We exercise for sanity, not vanity, but hot diggity dog! I have abs! I have never had abs! I have abs! Holy guacamole! Okay, okay, okay, inside voice.
These are not things we share with the outside world. Okay, time for shower and heading home. Oh, yeah, I'm finished.
Here you go. Oh, is that my imagination or is he really cute? Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, absolutely not.
Don't creep on people at the gym. It's just playing matters. It doesn't matter how nice their smile was.
Move it. Yeah, nice eyes though. Go home.
Go home. I'm going, I'm going, I'm going. Oh, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, I got you, I got you.
Hey, you're okay. You're okay. Are you okay? Here, lean on me.
It's okay. Your lace got stuck in the treadmill, I think. That was super lucky.
Good thing you just started, huh? You okay? Come on.
Let's get you off here. How's your foot? Yeah? Why do I not believe you? Come here.
You sit. Am I okay to take your sneaker off? Okay.
Does this hurt? In here? Flex your toes.
I don't think anything's broken, but I should probably go home. Mm, uh-uh-uh. That is most definitely going to leave a bruise, and you're going to want to heal.
Yeah, but if you push yourself, you'll just end up making it worse. Promise. Can you go home and rest, please? You could always come back.
Trust me, you were not the first. I was once lifting weights, and it got stuck on my ponytail and slammed me to the floor. Mm-hmm.
Not my most dignified moment, but, uh, it happens. You'll be fine. Don't be silly.
Happy to help. You didn't cause me any bother, okay? I'm glad you're okay.
Um. .. Do you need a lift home, or I can call you an Uber, or.
.. You can't walk home. Doesn't matter if it's five minutes, it's gonna swell up.
Okay, um. .. How about we go for a coffee, and I'll call you an Uber? Well, you just said it's gonna go down, so.
.. Prove me wrong. You're fine, I finished for the day.
Come on. So, Anumi, huh? What made you want to come to the gym? What? Go on, tell me.
I'll tell you my reason. I was sick of staying inside, feeling crappy about how I looked, and. ..
I just said, hey, what's the worst that can happen, and now I'm officially a dirty gym rat. That is the worst that can happen. Or steroids, I suppose.
Stay away from steroids. Oh. Thank you.
So. .. Why did you want to come? I promise I won't laugh.
Well, what's wrong with that? You think you're the only person here trying to find a partner? You'd be wrong.
Oh, so long as you're not being creepy, what's the problem? People mean all sorts of ways. I don't think you're sad.
I don't think you're sad, or pathetic, or any of the words you just said, okay? I think. ..
you're honest. There's nothing wrong with wanting to look nice. Not at all.
I used to think I was so above the gym, you know? I used to be like, oh, I'm not obsessed with my body, I'm not dancing around in skintight lycra, and it's like, actually, what you're doing is being a judgmental whore, so. ..
You're worse than most people, because those people are just minding their business and exercising. You? You're being mean and judgy, and I was like, you know what? That is very true.
I'm gonna stop. Well, we're being honest, right? So.
.. I used to be a fat, mean girl. Not that all fat girls are mean, obviously.
My parents divorced, and I break up, and I was just like, ah, I hate the world, fuck you, and really, it was just like, no, you're in pain, and you shouldn't date other people, so. .. It was a lesson to be had, and I found it here, sweating and scrunching and turning tomato red.
But, uh, slowly but surely, I realized I was the problem. I was the only person standing in my way, I was the only person tearing me down, and, uh. ..
Yeah. Former fat, mean girl, nice to meet you. Hey, there's nothing wrong with your body.
Besides, working out's not about things being wrong with your body. It's about getting the most out of your body. It's about taking care of yourself and being kind.
I know it sounds hippie-dippie, but the hippies are onto something. Before the gym, I was binge eating, then depriving, just thinking about food like an addict. I was an addict.
Addicted to dopamine and chewing and stimming my feelings away. Literally doing anything but having a healthy relationship with food. Mm, it's hard.
You gotta start by being honest and asking, Are you okay with staying on this path? And I wasn't, so. ..
How was that? I was sick of feeling out of control, like food was the only thing that would make me feel better. When in actuality, I was the only one who could make me feel better.
By sweating and moving and actually giving a damn about myself. I always think of self-care as having a huge tub of ice cream, and those things are good, but. ..
They don't need to be every day. I know, moderation. You elusive, elusive swine.
The point is, it's hard, but it's worth it. And accept that you're gonna have bad days. Days where you wanna kick the weights away, break your pinky toes, and throw a dandrum on the floor.
It happens, it's part of it. But it doesn't make you a baby or weak or any other stupid thing you've told yourself. It just means it's hard, and it's okay.
Also, it's totally fine to want to meet someone at the gym. But don't base your entire romantic worth on having a gym bod. Yeah, there's plenty of people here who look like sculptures, but uh.
.. That's about it. Their philosophy seems to be, well, I look like this, what else is there? Oh, I don't know, somehow.
.. Somehow I've resisted the allure. To be honest, it's not the majority.
This place is pretty wholesome. People look out for each other, pick each other up. Save newbies on the treadmill? You're welcome.
Just remember, you're either kind or an ass. And your literal ass has very little to do with it. Sorry, I didn't mean to gym-splain your ear off.
I just don't want you to be discouraged. Well, it can be overwhelming. But it's gonna be good, I promise.
And good things take time. You'll see. How's your foot? I thought so.
Wait here, I'll see if they have any ice. Don't be silly, it's no bother. Here we go.
Foot, please. You're fine, I got you. Foot, please.
Hmm. .. Lookie here.
Purple and bruised. Who would've thought, hmm? Keep it cool when you get home, okay? Promise? And make sure you only come back after you're fully rested.
Because it's important. You should start as you mean to go on. No listening to your body and not causing unnecessary damage.
Listen, if you'd like, we could be gym buddies? I don't want to overstep the mark, but going with someone could be a huge incentive. But there's no pressure.
If you'd rather not, just. .. Oh.
Well, yeah. Of course I would. Well, why not? You're not giving me serial killer vibes? At the most, you're serving manslaughter vibrations.
But don't worry, I'm understanding. Who hasn't thought about accidentally murdering someone, come on? So.
.. Wanna be gym buddies? Great, I'll give you my number.
Uh, hang on. No, I don't know my number, because I am seven. I always mean to learn it when I get a new one, and then.
.. Nope. Never do.
Hang on. Uh. ..