“If you pay me, I’ll make you sweat.”
I was sitting at a machine where you attempt to increase the size of your biceps by lifting weights tied to a wire. It’s not a medieval torture device or a prop from Game Of Thrones, if you were wondering, it’s basic gym equipment. Biceps are muscles covered by a shirt, unseen throughout winter. Summer arrived in all it’s glory, which implies: Sun’s out, Guns out. (Thanks Channing Tatum) My own biceps are more like little, pearly-white revolvers, hence my need for growing them, so I can get them tanned. I know, it’s a process.
Next to me was a personal trainer. Or a sadist. Or a female version of the twisted sicko, idolised as Christian Grey. Any of these references would be accurate in describing those people with genetically gifted, perfect bodies who find some weird sense of achievement in causing extreme and long-lasting pain to people who has the genetic make-up of a whale or worse. These whales and other McDonald-eating victims are fooled into thinking that they can also achieve the body of a heroin-addict. Provided that they do everything that they’re told. And drink Diet coke. Like some cult in Utah.
Miss Grey, having the best time of her life, towered over her two paying customers who was praying for death. Her’s or their own, I wasn’t sure which. They were doing push-ups and reps on the pec machine. For the purpose of education, pec/s are the short version of pectoral, more commonly known as chest muscles for dudes and boobs for dudettes. The one thing that is confusing about the machine is whether girls use it for (1) Growth or (2) Reduction of the twins.
The customer, having the worst time of her life, just finished ten push-ups. She looked like the Grim Reaper, if the Grim Reaper had wet hair falling over her face, wide, terrified eyes and no make-up to cover the red, flashing stroke she was having. I couldn’t resist.
“You know that you pay her to torture you like this.” I tried to be funny and was referencing the lady with the genetic mutation of perfection.
Miss Can’t-you-see-I’m-dying-here was still on all fours, mid recovery of her ten push-ups. She only glared at me with those wide eyes, more fitting for a fire-breathing demon. I knew I’ve just wasted a joke. She tried to form words that should not be spoken by a lady…you know…um…when they tell you to go climb a tree, if climbing a tree would be the same as having intercourse with yourself. Fortunately she was still out of breath and could only muster an expression of hate and exhaustion.
“At least she’s sweating during her session at the gym,” said the sadist to my left, “Look at you, your hair is not even wet.”
She might have been right but she obviously doesn’t understand how much money I spent on hair products, preventing sweat. We all know there are few things more attractive than a sweaty, middle-aged father at five in the morning. And what if I have a medical condition with no sweat holes or something? Rude. Besides I was on a break between sets. Her comment was my cue to start my next set. It should have been my cue to mind my own business.
“I sweat on the inside,” I replied nonchalantly, whilst trying to lift the damn bar.
Which is when the solicitation of prostitution occurred.
“If you pay me, I’ll make sure you sweat on the outside as well.” And she didn’t even blink.
I was a tired man and the whole situation was begging to become hilarious. Or maybe my head was just in the mud, like most moments of my life but I was hoping other people got it too. A few long seconds passed.
Then the Dying lady, the friend who was trying to increase/decrease her bust size and I, broke out in absolute hysterics.
It took the personal trainer a tad longer to realise what she said. One cannot expect a perfect body to harbour a functioning brain. Eventually she turned a bold shade of crimson and I knew the penny dropped. So did my weights.
The laughing ladies were quickly chased to the next machine and they left me doubled-up over the bicep-torture-device where nothing happened for at least another 3 minutes. Well, that’s actually not true, there was a lot of laughing.
Oh, you poor thing….trying to do a good thing and you’re knocked down not once, but twice. Well, at least you had the last laugh, huh? Good luck on your bicep growing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m trying to take it slow, only growing one bicep at a time. Must admit, by the amount of laughing I do, I should have an eight-pack.
LikeLike
LOL. My 15-year-old son is determined to have a 6-pack (he is tall and so thin it’s just wrong!)…I will have to tell him of this new goal in life….the middle-aged 8-pack. He will be so disappointed to know even a 6-pack isn’t the pinnacle! 🙂
LikeLike
Pssst….Don’t tell him my eight-pack is only figuratively speaking…
LikeLike
I wouldn’t dream of it! 🙂
LikeLike
I couldn’t tell you anything that goes on at a gym, as I haven’t been to one since college, where I was forced to take one semester of something that counted as “physical fitness”. It really is a horrible place. I’d much prefer to get my exercise on my own. (Or not al all. Whatever) However, sexual harassment and intimidation is not okay, and you don’t have to take it. Report her to the manager so she can receive her 20 lashes. Or… Whatever.
LikeLike
Shame 20 lashes! Remember she doesn’t have an ounce of fat to protect her from a beating. It’s just skin and bones. And muscle.
|Come to think of it, for that being true, she should get 40 lashes.
LikeLike
Nah, She’d like it.
Disgusting people, gym rats.
LikeLike
Ah…but I’m a gym rat…even though I might not look like one…
LikeLike
Oh, honey. You’re not a gym rat. You have a life.
LikeLike
Thank you. I’ll go and tell that high school girl I tried to date 25 years ago what you said. She told me I should get one, a life I mean.
I know it seems I have one!
LikeLike
Some personal trainers take themselves way to seriously! I have visions of her two women crossing their legs (we shall call them kegels to protect the innocent) laughing hysterically at the ridiculousness of their trainer! Lighten up sweetheart…there is life beyond reps!
Oh, and the pec machine for women is neither for growth or shrinkage…just to prevent them from falling to your knees as you age!
And…you really should sweat! It’s good to get your old heart pumping!
LikeLike
I do sweat at the gym because most of the machines are on the top floor. And there is no elevator. I have to use the STAIRS! I forgot to mention that our gym is rather primitive…
Thanks for clearing up the use of the pectoral machine…
LikeLike
Stairs at a gym? The world has gone mad!
LikeLike
That’s what I said!
LikeLike
I think I met that woman in a dive bar in Tijuana many years ago.
LikeLike
Did she also wanted to make you sweat?
LikeLike
And more.
LikeLike
Too much information…my friend. TMI.
LikeLike
Entertaining as ever! Although I couldn’t find any of the muscles you talked about. Should I see a doctor or is that normal? P.S. I now wear a shirt in summer as well as winter – it saves on gym costs.
LikeLike
I could probably do that, the shirt wearing thing in summer, but it just doesn’t look cool lounging around a pool or sitting on a beach with a shirt on. And I’m all for looking cool. Especially if I look like an overripe tomato at the end of the day due to severe sunburn.
And yes we all have those muscles…either hidden away between layers of fat or lost due to no exercise.
LikeLike
I’m starting my exercise program slowly. I think I’ll sleep with ankle weights first.
LikeLike
You do that sunshine. Everyone has to start somewhere. You might want to try some of those heavy teardrop earrings worn by most drag queens, as well…good for the earlobe muscles. Or so I’ve heard.
LikeLike
Hey! Let’s not get too aggressive with the program too soon. I’ll save the earlobe training for winter. 😉
LikeLike
Noted. Don’t exert yourself. 😉
LikeLike
I’m still ROFL!!! My brother has a personal sadist… um, I mean trainer. I keep asking him, “And you PAY this guy to treat you like this?” I haven’t been to the gym in years. It was a no-win situation for me. I’d go to the gym, work out and then go next door to the ice cream shop afterwards. And I don’t mean to brag… but I can still fit into the earrings I wore in high school. 😛
LikeLike
And I’ve seen some of the earrings you ladies wear, some of those things looks like fly-fishing gear! All feathers and lead and stuff trailing behind you.
At least you get some exercise in your neck muscles when you’re wearing them.
LikeLike
Pingback: Hey Captain Douche, excuse me, I’m flexing over here. | Ah dad…