Yes, it's New Year's Resolution time. Though I am known for pointedly NOT making New Years Resolutions, my hand was forced this time. In order to prepare for the official wedding in November between me and my dearest love, I need to be in better shape! I'm starting to jog (yesterday was Day 3 of Learning to Jog for Beginners), a thing I've never done before, and I'm doing weight training much more regularly at the gym. My idea is to get into good enough shape to where I can start Kung Fu, and not make a complete idiot out of myself.
I also think that exercise can be an area where I can discuss gender a bit, so here goes.
One thing I've definitely noticed is how gendered the gym is. Women and men equally use the cardio equipment, but as far as the other training areas go, women go for the leg weights and floor exercises, more masculine men are in the free weights area (along with a few women who have abs you could wash clothes on) and it seems that the less masculine, less muscular men use the upper body weight machines.
Wanna guess which area I fit in? Whether or not you chose to guess, I typically stick with the upper body machines. It lets me focus on the areas I want to build up (back, shoulders, arms, chest), in a "safe" way. I used to work out with my sister, who for a time, was fitness crazy, so I know proper form for free weights. I could probably do just fine next to the guys bench pressing hundreds of pounds, but I (along with many others) don't venture over there. It's an exclusive zone, and everyone seems to know it, however unspoken. I have the sense that my reasons for not going over there, that those men are intimidating, that I don't belong there, that I'm not in good enough shape, are the same reasons other men might have that keep them from the free weights, too. This is just one more area that makes me question how well I carry my butch demeanor.
However, I'm not too bothered by it, because I tend to put on muscle very easily. Already, within a week or so of active gym time, I can feel my arms, chest and shoulders firming up again, and that makes me feel good. I tend to neglect my legs. In my mind it seems too girly to work on my inner thigh muscles when I could be toning my back, and I always tell myself that my legs are too tired from cardio to do any more weights.
I know I ought to pay attention to my entire body, equally, but first, I have to stop paying attention to gender. We'll see when that happens!
Wish me luck on my goal to lose 30-40 this year!
About Me
- CR Thompson
- I'm a gay, liberal Buddhist. I love Scotch. I am an amazing cook. I wear plaid.
5 comments:
You know, though I can't directly relate to this... I remember being at the gym w/ Jess and she went over to the free weights, I remember getting a distinctive drop in the pit of my stomach that nothing would go down because she is who she is...
I'd go down, for sure, but I was ready for someone to say something shitty.
Luckily they didn't :)
great post. I feel ya on the gender thing.. I definitely notice the same separation in the place. I got fed up and decided to just go do it. I don't feel like the machines give me the same resistance as the free weights. I wish I had room for a weight bench in the house, I'd definitely get one.
I'm so proud of you.
New to your blog. Glad to hear you are making headway on your resolution.
I walk (5 miles each evening) in part to de-stress and also because I hate the high school unspoken rules aspect of gyms. If I wanted to pay good money to feel crappy about myself I'd be back in therapy.
But therapy doesn't do much help me tone up my body, so I may have to resign myself to doing the gym thing. At least I don't have to talk about my mother there.
Dude, do not neglect the legs. Inner and outer thigh strength is important for some exercises you may want to do away from the gym. Also, I get pretty good feedback on my thighs in general, so keep that in mind. A nicely toned and muscular thigh can be very handy..
Good luck with the regimen
Post a Comment