People at the gym look at me like I'm weird

[Monkeyleg]

My wife and I started at another gym now that we've settled in down here. She does the treadmills and such, and I do the weight machines. I can't really push myself very hard because of back and tendon problems, which means I don't work up a sweat.

Anywho, when we started at the gym in Milwaukee, I'd take my gun and holster and put them in the glovebox before going into the gym. After awhile that seemed like a hassle, so I'd just go into the men's room, untuck my shirt, and not remove my vest. I would, however, wear my gym shoes.

Once we joined this place, I did the same thing, but got to thinking that it was dumb to wear gym shoes when I don't do anything that requires gym shoes. So I just keep my boots on. Basically all I do is untuck my shirt before going in.

I suppose it's going to take these folks awhile to adjust to a guy working out in a black leather vest, black denim pants, cowboy boots, and chewing on a skinny cigar.

[Mabs2]

Weirdo.

[seeker_two]

Weirdo.

....and if Mabs thinks you're a weirdo, you must be....

....or people think that Kinky Freidman joined their gym.... 

[Waitone]

Dick, its the leather.  Get some denim britches and you're good to go.  Southroners generally smoke tobacco when it is in stick form.  If you chew 'baccie" then chew it.  Red Man is a time honored brand.  Grizzly most often appears as a while circle in a rear pocket of your denim (see above comment) britches.  Has your wife figgered out tube tops are high fashion?

[Monkeyleg]

Waitone, I don't think we're in that part of the south, wherever that might be.

I've never been one to go out and buy all of the accessories for a hobby or pastime. I've seen many people buy a couple of thousand dollars worth of leathers before they even learn to ride their new Harley.

When I'm cut and rippled or whatever the terminology is, I'll maybe get a t-shirt. Seeing as how that won't happen, though, I guess I'll continue as is.

[Tallpine]

Or you could come out here and help us load and stack hay bales. 

Doesn't that count as weight training 

I won't even charge you all that much 

[tyme]

Is there really nothing you can do to work up a sweat without aggravating your injuries?

The others look at you weird because leather and boots at a gym are way outside of the norm... maybe not six-sigma weird, but probably five-sigma weird at least.

Call me a grinch but I don't know why it's surprising.  You can dress just to fit in, or you can find something you can do that justifies more typical workout clothes, or you can continue to expect strange looks like you could if you went to an opera in sweatpants and a hoodie.

[MillCreek]

Sigworthy!  Five sigma weird!  I must remember this.  Especially at the next green belt/black belt meeting.

[Balog]

Yeah, boots and leathers at the gym is like Liberace going to a biker bar. Just a bit off...

[Monkeyleg]

I'm not complaining about weird looks, just remarking. And I know it's weird. I've just never seen a point in buying clothing (or other things) to look the part when it's not necessary.

I could work up a sweat by doing treadmills, but then I'd lose weight, which I don't want to do.

As for comparisons to Liberace, well, I'd prefer if you picked another example, Balog.

[Perd Hapley]

Reminds me of the time I canoed down the river in olive drab cargo pants, long-sleeved t-shirt, and a boonie hat.  In June.  I got a few questions about my wardrobe.

'Course, what really freaked people out was when I actually paddled - wait for it - upstream!!   

[MillCreek]

^^^ Heck, I often dress like that for outdoor activities.  I sunburn at the drop of a hat, so often wear clothing that covers me up pretty completely.

[Perd Hapley]

^^^ Heck, I often dress like that for outdoor activities.  I sunburn at the drop of a hat, so often wear clothing that covers me up pretty completely.

That was the idea.  Wetting the clothes down every so often (jumping in the river) kept me surprisingly comfortable. 

[Mabs2]

Haha!  I am pretty much immune to sunburn.
All day long on roofs and in the sun and only a very slight tingle.  I never even wear sunblock.


I'll probably have skin cancer soon.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Everybody knows that choosing the right gear matters more than the exercise.  

You should try wearing engineer boots and walking on the treadmill backwards. If anybody asks you why, get up in their face and yell how you've got to train like you fight. And call them jackwagons for good measure.  

[230RN]

If you really want to make 'em do a double-take, wear your right boot on your left foot and your left boot on your right foot. 

I sometimes get sick of the general forced regression toward the mean.  As I once said, "Diversity is a survival trait .... if you can get away with it without getting killed."

(I like the 5-sigma line, too.) :)

Terry, 230RN

[MillCreek]

Haha!  I am pretty much immune to sunburn.
All day long on roofs and in the sun and only a very slight tingle.  I never even wear sunblock.


I'll probably have skin cancer soon.

Ms. MillCreek also sunburns easily and has limited her sun exposure all her life, in addition to living here in Seattle for 50 years.  She had a couple of melanomas and five other suspicious areas removed a couple of years ago, and still has to go to the dermatologist every six months to be checked from tip to tail. 

[Perd Hapley]

still has to go to the dermatologist every six months to be checked from tip to tail. 

My wife and I take care of that in house.    

[seeker_two]

My wife and I take care of that in house.    

Does anyone know where we keep the brain bleach?... 

[roo_ster]

Does anyone know where we keep the brain bleach?... 

Right over here...
























ML:

You are dressing outside the accepted norm.  Expect to be looked at as a little goofy.

[Perd Hapley]

Ain't no accountin' for them Yankees.

[Monkeyleg]

You are dressing outside the accepted norm.

That sounds Orwellian.

Thanks for the Helen Thomas nightmare photo, too.

[Perd Hapley]

Wait a minute, here.  Dick says they're lookin' at him like he's weird.  But as we all know, he IS weird.  I think they're just looking at you because you're you, Dick.   

[Tallpine]

Reminds me of the time I canoed down the river in olive drab cargo pants, long-sleeved t-shirt, and a boonie hat.  In June.  I got a few questions about my wardrobe.

Don't you want to feed the mosquitos 

[Balog]

Well Dick, I was gonna go with Elton John originally...