I’m not ashamed to say that I’m one of those people who eyes the stats on neighboring cardio machines (I also eavesdrop in restaurants, to the point that Chris makes me sit where I’m facing the wall so I don’t get distracted, but that’s beside the point). A little competition never hurt, and if the person next to me is going faster or harder than me, it gives me incentive to turn it up a little.
This morning, I got on the arc trainer (that weird-looking elliptical) next to a guy, and naturally looked over to check his data.
He was going at resistance 100.
Did you even know that those things went up to 100? Because I sure didn’t. I go at 55 and that, more often than not, has me contemplating suicide.
Well, once I saw that, I couldn’t stop staring. No way. I was waiting for him to pass out and fall off of the thing. But he didn’t. In fact, I’m pretty sure he went for an hour that way, because I was on for half an hour and he had a little less than that left when I got off.
Yeah, I was looking pretty hard. But really. 100?? That man is in shape.
Anyway. Tomorrow I might try to turn it up to 60. We’ll see. Probably not.
I also made a smoothie today with my homemade almond butter:
Pretty good. Not as good as peanut butter, let’s be real, but still not bad.
I would really enjoy a post on your smoothie making. What varieties do you make? I have a strawberry allergy, so many recipes online do not work for me. I am thoroughly interested in your banana/PB ones, and if you use a specific brand of protein powder in any of them.
Congrats on the new food processor. I got one for myself for my 25th birthday a couple years ago and I love it. The only thing better would be a dishwasher to go with it…
Haha, I don’t pay attention to other people’s machines. I’m too busy worrying about myself. I guess I’m just self-centered like that.
dude i totally get competitive with other peoples stats when im running on the dreadmill. even old men.
true story: hot dude jumps on dreadmill next to me and checks out my stats… he turns his speed up to 8 to match me. okay i get aggressive and turn up my incline… then he turns up his. then i start doing sprint intervals at 9.5-10… and he tries but totally FALLS OFF. hahaha i saw him later lifting and he confessed to trying to keep up with me. i was totally into it but turns out he has a girlfriend…. sad.
i need a food processor. was it loud when you were grinding almonds up? do you make smoothies in the food processor or blender?
Hhaha.. I am completely guilty of one-upping anyone next to me on the treadmill. Not that that’s really too hard at my gym.. I go to one of the 24 hour places and we got lots of crazies in there.. but not to many “intense” worker-outers.
Holy smokes.. I didn’t know the ArcTrainer went to 100 either!! That’s insane. I do it on 50/55 intervals, and my last minute at 60 and I think I’m pretty damn hard for that. But 100?! OK.. He wins..
I totally check the machines of the people next to me. Especially if someone is sprinting on the treadmill, I try to gauge how long they’ve been sprinting because, hello, no one can sprint that long.
how can you NOT go to the gym and compete with your neighbors?? i love running next to meathead muscle guys for a long time and they try to match my speed and hold it for 30 seconds. it’s really really really fun. cause i’m better than them at everything in life.
hahah, Betsy. You win at LIFE.
55! Wow. I’m impressed by you.
100 is unnatural. One’s legs should stop working before they hit that kind of resistance.
It goes up to 100?? Jeez!! Good incentive, haha.
Your smoothie sounds fabulous – glad that the almond-butter is delicious!
Oh, eavesdropping! I am queen! I just HAVE to look and know. I will imagine and be nosy to my heart’s content!
He’s still a wuss for using an elliptical and not a treamill Ari. Never forget that.
I bet I could do 1,907 on the Arc.
hey! I LOVE your blog! You have the greatest sense of humour! I just started my own (http://artofgoodhealth.wordpress.com) – take a look!!
Badger –
The word “badger” always makes me laugh for some reason. Anyway, because of that, I will do this for you after lunch tomorrow, so look for it. No strawberries, don’t worry. And right on about the dishwasher. Maybe next year? I hope he’s reading.
Winning –
I can’t not look. It’s a problem.
Kootz –
Very sad. But also really funny. I might have died if I’d seen that. It was loud, but not too bad after the first minute or so. I use a blender for the smoothies, but I’m sure the food processor would work. It’s harder to clean though.
Run –
I am glad I don’t have to get on next to you. I would probably end up dead.
Arielle –
Yeah. Well, I though no one could elliptical at 100 for an hour, but apparently I was wrong.
Betsy –
I wouldn’t want to be next to you, either. No offense.
Jenny –
Don’t be. Like I said, one day it may kill me. And really, I know. Mine would for sure.
VG –
I guess, but I’d never make it that high.
Ashley –
Oh god, we would be horrible together. I need to know every detail. And then I’ll fill in the blanks with things that I imagine are probably true.
Chris –
I’m 100% sure that you couldn’t. Nor would you ever try.
Art –
Thanks! Yours is looking good!
HOMEMADE?
Im so impressed.
M.
Oh man 100 resistance is crazy! haha
I only do 12. But my elliptical only goes up to 15. So that’s good, right?
I have no idea.