Conversation

Why is there such a huge range in how much people enjoy the gym? I love this place and feel amazing after working out, I’d do it even if there were no long term health benefits A third my friends feel the same way, a third feel meh but coerce themselves, a third hate it. Why?

144

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 28

shame and chronic muscle tension off the top of my head. working out gets more enjoyable for me the more my muscles are relaxed generally

Quote Tweet

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

· Jan 28

holding chronic tension in the body produces nerd voice, nerd face, makes posture bad, and makes physical activity subtly painful and unpleasant, hence avoiding sports

Show this thread

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Jan 28

tension and disembodiment also i think just make working out less good and safe b/c it's harder to notice when you're pushing yourself too hard? with self-coercion in the mix it's easy to push too hard then

QC (in Berlin 7/29-???)

@QiaochuYuan

Replying to

@QiaochuYuan

and

@nickcammarata

re: the shame bit, i still don't particularly like seeing the shape of my body in gym mirrors so i just kinda try to avoid that :/

4:26 AM · Jan 28, 2022Twitter Web App

Replying to

and

Yeah I'm so glad my new aquatic center gym has treadmills overlooking kids splashing in the pool below... Much better than watching myself jiggle in a mirror.

That's great! I'd love a gym overlooking nature/an actual garden/trees 🌳🌴/running water. I also don't quite enjoy seeing myself 'jiggle' in the mirror or the 100 cameras -usual of gyms- "starring" at me. the combination of too many mirrors and cameras makes me tense.

Show replies