16 responses for this post

1. Suz on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:53 am

   So at first this cracked me up because gym machines often confuse the hell out of me and I once was beat up by a treadmill which is the simplest of all the gym creatures.

   But then the article becomes about how to move larger people and it just starts to feel gross.

   And then I think about the poor woman… if she was as “portly” as they report, going to the gym and using the machines is not small feat of self esteem (I struggle with it)… to have a mishap is embarrassing enough but to have to be carried out in a basket in front of all the gym rats and THEN for it to be in the paper… I would be forever traumatized.

2. Grey Rainbow on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:02 am

   and everyone asked to not be identified.

   that poor woman!

3. GeekBoy on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:22 am

   Yeah, it’s safe to say that woman is never going back to the gym again.

4. freakgirl on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:23 am

   Suz, I agree. I was trying to find an article that didn’t harp on the woman’s size, but I couldn’t find one.

5. Michael on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 12:15 pm

   I had the same reaction. As soon as I got to “Stokes basket” I knew they were making fun of her, and then they tacked on the other story, unrelated but for the size of the injured party.

   Still, I have seen some really funny things at the gym, including the lady that tipped over at yoga the other week. It was bound to happen. She is always ALMOST tipping over….like where I’m thinking “Oooh, nice save!” when she doesn’t. Also, she wore a skirt last night. To yoga.

6. freakgirl on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 12:19 pm

   Now I feel shitty about posting the article.

   Of course, it’s the NY Post — can’t expect them to write a story without tacking on something bullshitty.

   I’ve fallen down at yoga A LOT. But I’ve never been dumb enough to wear a skirt. I guess she had something on under it? I’ve seen little skirt/pants combos in catalogs.

7. Stephanie on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 12:23 pm

   That’s a shame that this article is dwelling on her size like that. She’s at the dang gym for gosh sakes! I guess weight prejudice is so bad that even that is not good enough.

   As far getting slingshotted off that machine…I don’t quite get how that happens. The abductor is one of the funnier machines to use, though. I always make sure to wear capris or pants to the gym so I can use it. My thighs need it, but whoa! all the spread eagle action!

   And michael…a skirt to yoga?!?! Yick!

8. Michael on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 12:40 pm

   FG, the thing is, with words like “flung” and “slingshot” in reference to a human body exiting exercise equipment, it’s funny irrespective of her weight. It’s like NPH said the other day about people dropping 40 feet into a pile of mud.

   As for Tippy McCoulottes, we were in the same row, so I didn’t have to actively avert my eyes too much, until we did “seated forward fold” at which point she stretched the front of the skirt over her crotch and tucked it under her butt. Like a lady.

9. Greater Czarina on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 1:24 pm

   I could so see this happening to me - not because of size, but because of my sheer natural spazziness.

10. freakgirl on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    Exactly — me too. Even on the treadmill at home, I have daily visions of myself getting launched out the second-story window. Or that one day the treadmill is going to crash through the floor and drop me into the dining room. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

11. Lake on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    That’s why my treadmill is in the basement, not near any windows, and close to a wall…

12. freakgirl on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    If we had a basement, that’s where mine would be. But hey, the upside is, I think my constant panic while I’m working out actually burns more calories.

13. Lake on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 6:37 pm

    : D

14. Charlie on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    Has anybody ever counted the full sum of neuroses FG readers suffer from? Just curious.

15. Marjon on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 12:36 am

    Overweight people need to lose weight, the entire society is demanding it. Because fat people are gross. But nobody wants them to go to their gym to lose the weight. Because that is gross, too.
    I think I’m going to start smoking, That way I’ll be a fat smoker and pissing everybody off.

16. freakgirl on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:14 am

    Charlie, that would make a great post topic. Thanks.

    Marjon, Ugh. I hear you.

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