Is this a good idea, a bad idea, or a horrible idea?
 

I'm thinking of finding a workout partner through craigslist. Whatcha think? Any suggestions for my search or alternatives?


Anyone else have question they want cellar answers for? Post 'em.

Whatcha got there is a meta-idea. It -could- be good, bad OR horrible. Or even worse.

Just be super picky about the person you settle on, and don't be afraid to change your mind. Talk to them through e-mail then meet at some very public gym. If you get any creepy vibes, trust your instincts. But, I've met people through craigslist and most of them are basically normal.

Oh! And I have a question.

Where are my damn keys?

I'd just join a gym you like and find one there. Go to one of the classes they have for group workouts.

Beestie, walking into a gym on my own is work in progress, but I'm not even close to being able to do that yet. That doesn't even take into account me overcoming any of my other fears about going into a gym, like exercising in one. So that is a step for a much later date. To top it off, I don't socialize well, I really don't think "accidently" meeting a workout partner would happen for me.
I'm not trying to shoot you down. I'm sure for less crazy people that your suggestion would work great.
I think I'm going to ask my sis-in-law again. Right now I have a bit of extra cash, and altho I hate parting with it, I think I could afford my membership and hers.

Stress Puppy- they are where you left them or where the gremlins moved them to.

If you've got enough cash for two memberships, why not pay the extra money to a personal trainer instead? My mom used a trainer for a long time, because she knew if she had an appointment and someone expecting her to show up, she couldn't make excuses about being too tired to go just this once...

I am with Clod, why not a personal trainer? A lot of them will do an introductory thing for a few weeks contract and that will get you in the gym with a person who actually knows what they are doing.

I like the personal trainer thing, too, mort.

good luck, sweetie. I have a hard time going into gyms, too. (Unless they're having, like, a baklava sale or something, then, no problem)

"If it feels good, do it."

Corollary: "If it doesn't feel good, don't do it."

Why are you uncomfortable exercising in a gym?

I don't need to know the answer to that, but you do. Whatever the reason is, it's there now, whether you get rid of it or not at some point in the future. So why not look at non-gym exercises you can do now to start you on the path to whatever goals you're trying to reach by exercising?

When you join most gyms they give you a week or two with a personal trainer. Use it. That gives you a person to encourage you, someone who knows what you should be doing, gets you over the alone in a gym issues, and to top it off they probably aren't an axe murderer during their working hours.

I am also on board with the trainer idea... recognizing that my own gym anxiety centered around not wanting to look like an idiot using the machines wrong. If I know what I'm doing I can just put my iopd on and get to it without worrying about what other people might be thinking. And in my experience, that's what most other people are doing too.

It's just like high school... most people are focused on their own stuff and not really even noticing you despite what you might think.

Yeah for starters I'm just trying to find gyms in my area that seem convenient, not much luck. The one I have found so far gives no price information online, which pisses me off. My college has a gym, so I could use it for free, but that wouldn't have a trainer. I really do need a regular person to work out with, I think a trainer would intimidate me too much. My issue with gyms is that I feel clumsy and out of place. I've used 'em at the apartment with my sister, but if there was another resident in there, I still felt ridiculous, even after 3 or 4 months. If I had someone I could just go walking or biking with outside a gym that would be ideal. Unless the weather is nasty, then having a gym as a backup plan would be nice.

If your college has a gym don't they have an atheletic department? Maybe you could ask there for some assistance.

Just a thought. Maybe you should get a workout partner who is a homicidal psychopath. Think of the exercise you'd get as he chases you around the weights room with a barbell, screaming. :bolt: Mind you, it gives a whole new meaning to "crunches".

Quote:

"If it feels good, do it." Corollary: "If it doesn't feel good, don't do it."

[ Logician]

Oh no it's not. Compare:

If it's Monday, it's a weekday.

Corollary: If it's not a Monday, it's not a weekday. :headshake
:blah:
[/ Logician]

A private trainer will meet you wherever you want to meet. They don't have to work for the gym. A friend of mine quit his crappy job (he was also my coworker back then, ha ha) to follow his dream to be a personal trainer. He is a totally laid-back guy, not intimidating at all. Plus, he gets the best gossip stories from his clients, just like a hairdresser. :)

I hated having a trainer, ugh

and then she was really hard to convince I'd fired her. She kept on calling, and calling, and calling...

I had a Spanish tutor who was like that. She showed up like 3 or 4 times after I broke off the sessions.

Awkward :unsure:

Geez, it's like having a stalker ex!

There are some real wackos out there reading craigslist.

Bad idea.

Buy a dog. Run with him. He'll love it, and unless you pick something like an Australian Cattle Dog or one of the hounds, he won't stalk you.

Or, see if there is a dog exercising service in your area that needs someone to walk/run dogs. You might even get paid for exercising.

His name is Buddy, he's a black lab. He can't be my gym buddy, which is what I need to do today. No outside exercised possible, the county is under a fire-watch and the smoke from the fires fills the air. Kinda scary actually. Also, he can't call me on my cell phone and tell me he wants to exercise. I don't feel guilty about not taking him on a walk, he takes himself, and he has two acres of "yard" to run around in. So dog I have, and about once a week or so I'm able to take him, but I'm really wimpy about the weather, so unless I have a person encouraging me, I just won't.
When my sis was able to be my exercise partner, I did great until she got too busy and her schedule was just too whack. Now she lives way too far away. I had my own apartment gym, but other than safety reasons, I just don't like going on my own.

I might look into Zen's idea. I only work part-time at my current job, I don't need a second job, but it means I have extra time. If its a responsibility I would have to fulfill that obligation. Hm, might still be boring though I guess that doesn't matter so much. Being fat is boring too.

One of the big issues with small towns? Not much in the way of options.

What gyms are those? I've worked in four gyms over the years, and the only one that did that was a gym for women only. None of the coed gyms did that. They would have someone initially take you around and show you how to use the equipment, but that's it.

Also, personal trainers are expensive. Generally they do not work FOR the gym - they are independent contractors. It is possible sometimes to get a deal with a trainer, like a beginners special or something, but not all trainers will give you deals. If you have the money and you can afford one, it is good investment though, especially if you don't know what you're doing.

That's what I'm thinking. Surely there is someone there who would be willing to help train people at school. And it would be a helluva lot cheaper than hiring a personal trainer in a gym. My sister worked in the gym when she was in college studying sports medicine. If they have students in there working, they could probably help get started.

The gym I go to (not a woman's gym) gives you 3 trainer sessions (plus a personal yoga instruction, spa treatment etc..) when you join, they have tons of trainers who work there - and if they're not training someone at the time they're happy to help you learn a machine or answer questions.

My trainer was working out at the same time I was yesterday and ended up working with me on pull ups and dips just for the hell of it.

They also have drawings for free training sessions and other ways you can win or earn them, although not very often.
Normally, it's $60/hr or $35 half/hr - or its cheaper if you get 2 friends to join you as a group.

Years ago when a friend and I joined the Y, a guy I knew (Conan the Librarian: he's Mr Fit and also worked at the library) who was a trainer there gave us a run-through on everything and the proper ways to use it. Then, just having my friend to go with was a huge motivator.