Mars and Venus at the Gym

I have worked out at several gyms over the years.  In that time, I have learned that men and women go at exercise in very different ways.

Some observations:

1.  Men go to the gym to bulk up.  Some men avoid going to the gym because they are not bulked up.
   


                                         

Women who go to the gym do NOT want to bulk up.  Some women avoid going to the gym because they are afraid of getting bulked up.

2.   Men's muscle targets are, in order, pecs, more pecs, shoulders, more shoulders, delts, triceps, biceps and abs.
   

Women's muscle targets are, in order, glutes (always called butts), more glutes, thighs, more thighs, abs and, sometimes, triceps

3.    Men do short sets of muscle exercises with the heaviest weights they they can handle.  Many of them grunt and throw their weights on the floor after each set.

   


Women do many sets of many reps with itty-bitty weights.  They always put the weights back neatly in the racks.

4.  Men think women admire men with broad shoulders and
     six-pack abs.

      Women think men admire skinny women with tight butts.

5.    Men's favorite exercises are pull-ups, bench presses and dead lifts.

      Women's favorite exercises are leg curls, butt-tighteners and ab crunches.

6.  Men do not pay enough attention to their lower
     bodies.











   

Women do not pay enough attention to their upper bodies.













7.    Men make up five percent of the people in exercise classes.  Women make up 95 percent.

   

8.  A few men do spinning classes. Women make up 70 percent of spinners.

   

     


 9.  A few men do Pilates.

Most Pilates classes are full of women.

10.  A few men and many, many women do yoga.

There are probably other differences -- like, say, in the changing rooms -- but I mean it literally when I say I'm not going there.

In fact, gyms themselves are changing.  I've noticed a couple trends in recent years.  More on that later.