Perhaps the fella with the toned delts and chiseled triceps finishing up another set of Romanian Deadlifts isn't just the hottie you're too neverous to approach — perhaps he's a terrorist. Turns out, more than a few of our unwelcome jihad soldiers had gym memberships. Whether they got locked into a 12-month contract to tone their adductors or network with other terrorists is not, necessarily, a mutually exclusive decision.

The British government recently published its Report of the Official Account of the Bombings in London on 7th July 2005. It reveals that three of the four members of the 7/7 cell seem to have become radicalized in gyms rather than in mosques. Mohammed Sidique Khan, leader of the cell, worked on his protégés in "informal settings," primarily at a local Islamic bookshop where they watched radical DVDs and at local gyms, some of which were based in rooms below mosques. According to the report, "Khan gave talks [at the gyms], and worked out." He set up two gyms, one in 2000 with local government money—which means that government officials unwittingly funded one of the settings for his efforts—and another in 2004. Shehzad Tanweer, the 22-year-old who seems to have been the second-in-command of the 7/7 cell, "got to know [Khan] again (having known him a little as a child) through one of the gyms." Indeed, Tanweer was as much a fitness fanatic as he was a religious one. Shortly after 7/7, one of his former friends told the Guardian: "Shehzad went to a few mosques around here but he was more interested in his jujitsu. I trained with him all the time. He is really fit." Jermaine Lindsay, another of the 7/7 bombers, has also been described as a "fitness fanatic." A report published by the Terrorism Monitor at the end of July 2005 said that he "met his fellow bombers while attending one of the gyms set up by Khan."

We're not saying you need to be wary of the ravishing bloke seated next to you in the sauna, but when you're back at your place and he mentions how much he wants you to explode, it might be wise to think twice.

Killer Workout [Slate]

The queens over at Gay.com have ranked the top gay gyms in North America. Their list reads more like nightclubs than healthclubs. They say:

This winter, carve out time for the gym. To make it easier, head to one of these gay-popular fitness centers -- where the eye candy alone is worth the schlep. These cruisy microcosms of gay society seethe with drama, locker-room lust and an all-consuming desire for better abs. And there's nothing like a little gay drama to help you shake those winter blues.

We'd expect no less from Gay.com, the place we've all gone for a quick online hook-up. But to base your gym membership on hot guys, cruisy steam rooms, and drama seems a bit shallow and superficial. Even for us. And we are really shallow and superficial!

When looking for a gym we recommend asking your friends about their gyms. Try out a spinning or yoga class in a couple different clubs. Use the pool or steam rooms and compare. Gym memberships are costly (over $100 a month in many cities) so be detailed and cautious before signing anything. Check to see if you can use their clubs in other cities while you travel and see if they offer incentives for signing up a friend.

Your health should be the biggest factor in which gym you choose. Not your sex drive. Though staying in shape can only help out with that too.