If you are a consistent gym goer at the same gym, you have most likely acquired the label of a “regular.”
You know the majority of the people that will be in your class, and you know who you will see in the cardio area on a given day (most likely on the same treadmill, elliptical or stair master).
You probably also have the phone numbers of your fellow “regulars” so you can text to make sure your buddies are attending the same class as you are. If you relate to these signs, then I’m sure you are a “regular” at your gym, too.
1. You have “your” spot
Front right corner, don’t take it, or you will definitely see a dirty side of me. When you are a “regular”, people most definitely know where you stand during your favorite class. You walk in to the gym room and if there is not an open space for your mat in your spot, things definitely won’t be fun.
2. The instructor has no problem calling you out for not working your hardest
When the instructor knows you well enough and sees you week after week, they have no issue screaming, “______, come on!” when you start to skip reps or slack off during the workout. There is no way you can get away with slacking when the instructor has seen you at your best, so don’t even try (thank you Sam).
3. You go out of your way to find the hour to workout.
When you plan out your day, the first hour you set is your workout one. If you end class at 11:30 and have nowhere to be until 12:45, you can bet that the gym will be your destination during that break. Not getting your hour in is not an option, because then your bad mood sets in and you stress all day about not having gone.
4. Your outfit revolves around when you are going to the gym.
Why waste a perfectly nice outfit when you’re heading to the gym during the day. Wake up, throw your Lulu’s, sneakers and tank-top on underneath your sweatshirt and hit the quad. More often than not, you’ll see a regular gym goer with a backpack and a slingback, which most likely has all the necessities for his/her workout. What’s the point in wearing jeans, a sweater and boots to class if you just have to get undressed anyway.
5. You don’t care what you look like while Snapchatting in between sets.
Your friends have already gotten used to what you look like while working out: red-faced and sweaty with your headphones hanging out of your ears.
6. 90% of your laundry bag consists of gym clothes.
When you pick your laundry bag up, I’m sure you dread putting all the clean clothes away right? Not when you’re a regular. 90% of it consists of your gym clothes - sports bras, leggings, running shorts and tank tops – easy to put away, or not – keep it in a nice pile because you know you’re just going to wear it all the next week!
7. You can’t stand the gym in January.
It is filled with all New Year resolution types, who you probably should feel proud of, but you're secretly relieved knowing they'll be gone by February.
8. For my fellow Syracuse University classmates – you feel like you have an excuse to sleep in on Saturdays because Archbold doesn’t open until noon.
If you can identify with this picture, I am sure you are a “regular” just like me. The gym is your second home. You love it way too much and are physically, mentally and emotionally challenged when you go.
For me, Retro will always be my second home, but Archbold and Marshall will have to do for now.
