I used to work out at a gym in downtown Dallas called Doug's Gym. Doug's Gym is the oldest gym in Dallas, probably one of the oldest in the United States.
The owner, Doug Eidd, opened the gym in 1962 and he has been working there as the only employee since then. For the math challenged that's 49 continuous years in the same location. Doug has never taken a sick day and he has never taken a vacation, though the gym is closed on Sundays.
Walking into Doug's Gym is like walking into a time-warp to the 1960's. All the equipment is still from the 60's and much of it is rusted. Doug's Gym does not have, nor has ever had, an air conditioning system only a few big fans.
Working out at Doug's Gym in the middle of a Texas summer is like working out inside a sauna. And Doug wouldn't have it any other way.
One day Doug was telling me, in between sets of bench….
“You got to sweat out all them toxins and shit. That's bad shit inside the body and it's got to get out. Them guys sittin' in offices never sweat it out.”
Pretty, ain't she? The squat rack, not Marilyn.
Working out at Doug's in the middle of July will quickly drench you in sweat, but with the windows open and the fans blowin' it's just about the best feeling in the world.
Sometimes it's hard to get a good sweat going inside the air-conditioned globo-gyms. And if you aren't sweating you aren't getting a great workout and you aren't releasing all them toxins Doug told me about.
Inside Doug's gym I had the best strength increases of my life. In my three months there I broke my deadlift record, my bench press record, and my behind-the-neck push press record. And I did it all while drenched in sweat.
Leaving Doug's I would always be completely drenched in sweat and completely drained, but it wouldn't matter because I gave it my 110%.
Now I tell you this, leaving a workout drenched in sweat is a feeling of accomplishment that no air-conditioned, comfortable workout can mimic.
But was Doug right about them toxins?
“When you sweat, you breathe faster, your heart works more, your circulation improves and your metabolism accelerates, all in an effort to resume your normal body temperature. Because your circulation is increased during sweating, many of the toxins and impurities are able to exit your body by way of your open skin pores. This is a good reason to exercise to the point of sweating or to sit in a steam room regularly.
Your skin also benefits from sweating. Your skin pores open and any dirt or impurities on the surface layers of the skin have a chance to exit. Sweating regularly, if followed by proper cleansing, will help you to achieve softer and smoother skin.
It is believed that the immune system also benefits from sweating. When your body heats up, your body generates more white blood cells. This strengthens your immune system.”
I guess old Doug knows a thing or two about keeping healthy and releasing toxins that all of us, in our modern convenience, forget or just don't care about. At over 80 years old, Doug would spot my bench pressing with just one hand. Strength training in the blazing heat with no air conditioning for 49 years is some Spartan living.
Old Doug Eidd on the right. Fitter than all them youngens and office dwellers.
Like this.
You never see sweat on the floor of a Globo-Gym.
I’m normally able to wring my kit out and need to wrap it in a plastic bag to stop it soaking through my kitbag after a workout at home and/or boxing. Feeling of accomplishment is something else.
been reading your site for awhile now but never came across this post until today. Following your motivation and seeing someone with my shared ideals and beliefs has been inspiring to take my life to the next level and not settle for the meager mediocre bullshit most people around me can’t get enough of. I’m from Dallas, and have visited Doug’s gym and have always been impressed compared to what else is offered here; Gold’s Lifetime, Equinox, Trophy Fitness, a bunch of “to be seen” gyms. Victor are you from this city as well? Or at least from this state? If so, knowing that puts you in an even greater light to me, seeing how you’ve described yourself before you embarked on your personal growth and transformation. Most men here are like how you described yourself to be, the same mindset, the same build, the same defense and put downs of what is strong. It’s hard cycle to break since so many people are like this, the group think is ferocious here. It’s admirable to know someone like yourself currently either came from here, or used this city as a stepping stone.
Keep up the good work.
Fuck me, I’m driving to Dallas (from Denver), just to workout once at this gym.
Call Doug and make sure he’s still going before you drive there! The man is nearing 90.
Great story. Reminds me of a line in one of Arnold Schwarzeneggers books in which he says, “I’ve had some very good work outs in some very definite dumps”,etc.
Encyclopedia of Modern Body Building A. Schwarzenegger.
I sweat on the run to the gym, at the gym, after a shower, on the way to and from work (public transport/walking)…I carry 2 shirts and vests (and a few litres of water) but it’s not enough. My personal presentation is not great cos I sweat too much. Face, hair (short), pits, neck pretty much dripping. Not quite normal for the temperatures where I’m at; low(ish) humidity except when it’s grey and drizzling. Any suggestions? (apart from disposable clothes/nappies to soak up the stuff). Should i carry an extra towel instead of a scarf? I don’t want to look too weird but I’m aware the amount of sweat already does look a bit weird so I’ve perhaps got nothing to lose…
I’ve just about had it with these gray skies o’er here in WA state… I’ve been googling other states where the temps don’t fall as low (year-round) or it doesn’t rain a lot (year-round) and I’ve come across two states that peak my interest them being UTAH and TEXAS.
Now since you’ve lived in Dallas and I believe you moved from New Mexico, what good things have you got to say about living in Dallas? That and what brought you here. Good or bad or in between anything really, I’m all ears.
Great article ! good job .I always sweet like hell came to me..floor is full of my sweat, I love to do intensity training… please do some articles with tips for burning fat/ how to accelerate your metabolism.
One of the best article for people who want to reduce their fat belly during this summer
Sounds like a fantastic gym.
The one I go to is a shithole as well. The equipment is old and rusty. Plenty of barbells and places to squat and bench. No ac and no fans. Its the hottest time of the year where I’m at and the sun cooks up the gym like an oven. You’ll sweat just from picking up your phone to change the mp3 song. I love it and make better gains than anywhere else I’ve trained.