Most of us would rather give up bread than step on a treadmill, but there are basics to consider — good health, fitting into a favorite pair of jeans, attracting a mate, feeling fit. Whatever the incentive that draws people to the most unappealing place on Earth, getting to the gym is less than half the battle. Once there, navigating the sea of distasteful sights, sounds, and smells can be a horrifying experience. The gym is a minefield of people you'd rather not stand next to on the subway let alone share a sweaty machine with.

In I Hate the Gym, seasoned sitcom writer Jessica Kaminsky shares her tips on getting through a trip to the fortress of evil relatively unscathed. Tips include the half-hour rule (doesn't matter what you do, if you stay for thirty minutes, it counts as a workout), reward systems (thirty minutes equals carte blanche to eat and drink whatever you want), identifying the players (from the prison warden to the bored housewife), surviving the classes (beware the territorial spinners and aggressive yogis), and more!

"The gym, for Kaminsky, is 'the epicenter of evil,' and those who share this view will laugh their way through this viciously funny, step-by-step tour through a place 'chock full of sights, smells, and sounds you wish you had never witnessed.' She offers advice on self-motivation (make goals like 'one cocktail for every mile I run') and appropriate attire, recommending readers 'go with the old T-shirt, loose sweats, and granny panties' while admitting that she herself wears a thong (her explanation: 'I am a panty line Nazi. I'd hand out tickets to underwear offenders if I could'). For each area in the gym, from the weight room to the juice bar, she lists types of people one is likely to find: in the ladies' locker room, avoid 'the exhibitionist,' and in the fitness room, look out for 'Mr. Midlife Crisis.' Her observations are caustic and often over-the-top — her suggestion for keeping weird people at bay is to act like a deranged character from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest — but no one who picks up a book with this title is likely to be offended. Despite her caustic, exasperated tone and relentless wisecracking (or perhaps because of them), readers who share her love/hate relationship with the gym will find this a fast, laugh-out-loud read, especially for those days when the last thing they want to do is drag themselves to the gym." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"The gym, for Kaminsky, is 'the epicenter of evil,' and those who share this view will laugh their way through this viciously funny, step-by-step tour through a place 'chock full of sights, smells, and sounds you wish you had never witnessed.' She offers advice on self-motivation (make goals like 'one cocktail for every mile I run') and appropriate attire, recommending readers 'go with the old T-shirt, loose sweats, and granny panties' while admitting that she herself wears a thong (her explanation: 'I am a panty line Nazi. I'd hand out tickets to underwear offenders if I could'). For each area in the gym, from the weight room to the juice bar, she lists types of people one is likely to find: in the ladies' locker room, avoid 'the exhibitionist,' and in the fitness room, look out for 'Mr. Midlife Crisis.' Her observations are caustic and often over-the-top-her suggestion for keeping weird people at bay is to act like a deranged character from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest-but no one who picks up a book with this title is likely to be offended. Despite her caustic, exasperated tone and relentless wisecracking (or perhaps because of them), readers who share her love/hate relationship with the gym will find this a fast, laugh-out-loud read, especially for those days when the last thing they want to do is drag themselves to the gym." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Right here's where you start paying...in sweat."

--Debbie Allen, Fame

Sitcom writer Kaminsky shares her tips on getting through a trip to the fortress of evil relatively unscathed. Tips include the half-hour rule (doesn't matter what you do, if you stay for 30 minutes, it counts), identifying the players (from the prison warden to the bored housewife), surviving the classes and more.

Do you spend more time trying to talk yourself into going to the gym than you do actually exercising? Would you rather give up bread and swear off bathing suits than step on a treadmill? Do you fear swiping your underused membership card will trip a silent alarm, causing a personal trainer to descend on you like a used car salesman? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you are not alone.

I Hate the Gym examines the borderline hostile relationship we all secretly have with the gym and offers advice on navigating the cheesy people, funky smells, and sweaty equipment with ease. Once you've learned to deal with the loud talkers and locker blockers, the bad music and the funhouse mirrors, hating the gym will give you peace of mind. Because paying to exercise is a necessary evil and the sooner you accept your hatred, the closer you'll be to reconciling all of your gym issues...one Pilates ball at a time.

Jessica Kaminsky has written for a number of successful sitcoms, including Just Shoot Me! The author of I Hate the Gym, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.