Working in a gym?

[Ashley-Kate]

I am writing this while i already know the answer to my question i fear it in some ways so i am hoping hearing it from others might help me out a bit. I sent my CV at many places and got many calls for interviews and stuff as many may know. One of the calls was from a gym, only for woman. I will find out tomorrow (well today) if i have the job yet a little voice inside is screaming at me "what do you think your doing". Maybe not so smart for an anorexic/bulimic to work in a gym, especially considering my past with excessive exercising. The chances i get the job are fairly good, and yet i know that if i work in a gym all day it will be very hard to abstain from exercising. I know it was really not intelligent for me to apply for the job yet a part of me really felt that i would like it that it would help me feel "good" again yet i also know that if i do start training in the gym the chances i will go home after a normal exercise time are very slim. Yet by me knowing all of this and understanding that this may be an issue i think to myself maybe i will be able to fight the urge to go on the tread mill or whatever. I don't want to refuse the job if i get it yet i know it would probably be best. i am ambivalent because i know i need a job i know i would love this job because it is something i am good at and something i know yet would i be willing to risk my health. I am confused i know what to do yet i feel that maybe i shouldn't do it.. help...

 

[Daniel E.]

Re: working in a gym?

I don't know, but you may want to look into on-campus jobs if you haven't already via the university's human resources website.

 

[Ashley-Kate]

Re: working in a gym?

i am actually no longuer in college, i decided to take a year off to try and find myself and what i really want to do with my life..

 

[Daniel E.]

Re: working in a gym?

Oh, okay. I would think, worse come to worse, you could just quit the job later.

 

[suewatters1]

Re: working in a gym?

Ashley if you get the job can you tell the people that hired you that your DR order you not to do exercise at this time. Because if your job doesn't require you to exercise that is good but the temptation will be there. But maybe by telling somebody you can't exercise right now due to medical reason that maybe if any of the workers sees you exercise they can ask you "are you suppose to exercise?"

So if you had good coworkers they help you to not exercise.
It's like me I am a gambler. I have a addiction. Imagine me working at a casino and not have the urge to play.
We people with addiction has to stay away from anything that could be a trigger. I think the job at the gym would be a trigger but if you had good coworker who liked you and would watch you like a hawk then maybe you can try it but it would still be temptation.

Good luck in your decision

Sue

 

[Ashley-Kate]

thanks! i might not tel them that i have a medical condition to not be able to exercise because people tend to be very curious and nozy sometimes but i wil think of it when i go to work that i in fact have a medical condition that i shouldn't exercise. well i have not got a phone call back from that place so i might not have to worry about the hole working in a gym after all.
I spoke to my mother today about it and she told me that i need to think long and hard about this knowing how i am in gyms and knowing also that i may not be able to see it get out of control. She just basicly wants me to be wise about this decision and not put my health in any danger.
I thought it through as well and i have to admit the hole aspect of me working in a gym is fun for me, i will meet more people (if i get the job) and i will be surrounded by people that probably have healthy lifestyles. It is not a gym that is very close to my place so if i am not working i will probably not go so it is not like i will be at the gym 7 days a week, and well i will try to limit myself. If i do decide to get back into a training routine that i will not do more than a certain amount per day and never more.

 

[Halo]

AK,

While reading your posts I have to say that I had a bad sinking feeling. To me it really doesn't sound healthy at all and actually potentially dangerous. It sort of seems like an alcoholic saying that they were going to get a job in a liquor store...it just doesn't make sense and a recipe for disaster.

I know that you think that it would be the "perfect" job for you but I really would be scared about putting your own health at risk. You are doing really well lately with trying to get better and I wouldn't want to see you jeopardize that.

Is there anything else that you could do that would be as fulfilling?

Anyway...just my opinion but ultimately your decision.

Take care
:hug: :hug:

 

[Ashley-Kate]

your worries are almost the same as mine. I know how i am and when i was in the gym before (not when i worked there) peolpe would even ask me if i wanted them to set a bed for me in the gym.. hint hint i go overboared. i might try it for now and well if i feel that i am losing control i will look for another job

 

[texasgirl]

I really hope too, Ashley, that you will be able to know when it is too much for you. Sometimes it's hard to judge. I would think that it might be helpful that you leave when the job is over so that you aren't finding yourself over your limits before you know it.

Keep us posted, please. My thoughts are with you.

Take care,

TG :support:

 

[Halo]

...hint hint i go overboared. i might try it for now and well if i feel that i am losing control i will look for another job

Ashley,

I understand that it sounds like a good idea now but my concern would be that if you get too involved in the gym atmosphere and your going overboard, are you going to be able to know when you are losing control?

What safe guard measures can you put in place so that you can keep an eye on what and how you are doing? Do you know your own internal warning signs that things are getting out of control?

Ultimately it is your decision and of course we will be here to support you.

Take care
:hug:

 

[Ashley-Kate]

hello,
Now that you mention it no i don't really know if i will be able to stop myself r know what is too much for me especially that at the moment the plan i have with my psychologist and dr. it to reach a healthy weight and maintain it and also to not exercise at all and if i work in a gym the chances i wont exercise at all are slim especially considering i will be surrounded by people that will be training and the thought of just watching them exercise and not me might be enough to trigger a need to exercise even more. i was planning on taking my byke to work it is a little ways wich would let me have a little bit of exercise done and maybe calm down my need to do more when i finish work or before i start. I also have a friend that lives close to there that would have me over at her place one a week so forcing me then to not exercise, that day when i work. When i think of it no it is not a great idea at all cause i will exercise and i know that for a fact i have a free membership so the option of not using it flies out the window, and right now i am just starting to get back on track yet again and this is basically a call for disaster. It is hard for me to pass on this because i feel like some lazy person even though i know it isn't true i feel that way

 

[Halo]

Ashley,

I think that you are making the right decision about not taking on a job at the gym. I honestly believe that it would be a detriment to your health and continued wellbeing.

And no, you are not being a lazy person at all. Just because you can't work in a gym doesn't mean that you can't work at all...and even if it does, right now your job is to take care of yourself and do what you can to get better....that is definitely hard work and probably harder than any other job.

I am so proud that you are seeing the possible difficulties that the gym job could lead to.

Take care
:hug: :hug:

 

[Into The Light]

you're anything but lazy. you are working incredibly hard to become healthy again and that takes so much energy. it might not be physical exercise you are doing but it does take a lot of energy. you can still do other jobs and work hard and not be very intensely busy physically - that certainly would show you aren't lazy.

 

[forgetmenot]

I think you are thinking things through rationally Ashley-Kate and good for you to decide to stay on the right track to stay Healthy You are a true fighter in ever sense of the word certainly not lazy take care mary

 

[Ashley-Kate]

I received a call back from the gym today, and after a long reflection and discussing with my familly (seeings how they now know how i am doing) i kindly refused the position. I feel a bit of relief i guess from havign done that. On monday my mother is going to come visit me and help me pack some stuff and come see my new place. My brother and sister in law have informed her that i have not been doing so great and that i would need her to come visit for a day.

 

[Meg]

Good for you, Ash, that must have been a hard thing to do. That sense of relief perhaps suggests that you can be even more certain that the decision was the right one :goodjob:

 

[Into The Light]

i am glad for you ashley. it sounds like the right decision. also i am glad your family is aware of how you are doing and are supportive of you :hug:

 

[Halo]

Ash,

I am so proud of you as you should be of yourself. :yahoo: I know that it was a difficult decision but I believe that you made the right one. :2thumbs:

It is also nice to hear that your mom is going to visit you. I hope that you enjoy the time together.

Take care
:hug: :hug:

 

[forgetmenot]

Way to go Ashley Kate you certainly are looking after you and that is so important. I am glad your mom will be coming and supporting you for awhile. keep up the great work best wishes mary