Iraq Gyms

Since the liberation of the Iraqi people from Saddam’s regime in 2003, Iraqis have been enjoying their new freedom by exploring areas that they did not have the luxury of exploring before the invasion. The latest new fad in the country of Iraq is fitness. Many Iraqi men develop large guts at early ages due in part to their diets which consist almost entirely of saturated meats. The men of Iraq are just like the men of anywhere else. They don’t want to be fat and unhealthy. No one does. Before the fall of the prior regime, Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, boasted only 30 gyms and fitness centers. Now it has over 300 gyms.

Do not expect to see a lot of men doing cardio in the gyms though. The most common piece of equipment are free weights and toning machines. The most of the men of Iraq have a desire to look “macho” or muscular. The men at many of the gyms in Baghdad are willing to wait in line for long periods of time to work out on the bench or do curling exercises.

Also, many people may wander why I am mention the men of Iraq and not the women. That is because Iraq still is a middle eastern country that holds a non-western view of women. Most of the gyms are for men only, but a few do offer times that women can work out too.

The rise in the interest of the Iraqi people in fitness can definitely be seen as a positive note in the country’s growth and restructuring process. The country will need healthy citizens as a foundation for its new developement. The increase in the fitness industry is definitely a step in the right direction.