They call Gold’s Gym in Venice, CA “the Mecca” of bodybuilding.  It’s where all of the muscleheads have beefed up and trained for bodybuilding competitions and where the Mr. Olympia(s) call home. It’s world famous.

Even though it’s pretty close to me, I’ve never stepped one foot in there, and for good reason:

I am not a bodybuilder.

Or a gym rat.

Or an exercise fiend.

Or even a 3-days-a-week, simple workout, eat healthy, “kale is my favorite,” type of female.

Not even close.

In fact, I’m in the worst shape of my life.

Now as a former college athlete, this doesn’t make me proud and I have intentions of dropping some lbs just like 98% of everybody else I know, but damn. We can’t all have everything perfect in life at once, now can we? I have a rewarding career, amazing friends, a close family, and a blog I need to write…so one thing at a time. 🙂

That being said, I have NO PROBLEM getting attention from men and have a very active dating life. Weight has never been an issue in me attracting what I want, no matter what size I happen to be.

Which always makes me CHUCKLE because I live in Los Angeles – the city of beautiful people with perfect bodies. 

And there are beautiful people EVERYWHERE. Drop-dead gorgeous men and women whenever you step outdoors.

You’d think you have to be “one of them” to fit in the circle but that’s simply not true.  Confidence is key.

Since moving to Los Angeles, I’ve been with my fair share of men who are in impeccable shape.  In fact I was seriously dating a celebrity trainer for awhile and we never once worked out together, nor did he mention it or suggest it to me ever during our relationship. We had a blast together.

(Well, I was getting in a lot of cardio, I suppose…

And what a lovely flashback of those muscles! Mmm!)

Anyway. I digress. Sorry. #distracted

So it didn’t realllyyyy surprise me when a personal trainer on OkCupid hit me up about a week ago.

Turns out he was intrigued after reading my profile and wanted my number.

So after a few messages back and forth, and me making sure he wasn’t trying to sell me a package of 10 sessions, we exchange digits.

He actually calls me (something a lot of guys avoid bc they’d rather text) and we spend hours on the phone over the next several days.

He’s very interesting. And he’s funny. And smart!

He asks me out on a date and tells me to meet him in the parking lot of Gold’s Gym in Venice.  This is only about 10 mins from my place so it’s perfect for a Friday night. No traffic to deal with! 

The plan is to take me to “First Fridays,” which is where food trucks line up on the famous street, Abbot Kinney, in Venice.

Near Gold’s Gym.

Which I have never been to.

Cuz I don’t workout.

(Just to re-cap.)

He says he trains there and has his last client done by 8pm.

As I arrived, I saw the most buff humans I’ve ever seen entering this place.

Their muscles had muscles!

One chick was going in with her man. He was huuuuuge, but her arms were serious weapons, too. Biggest guns I’ve seen. 

Not cute, in my opinion, but I just smiled as me and my curves got out of the car to go greet my date.  He was outside and saw me park.

He greets me with a big hug and kiss on the cheek. He’s taller than me! Yay!

Great smile. Great voice. Great arms. Great chest.

We walk to a favorite bar and restaurant of his nearby.

I learn he’s been a trainer at Gold’s Gym in Venice for 20 years.

20 years!!! That’s a lot of sweat equity! #badpun #couldnthelpit

I also learn that he’s known for a particular kind of work with clients.

He tells me and I’m not ready to hear this.

Do you wanna know?

Drumroll…

Yes, folks, this man trains women to compete in fitness and bikini competitions!

GOOD GOD.

Now.  It’s one thing to know there are beautiful people everywhere you look in LA, but it’s another to be surrounded by those whose GOAL in life is to have every square inch perfectly sculpted.

I think my ankles might qualify. Or maybe my wrists. I have pretty awesome wrists.

He takes out his phone to show me before/after pics of some of his clients.  None of them were large to begin with.

If I wasn’t enjoying the perfect martini he had instructed the bartender to make for me, I might have thrown up in my mouth a little.

I continue to look at the pics with him.

Shit.

This is a whole other level.

Luckily, I remain my cool, calm and collected self and tell him how amazing they all look (cuz they do) and how great of a coach he is (cuz he knows his stuff).

He also tells me he used to be a bodybuilder, too. For years.

Perfect. Of course he did.

Now at this point you’re probably thinking WTH?! Why is this guy interested? I aspire to look like his client’s “before” pics!

And that, folks, is the mystery of my dating life in LA.

WHO THE HECK KNOWS!

Considering that first date lasted 6 hours long as we talked and laughed and flirted our way through the night, all I can say is wow.

We ended up spending almost all day Sunday together, too, and we still constantly talk.

Who knows where this will go, but it’s fun figuring out if I see him as a potential match.

Who woulda thunk it.

LA is not as shallow as you might think.

And I’m living proof that looks aren’t everything, and self-confidence is sexier than any set of weights you’ve laid eyes on.