How It’s Always Sunny Taught Me What Not To Do in the Gym

By Allison Johnson
Blog Content Contributor

When Sweet Dee had a heart attack in It’s Always Sunny, she and her twin brother Dennis took it upon themselves to get into shape. This inspired me when I recently remembered that I have a horrible diet and will probably die of heart disease because my profuse intake of frozen pizzas and pancakes drenched in strawberry syrup and whipped cream. In this episode, Dee and Dennis confirm the types of bodies that they want which is, “Side abs.” “Not too bulky, nice, lean and tight.” I feel that on a spiritual level.

I am 4’10 and pretty slim, but I realized I could look and feel much better than I do now. Here is the thing, I started working out when school ended and I feel like I still look the same. I am not saying I took work out advice from some of the most prominent, senseless characters in T.V. history, but I ponder about the things I watch, and it made me think, I am not seeing results because I basically work out like Dee and Dennis.

Watch this clip of the dynamic duo head to the gym to understand my work out problems. #gymnewbs

I did not walk into the gym in jeans like Dee, but I was still unprepared. Not only do Dee and Dennis use the excuse of not having cool workout attire to work out, but they use the excuse of not having energy. I can relate to not having energy. How do you have energy to work out six times a week when you had a Wendy’s four for four, or a sandwich, a banana, and hot Cheetos for lunch? At the :48 second mark in the clip, Dee and Dennis notice people are “utilizing shakes and powders.” I have too noticed that my sister, and anyone else I see working out the gym drinks protein shakes or pre-work out. People take pre-workout for numerous reasons, here is an article to help you understand how they can help foster muscle growth, energy, and strength.

This was a good observation Dee and Dennis made. According to Riska Platt, M.S., R.D., a nutrition consultant, “Not fueling up before you work out is like driving a car on empty.” A few tips she gave was to fuel up two hours before working out by drinking water and eating healthy carbohydrates. If you are planning to work out in the next 5-10 minutes, an apple or banana will do. Visit here for more tips!

Do not be discouraged, especially do not try to go to extremes for fast results. Here is a clip from the lovely Frank Reynolds, teaching you what not to do.

I hope if you are a gym newbie like me, you start to make changes other than just working out for results. Go the extra mile and do what you need to do before and after your work out for the body you want. You have to do more than cardio and strength training. This information might be obvious to some of you, but I have been short and skinny my whole life and never saw a reason for working out if I felt content with my body. Now that I have goals, I am going to have to learn a lot about nutrition to obtain them.