Sorry for the quiet time but I have been on the West Coast celebrating my father's 70th birthday. Good times, good times.

While I was out there, I went to the gym twice and I came to the conclusion that the Los Angeles gym scene is quite pathetic. As much as I make fun of the New York gym population, LA's gym population makes us look like a bunch of triathletes. This is the third gym I have attended in LA.

Although both gym populations are there for vanity reasons, I get the distinct feeling that the West Coast gym members are mostly just there because they can't afford the plastic surgery. At least on the East Coast, I don't get that feeling. Maybe it's because LA is made up of people trying to break into the TV and Film business (which is all about how you look). Maybe it's because NY is a much more intellectual place than LA. Maybe I am generalizing.

The Cardio Combat class I attended was taught by a very talkative instructor who talked about her dream of her getting breast implants. She also talked about how she would like a cute body like Gwen Stefani or a butt like Jennifer Lopez. In between these remarks, she cued some moves. I got a good workout but mainly from the fact that I knew how to get one from what she did. She was very nice but I was disturbed by the fact that she focused on "perfect" celebs throughout the class.

I also noticed, while I was weight training, that everyone did the same exercises and paid absolutely no attention to form. Most of the men were working on their biceps while the women worked on their triceps. What is it about the arms? Am I missing something. Of course, I was doing back, shoulder, and bicep exercises with very little concentration on the biceps AND a whole lot of concentration on my form and control. I got some weird stares. Maybe it was the slow, controlled, deliberate movements. Maybe it was the amount of weight a small guy like me can lift. Maybe it was the short shorts.

I asked an instructor, who happens to have taught in NY, about the class population. He said that most of the people who work out don't want to put effort into class. Some don't even want to break a sweat. He says it can be frustrating because most of the LA gym population goes to the gym so that they can say they belong to one. They tend to not attend classes that are physically challenging let alone mentally challenging.

Maybe I should be thankful for the people who attend my class. Maybe I should stop poking fun at NY gym-goers. Maybe I have nothing to complain about if I compare the two Coasts. Maybe not. Later.  ¶ 12:21 AM