The Obsessive Girl: She normally does 1 very intense hour. Always tan, the perfect loose messy bun, always wears a bright sweat shirt and cute running pants. She does cardio to start and then does some smaller cardio in-between her routine for her weights-legs day 3 days a week, arms 3 days a week. She never misses even though you know she’s busy and always smiles with perfect white teeth as she loudly says “hello!” to those she’s recognized with her earphones still in her ears.
The Grumpy Old Man: He’s retired but still comes at the same time as when he use to work. He looks so serious on the elliptical or the bike. We’ve spoken once several months ago when some Lunks were dropping heavy weights. He continued to show signs of agitation and finally turned to me and said “Unbelievable!” as loudly as possible. Since then, we nod once in a while.
The Dedicated Petite Lady: She’s not naturally petite. She gets on the elliptical and runs while reading. Her blond hair is always up in a tight messy bun and her big blue eyes are searching for where to improve. She’s added weights to her routine now after several months of just cardio. She nods to the elliptical group occasionally but tends to stay to herself.
The Sweat Machine: He’s in his mid 40’s with a crew cut. Works out for hours a day and has lost over a hundred pounds. He’s terrified of gaining an ounce of it back and can’t see what he’s accomplished. His large t-shirt is drenched with sweat and his shorts are stuck to him because of it. Always wears tube socks pulled up and old sneakers that have been used to beyond their acceptable amount. He takes the spray bottle for wiping the machines down and puts it at his machine. He cleans it before but not after. It grosses us all out the amount of sweat that is left on the machine and annoys us all that he takes one of the 3 spray bottles strategically placed but we all are proud of him and won’t say anything to him. Even though the gym now has signs up to clean machines AFTER use, no one will say anything. He’s by far the most social of the group, saying hello to folks and complimenting people as they go. Telling people occasionally how proud he is of us.
The Big Builder: He’s got a scowl on his middle aged face and his thicker dirty blond hair is pulled back with a dark sweat band. He’s tall, really tall and heavy but never does regular cardio-occasionally a bike for 5 minutes to warm up. Lifts high power amounts at a time and stands around recovering and looking in the mirror for long periods of time. He has a plan. I haven’t figured it out yet but he has one. He never says hello, nods, or even smiles to the rest of us.
The Sweat Hard/ Try Hard/ Exhausted Newbie: She’s heavy and has lost weight but she tries so hard. She wears the loose fitting black pants and baggy t-shirt. And she’s always got the exhausted positive attitude. Unlike the rest of us, she uses a trainer. He tells her exactly what to start on and where to go and she follows. Even though you can see her tiredness as she sits on the bike for 5 minutes between medicine balls and ropes, she is focused. This time is her time. She is going to beat obesity. She’s lost weight in the past few months and is gaining confidence but asks the trainer about everything. She says hello occasionally but normally watches the trainer.
The Desperately Seeking His Youth Man: He’s short. He’s stout but dammit he’s going to get back into his college sweats. He’s clearly recently divorced but not bitter about it. He’s living up the single life now. He is loud and makes jokes but he’s on that treadmill when he wants to come. He’s the social butterfly making sure that everyone acknowledges his hello.
When I started going to this gym, I was 315lbs. I would do 20-30 minutes on the elliptical and I would go home. I would regularly go for about 3 weeks then not go for another month or two. Since the surgery, I’ve continued this regular off and on. I guess I’m the Scattered Attendance Girl.
But my routine has changed. I use to go in and only do the elliptical. There were 3 of them so Grumpy Old Man, Dedicated Petite Lady, and myself usually occupied them for the 5:00 hour. Now, I’ve changed it up. I ran on the treadmill last night. Dedicated Petite Lady was working on her arms, and Grumpy Old Man was on the bike. They looked lonely without us. Our ellipticals were free for the taking and the new girl got on one.
It started to make me wonder. We’re all in this ever evolving health/wellness/fitness world. What will a new person think of our crowd? Will they watch us? What is my position in this group to them? I don’t look like the dying morbidly obese woman I was once. I am still obese but JUST OBESE. Do they look at me and see me as just a chubby girl or am I more normal looking?
I often feel like I’m in disguise. People that are now meeting me can’t imagine me big. People that have known me for years that haven’t seen me in a while have a hard time believing it’s me. I still feel huge and tiny at the same time. I’m down to a 2x pants and they’re big. I can wear Large unisex shirts and XL women’s shirts. I feel like I’m faking this world. My closet is no longer 26/28’s but instead 18/20’s and I feel still so big. But yet, we’ll continue.
WT: 215.8...just Obese. Class 1 obese.
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| Class 1 Obese. First time in 12 years. 10/18/19 (Sorry for the hair, it was midnight, I was crafting) |
