Nina In New York: I Quit The Gym. No, Really.

A young professional's take on the trials and tribulations of everyday life in New York City.
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By Nina Pajak

Something huge happened this week. Huge.

I quit the gym.

Omg. Are people allowed to do that? Am I allowed to do that? Have you ever done that? It feels terribly wrong. Like purchasing convenience store apple pies or eating more than two cookies at time. It wasn't until college that I realized people actually did these things! Not. Allowed.

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We are a gym-centric city. In L.A. and Miami (our skinny sister cities), they've got nature and hiking and Billy Blanks and thigh-posuction and swimming and what have you, plus plenty of residences that can accommodate fitness equipment and in-home aerobic activity. If we tried this in our apartments, the moldings would crack off the walls and Mr. and Mrs. Goldblatt would have you evicted before you can say "Zumba."

But we have to be thin. We can't not be thin—this isn't Cincinnati, people. So we gym. We spin and ellipticize and yoga and step and lift and squat. And it's fine. Sometimes it's good, even great! Until it isn't. And you hate it. And you think if you see another NYSC you will scream, but they're everywhere and you are constantly wracked by the guilt of knowing you're both losing money every month and getting fat while you do it. But when you think about getting off your butt and going again, all you can see is waiting in line for 20 minutes for a machine with a broken TV that only gets C-SPAN, simply to realize how shamefully far you've let yourself slip.

And I for one have had it. I'm taking a stand against the tyranny!

Also, I just have no time, what with the puppy and all. And plus the weather and...so sleepy, but also the...lunar tide...

Listen, the point is that it's done, I've broken up with the NYSC, and it's making me incredibly uncomfortable. But theoretically, not belonging to a gym should force us to get actual real world exercise, absorb a little vitamin D, maybe even try new things. Shouldn't it be liberating to know that I'm no longer obligated to spend hours upon hours each week inside a smelly, airless room? Our grandparents weren't fat, and I highly doubt they devoted all that much time to vibrating on that antique shimmy belt machine or heaving old-timey barbells. Nowadays, we're all about how "you shouldn't eat anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize." Well do you think your Nana would get within 10 feet of a Pilates Reformer? Why doesn't this concept extend to physical activity, too?

Yeah, I don't know either. I'm afraid. Pardon me while I go drown myself in shame cookies.

Would you ever consider breaking up with your gym? Let us know in the comments section...