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

[morethanpretty]

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.

[Stress Puppy]

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.

[Stress Puppy]

Oh! And I have a question.

Where are my damn keys?

[Beestie]

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

[morethanpretty]

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.

[Clodfobble]

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...

[TheMercenary]

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.

[Trilby]

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)

[SteveDallas]

"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?

[lookout123]

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.

[jinx]

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.

[morethanpretty]

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.

[TheMercenary]

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

[ZenGum]

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. Mind you, it gives a whole new meaning to "crunches".

"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.

[/ Logician]

[SteveDallas]

Hmm.

You may be right. But from a logician's standpoint, how does one distinguish between the two statements

if A is true, then you should do B

and

if A is true, then B is true

My statement is an example of the former; yours is an example of the latter.