Rant: Post Vacation Slump and Why Not All Gyms Are Created Equal

No I’m not depressed but I’m so lazy and grumpy. It’s partly due to the fact that the weather in Oslo has been rainy and cloudy since I got back from Bergen.

I’ve also been having gym issues – the gym that I was going to for 1.5 years now has finally pissed me off beyond belief. It’s never been a great gym but the fact that it was reasonably priced and they had this “do what you like, we won’t bother you” type of style where the gym was opened for long hours with nobody manning it meant you could go in and exercise without anybody bothering you. As a person who’s never been to a gym, and who’s very self conscious of herself – I really liked that concept in the beginning.

After 1.5 years of being a member of that gym, I realised that I could use a personal trainer or at least somebody whom I could ask:

• “So how do I get rid of this belly before it becomes a full on pot belly?” [It’s one of my nightmares – that I will be 40 with a pot belly and look like man, really!]
• “Am I using this machine in the correct way or will my neck pay for it tomorrow?”
• “Is my running gait correct?

Not having somebody to ask these questions – is actually alright, but the worst part is that the equipment at the gym don’t really work. Half the time 1 out of 4 stationary bikes is dead (missing pedal or just doesn’t switch on). Sometimes, the strength training machines have b0rked sensors where it will record that you did a crunch at 45kg each rep when in truth the most you can do without crying for your Mummy is only 30kg. This type of equipment fault really skews my progress tracking because it gives me false confidence and messes up the statistics stored in the thing-a-majig.

Another problem with the equipment is the check-in machine where you entered all the self torturing tasks you’d like to do and it “wrote” it into your progress device. There are two machines but only one works. The other one is perpetually dead – causing a queue when you want to start your exercise.

To make matters worse, when Summer started – their air conditioning stopped working. It was getting really warm and uncomfortable in the gym and I was starting to get irritated and angry with their lack of service. I know I don’t pay as much as other gyms but the least they could do was provide a conducive, comfortable gym, no? Or am I expecting too much? I e-mailed them about it and did not get a response. The boyfriend got a response to his e-mail though – where they said they are going to renovate in Summer or some sugar coated sentence like that and they hope he would be patient – come on, Summer is almost over, still no sign of improvement. Now they have a notice telling that their air conditioning unit is not working. Like a month after we complained. Shouldn’t you close your gym if the ventilation is not good? Isn’t it unhealthy and totally unproductive to exercise in a gym with bad ventilation?

It’s kind of sad sometimes to have to admit “You get what you pay for”. Like when I’m on a flight and out of a miracle (the stars are probably in some rare alignment) I get upgraded to Business Class – I actually feel sad about it – because it proves that money is what sets us apart – not character, not skill, not education – but the little green papers. I subconsciously tell myself “Don’t you get used to this” and think “I probably shouldn’t have accepted the upgrade”.

But, I digress.

So I tried to quit the crappy gym, but it turns out I have to give them 30 days notice. Urgh.

Now I’m so tempted to sign up for a better gym – but it’s going to require a little bit of financial overhaul (are you listening, God? I could use a raise :)) and less expensive Tempura Noodle Soups. Hm, I should probably perfect my tempura frying skills, huh.

Hopefully I can sign up for this shiny new gym down the street of my apartment building. *Dream*