SWEAT IN THE CITY – Everyone knows Lumpini Park is a great place to get your sweat on if you want to go for a run, but it’s not just cardio kings and queens who can benefit from working outdoors. If you’ve ever taken a stroll near the Chinese xxxx, you can’t fail to have noticed the topless glistening bodies clanking weights in the outdoor weights gym.
If you HAVE failed to notice, the bodybuilders who strut around showing off their chiselled muscles and posing for photos obviously aren’t doing their job. These guys really want you to stop and stare. I was even ‘treated’ to a disturbing pec dance while I was there.
Gentlemen, I need a word with whoever told you that’s hot. Because, it’s not.
When I visited, I was interested to find out if I could hold my own in what has to be the most testosterone fuelled gym in Bangkok. Most guys are topless with very built physiques and lifting more than my body weight. It’s intimidating. Nonetheless, I was on a mission to throw some iron around.
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My arrival was treated with a bristle of excitement and an element of amusement. I assume not too many women venture into this gym, though they assured me some did.
The barbells, dumbbells and benches are spartan and primitive, but where there are big lumps of heavy metal, there’s a good workout so I gathered up some weights and started squatting. Pretty soon I had a group of men around me asking me about where I was from and what I did for a living. Several made a point of telling me I was very strong (with the necessary ‘for a girl’ qualifier). Being a big flirt, I enjoyed the attention, despite the fact that I really wasn’t getting my sets done.
I quickly decided to make it a short workout because, as lovely as all the guys were and as enthusiastic as they were about having a woman train there, I was pretty a) intimidated by all the muscle and b) distracted by the testosterone-heavy atmosphere. I even had to bat off one guy (yep, the pec flex guy) who was pulling out all his moves.
Honestly, it’s hard to be in this gym without The Village People’s ‘Macho Man’ playing around your head.
Despite all the silliness, where else in this city can you get some serious resistance training (and some really helpful tips if you ask for them – the guys are only too willing to share their knowledge on getting a buff bod) for 20 baht a session or 200 baht for a month?
Ladies, I even had a handfull of telephone numbers by the end of my workout.
A hot new bod AND a date? I’m in.
If I had a training partner to help lessen the ‘gulp’ factor, I’d be tempted to go back. But next time I might not wear my shorts. 😉
Suitable for: Those who are fairly confident with their lifting and enjoy a macho bodybuilder gym environment.
FIND IT:
Lumpini Park
