SubscribeObservations from the Work Gym
I have a pretty nice gym setup at work that I use most days. They have a C2 rower and a squat cage with 600lbs of weight, more than enough for me. They also have alot of the standard cardio equipment - ellipticals, treadmills, recumbent bikes, etc. Anyway, the humor actually arises outside of the gym. Several times per week, I’m walking out of the gym at the same time as someone else. Ninety-percent of the time, these someone elses walk out of the gym and straight to the elevator. I would guess that all of them are perfectly able-bodied considering that they have just come from using cardio equipment and lifting weights. And it’s not that they all go directly to the elevator. They actually walk past a set of stairs to get to it! It makes me think of this picture. I wonder how many of these people also think that a workout has to be done in a gym. I always try to remember that it is the little things that get the job done. Whether you’re starting a business, nurturing a relationship, or trying to stay in shape, every little thing you do (or don’t do) helps. For those of us with desk jobs, taking the three flights of steps to our floor is an opportunity to get a bit of extra exercise, as is parking a bit farther away from Wal-Mart’s door. It’s not going to burn off a donut, but I bet that most of the people you see taking the steps also engage in many other healthful habits.
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Filed in Fitness 4 Comments so far
Kate Welch on 27 Jun 2007 at 8:40 am #
Okay, I’m one of the guilty elevator users! I honestly feel like an idiot getting in an elevator to go upstairs and use the elliptical…but here’s my excuse:
Stairs give my knees more pain than any other movement. I’ve had four surgeries, three on one knee, one on the other, and while I can walk and jog, the motion of putting my weight through a bent knee repeatedly hurts a lot. If my knee is held in one smooth plane of motion (like the elliptical), it doesn’t hurt or if it does, the pain is manageable.
I’m not saying everyone has medical reasons for avoiding stairs, but some might. To the rest of the lazy bones - get outta my elevator!
Scott Kustes on 28 Jun 2007 at 6:57 am #
Kate,
That is certainly an extenuating circumstance and perhaps I was a bit hasty with assuming everyone at the gym is medically able to take the stairs. I’m willing to grant that maybe 25% (generous!) have a bona fide reason like yours for not taking the stairs. But there are even more that are just being lazy. So to all you lazy people - get outta Kate’s elevator!
Cheers
Scott
darin vanatta on 28 Sep 2007 at 10:42 am #
The link to the picture is now a link to a porn page. Thought you might want to know.
Scott Kustes on 28 Sep 2007 at 11:06 am #
Gah! Thanks for that Darin. Not something I want to promote here.