Dropping the A-Bomb

When I go to the gym I like to be anonymous.  I know from my chubby days that in a gym culture if you are not flaunting your biceps or booty shorts you are largely ignored by the fitness crowd, so I usually wear baggy sweatpants and one of my husbands sweatshirts.  (I look totally awesome if you’re a fashion policeman on the lookout.)

Two stories here.  First, the other night my friend, Obidia, and I were on the stepper doing intervals between level 8-12.  No big deal.  (She was dressed like a normal person – FYI.)  Two young girls, they couldn’t have been older than 19 or 20, went on the steppers next to us and typed in the same speed we were doing.  Obidia and I continued stepping and chit chatting while these girls began clinging onto the handrails for dear life and laughing as they were falling off.  One of them said,

“How can these moms do this so long?!?”

But that’s not the funny part.  The funny part was when Obidia was like,

“How do you know I’m a mom!?!”

And I was like, “Sorry, my sweat suit gave it away.  You were guilty by osmosis.”

Second story.  Last night my friend Kim (also dressed like a normal person…and also a mom) and I did sprints on the treadmill.  I was wearing my super sexy sweats.  After our cardio I went to the sauna, which was filled with a bunch of guys in tank tops showing off their guns and their girlfriends.  They all ignored me.

They were talking supplements, which one was better, the sadness they felt that Hydroxycut was taken off the market, etc.  One of them said, “Yeah, it made my neck and face all patchy and red.”  So I said, “That’s from the niacin.”  They all looked at me oddly with expressions that said, “Mom?” and continued to pretty much ignore me.  One guy said people kept telling him he should compete in the Shredder in the physique division.

And, I don’t know why I did it…maybe I just was getting pissed off at being ignored…but…I…I dropped the A-Bomb.

“Yeah, I’m competing in the Arnold in March.”The room was silent for a few seconds.  That’s right boys.  This mama can kick some ass.  It felt good to surprise them.  Perhaps I’ll be discarding the sweat pants soon.  Arnold is back at Muscle & Fitness and I’m coming back to my fighting weight.

P.S. – My book, “She’s Losing It!” is now available on Kindle!

How about you?  Do people treat you differently based on what you wear?

Lisa

Lisa Traugott is a Mom’s Choice Award winning writer, fitness blogger, wife and mom of two. You can read more about her in her new book, “She’s Losing It!” available at Amazon.com.

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