Mixed weekend feeling and shopping

Not sure how I'm feeling this weekend. All feels a little bit wierd! The last four or five months I have spent all my spare time building up to my big cycle ride. When I wasn't training or working on my bike, I had the kids coming to stay.
Now with the ride over and done with I feel a little lost. I have a free weekend and nothing to do. Six years (on Tuesday) in this house and I don't know anybody here to go and meet, or have a drink with.
So anyway, woke up at 8am and decided it was too early. Went back to sleep until 10am (unheard of for me). Went to the gym for my workout (never been on a weekend before and it was quieter than I expected) and booked an appointment to come up with a new training plan. Then I went shopping.
I lost about 8-10 lbs in 12 days doing my cycle ride, and all of a sudden my shorts and trousers are falling down. I started at the gym wearing 38in waist trousers. I have just bought two pairs of jeans with 34in waist 😀 . Same size I was wearing when I finished university 10 year ago!!! I do still have a bit of a beer gut that hangs over the top which I desperately want to get rid of so more gym work to follow. Want to swap my beer belly for a six pack.

Make the most of it... Not many people can say they have a completley free weekend..

How bout a trip to the book store and grab a good read! Or catch up on some movie watching!

WOW well done on loosing the inches (maybe I should take up cycling!!)

I think it is normal to feel 'lost' after having spend so much time preparing to do something and doing it. You now having free time again.

Maybe going to the gym, like today, when you don't normally go you will meet some new people. I found if the gym was quieter people tended to say hi a bit more.

Books are for bed time, or sitting planes/trains usually, or when I am on holiday. I have some DVD's to watch and was going to do that after popping on here for 5 minutes which was about an hour and a half ago.

The trainers at the gym say hi, but none of the people exercising do, just the occasional nod of recognition. They're either off in their little groups doing their thing, or walking around with headphones on, not really a sociable place in my experience, but then again it could just be me!

well you are obvioudsly in to sport so why not join a footy / rugby team etc.

You will meet new people and keep fit.

Near me they even have a biking club.

have you tried going to your local one night during the week when its quiet you can sometimes meet people that way?

orc30 said:

The trainers at the gym say hi, but none of the people exercising do, just the occasional nod of recognition. They're either off in their little groups doing their thing, or walking around with headphones on, not really a sociable place in my experience, but then again it could just be me!

they are just snobs then 😉 I speak to everyone at the gym;)

Alex, I certainly wouldn't call them snobs, just engrossed in their exercise regime. Most of the trainers are very pleasant and can be talkative, but there is that kind doctor/patient type thing where I just feel it would never progress beyond professional courtesy (maybe I'm wrong).

Lihra, I'd love to do something like this but with the hours I work I can't guarantee to be around during the week for a regular game or training session, and alternate weekends (type of thing) I have the kids which makes it impossible to do anything every weekend. I would feel like I was letting people down all the time. I do plan on trying to find a cycling club as I know that there is one locally, but I think I need to get an appropriate bike (i.e. racer) first.

ellee, I wish I had a local to go to. That would be the easiest as you can go as and when you have time, and pubs are open late. I enjoy pool and so that is a good way to meet people. I have tried going into the town centre (the nearest pubs are there) and although one or two have a pool table nobody uses them. I seem to end up standing around looking like a sad loner with my beer and wondering what the hell am I doing as nobody will talk to me all night.
I know it doesn't seem like it on here but I am not great around people in social environments unless I am relaxed which usually only happens when I am out with mates (which never happens these days). I find it difficult to approach or talk to new people, and usually end up boring them if they do start talking to me.

orc30 said:
Alex, I certainly wouldn't call them snobs, just engrossed in their exercise regime. Most of the trainers are very pleasant and can be talkative, but there is that kind doctor/patient type thing where I just feel it would never progress beyond professional courtesy (maybe I'm wrong).

I was joking!!!! 😀 I just like to speak to everyone and it is an excuse not to do anything for a few minutes 😊 (im not into an exercise regime) lol

You are right about the proffesional courtesy from the trainers, they are there to work and not socialise. Again mine is a small town gym (when I go) and the guy who is there is a local and also teaches Joseph to swim.

orc30 said:

I know it doesn't seem like it on here but I am not great around people in social environments unless I am relaxed which usually only happens when I am out with mates (which never happens these days). I find it difficult to approach or talk to new people, and usually end up boring them if they do start talking to me.

Wow sounds just like me. Shame there isn't such thing as net dads.
How about doing something with the kids when you have them that would help you make friends that you could also see without the kids.

Bring back the days when everyone new their neighbours or you could invite your neighbours round for drinks

Lihra said:

orc30 said:

I know it doesn't seem like it on here but I am not great around people in social environments unless I am relaxed which usually only happens when I am out with mates (which never happens these days). I find it difficult to approach or talk to new people, and usually end up boring them if they do start talking to me.

Wow sounds just like me. Shame there isn't such thing as net dads.
How about doing something with the kids when you have them that would help you make friends that you could also see without the kids.

Bring back the days when everyone new their neighbours or you could invite your neighbours round for drinks

If you knew my neighbours you'd know why I wouldn't. That's a bit harsh on one of them who is pleasant enough to say hello or brief chat as we pass each other, but frankly I would prefer to be a hermit than get to know any of the others near me. Mostly not my type or too old. It may sound a bit snobby but I would constantly be biting my tounge worried about saying the wrong thing and getting my arse kicked. I am surrounded (or so it feels) by the local heavy mob (wouldn't be surprised if they were dealing), people on social who can't be bothered to do anything else, parents that eject their kids at 9 in the morning and don't bother with them until 6 or 7 in the evening (or constantly shout at them) and so on. Hopefully you get the picture and nobody is offended by my comments which are slightly generalised. The town I live in is a recognised area of poverty.

The gym I go to is actually in the leisure centre, and I think if I had managed to locate one somewhere else then I may have been slightly better off with the attitude of the people that I might meet there. I'd settle for somebody to go to the gym with to give me that extra boost to achieve something as otherwise I get bored. I pretty much stick to a fixed exercise plan which I get revised every couple of months. Without that structure I wouldn't achieve anything when I go there. Desperate to lose my beer belly, and then a little more definition in my arms would be nice. I hope if I do lose the weight I don't become to obsessed with the whole thing, and can just use it to remain fit afterwards. Thinking I may need to get a personal trainer to help me get over the next barrier and give me that extra drive.

Just to add one other point to show what a strange person I am. I can talk to you guys on here no problems. I can get up and do presentations or answer questions in groups of people that I never met before when working to support or help sell the software our company makes. But when it comes to being sociable I struggle unless I am on familiar ground.
Catch me at a pool table in a pub and no problem, otherwise it is a struggle.

Why don't you go to a pool hall then? I know what you mean, though. Just moved into my place 2 months ago and no welcome wagon or people introducing themselves.
well.....except the avon lady, wich offered me a job selling avon. Don't know if I'm into it though. I'm a crappy saleslady.

There aren't any pool halls (or snooker halls) here in my town. And typically you wouldn't go to one without anybody to play with here in the UK, unless you like playing with yourself 😏

I don't know how I would get over there from Canada without taking a scary plane!!! 🤔

glowingsun said:
I don't know how I would get over there from Canada without taking a scary plane!!! :suspect:

Nothing wrong with planes. You could take a long boat ride!

A long boat ride tends to be just a little bit more expensive than a nice shortish plane journey.

have you thought about moving house,its a bit extreme but if you moved to a place where there was a local and other facilities you could join and use,it might do you good as a change and a new start

JOJO said:
have you thought about moving house,its a bit extreme but if you moved to a place where there was a local and other facilities you could join and use,it might do you good as a change and a new start

It's on the cards, once I sort a few things out in the house, and get a few other things sorted. It wouldn't be a local move as frankly there is not a lot in the town I live in. It means moving away from my kids which is why I have to make sure I get it right.