Working out doesn’t mean being perfect.
Sometimes it means going from the gym to work without a shower, or eating 2 pieces of cheesecake at 10pm… not that I would know.
Today’s Work It Out is dedicated to imperfection.
It’s easy to feel like everyone else is eats cleaner, is more disciplined, or is in better shape than you. It’s not true. Try as we might to fight it, we are mere mortals.
I am painfully human. #sorryimnotsorry
________________________________________________________________________________________
In the spirit of full discolsure and keeping it real, here are a few things I must confess:
1. People talk about how comparison is bad… but I sort of like it. Being the most competitive person I know I enjoy a challenge, so trying to out-lift the dude next to my in the weight room only fuels my fire.
2. I like red wine. A lot. My cheat day includes more than one glass.
3. Sometimes I wear the same outfit to workout 2-3 times without washing it. Sports bras… 4-5 times.
4. If you are hogging the machine while “resting” (a.k.a. playing on your phone reading a magazine, eating a banana), I am fanticizing about beating your ass. then I will walk over and politely ask if I may work in while you screw around rest.
5. I drink a ton of water… so much that I have to pee at least once during my workout. I also can’t make it through the night without getting up to go. It makes me feel like an old lady.
6. In my head I’m 5’6 and completely ripped. In reality… well, I’m 5’3 (on a good day) and slowly building. Reality bites.
7. I’m a loner in the gym. Unless I’m with my trainer, I want to be left to my own devices and move at my own pace. Until I need a spot.
8. I always wear mascara and a little eyeshadow to the gym. Always.
yeah, yeah…
9. Sometimes if I’m going straight from work to the gym (or vice versa) I wear a sports bra and black workout pants to work for a faster change.
10. On my heaviest set… a fart has been known to slip out.
***
Unrelated confession: I wish Bacon Mouthwash hadn’t been an April Fool’s joke.
Confess! What are you guilty of?
What is your gym etiquette pet peeve?
I’m guilty of wearing make-up to the gym, whether or not I go after work. And though I always wear my running clothes just once, I tend to bring one workout shirt to work each week and use it for all four classes that I teach. In my defense, it does get to air out for a day between wearings 🙂
I air mine out too. Totally acceptable. 😉
1-4, 9 and 10 are like I wrote this post 😉
We should hang out. 😉
LOL! I didn’t know you were only 5’3″ – you look taller! I wear the same clothes for multiple workouts too, unless it’s after legs. Then it needs a wash 😉
The good thing about being a PT is I can go straight from the gym to work and no one will bat an eye, haha. In my last job, not so much!
I’m jealous of all you PTs! I want my work attire to be yoga pants. 🙂
Haha! Love the farting and make-up one. I used to love how some girls used to show up to my swimming practices with make-up on. Oh they’d look like raccoons right after.
Yeah, the farting one is funny! When I was younger and had to do a sit-ups fitness test in gym, it’s something that I had to worry about to avoid 😛
If I was swimming there would be no mascara!
Thanks for your confessions! I love red wine too!!! I knew there was something fishy about the bacon mouthwash….
That made me think of fishy mouthwash. Ewww! LOL!
My biggest pet peeve – not cleaning up after yourself. I don’t want else’s sweat or put away their dumbbells. My confession – I love running to 80s hairband music. I seriously think I run faster to Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister.
Yessss! Hairbands are where its AT! 🙂
MEN
GRUNTING
WHEN
IT’S
NOT
NECESSARY
#yesIsaidit
Especially when they are lifting less than I am!
LOL. I too wear a little makeup to the gym sometimes 🙂
You definitely look taller than 5’3!
And I wear the same outfit to the gym without washing it…at least a couple of times. I don’t have a laundry machine at home, so I need all the use out of them that I can get! :-p
Really?! Thanks! 🙂
haha, I’m guilty of a few of these myself. A few beers? What of it. Not washing workout clothes for a couple/few days? It happens.
There is one area where I must disagree – you ARE ripped! Enjoy it! 🙂
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants up to be happy. 😉
um i wear my gym clothes waaaaaay too much. as long as i have clean underwear on, it doesn’t bother me! ha!
Good point of clarification – my undies are always clean! 🙂
Umm, I’ve definitely farted more than once while running on the treadmill. I just pretend it wasn’t me.
I’ve gone so far as to make a disgusted face at the guy next to me. LOL!
I love you! You crack me up! Hahaha. And my confession – I dance during my walking breaks on the treadmill. Whatever makes time go by faster, right?!
Haha – I want to see this. 🙂
I love the non-perfectness here!!
Just last night my neighbor said – you probably never eat that kind of junk food. What??? Why do you think I work out? Funny some people just assume that we eat “clean” because of what we do!
I’m a fan of the 80/20 rule! 😉
i just love you.
xoxo
I LOVE, LOVE, love this post! I drink a lot of water too so I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who gets up at night too. I only go to yoga on an empty stomach because of my previous “slips”, but running outside is the perfect release. LOL
LOL! Yeah, you don’t want to be behind me on the beltline. 😉
I Luuuuuuuuuuuhhhh you!!!
Heavy sets and farting … I’ve been a victim and an offender.
Banging of weights! Gah! Can’t stand that! That, or talking to me while I’m doing a set.
Being the victim is MUCH less fun and the offender. 😉
OMG – WHY do people think they can ask you a questions when you have heavy weight over your head?!
I won’t disclose any other “secrets” that Laura might have when it comes to her training in the gym. 😉 But she’s no 5’3″, I would guess she was measuring with her workout shoes on. Ha
You’re the one that said 5’3!!!
What a fun post to read–made me laugh. 🙂 I’m totally with you on a number of these. Definitely the red wine, and definitely the “keep changing easy”. I’ve been known to sleep in my workout clothes, so I can save time in the morning when I wake up and am heading straight to the gym.
Sleeping in them is such a good idea!!!
I confess – I am a farter too! Sometimes when you’re blasting around the track, one just sorta slips out!
Biggest pet peeves – taking all of the free weights you need and hoarding them at your bench, walking in lane one on the track and not moving when I yell “track!”, and not paying attention when you go to cross the track and stepping out right in front of me. I’m sorry, but when I am on interval 15 of 20X400m, I am TOO TIRED to dash out of YOUR way.
I hate when people think they own all the weights of space. You’re NOT the only one here!!!
TRUTH! I don’t lift very heavy weights, so when I’m in the weight room and there are NO lighter (less than 30lbs) weights to be seen, I’m like “what are all these macho-dudes doing with the baby weights?” Hmmmm?? 😛
Yeah, I’m guilty of makeup to the gym too. Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it besides being impractical sometimes. Other than that, mascara all the way!
Cheers to that!
LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t have a lot of workout clothes so…. BUT I smell so bad even with the hard core anti-perspirant that I can’t wear things twice… I do a lot of cardio & sweat like a pig – no perspiring here! 🙂
LOVE the hog the machine & do nothing one – LOVE!
I AM A LONER TOTALLY – do my thing & leave me alone! 🙂
I am 55 – I pee all the time & lucky to make it to the toilet in time – it sucks getting old! 😉
YOU LOOK TALLER!!!
You made my day with this cause I am pooped from helping stepdaughter yesterday & I am going back to bed! 🙂
I am not too stinky, but I wear men’s deoderant. The gurly stuff doesn’t cut it!
I thought you were taller too! guess we all look taller on the internet? 😉
OH MAN! I love this! I was totally feeling your comments about going to the bathroom so much but I’m 38 weeks pregnant. 😉
I was so frustrated with this personal trainer last night and just like you, I wanted to invoke some pain. He had his client all spread out all over the gym making it tough for the rest of us to work out. He seemed to think he had the gym all to himself.
I was about to go bananas on him. 😉
Your trainer has no respect for other people. I own my facility, but I still try to be considerate of everyone else.
I don’t think it was her trainer…
I feel like I pee as much as a preggo lady. 😉
YAY – love this post! Love hearing the truth. I do think comparison can be ok as long as it’s giving you motivation and not consuming you and making you hate yourself. In my head I’m 5’7″ and totally ripped too. Reality – 5’2″ and not so ripped. And wine? Yes please. I’m also a loner at the gym. Running is weird, sometimes I need nothing more than to be alone as well but sometimes I end up really enjoying running with my husband or friend. If I can only wake up once at night to pee, I call that a success. I think I earn cardio points for the number of trips I take to the bathroom during the day!
That’s a great point – comparison can be a tool, but it can also be contorted into something not-so-good.
The gym is the only place I’ll go without makeup. I always go in the mornings before even showering, so my hair is a crazy wreck, legs gloriously unshaven, and dark circles under my eyes like I got in a brawl in a back alley on the way there. It really helps to keep strangers from talking to me (I have nothing nice to say while I’m huffing and puffing anyway.)
This cracked me up… I often have nothing nice to say… 😉
Some of these confessions are definitely out there (#9) But I ‘m happy to hear you say it because I feel like as soon as I go to the gym that’s when i get the overwhelming urge- I already gave myself the pep talk, which goes like “well obviously that happens because you’re working all of your muscles and they’re contracting and pushing out the gas”. Also, there really is a technique to inconspicuous umm… expulsion of gas. 😀
Ha – yes, there is a technique!
Hahah hilarious post!! I am also such a loner at the gym; I don’t like working out with anyone as it distracts me and doesn’t let me get into my groove properly!
I am also old lady like in the sense that i am always up in the night to go to the toilet due to the fact that i drink too much and farting when working out has definitely happened..the treadmill + the squat rack are the worst offenders..you just have to quickly dart off and pretend it wasn’t you ahha!
You definitely look way taller than 5’3!!!
Haha – I have been known to suddenly rush to the other side of the weight room. 😉
😆 That last e-card… oh God yes! And the comment from your trainer cracked me up big time, especially since I think I remember you mentioning that you were something like 5’2 5/8 😉
The best part is that he’s the one that told me 5’3!!!
since I am a running tights HOARDER, I always wear a new pair. tops though? those go 2 times max, unless the first time was a Run Fast Cardio Day…
I ALWAYS just walk up and ask if I can “play through” while someone is just sitting. using your phone!? OH JUST GO OUTSIDE.
I want that wine glass.
I should admit that running is another beast. After a hot summer run there is NO re-wearing clothing.
Makeup, yes. Dirty clothes, double yes. Sports bra on day 5, hell to the yes!
Glad to see that we’re both human Laura 😉
High five to humanity, my friend! 🙂
I like to wear a bit of eye make up to the gym too!
And I have been getting up every night to pee since I was old enough to get up and go by myself. EVERY night.
My biggest pet peeve at the gym last month was a guy in my 2 yoga classes that would tell me how to fold my mat or wipe it down or where to put it, after every class. Really spoiled my zen… finally learned to keep my back to him and then he couldn’t engage me!
Ugh – over-correctors drive me insane!
1, 3, 4, 7, 9 — check. I’m weirdly surprised you wear any makeup to the gym. I am fully aware i look disgusting at the gym, and i’m okay with that. 🙂
The make-up was harder to admit to than farting. I just feel better with mascara on!
I agree about the being a gym loner! Sometimes, when I go with my mom in our small town in PA I get totally freaked out how strangers come up and talk. I was on the treadmill and some random bro started talking to me despite me grunting out one word answers. Whhhhhy?!
Some people are so oblivious!
I never wear makeup to the gym, I have also been told no, that I would have to wait for the machine while someone enjoyed their resting time on said machine.
That happened to me too! The guy was sitting on the beanch eating a friggin’ BANANA!
HAHAHA. Glad I’m not the only one who rewears sports bras.
I hate when people stare at the gym. Dudes mostly. Not just when I’m doing akward cable pull throughs or hip thrusts, but anytime. I already look like a sweaty beast, I know, and I’m incredibly vascular, and gasp, I’m a girl lifting weights and I know what I’m doing, but, please stop staring.
What about while doing weighted hip lifts? That’s the WORST!
Hahahhaa I love this. And red wine.
This post right here is why you’re the only “healthy living blogger” I follow any more 😀
3 and 5 are definitely me, and if I did work out at a gym instead of at home I’m pretty sure all the other points would apply to me too 😛
Jenny, that means so much. Thank you!!!
Love the confessions! And farting while working out? Soooo happens!
You know me and red wine…I’m not good enough to wait until “cheat” day. hehe!! 🙂
This post cracks me up! I love it! The farting thing happens.. no doubt. Also, I drink too much wine 🙂 hehe & I love it.
Hahah, I love this too much so awesome.
Well, I don’t go to the gym that often, since I happen to have weights, mats, bosu balls, KB’s, spin bike at home (which I’m thankful for)
However, if I do take a class, I’m guilty of wearing makeup all the time. I don’t like leaving the house without it, plus if I’m coming from somewhere I don’t want to take it off (too many extra steps 😉 )
You have all that at home?! That’s awesome!
I love all of these!! Though I’m not super competitive, I will admit that I look at other guys dumbell, machine, etc weights to see if I’m anywhere near what they lift LOL. Sometimes I am… sometimes I’m not. At all. I’m also like you in that I’m a loner! A perfect day at the gym is when nobody talks to me while I’m in my zone!
Are there actually people who wash their workout clothes after EVERY wear? Pants are at least 3x before washing. These are awesome, I can totally relate to most of them 🙂
Apparently so! Whatever – I don’t like doing laundry. 🙂
I freaking LOVE this post- LOVE.
Oh my gosh #10 hahaha yup. Also I judge the gym by the cleanliness of the bathroom, I used to never have to pee during a workout but post-baby I always go immediately before or during.
Good call! Thankfully mine isn’t bad.
Such a funny post, and I’m thrilled you confessed to full on flatulence. It made my day, and yes fart jokes have that kind of power over me. P.S. I like some comparison too; a little healthy competition so to speak.
I’m such a chile that reading the word “flatulence” just made me laugh.
lol!! These made my day!! I get so annoyed at machine hogs too. I am guilty of wearing my sports bra and workout pants under my scrubs on days I go to the gym after work. Makes it so much easier.
I’d probably workout in scrubs if I had ’em. 😉
Oh I love all of these! My gym confession: I am an occupational therapist so my job is teaching correct form while exercising, my peeve is when I am at the gym and I over hear someone teaching someone else the incorrect way to complete an exercise or giving bogus medical advice. I am also a group exercise instructor and I can not take a class where the instructor is either off beat or worse, doesn’t teach on a 32 count (I know that makes me sound super crazy). I will leave a class for that!
That kills me!!! I try my best nt to say anything, but if it’s going to cause injury all bets are of.
You look sooo much taller than 5’3!! Wow! This post literally had me cracking up! It was awesome! Love laughing early in the day! Have a great night Laura! 🙂
Thank you, Sarah! I wish I was taller than 5’3. Alas…
well I am guilty of not showering everyday, haha
Oh Lord… especially when I iwork from home. Tragic.
Hahahaha number 10 just got me!
I too think I need that wine glass – it’s the perfect size!
Phew! It’s a relief that someone else admits to not changing clothes every day! I thought I was the only one and was feeling a little embarrassed! There’s nothing wrong with a little sweat right? hahaha. You have the greatest posts girl! I just love this one! You’re not the only one who are guilty of these confessions, you’re the only one brave enough to admit it 🙂 haha. And I must say, I’m a loner in the gym too. But i like it that way because I get in and out , and get a good workout. You know how some girls are ( or at least my friends) they talk up a storm! The gym sesh turns into gossip hour! That’s not okay!
Thank you so much Ashley!!! I think everyone should just start owning it. 🙂
This is totally awesome and makes me so happy! I think it’s normal to re-wear workout gear before washing it. The only time I don’t is if I had a severely sweaty session where I’m peeling my clothes off. Then they just go right into the hamper.
Same here – after a sweaty summer run washing cannot be avoided!
This is AWESOME, I love it. Thank you for being REAL. I appreciate that and can relate…to def more than one number up there.
Thank you, Jess! It’s awesome to see how much people have in common. 🙂
Ha! I NEVER go ANYWHERE without mascara…including the gym!
Gym confession: I have to have good upbeat tunes when I’m at the gym. That being said, I typically break into dance at least ONCE during every workout…when I know no one’s watching! 😉 And I totally re-wear workout clothes…hey, unless I’m covered in sweat, I’m saving myself a load of laundry! Lol
Biggest pet peeve: people (usually guys) who leave like 500 pounds on the leg press machine! Then little wimps like me have to take 5 minutes out of their workout to take off like 6 plates before they can even attempt a set!
Oy – I listen to THE most embarassing music while I work out. That needs to be included in gym confessions, part II. 🙂
Your confessions make me feel better about my own meagre work outs 🙂
Loved this post!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
workout aren’t meager! The important thing is that you do them!
LOVE this post! That farting part made me laugh! I have a client that farts all the time when I’m working her out. Farts crack me up…yes, I’m a 4 year-old inside. I’m also 5’2″ on a good day and I have the longest leanest muscular body like a ballerina…in my mind anyway. 😉
I also pee like a grandma. I drink a ton of water and I’m lucky if I can make it 30 minutes between bathroom breaks especially at the gym. At night, I’m up at least 3 times.
I wouldn’t be able to hold it together! Does she acknolwdge the farting?!
I can’t go the night without waking up to pee…or eat a snack (if I’ve been running in the afternoon). I like eating at night, and I don’t care.
I get gassy when running on the track sometimes, but I try really hard to time my release to when I am passing someone wearing headphones.
I get annoyed if people try to talk to me too long at the gym. I could absolutely LOVE you in ‘real’ life, but this is GYM life. And here I don’t want to converse.
At first I thought you said you get sassy… and I could totally see that. Sassy and gassy.
Love the first sentence of this post! Working out does not have to mean being perfect 🙂 Have a great weekend!