Buried In Betsy's Closet: Hiding in the Gym

I've been a gym rat for over ten years.

Today while I was on my hands and my knees, kicking a leg in the air (an exercise which depends more on momentum than on actual strength - and something I could probably do while dozing) I came to the conclusion that my addiction to exercise has very little to do with my quest for fitness.

For one thing, neither of my two sisters have ever seen the inside of any gym, although they do work out to DVDs and have some home equipment. Yet both of them have bigger biceps and toner triceps than I do. And, although I doubt, if either one of them could outrun me, they still manage to beat me in a race when we spot a seventy percent sale sign.

It doesn't have anything to do with weight loss either. When I wasn't working full time, I was at the gym five to six times a week. I sprang for a personal trainer one summer. I even managed to become a personal trainer - got my certification (but found it too physically exhausting to be standing all those hours). I purchased a body bug, which measures calories burned (too discouraging - Pilates for an hour only seventy-five, I'd just as soon take a walk to Bloomingdales). I never lost a pound.

Then I decided to try the Zone diet, which limits carbs. I firmly believe that, in the end, it comes down to calories in and calories out but without the heavy carbs (no bagels or pasta or cupcakes) I naturally eat less - and managed to get down to a reasonable weight.

So why do I work out?

Because, for me, (and I suspect for a lot of my gym friends) the gym is a perfect place not only to workout, but to hide out. I never take my cell phone (it's underground) no one can reach me anyway. I have an hour of peace where absolutely no demands are made of me (except the physical ones) but no one is asking me to do anything for them.

I have gym friends. We commiserate together and we criticize together (if the instructor isn't challenging or worse, just boring), and we chat about The Biggest Loser. We have no desire to take our friendship outside the walls of our cocoon. We're safe there.

And so are my accessories.

You are so going to be thirsty - especially after all those jumping jacks - a monogrammed sports bottle by Sweet Caroline Design would do just fine - and, oh, what a lovely gift for someone -

Monogrammed Sports Bottle

Such a pretty yoga mat bag from Rusty Bicycle - the birds are so spring like - just slip it on your shoulders and you're good to go -

Yoga Mat Bag

Keeping your hair off your face is essential while you're kickboxing or spinning -but there's no reason why you can't look like a diva - these 22K Gold Plated Headbands by tamar will assure you of that -