there is something inherently competitive about gyms.
i'm not a competitive person generally, i don't bother competing nor comparing myself to others, i'll always lose miserably, but when at the gym, you simply can't help it. you glance over your shoulder to see the level at which the person beside you has their step machine, and up yours by one to match or beat it. you peer at the number of metres your neighbour has rowed in 10 minutes, and up your stroke per minute by two or three to ensure you seem faster. you nose at the number of laps run by the energetic blonde bouncing alongside you on the running machine, and attempt to out do her by a lap more. you wait until the guy in the lane next to you has started swimming, and front crawl as fast as humanly possible to reach the other end of the pool before him.
and i'm just as guilty as this as the next person - but its horribly destructive, as the person you compare yourself with looks back, sees that you are 0.2 steps per minute above him, and raises the bar again. you look back, see their increase, and must return the favour - it would be rude not too.
all this culminates in the person to my left getting buff, and me getting knackered, and leaving far sooner than boastable, heading for tescos for something to replenish my lost calories. but, still, i can say i go to the gym on a regular basis, and it is the only time i get to watch the eastenders omnibus on a sunday.
i'm not a competitive person generally, i don't bother competing nor comparing myself to others, i'll always lose miserably, but when at the gym, you simply can't help it. you glance over your shoulder to see the level at which the person beside you has their step machine, and up yours by one to match or beat it. you peer at the number of metres your neighbour has rowed in 10 minutes, and up your stroke per minute by two or three to ensure you seem faster. you nose at the number of laps run by the energetic blonde bouncing alongside you on the running machine, and attempt to out do her by a lap more. you wait until the guy in the lane next to you has started swimming, and front crawl as fast as humanly possible to reach the other end of the pool before him.
and i'm just as guilty as this as the next person - but its horribly destructive, as the person you compare yourself with looks back, sees that you are 0.2 steps per minute above him, and raises the bar again. you look back, see their increase, and must return the favour - it would be rude not too.
all this culminates in the person to my left getting buff, and me getting knackered, and leaving far sooner than boastable, heading for tescos for something to replenish my lost calories. but, still, i can say i go to the gym on a regular basis, and it is the only time i get to watch the eastenders omnibus on a sunday.
