If you’re a gym regular, you know that on most days you see the same basic crowd when you work out… “The Regulars,” as we call them. The same dedicated batch of gym rats tend to show up at about the same time each day.
This n
ormalcy can be really comforting and can be a real boost to enjoying your time in the gym. It helps you get to know other members and helps to make the environment more comfortable and predictable, helping to create a positive mood and supportive environment in which to make great progress.
But occasionally, on certain very strange days, the gym can seem a totally different place. I’m sure this must true at some gyms more than others, but at our friendly little LA Fitness in Conway, things can be a bit unpredictable.
On a recent evening things were decidedly strange. We called it a “bizarro day” in the gym. (A nod to Superman, for those in the know.) My workout partner John and I looked around and the gym was absolutely packed. And yet, I only recognized maybe 3 or 4 other gym members. Very few of the regulars were there, and it seemed that an entire bus-load of new people had been dropped off for the evening.
Of course, this can make for some freshness as you have different people to look at. But this also means that you’re interacting with new people who are unfamiliar with the gym and its setup, and with the general “vibe” of cooperation in the gym.
Plus, sadly, on this particular bizarro night, there simply weren’t a lot of beautiful new people to make these new hassles worth the trouble. As shallow as it sounds, it’s always more palatable if there is hotness involved in these new bodies.
But to move off this vapid note, I just mention this as one of those “gym phenomenons” that we regulars occasionally encounter. It does keep things interesting, but it tends to muck up your regular workout to a point that can be a bit exasperating.
So if you encounter a “Bizarro Day” in the gym, just grin and bear it because in all likelihood, things will be back to normal the next day with all the friendly regulars saying hello and making things comfortable again. It’s just one of those weird gym things!