back of a spreadsheet; back of the net

I've become fascinated by strange gym behaviour. Mostly this is when I notice someone doing an unusual and particular exercise. I wonder what they are specifically trying to do or develop or practise.

I'm conscious that my own gym routine can be a little esoteric at times, nay ecentric. As part of the weight training, for example,  I've been doing some asymetric lifting, lifting with one foot further forward or back than the other which is designed to get slightly different groups of muscles take slightly different roles in the effort and build strength. Before that, I've been having bean bags thrown at me to improve the strength of the ligaments in my feet. Today I was kicking cones over as a remedy for a twisted ankle.

Personal favourites include the improbably Impressive lady who was jumping up to a pull up bar, and lifting her feet up to touch the bar (circus skills?), the lady doing pull ups with a 5 kgs weight dangling from her waist (rock climber was my PT's best guess), the couple who seemed to be doing exactly  the same exercise regime expect when they weren't but seemed to think they were (injury, or ineptness?) and today's entry, a lady doing sort of push ups with her knees elevated on an exercise block and her hands quite close to the block (I can't tell the difference between this and lifting a 40 kgs weight other than the risk that you fall on your face).

Less fortunate strange behaviour is the lady doing about 90 minutes on the cross trainer who my PT thought probably had some form of body dismorphia.

Mostly my reaction to these things is to think "Wow! but why?". The gym doesn't seem to be the sort of place where you can enquire of strangers why they are doing particular exercises. My PT is usually able to figure things out from first principles if I ask her. Occassionally we are both baffled.

It's been a window in to a whole world of strange behaviour of the type that I usually only find in the library or on the train to Newcastle.

This morning's trip to the gym included weights.

No new record for weight lifted but I think my 6 sets of 6 at 80 kgs is probably a record for weight * reps.

Which I think I'm going to try and measure - so 36 *80 is 2,880 kgsreps.

PT's guideline is to spend some time working at 5% of maximum load but doing more reps to build up muscle and the nervous systems controls.

Lifting felt pretty good this morning - lots of energy. I think I could have done another couple of sets if needed (although perhaps ask me about that later when the post exercise soreness kicks in.)