Gym bunnies: a term so ubiquitous that even many non-exercisers know it, despite never having encountered an actual example. They are the ricers of the workout world; the ones who are utterly preoccupied with how good they look while exercising, while caring little to nothing about actual performance.Scarlett's descendants waltz gently through the gym, never picking up any but the lightest of dumbbells because, as they'll tell you, "I'm just here to tone my muscles." Meanwhile, they scope out the male exercisers, and when they find one that suits their needs, suddenly it's time for them to try to bench-press the bar...and of course, they need a large, manly spotter to help them.

I'm never certain what amazes me more: the fact that women feel the need to resort to acting like brainless cream puffs to get the attention to men, or the fact that some men actually take the bait.

* * * * *

I write a lot about the successes I have in trying to get healthy and lose weight because I know it encourages my friends who are going through - or just thinking about going through - the same process. Judging by what I've seen happen amongst my friends since I started talking about this process back in January, sometimes all a friend needs to get started on the process of wellness is to hear someone else talk honestly about the process.

In the process of getting healthy there are plenty of days when you just know that you're doing what is right for yourself, and you need no additional encouragement. But there are other days, other weeks, that we don't always like to talk about. The weeks where the weight doesn't drop, the workouts are a struggle, and the only thought racing around in your head is "Why the hell do I bother?"

It just hasn't been a good week.

Some weeks are so bad you want to quit.

Some days you wake up and know that the fight is in you.

Over the past few days I've had a couple of people make offhanded glances or comments that make it clear to me that workout-related changes are starting to become apparent to other people.

I've posed this question to my spouse and two of my friends, but I'll pose it to you, gentle reader: what is it about a woman doing a bench press that fascinates men to no end? I do a lot of weight-bearing exercises in the gym (as Jody, who tagged along during Friday's workout, can attest) but nothing gets a raised eyebrow quite like a girl making nice with a bench press.

On the way home from the gym today:

To tell you truth I've said it before

tomorrow I start in a new direction

I know I've been half asleep

I'm never doing that again

I look straight at what's coming ahead

and soon it's gonna change in a new direction

Every night as I'm falling asleep

these words repeated in my head

Guster - 'Come Downstairs and Say Hello'