If you’re looking for someone who shares your same get-healthy interests, the gym seems like a great place to meet a potential date. But wait—most of the time you like to be left alone when you’re working out, so you probably shouldn’t approach the guy next to you in the weight room, right? Actually, you should go for it, says Tracey Steinberg, dating expert and author of Flirt For Fun Meet THE ONE.
“Men generally have the burden of approaching and making the first move, so if a woman shows interest first and he’s interested back, he’ll really appreciate it,†she says. Yes, even at the gym. So if you’re done with your workout and looking to strike up a conversation with the guy who keeps catching your eye between circuits, Steinberg has a few tips that may help.
The key to a successful gym flirting session is keeping it simple by using the environment to your advantage to strike up a conversation, according to Steinberg. Anything that you “see, hear, touch, taste or smell†is fair game (okay, maybe not smell or taste in this situation). Ask him if he knows the song blasting overhead or if he’s ever taken the new cross-training class being offered.
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Then, there’s always the tried and true trick: Asking for help with something—so long as it’s a genuine request, says Steinberg. You can ask them to spot you, show you how to use that machine that you’ve never been able to figure out, or just to help you move the 250-pound weight some jerk left behind before you. “Men naturally love to help,†she says.
Of course, don’t forget your common sense; you should only approach a guy if he’s in a state to talk. Flirting certainly isn’t worth causing any serious injuries over, so if he’s in the middle of a rep, wait until he puts the weights down.
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“The most important trait is confidence, even if you’re hot and sweaty because you just ran miles on the treadmill,†says Steinberg. Instead of worrying about those sweat stains under your boobs, relish in this awesome post-workout confidence boost you have going on.
And the best part about flirting at the gym? If you find out he’s unavailable or uninterested, you’re surrounded by easy outs—just tell him you’re going to go hit the squat rack and to enjoy his workout, then get back to doing your own thing.
Moral of the story: The rules of flirting at the gym aren’t any different from flirting at a party or club. Don’t overthink it and don’t try too hard. At the end of the day, the gym is just another place to meet potential dates, and as long as you’re confident and polite, he probably won’t think twice about the interruption.
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