The weighty issue

warning: crazy rant ahead from an exhausted new-gym-goer.

Not sure what to make of it. I love exercising – but the new routine doesnt quite seem right for me.

While I do get a kick out of being able to push 15 and 20kgs on the machines, it leaves me exhausted. My eyes hurt like hell for the rest of the day. I dont quite know why. The internet didnt throw up much conclusive information.  It’s always been this way – way back in the BC (before child) days as well. And so I never moved beyond the humble 2.5 kg dumbells. I never weight trained. Stuck to good old free exercises.

But this new gym seems to have a set belief. That everyone MUST do weights. Heavy weights.  I count anything beyond 10 kgs as heavy.  I see 45 yr old aunties and 55 yr old uncles doing more weights than me – every day. The instructor pushes me to do 11kg ie 25 pounds on the machines for upper body; and 30-40 pounds for lower body. Just because I can. He asks me why I’m cribbing – esp since I manage to pull through the 15 reps. I tried telling him I’ve been carrying around a kid the last few years – currently weighing in at 14 kgs. I’m kinda used to it.

This workout routine leaves me drained. By 10 am, my eyes hurt like I’ve had a few night outs. The rest of me is fine though. No muscle ache. But the eyes refuse to stay open. Dont know what to make of it.

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I hate upselling. Every alternate day one or the other trainer walks up to me, coaches me for a while; and then pushes me to sign up for their personal training program with the spiel that it’ll ensure the weight loss – esp the 10 kgs I need to loose. They just keep insisting I need to loose weight – 10kgs. I’m 64 kgs. The ideal weight for my height is 54kgs. Hence I MUST loose 10kgs. It’ll be good for me.

They never stop to listen to what I want from exercising or why I signed up.

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Now why did I sign up – because I want to get back into shape. Meaning I want to get fit. I’ve had it with feeling flabby. I want to get back to the way I used to be BC. I like that light feeling. That no flab, well toned, fit as a fiddle feeling. And the energy levels.

I’d tried ‘exercising’ on my own the last few months. But I lack the discipline. More often than not, it came down to a 20 min walk, 2 or 3 days a week. Which is pretty close to nothing :)

So I signed up with a reputed gym for a fitness program. Hoping the fact that it’s paid; plus the environment would kinda force me to er, actually exercise.

And while I’m not quite thrilled with it, it is forcing me to question my beliefs about exercising and fitness. For eg

- This is the first gym I’ve seen that’s so packed. It’s large. It’s well equipped. And yet it’s always packed. Even at 6 am sharp when it’s pitch dark outside.

- It’s packed with “fit” people. Most of the early morning crowd is lean and well toned. Few are a ‘bit flabby’; and very few, if at all, are actually fat.

- It’s not a ‘young’ crowd. Large portion is the 30+ age group; and a sizeable 40+; men as well as women.

- EVERYONE does heavy weights and machinery. Age no bar. Gender no bar.

- Very few, if at all, any people do free exercises; or abs.

- There’s no ‘proper’ warm up or cool down that at other places was always drilled as being mandatory. And instructors dont pay attention to the breathing.

Normally, I would’ve walked away . But everyone here looks fit. And I’ve paid up for a few months. I’m wondering if I’m missing something – are my exercise notions outdated?

Why my weight is none of your business.

While we’re talking of numbers here… let’s talk about weight.

Why is everyone so obsessed with it ? And who are you to decide my “ideal” weight or to say I’m overweight. Especially if I’m fit and not flabby.

Triggered by my trip to a professional gym. After 4 years. I signed up – for their fitness program. And was assured that they’d chalk a workout program just for me. The guy who supposedly customised my workout program – just looked at my weight and height; insisted I’m overweight and I should sign up instead for their weight loss program; which includes diet counselling; and oh, is only Rs 5k extra for 3 months. And while telling me all this, he wrote down my ‘customised’ workout program. He never asked whether I’ve exercised before; when or how. He didnt ask how my body responds to exercise. Or diet. He didnt even register that I’m not flabby; or that I’ve got decently toned biceps & quadraceps for a person who’s just signing up. He just “decided” that I’m overweight and need to be sold a weight loss program. Hrmmph.

Aren’t you supposed to be experts and focus on wholesome fitness?

Well, let me tell you mister – I’ve been exercising on and off for the last 17 years in some way or the other. Gym, sports or dance. My body responds well to exercise. And each time I gym regularly (read greater than 2 months), my body tones up perfectly. No flab. But I never have lost weight due to exercise. I loose inches. I loose flab. I tone up. But never weight. And my weight has always always been above the “acceptable” weight defined by my height. And I’m fine with that.

Even in my worst flabby years post-child-birth, it wasnt the weight I was uncomfortable about – but the flab. The floating huge feeling. And all I wanted – was to tone up. Get back control over my body.

Weight is just another number that you guys (those in the exercise/weight loss business) like to throw around and play with. And make most gullible people feel embarrassed about. In order to get business.

Yes, I know, its’ called upselling.

But here’s the deal – I for one, am ok with my weight. I do not use it to measure my health.