seem lonely running to nowhere, but they sweat the most. Sometimes they start to smell, that's why people don't workout next to them.

One thing too is that there is always the friendly yoked (buff) guy that is willing to help you in your set. He is cool and its just cool to tell him what's up, to feel like you are cool too. Old people can be buff to and they don't call them OG's for nothing, these elderly can kick your butt. Nerds, geeks or players are all the same under this roof, if you can bench, you are welcome in the circle of exercise. I've seen guys that look like your average techie bench more then your average thug will ever put up. Its funny that there is always a new guy that feels like a bad ass, and he walks around the gym like he owns the place, but when its time to show off, they always choke by struggling with their work outs or never show after that day.

There is a lot a creatures in this place, but how can we forget about the ladies, I'm no perv, but there are a lot of ladies that hold it down in the gym. Usually they are the ones that make the cardio session look much better yo. From moms to students, they are very determined to keep their sexy on.

After we make our attempt to get the muscles steady with our sets and routines, we move it to the locker room and go to the steam room. In the steam room we find ourselves with people that make small conversation, but regardless there are some rules. No eye contact what so ever, and keep to yourself. Remember, everyone is only separated by extremely thin towels. I don't have a problem with people walking around in the locker room in their birthday suits, but there is people who take it a little bit too far. If you are just done with the shower its fine, but if you are just chilling or shaving naked, it will definitely feel really uncomfortable for the rest of us. I know people say, well just don't stare, or who cares, but come on man, you don't have to embarrass yourself in front of everybody. There is a difference between having confidence in yourself and just being a jackass.

Another regular in this equation is the personal trainers. They are the people who are always on the look out for possible clients. They remind me of some type of scavenger. They make me feel like some type of rodent by the way they approach me, with their sharp comments that seem like big claws as I work in my fat gut. By the way they talk, they look like pimps too, cause they for sure get what they want, and they for sure are gonna work you out like some type of show girl. Don't take me wrong, I'd love to have a personal trainer. I had one when I started, and they are always helpful. But they do it so well, that your figure is not the only one that gets skinny, your wallet gets the same results too.

Speaking of motivation, the working out is a mental thing too. Yes, I know it sounds silly but trust me it is all in your mind when it come down to doing that extra push up. I used to work out by myself in my casa, but I just didn't get any results. So one day I went to the gym and joined. I go there almost every day and its just exciting for me because I use the gym is an excuse to prove myself. I get motivated and challenged when I see people do a hard work out, and I try to do the same.