my thoughts about the gym

I went to the gym for the first time in a very long time. I didn't plan on it since I am not even a member. I asked a friend to have a beer with me, but he was on his way to the gym so he asked me to come along and since I was restless and desperately needed to exercise, I went. I have only been to the gym a handful of times because the thought of exercising that hard with a bunch of other fit people sounds like the most awful thing I could do to myself.

I don't like the gym for the following reasons:

1.) It smells like sweat. I don't mind my own sweat but dozens of other people in close proximity sweating is gross.
2.) It's hot. All of that body heat and energy in the air causes you to sweat the minute you walk in.
3.) No matter what I do or how much money I spend on work out clothes, I will always look terrible in gym clothes unless I have the body of a Victoria Secret model.
4.) I look disgusting sweaty and breathing heavily.
5.) You're surrounded by people who are really into exercising and being fit so they're agile, coordinated, ripped and look great rolling on a ball, while you have a hard time standing on one leg.

I honestly don't know why people love going to the gym besides having access to a wide array of exercise machines and weights. Tonight I have a couple of theories why:

1.) They can be smug and tell their coworkers they went to the gym last night.
2.) They can check-in on various social networking sites to let everyone else know they care about being fit while everyone else reading their status is likely sitting on their asses watching t.v.
3.) They like people watching and they like being watched
4.) They like this overtly sexual exercise machine (which I discovered tonight) where you sit, spread your legs and the seat moves so your hips thrust back and forth as you close and open your legs. you repeat this motion until your butt and inner thighs burn.
5.) It's a good way to meet people. I don't have any personal experience with this but this is what I've heard and I don't understand it. I would imagine the gym would be the worst place to land a date but people must find sweating and breathing hard extremely attractive.

I ended up joining the gym because I am a sucker. I will work hard to go and get the most out of it at least for one month, since it is a monthly membership. The great thing about working out at home is I can watch t.v., I can work out in my PJs or naked and I don't have to smell anyone else's sweat but my own, so I am skeptical I will keep this membership. I have to say I do like going to the gym with a friend.