Have I mentioned that I don’t like people to look at me? It freaks me out. I can’t eat lunch in the cafeteria at work if it’s crowded because I’m afraid I’ll get food on me and EVERYONE will see. And point. And laugh.
This phobia extends into my own house.
I have a huge problem with walking on the treadmill with an audience. AKA Sweety and the boys. I don’t want anyone to see me all sweaty and straining to merely walk. (I also hide over the sink with my back to them when eating corn on the cob. I haven’t figured out how to do that without looking like a starving person that is eating their first morsel of food in days. I love corn on the cob and eat it with gusto.) I’m totally okay with them seeing me be a graceful lump on the couch for hours on end though while my hands are wrapped around the keyboard.
Friday night I walked a mile alone. Saturday morning I got up to find that everyone else was leaving to find lunch (okay, I slept in. way in.) and I thought that I’d have plenty of time to knock out the mile on the treadmill. I get the dogs taken care of and put on my walking clothes and turn the t.v. on to GemsTV. (It is my addiction. They have some of the ugliest most unusual jewelry I’ve ever seen and some of the salespeople remind me of rabid chipmunks. Rabid, talking, anorexic chipmunks. Please, check your channel listing and tell me if you’ve seen this. Is it really a trainwreck or am I warped?)
There I am – zooming on the treadmill with the sound of the machine in my ears and my eyes glued to the telly. I’d been zooming for just a few minutes when I noticed that LB was standing right behind me while he walked in place really fast. Like me. Like mocking me. I was startled and screamed and bailed off of the machine. BB said he was afraid that I was going to fall down and get my face scrubbed off so that’s why he didn’t sneak up on me. He should have restrained his brother too.
I didn’t get on the treadmill again on Saturday.
On Sunday, I decided that I was going to have to get over it because if I was only going to walk when I was alone then I would never walk. While the rest of the family was busy watching something on t.v., I cranked up the treadmill (they had to turn the t.v. way up to hear over it) and did my time and it was okay.
The boys weren’t here tonight so while I walked, Sweety stood behind me and kissed my sweaty ears. I’d rather have him doing that than looking right at me. And maybe he thinks I’m huffing and puffing because I’m so hot and bothered for him, right?
20 Comments, Comment or Ping
I didn’t work out at all today. :(
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
That’s okay. I did it for you.
Now you go have a drink for me.
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April 7th, 2009 1:19 am
I won’t eat spaghetti out in public.
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I’m with you on that one! If I MUST (like I’m somewhere & that’s all to eat), I chop it up into tiny pieces. I’ve read that that’s not proper etiquette but I think it’s better than people seeing me with food sliming across my chin.
I’m not a good twirler.
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April 7th, 2009 2:45 am
I’ve been running for a while but I’m not that good on a treadmill and often bump into the sides or the rails when I’m running; especially if I’m watching TV and get distracted. It’s harder to fall of that you think. (I go about 8 mph so it would not be fun if I ever did.) If you keep walking, everyone will get used to it and barely notice. LB only said/did something because it’s something new.
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Yeah, the boys are already over it. They just turn the volume on the television up now when I crank it on.
8 mph? Holy crap, Batman.
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April 7th, 2009 4:25 am
I can’t stand treadmills. I’d much rather walk outside, but there’s the whole time-traffic-far from home-sweaty-buggy thing. Also I hate being mocked, but one gets used to it…
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I don’t like the treadmill but I don’t like to walk far away from home. What if I need to go to the bathroom? When we’ve walked outside, I like to kind of do a circle around the house so I can get back to it quickly if needed.
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April 7th, 2009 8:19 am
C’mon Chickie, I’m sure you are really adorable while on the treadmill. We will have to work on this phobia of yours. You are cute and charming…be proud of yourself and how pretty you are too!!
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I’m pretty sure that I’m not remotely adorable on the treadmill. But thank you for the ego pump :)
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April 7th, 2009 9:29 am
Keep grooving on that treadmill chickie. I go to the gym to zoom. I keep my eyes fixed on cartoons & try to ignore all the bodies around me.
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I just finished today’s session! Zoom! I employ your strategy of fixing on the t.v. and ignoring bodies too. Canines included.
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April 8th, 2009 7:46 am
I don’t like working out in front of ANYONE. Which is why I will NEVER get a gym membership. Ever. Evereververeverevereverever.
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I hear you! I was a member of a gym long ago and figured out the deadest time of day to go so I’d have the place to myself.
But now that I have my own machine that will never happen again.
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April 8th, 2009 11:25 am
I love that Sweety kisses your sweaty ears.
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Chickie said:
April 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Me too :) He’s a keeper!
I guess he read this post because he told me this morning that he’s never laughing at me when I’m on the treadmill.
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April 8th, 2009 8:47 pm
I hated it when I used to go to the gym because it really bothered me when people looked at me there. Usually though, I pretend I am the Queen and have a tiara on my head and have an “F em’ attitude”. It works for me!
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Chickie said:
April 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am
But see, I’d worry if my tiara was on straight or not.
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April 10th, 2009 1:11 pm
I agree 100% about GemTV. That channel is amazing. Have you seen those “game” shows they have? I don’t really get how it’s a game–or fun–but they are pretty into it. GemTV rules.
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Chickie said:
April 18th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Yes! The “speed games”! I know all of the late night hosts by name. I end up staying up way too late to watch that wonderful trainwreck.
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April 18th, 2009 9:21 am
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