Do You People-Watch at the Gym?

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Do You People-Watch at the Gym?

June 4, 2009

Since I'm a social and curious person by nature, I admit that I people-watch at the gym while I'm working out. I'm not obvious about it, but I definitely check out people's form, get ideas for new ways to strength train, and use their energy to motivate me to work harder. What about you?

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25 Comments

brownsugamama 4 years

I am a people watcher, but I never watched the folks at the gym. I am too clumsy to be looking around at other things. Must focus on the workout. But if they are like right in front on me and I was bored I might watch them.

ElectroPopTart 4 years

I look at HOOOOOOOOT guys as if they were juicy burgers =)

4 years

periodically i people watch because there are people at the gym who do utterly ridiculous things, but most of the time i just try to concentrate on my workout so i can get through it and do it properly. i've noticed people who are watching me, usually people who aren't in such great shape, and i cant help thinking that's part of the reason why. you're distracting yourself from what you're there to do.

Giasbash6260 4 years

Well typically I bring TONS of reading material and get lost in it when I am on a cardio machine at the gym but when I run out or they get boring... I start looking around... Unfortunately I have found no cute boys to keep my occupied... only beef cakes checking themselves out in mirrors!

sparklestar 4 years

Yep! I am constantly people watching at the gym. Today there was a woman who was basically humping mat... it was so funny. =)

bvfashion 4 years

I definitely people watch during when I do cardio. Not obviously, but I'll glance out of the corner of my eye at the people near me. And the treadmill is right in front of a window, so I watch what's going on outside as well.

heatherhas 4 years

Nah. I block it all out. I hate it when people interrupt my workout and they will always be people who stare. I'm over it.

misskacie 4 years

No. People-watching distracts me. Besides, I learned that a few people routinely watch me and it made me a teensy bit uncomfortable.* I wouldn't want to (even inadvertently) cause someone else to feel that same discomfort. *Running outside isn't an option where I live, unfortunately.

misskacie 4 years

medicgirl 4 years

Yeah I definitely do when I am doing cardio. The machines are up top so you kinda 'look down' at people...there one girl who is so pathetic I kinda feel sorry for her. All she does is walk back and forth in-front of all the men working out, wearing her little outfit and sticking her boobs out. I don't think I have ever actually seen her work out. My friends and I call her 'workout barbie', she is entertaining to say the least.

La Tua Cantante 4 years

Definitely. I'm a people watcher wherever I am. I just try not to be obvious or rude, because I don't want to come off as creepy.

katyharper 4 years

Oh - and I totally forgot. There's one woman who dances while she's on the arc trainer. Like, full-out, JAMMIN'. She's moving all around, mouthing the words to the song on her iPod - it is GREAT. Love her.

Spectra 4 years

I don't usually look at anyone on purpose, but sometimes there are people in the gym that I sort of can't help but watch...like the guy that always comes in and works out in suit pants and a dress shirt (ew!) and the lady that talks to herself when she's on the stationary bike. And the guy that gets on the elliptical machine and goes gangbusters with the speed to the point that he almost flies off of it. Ok, so maybe I watch people more than I thought!

katyharper 4 years

Unfortunately, I agree with spacekatgal. Most women compare ourselves with others, whether we do it consciously or not. I find that if I'm on the treadmill next to someone who's not in as good of shape as I am, I stand up straighter and maybe kick it up a notch, but if the girl next to me is Super Athlete, I don't perform as well. Sad, but true.

nutrihuney 4 years

usually do this when I am on the cardio equipment and all the TVs are set to sports. I also watch if someone is doing an exercise I have never seen or tried before.

nutrihuney 4 years

usually do this when I am on the cardio equipment and all the TVs are set to sports. I also watch if someone is doing an exercise I have never seen or tried before.

spacekatgal 4 years

I go to an all women's gym, because it's close and cheap. I really miss the eye candy from my old gym. I think there's a part of the female brain that always compares itself to other women. I'm constantly ranking who is in better shape, who is prettier, who is going to gain weight when they're older, who is doing exercises I could learn from, etc.

spacekatgal 4 years

I go to an all women's gym, because it's close and cheap. I really miss the eye candy from my old gym.I think there's a part of the female brain that always compares itself to other women. I'm constantly ranking who is in better shape, who is prettier, who is going to gain weight when they're older, who is doing exercises I could learn from, etc.

hotdog44 4 years

Most of the time I just can't help it. At the gym in my apartment there is a guy who is constantly groaning and I just want to tell him to shut up the whole time. Then there is another old guy who always has the AC off and will switch between bikes while reading the newspaper and literally sweat buckets, so when I go in there are puddles of sweat on the floor and it's a sauna. So I generally people watch because it's unavoidable and the people are being annoying.

4 years

When I go to the gym, I go to work out. Being watched and judged is the main reason I choose to go running alone or work out at home rather than going to the gym and subjecting myself to unwanted stares.

sunshinepointe 4 years

No, I'm there to work out. The only person I watch is the instructor or myself in the mirror. Occasionally I'll glance at someone to see how they're doing if they're a new student but that's the teacher in me.