a usual day for me starts before the sun comes up.
i throw my hair in a messy ponytail, put on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt or workout top, brush my teeth and splash some water on my face and off i go to the gym.
admittedly, i look like Hell gnawing on a dish rag while i'm in the gym. i start with cardio and stretches for a half hour, then do weights for an hour to an hour and a half.
by the time i'm done, i'm sweating like a pig and I STINK!

i usually have my iPod and stay focused on my workout for the time i'm there. i dont notice much else.
however, i have noticed some of the other women in the gym while i'm there and one, particular, 'special' breed of female fitness buff.
these are the ladies that come in with their hair perfect, fully made up, jewelry in full display, like they're heading to the prom, rather than to work out.

when they leave, their hair and makeup is still as pristine and unruffled as when they first made themselves up.

does every gym have these workout 'divas' or is this the only area with these sorts?

Every gym I've ever belonged to has them and I've belonged to gyms in TN, CT and MO.

I will say that it seems that the more upscale the area the gym is in, the more "divas" there seem to be. Like the hoity, toity folks look at it as a competition or something.

The average gym has them. Somebody has to notice how fit they are and be envious, right? The hardcore gym has the scary ones that look like they will bench press you if you look at them wrong.

We don't have many of those in my gym, actually not that many women period. Mostly sweaty men lifting as heavy as we can, and some trainers. Most of the women who do come only do cardio, I can count the women who lift on one hand.

My gym has plenty of "those" women...and they annoy the crap out of me.




Arttie

Hi Sue,

My gym has none of that!! It simply isn't allowed. BTW, I own my gym. It's in the garage. It's the only way to train. Incidently, since you car more about the workout than your "look" at the time you would be welcome(although probably not with open arms due to your own description of the smell.LOL).

In all seriousness, I think a woman focussed on training for her goals is more attractive than the ones there trying to pick up guys or, worse yet, just trying to outdo the other girls in the gym.

This is why I used to love the little hole-in-the-wall I used to work out at when I was in college. Pure old school metal gym with virtually no machines and nothing but loud, aggressive metal blaring from the speakers. Some of my most excruciating workouts came from that gym!!!



Arttie

I sometimes laff inwardly at these women too but I do consider there may be an alternative reason why they are all dolled up to sweat.

-Some of the most gorgeous looking people I've ever met are often absolutely unwilling to go out in public w/o makeup.

-Some people who workout a bunch are about their looks 24/7 and sometimes are also tanning, getting liposuction, etc and always seem dressed to workout or showing off their work more than they really need to. Yeah, poserz. This annoys me...as if all the signs of caring to that degree about one's appearance aren't there. How 'bout just put on some jeans instead of some workout gear when you go out? We can all still see you're buffed.

The whole half fake (provided by plastic surgeon) half hard earned look (thru working out) tends to bugg me, too.


Another thing may be: some of these ladeez are working a whole program of self-care and improved self esteem, perhaps for the first time or after a long period of neglecting themselves..Losing some pounds seriously in the gym (especially co-ed) might be daunting and wanting to still feel somewhat feminine in that environment, they use it to 'push' or comfort themselves....

Most ladeez (who wear makeup) know they feel extra inner ooomph for whatever the day holds with a lil warpaint on.

I never go to the gym because I could never bring myself to be seen looking like crap :p If I did I'd probably be one of those overly-fashionable persons that looks like they don't belong there... so I do us all a favor by not going!

Ah, you guys are making me miss my old gym....good ol' Victory Fitness Center!

http://www.victoryfitnesscenter.net

The cool thing about Victory is that the facility I go to is women ONLY! Which is great for us fat girls. I went to their site just now and saw that they're having a biggest loser contest. I SO have to get in on that!

I know exactly the type of women you're talking about and I just want to jack-slap them. I used to always see them gallavantin around when I belonged to Bally's a logn time ago. They're irritating. And correct me if I'm wrong, or maybe this was more of a 90's thing, but they usually prance around in stretchy little outfits and buttfloss.

But the first women this made me think of was when I worked for Safe Auto Insurance and we had an in-house gym complete with a trainer. I used to go to their step aerobic classes.

For those who aren't from around here they may have never heard the name Schottenstein.

They pretty much own half of Columbus.

The Schottenstein sisters used to be in my class.

Oy ve'.

And I don't just mean that racially.

LOL