"Gym Rats" New and Old

Every evening as I stroll into the West Loop Athletic Club, I dread the possibility that someone may be monopolizing my favorite treadmill, (it is the second one to right of the second set of windows facing the basketball court, just to warn you fellow treadmill stealer's)! Anyways, if my lucky machine is unavailable, I will try to hop on another, but that is becoming increasingly more difficult. After all, it is New Years' resolution season! The once quiet, serene gym has become an overwhelming conglomeration of veteran worker outers, individuals that work out in "cycles," (these people follow the seasons, winter= indoor sessions, summer= outdoor workouts), and every one's favorites, the "newbies." The newcomers are often easy to spot, working with trainers, learning the breathing techniques of Pilates, trying not trip and fall off of the stair climber, and looking around to see what everyone else is doing!

I really don't mind the new crew. It is great that people want to get out there and work out to improve their health. However, once April and May roll around, a miraculous change occurs at the gym. The crowds thin out, my treadmill is available 90 percent of the time, gym goers can actually get a mat out of the bin for Yoga class, and the 5 and 8 pound weights for workout challenge are back on the market. Ahhhhhhh! What a relief!

For all those gym rats who are present during all four seasons, you know what I am saying. It is great to see more people becoming active, but when the gym gets back into the April-November cycle, (when people often exercise outdoors, or give up all together), it is a welcome break in the action. After all, for those people who are in the gym five to six times a week, every week of the year, it feels like a dream to be able to hop onto a favorite machine and go, go, go...... until New Years rolls around again!