selfish jerks at the gym

[ny biker]

Okay I'm sorry that this is going to be a cranky post, but if I don't get this out of me I'm going to explode!

I think my gym is offering discount memberships to jerks. Since the beginning of the year there are a bunch of new members who think nothing of monopolizing equipment in the free weight area. They fall into two categories:

- workout buddies who spend all night using the same equipment, like doing endless sets on the one and only smith rack with long breaks in between where they slooooooowly walk all the way across the gym to the water fountain and then sloooooowly walk back with a break to watch the tv for a few minutes.

- guys who think it's perfectly fine to set up three pieces of equipment at once and go from one to the other in an endless loop.

Invariably these people are using really heavy weights or otherwise have the equipment set up in way that it's not feasible to try to work in with them because it would take too long to change the setup between what they use and what I want. So those of us who actually grasp concepts like "sharing" and "taking turns" wind up having to rearrange our workouts and stand around doing nothing while we wait for Selfish Guy/s to finish up and move on.

It's just rude.

Thank you for letting me vent.

[martinkap]

Hi,

honestly that sucks! I hate when people do that in the gym. You have several possibilities what to do:

• Don't say anything and quietly steam inside
• Change gyms
• Politely explain them the situation.

Of course, I favor the last one. Very often (especially true for men), people are not rude on purpose, they just don't realize the results of their actions and they are not emphatic enough to understand how you feel. So, something like this might go a long way:
"Hi, I have been watching you for quite a while now - you got a heavy set up here. I am still working on much smaller weights but I hope one day I will be as athletic as you" (note: Little shmoozing never hurts, it gives you the upper hand) "But you know, my problem is that I have very limited time in the gym and when you set 3 machines just for yourself, it is almost impossible for me to use them because you make me wait to long. Can we work something out?"

If they are jerks even after that, just go and steal one machine. At that point, they deserve it. But I bet, they will be nice and who knows, you might even get a work out buddy out of it.

Martina
P.S. Of course, edit everything for English. I have never fully mastered that language

[chutch]

Can you ask the staff at the gym to step in and ask them to be more considerate?

I used to work at a gym and would try to pay attention when something like that happened and would gently remind the offender that everyone is trying to use the equipment. If I didn't notice and a member asked me for help, I'd happily step in. That's what the staff is for.

Good luck, I know that's frustrating.

[Smilie]

Hey, those sound like the same guys that are in MY gym! But I am usually doing cardio, so I don't have to deal with them.

Can you change the time you go so you can avoid the testosterone time?

[TahoeDirtGirl]

At least they aren't sitting around BSing with each other while ignoring you. I guess either way, it stinks.

I would go to the gym staff and tell them your issue. Let them deal with it. I know what you are talking about with the enormous weights, that's just not going to happen. My gym has two machines, maybe it needs to be pointed out that on their next equipment purchase they should invest in another?

That or go a half hour earlier than usual and take over the machine?

[Irulan]

Why not just say, "scuze me, I am going to work my sets in between your sets" or something like that?

[Flur]

I suggest politely asking them if you can train in. If you get a jerk-type answer, don't be surprised. I've found that meathead-types tend to disrespect women who want to use free weights.

You could also ask the gym to add equipment, since people are waiting to use certain things. I'd also recommend learning to use completely free weights - there's nothing you can do on a smith machine that you can't do without it, you just will need to use lighter weight. You can often also swap out cable machines with free weights to train the same muscle groups if all the benches are taken. This will also give your body a new challenge and could take your workouts to the next level.

[lovelylibrarian]

I just want to offer my sympathy. When my gym is crowded, it's tough to work in on the machines. I have a certain routine that I do and try to mix up the order but I don't sit there between sets. I see SO many guys doing that. They just rest on the machine between sets.

It makes me crazy too.

[Pax]

As a middle aged woman who works out at the University gym I tend to adopt the maternal tone..."young man, I need to move some of those weights so I can work in". They might look a little miffed but they do it.

[Trek420]

As a middle aged woman who works out at the University gym I tend to adopt the maternal tone..."young man, I need to move some of those weights so I can work in". They might look a little miffed but they do it.

Bet they are even more miffed when middle aged women easily move their weights

[Pax]

Bet they are even more miffed when middle aged women easily move their weights

In that vein, there is a young male Asian student who works out faithfully at the same time I'm there, he struggles and groans while doing curls with...pink plastic coated 5lb. weights. He's so sincere that I try to give him an encouraging nod now and then, but it is pretty hilarious.

[Flur]

You could also try pointing out to them that resting between sets is a waste - they should be supersetting (doing another exercise in place of rest between sets) to burn more calories, get more cut, grow more muscle, etc. Generally the time it takes to do a set of another exercise is LESS time than they're standing around for, so it will get them off the machine faster, and they can do the same workout in 1/2 the time, which gets them out of the gym faster. Bonus for you!

[mimitabby]

I think you should just take Flur and Pax with you next time; they'll take care of it.

[bounceswoosh]

In that vein, there is a young male Asian student who works out faithfully at the same time I'm there, he struggles and groans while doing curls with...pink plastic coated 5lb. weights. He's so sincere that I try to give him an encouraging nod now and then, but it is pretty hilarious.

You never know ... he could be recovering from an injury, or have some sort of neuromuscular issue.

[Pax]

You never know ... he could be recovering from an injury, or have some sort of neuromuscular issue.

It's crossed my mind. He is adorable though, I think it's the cultural differences that allow him to use the little pink weights that I find endearing...most of the big strappin' American boys wouldn't touch them.