OxygenD's Editor Blog with Diane Hart

Friday, January 21, 2011

Do you know somebody like this?

I'm sitting behind a gal the other day in spin class and I notice (as I'm apt to do) that she is quite lean - almost scarily so. After the class, as she was wiping down her bike, she commented to her friend that she found another great way to work out.... right after her spin class, she hops in her car to a kick boxing session!  Yikes! Don't get me wrong - I like working out a lot but to me that is veering on excessive. 

And it made me recall another gal, almost skeletal,  who made a practice of doing back-to-back classes at my sister's gym...is this becoming more common do you think? 

Question: Would you mention your concern or think it is none of your business? 

10 comments:

  1. You never know maybe she used to be 300 pounds.....?

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  2. It's hard to mention without anyone thinking it's "none of your business". I used to have one in my gym. I never said anything, but I was afraid she'd drop dead one day..

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  3. That's still better that going to McDonalds after class...which I've seen people do too!

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  4. I think everything should be in moderation and in balance.

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  5. I know, it's a tough one....but I appreciate you giving me your thoughts!

    Talk soon,

    - Diane

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  6. Mind your own business.... Once she passes out or her body shuts down from exhaustion, she will get the point.

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  7. There is a woman like this at my gym too. She does 3 group classes after each other (bodypump, bootcamp, spinning). I think she suffers from a compulsive exercise addiction (anorexia athletica). I would like to tell her "hey stop, you're killing yourself" but I'm afraid she might answer "Mind your own business". I think trainers at the gym should say something, it's their job!!! I assume she was already told she did way too much, but doesn't stop because she's addicted and can't get out of her disorder.

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  8. Unless it's a family member,close friend, or that person ASKS for your advice...I would keep my opinion to myself.

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  9. I have seen a few women in the gym that are scarily thin. You can of course see major muscle definition, but they do not look vibrant and healthy. Like a skeleton (sunken face) with some muscle.

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  10. I've seen women like this and I've been like this. They love the way they look. They love the skeletal frame. For anorexics, bones are comforting. I remember my sister being concerned about a similar type of woman at her gym and she was just as conflicted as what to do. She said this woman looked "old." As a previous personal trainer, I disagree with it being the trainers' responsibilies. It's not a trainer's job to tell random gym-goers they might be too thin. If she was my client, then I would express my concern, but she's just another person going to the gym. Unfortunately, you may have the best intentions but this is something her family and friends need to deal with. Do you want some random person coming up to tell you you're too fat, too thin, do you apprecite when people tell you're doing things incorrectly even if they may not know what they're talking about. As sad as it is and as much as you want to help, she won't "hear" what you're saying and most likely she will take your concern as a back handed compliment.

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