# Do you go to a gym? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896 "2005-09-28T19:06:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/21 "2005-09-29T03:40:50Z")
I normally go to the gym 4-6 times a week… usually 3-4 days of lifting, at least a day of significant cardio, and hopefully at least a day of basketball (since my gym is my college rec center, at least during the academic year). I haven’t been able to go for the last couple of weeks because I’ve been too busy with work, and it’s been seriously screwing with my physical and mental health. I just have this feeling that my body is completely out of balance… I am sleeping too much… I am having trouble concentrating on work… everything just feels a little wrong. I am pretty hopeful that I will be able to get back into my regular routine after this weekend so I can get back to semi-normal life. The gym just plain makes me feel better, and that’s a good enough reason to give it an hour or two every day. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/22 "2005-09-29T04:16:36Z")
I started going to the YMCA 2 months ago, and go about 4 times a week. I never liked exercising just to exercise, so I was once in your shoes. But basically, I was just overweight and depressed; really down and out with the blues, feeling nobody cared if I were alive. I honestly thought the whole world was so jive. But someone came up to me, and said, young man, if you move into that new apartment near the park, then you could just take a walk up the street to a place there called the YMCA that can start you back on your way. In conclusion, I say young man, put your pride on the shelf, and just go there, to the YMCA, and I’m sure they can help you today. It’s a true story. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/23 "2005-09-29T06:04:21Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > I guess I’ve always thought going to a gym was a somewhat unusual thing to do (I mean, going somewhere to exercise on purpose! That’s just bizarre.) That’s where I am on the gym thing. But then I live in the country and have lots of outside projects that involve muscles and sweat. > [@lorinada](#): > > My pedal exerciser broke tonight, **right in the middle of my lower body!** Was there much blood? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/24 "2005-09-29T12:02:40Z")
I go to the gym 4 or 5 times per week. I’ve been doing so for about 20 years. I started going because I was 21 but felt like I was 100 (too much alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc. in college). Once I started I realized how much better I felt, how much better I looked, and how my outlook had changed. Now, if I miss too much time I really feel sluggish and just blah. I alternate free weights and cardio day by day. I also vary my workout routine every few weeks just to keep it fresh and to stimulate muscles from different angles. Interesting anectdotes? Let’s see…I’ve had a man die of a heart attack on the treadmill next to me and I’ve been propositioned by a prominent politician in the steam room. Other than that, its been enjoyable but uneventful. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/25 "2005-09-29T13:16:35Z")
> [@plnnr](#): > > I go to the gym 4 or 5 times per week. I’ve been doing so for about 20 years. I started going because I was 21 but felt like I was 100 (too much alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc. in college). Once I started I realized how much better I felt, how much better I looked, and how my outlook had changed. Now, if I miss too much time I really feel sluggish and just blah. Ditto, down to the word. No gym = wobbly, flabbly weak Slortar. Gym = strong, nice-looking Slortar who looks 10 years younger. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/26 "2005-09-29T14:16:30Z")
> [@furt](#): > > I started going to the YMCA 2 months ago, and go about 4 times a week. I never liked exercising just to exercise, so I was once in your shoes. > > But basically, I was just overweight and depressed; really down and out with the blues, feeling nobody cared if I were alive. I honestly thought the whole world was so jive. > > But someone came up to me, and said, young man, if you move into that new apartment near the park, then you could just take a walk up the street to a place there called the YMCA that can start you back on your way. > > In conclusion, I say young man, put your pride on the shelf, and just go there, to the YMCA, and I’m sure they can help you today. > > It’s a true story. 😃 My son took a summer job at the Y and I gave him all kinds of grief with that song! He’s since taken another temp job with them but I’m leaving him alone this time. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/27 "2005-09-29T18:21:32Z")
I go to a gym because I play racquetball, and they’re the only places with courts. I have used the pool there, as well. I could use the exercise equipment, but I rarely do. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/28 "2005-09-29T19:51:52Z")
Yes I go to the gym. I feel wimpy and slack if I don’t go. Also, I’m about 15 pounds overweight as is. Lord knows what I’d look like if I didn’t work out. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/29 "2005-09-29T22:03:00Z")
Yep, I go to the gym twice a week to work out with my trainer, and a third time in the week if my schedule permits it. The trainer’s expensive, but this was the first time I ever had a gym membership, and I would have had no idea what to do without her. (Also, I probably would have hurt myself on the weight machines, not knowing the importance of lining up pivot points and so forth.) She also works me harder than I would work myself, to the point of puking (after I arrived home, thank goodness) once, and very close to it on at least two other occasions. I’m probably going to stick with her for another few months (hopefully long enough to get rid of my damn flabby middle), at which point I think I’ll know my way around well enough to fend for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/30 "2005-09-30T03:48:24Z")
> [@John Carter of Mars](#): > > Was there much blood? 😃 Passersby were amazed by the large quantity of it. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896/31 "2005-09-30T14:33:10Z")
I go to the gym every day for a cardio workout. I also have a treadmill and stationary bike at home. I am trying to lose weight and build muscle tone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-go-to-a-gym/323896.md?page=1)