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I joined the local university gym last weekend to get in shape for the London Workshop......well, for fitness reasons really!
Anyway, I have been starting at 6.30am to beat the morning rush, which is mainly due to me not liking busy places, having half an hour in the gym (gotta start easy) and the same in the swimming pool - today being my 4th Session. However, the gym isn't exactly quiet in the morning , seemingly, there are many fitness goers at this time! The place is becoming a familiar place to me now though so i'm not bothered about the busyness so much.
Each session I have managed to go to the cubicle with ease but I thought i'd brave it this morning and use the urinal. There are about 8 urinals in a row with porcelain deviders in between each, allowing a 2 foot gap between each urinal. There were others in the changing rooms (about 4-5) so the chance of someone using the same area was quite possible. I hesitated for some time (about 30 secs) before I started peeing but it came eventually. I could hear the people in the background so I was ready to take flight I guess, thus causing the hesitancy. When I finished, I stood there for a little longer, just to soak up the glory I suppose.
So, my challenge to myself now, is to not use the cubicles in the gym anymore, unless I am desperate and need to use them as a safety net. However, even if people are already at the urinals, the dividers give good cover for me to pretend (but still try) if I can wait that little bit longer. Of course, as Andrew mentioned in a previous thread, the time of day and amount of water I would have consumed, wouldn't make for me to be at busting point anyway.... another challenge for another day, perhaps!
There are different changing rooms for the swimming pool area, these have only a row of 2 urinals with dividers the same as above. I guess if I drink half of the swimming pool I could give these a try too! I have used the cubicles already, with no others present.
Would anybody who has attended the workshops answer this question for me;
I have noticed now, more than ever, how much time my ears are on noise-radar alert. Does the workshop help eliminate/ ease this?
Pete L
Re: Success at the Gym
Posted by Mark L on 12/6/2009, 8:34 pm, in reply to "Success at the Gym"
Hi Pete,
You've got a perfect place to practice there, I love my gym!! I find going after a shower helps as you are more relaxed...
Its also good that there is background noise going on as you can 'pretend' without anyone knowing. I started in the gym cubicles, then moved to the urinals. In a short time, I went from going at the urinal when the changing room was empty, to going when someone was at the sink behind me!
Just keep visiting the loos throughout your time there to maximise practice, ie, when you arrive, after you change, halfway through workout, when you shower, then before you leave. Drain off a little each time to reserve your supply!
As for the background noise thing... The workshops teach you that no-one cares what you're doing, which in turn reduces the 'fear' of someone coming in. So any noise you hear approaching is less of a concern to you. Im still jumpy in small WC's when I hear someone, but not as much as before the workshops. Im sure everyone varies on this subject.
I found the workshop gave me a whole toolbox of techniques to choose from. I found one that really takes my mind off listening for anyone coming in. You will choose one that suits you.
Remember, what works for me may not work for you, that is why the workshops are SO important. You choose what works for you. However in my case the secret is to keep my mind busy with something else. There might be several ways of doing this, mentally reciting a hard-to-remember poem or song for example but the way I use is to think of a random number (around the hundred or so) and concentrate on subtracting 7 from it repeatedly until zero is reached. It usually only takes a few seconds to start flowing using this.
Thanks for your reply, that's exactly the response I was hoping to hear!
The gym is certainly providing me with the practice and experience I need to help conquer this condition. I have already noticed another step forward in confidence since joining! This just keeps on getting better..... I'm just not looking forward to a step-back, which I know is going to happen sooner or later. But hey, I guess it's all a step forward if i'm optimistic enough.
Pete
Re: Success at the Gym
Posted by Geoff P on 16/6/2009, 9:44 am, in reply to "Success at the Gym"
Hi Pete,
Aren't you doing well
Well done for stepping up to the urinal challenge! Don't worry about a step back. I found that when I had to take one, it actually led to a bigger step forward than I would probably have been able to have taken without it.
I deffinitely wouldn't recommend drinking half the swimming pool, though. 1. It's very selfish, only leaving half the water for others to swim in. 2. You wouldn't be able to get through the door to the toilets. 3. You don't know what someone else might have done in the water!
