We’ve all seen it. You’re steadily plodding away through your abdominal workout (which means close to nothing if you’re in college and have any semblance of a social life or human eating habits) and you see them at the pulley machine. The guy, decked out in a tight Nike workout shirt and a crew cut and the girl drabbed up in her matching yoga pants and bright sports top. They’re laughing together as she struggles to finish her tricep workout and she gives up halfway. You wouldn’t even blink twice if after she was done they didn’t embrace in a sweaty, smelly, full on display of public affection right afterwards. You sit up with an even bigger grimace than you usually would have while doing crunches.
There’s a fine line when it comes to PDA. If you and your other fit the description of the couple above, you probably want to pause and think before you start feeling each other up at the squat rack. Then again, what are you suppose to do if you see want to meet somebody cute at the gym?
The gym is one of the most sexually charged atmospheres you can go to. There’s tons of scantily clad people, running around, grunting, sweating and pumping pheromones out of every pore. That sentence right there sounds like a line off a porno description. In fact, every time I go to the gym, I see the simple basics of human mating. Guys trying to look better than the one standing next to him to impress the girls.
Except, I know it’s often quite intimidating for guys to approach girls at the gym. I mean if asking you if you need a “spot” on your squats fails, we’re basically a tad perplexed on how to let you know we’re interested short of blatantly staring at your ass. So if you want to take the initiative and get yourself in the right position to get something going with the guy you’ve been eying at the rec, here’s how to get a date next time you’re getting your fitness on.
Scope Out The Product
Ladies, if you would date us as dumpy, beer-guzzling slobs of men, we wouldn’t be busting our ass in the gym. It’s the same reason you spent the past hour on the Stairmaster – you want to look good. Don’t be afraid to look. Here in Greece, looking is part of their culture. They see something pretty or beautiful and they want to look at it. In America, it’s one of the perks of being a lady. Us guys on the other hand, we must be more discreet in opposition to this blatant voyeurism. That’s where you get the guys who choose the treadmill right behind you so they can stare at your ass for the next 30 minutes. We appreciate any and all positive attention. It’s the first step to letting us know you’re interested.
Lose The Friends
You girls love to rove in groups. To the bathroom, class, the gym it doesn’t really matter. Any guy can pick up on it if you and your girlfriend go and set up shop by the dumbbells, do a couple sit ups, and start chit chatting and side glancing at us doing bicep curls. We appreciate the attention, but if we’re working out and you’re in our way you’ll likely just get on our nerves. Plus, it’s just making more competition for yourself if you have another girl for us to look at standing right next to you. Try and go alone the next couple times and introduce him to your friends a couple weeks later.
Moving In
So you’ve been scoping this guy out for a couple days or a week and it’s time to get a little closer (as opposed to the direct approach discussed above). Wait until he goes to a machine or picks up a dumbbell that you need to do one of your workouts. Don’t pick up his dumbbell and start twirling it around. Ask him if you can “work in” with him or use the weights after he’s done. He’ll happily oblige and you’ll have a few precious moments together. It’s imperative to smile and seem as approachable as possible. If you’re as friendly as can be, there’s no reason he shouldn’t introduce himself right then and there. If he doesn’t extend the hand, try the same trick next time you see him and you start the introduction. Some of us males are particularly oblivious.
Next Time You See Him
If it’s just in passing and he’s headed somewhere else, just make sure to wave, smile and say hello. Otherwise, try and catch him on the way in or out of the gym, after he’s done doing a lift, getting off the treadmill, or use the technique in the previous step. The point is this time the introduction’s over and you have some time to get to know each other. Yes, it may only be briefly, one of you, or both, may be sweaty, he may have only a minute to talk, but the conversation pass the introduction solidifies your friendship and sets forth the idea of consistent chatting henceforth.
Closing Up
You’ve been talking for a bit and if it all goes well he’ll ask you out or to do some other activity when both of you aren’t smelling like gym socks. Either that, or plan on meeting downtown later in the weekend and or for coffee after a work out. Just try and keep an open mind.
Flirting at the Gym