Comparisons are odious

[redbird]

Comparisons are odious, but sometimes hard not to make: for all I tell myself not to compare, I catch myself being pleased when the person who used the machine before me had it set for a lower weight than I'm going to use. I'm doing pretty well at not feeling bad about them having a higher weight, which I think is more important, since I'm not saying anything to the exerciser before me. Still, better to focus on my own workout, except for the occasional "that looks interesting, what is it for?" sort of question. (Comparing to what I did last week, or last year, is sometimes useful.)

Also, the gym is still crowded: I think I had read "less crowded because it's Tuesday" as "January/resolution crowds decreasing," last week.

Cardio, 11 minutes, top heart rate 135
Leg press, 340 pounds, 15, 15, 21 (I let the count go to automatic at the back of my brain, and didn't notice when I got to 15.)
Chest press, 50 pounds, 12, 9
Calf raise, 70 pounds, 3 sets of 17
Balance ~fly, 50 pounds, 2 sets of {15 with each foot forward}
Cross-body pull, 35 pounds, 15 with the right hand

Crunches, 3 sets of 30
Back arches, 3 sets of 17
Tree, 6 sets of {3 on each leg}
Balance lateral raise, 3 pounds each hand, 2 sets of 15
Balance squats (9-pound body bar), 2 sets of 15
Biceps curls, 10 pounds each hand, 2 sets of 20
Adjustable row, 60 pounds, 15, 12

Stretches

Comments

[firecat]

Comparisons may be odious, but I am on the losing end of enough comparisons in my competitive, judgemental culture that if I feel a bit of pride that I'm using more weight than the previous person or swimming a bit faster than the person in the next lane, it's a pretty minor odium in the grand scheme of things.

[redbird]

I try to avoid such comparisons because they can too easily turn around and bite me: it's not easy to be pleased that I had 10 pounds more on a given machine than one stranger, and not mind that on the next machine, a different stranger was using 10 or 20 pounds more than I am.

When I tell myself "comparisons are odious" in this context, it's practical advice, not ethical. (If I was saying this to stop myself from going over to someone and pointing out that I had lifted more than they had, it might be an ethical question.)

[hobbitbabe.livejournal.com]

When I was working out in a gym, I had a suspicion that some people were putting the pins up to higher weights when leaving the machines.

But yeah, it is kind of fun to move them up from the person before.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

We assume (without having minutely followed along with your numbers) that you used to work out at with less weight, and so are in line to be congratulated for that. In some sense, you used to be the person before you.

K.