So after a workout, any workout (weights or leaping-around-like-an-asshole workouts), the last thing I wanna do is move all the pretty looking and unnecessary decorative furniture back into place where I would usually exercise. But I do. All the chairs no one sits in. All the tables people only use to store junk on, because they cannot find a place for them. Not to mention the damn throw rugs that serve little purpose aside from collecting dust and dog urine. After properly storing my workout equipment (barbells, bags, mats, etc) the room looks good. Open. Clean. Inviting. And an ideal workout/living space! But I'm not the only one living here. And the furniture isn't mine. So they have to go back into their place. Having to do that all the time is a real bummer. People putting MORE useless furniture and kick-nacks in the room, giving me more to have to clear aside to make room to exercise, is frustrating. Getting castigated for having workout tools out in the only room workout can happen in, tidied up or not, is infuriating.

Based on this experience I'd venture a guess that people hate the sight or the idea of exercise in their own home. Its sweaty and gross and noisy and "dirty" and has 'no place in this house.' They see workout equipment like a mother sees toys out of a toybox and they hate it. And I hate that they hate it.

It tears my motivation down like nothing else to find my workout area effectively hidden from sight. Buried under some bullshit decorations that have far less of a purpose to be there then I do. Especially when my fiancee and I are the only ones who put the room to use outside of a storage space. Big heavy glass vase filled with fake flowers? Random print chair clearly bought from a flea market? Another goddamn chair? Really? Gym stuff belongs in the gym and house stuff belongs in the house then, huh? Having a workout area readily cleared and ready for me keeps me going. Having my weights not hiding behind the television makes me more likely to reach for them. Knowing that I can come home and work out with my fiancee, just jump into it, is what makes me (and him) actually work the hell out! And filling that, hiding that, fighting that, quite frankly makes me stop trying. Home is where I am most comfortable but I'm made to feel burdensome upon others and to take that damned jumping around elsewhere.

Then they ask me why I don't, or why they don't see me, work out anymore.
Well curious that! You sabotaged my only workout haven and I got tired of fighting about it! Sure I could go to the gym, and sometimes do, but as I said before: I'm lazy and selfish and wanna work out at home. You throw paraphernalia in my space and are surprised when I no longer use it? Such logic ASTOUNDS me. If I feel like I have no place to work out, I wont. If I feel like I disrupt everyone's lives, I stop.

These are facts. Truths!

These days I've reached an agreement with others in the house. They are more supportive and don't throw stupid shit in my workout place. 'Cuz I don't throw my shit in their places of hobby. Soooo by that logic... why should they? And they and their house guests even learned to love the open space after I've cleaned up post workout. (Sometimes begrudgingly.)

Coming to this truce took way too long. Like, two years too long. I should have spoken up sooner. But I didn't. So I stand as a living lesson to this problem that I feel, for sure, is not unique to me. If someone makes you feel ashamed to workout, especially if you know they don't mean to, tell them. Tell them TEEEELL THEEEEM!

But seriously put a couch in my workout space? Fuck yo couch.