Fed Up With Gym Behavior

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

OK seriously…I’m not a huge gym-goer and I don’t consider myself of any more importance than anyone else in the gym at any given time of any given day.

That being said, when I am there, I want to work out.

If you’re going to have a chatting session with your friend, go to the pool or the aerobics room. DO NOT sit on a piece of equipment that other people may want to use.

If you’re going to stare into space and dream about the lady over there doing cable flyes…again, DO NOT sit on that piece of equipment that someone else may want to use. Go have your boner over in the corner, by the water fountain or somewhere else out of everyone’s way.

If you are having a ‘social session’ with three of your friends and someone asks to work in with you, don’t let them work in, then every time it’s your turn, stay on the piece of equipment for five minutes after you’re finished chatting until you’re asked if I can have my turn.

If you like doing ‘super sets’ … go when the gym isn’t busy…or at least if someone wants to work in with you on one of your four pieces of equipment that you’re using, let them…DO NOT shout across the gym when someone gets on your machine, “HEY I’M DOING SUPERSETS I NEED THAT” and then the person gets off and waits four minutes before you make your way over to the machine.

Not that the typical T-man would do anything like the above. We’re all wiser than that and have a bit more respect for other people who are ‘in the game.’ Just incase some of these imposters are out there and curiously wandered over here, to T-space and actually read this thread. Not that they would because this is in the ‘Beginners’ thread and of course these guys are all veteran pro’s, which is shown by their overall lack of muscular size and definition, beer guts, sick, sick posture, and the way they carry themselves.

You know who you are…Mr. I max 200 on the bench press (not that there is anything wrong with that by any means, believe me), so I use the Hammer Strength machine, load it with eight 45-pound plates and just bounce it off the bottom every time and let out this huge grunt. Yeah, this post is for you. Stay home…read an article or two here on T-Nation…then come back to the gym. We won’t discriminate or hold a grudge. Just get your fucking acts together!

2

You are preaching to the choir, here at T-Nation.

3

Breathe in…

…breathe out.

There, there.

Doesn’t that feel better?

The gym is not a social hang-out, but a lot of people treat it that way. You gotta take the good with the bad…

…or just move to a different gym.

-Nate

4

i hear ya man. i got fed up with people just talking and goofing off while im standing there staring at them waiting for the machine. now i just go to the gym when nobody is there and i have a much more peaceful and effective workout.
if i ever own a gym one day i will make a rule having to do with this topic.

5

Take the money you would waste on a gym membership and buy some weights. That way you get to keep them and do whatever you want in your own place.Unless that is not practical.

6

I have no patience with it. If someone has shitty gym etiquette and is doing something that unecessarily interferes with my workout, I’ll tell them flat out. I’ll do it diplomatically. But you better believe I’ll tell em.

7

Excuse me mam… you’re bitching!!!

8

Not everyone trains alone in the gym, some people train in 2’s or 3’s and it is impracitcle to suggest that they do their set, rest for 30secs then do the next set without talking.
I keep my training sessions around the 45min mark and from the moment I swipe my card through the reception I have to say hello to around 10people I know, half of whom are working out there and half of whom work there.

Stop your bitching, make some friends, and be firm but polite when you need equipment and go to your gym regularly so people realise you are working out seriously and they will respect you for it.

9

I am happy that SOME gyms are getting a LITTLE more strict about Cell Phone use…(especially the Camera ones in the Locker Room…)

Cell Phones, with all their myriad of rings, can just be irritating in the middle of a workout…or as one sits on a piece of equipment and talks…

But hey…I’m dealing with it!

Mufasa

10

[quote]Mufasa wrote:
I am happy that SOME gyms are getting a LITTLE more strict about Cell Phone use…(especially the Camera ones in the Locker Room…)

Cell Phones, with all their myriad of rings, can just be irritating in the middle of a workout…or as one sits on a piece of equipment and talks…

But hey…I’m dealing with it!

Mufasa[/quote]

I agree about the cell phones. I don’t agree with all talking as if no one can speak to each other. If they are talking instead of lifting and it is clear they aren’t serious, tell them to move. Put some base in your voice and say, “Excuse me, are you using that?” I generally get, “Naw, man, it’s all you”.

I do have this one older guy at my gym who will literally look for someone to talk to. I have seen him approach people and talk to them for over 30min about random crap from trying to teach them how to lift (the wrong way) to dumb music trivia.

I assume he’s lonely but I don’t speak to him outside of a nod because that irritates me. However, if I know someone at the gym, I will speak…I just won’t stop my training to form a long conversation. If I talk between sets, so be it.

I generally ignore everyone else and simply turn my head phones up. I have a tendency to frown sometimes too so that seems to get rid of random bullshit unless I know them. I haven’t experienced anyone telling me to get off of a machine they were using for supersets. Maybe some of you don’t look serious enough. Maybe you should frown more and if that doesn’t work, talking to yourself or screaming out profanities while acting as if you have a nervous tick might work. People don’t fuck with people who look crazy.

11

[quote]shorty_blitz wrote:
Not everyone trains alone in the gym, some people train in 2’s or 3’s and it is impracitcle to suggest that they do their set, rest for 30secs then do the next set without talking.
I keep my training sessions around the 45min mark and from the moment I swipe my card through the reception I have to say hello to around 10people I know, half of whom are working out there and half of whom work there.

Stop your bitching, make some friends, and be firm but polite when you need equipment and go to your gym regularly so people realise you are working out seriously and they will respect you for it.[/quote]

LOL. Yeah, I want to make friends with the 60-year old guy that was taking up my machine today, chatting up a storm with his buddies. He wasn’t working out with three people, he was training alone…but chatting with 3 others…anyway…

If you’re not part of the solution, you’re probably part of the problem…you sound like the latter. Good luck to ya. :wink:

12

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Maybe you should frown more and if that doesn’t work, talking to yourself or screaming out profanities while acting as if you have a nervous tick might work. People don’t fuck with people who look crazy.[/quote]

LOL. I don’t want to do that at the gym…I have the same idea as you, but I’m saving that incase I ever end up in jail.

Anyway…I’m not having a problem with people in general. If I need something, I politely ask if they seem to be ‘lolly gagging’ around on it and they let me work in. I just observe a lot of crap going on every day I’m there.

In all honesty, I won’t even go near the gym on Mondays because it’s as busy as every other day…times about ten. Sundays are best around here.

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[quote]Professor X wrote:
Maybe you should frown more and if that doesn’t work, talking to yourself or screaming out profanities while acting as if you have a nervous tick might work. People don’t fuck with people who look crazy.
[/quote]

he’s absolutely right… the crazy thing really does work. i had to start my doing strongman workouts in a [crowded public] park every saturday since i don’t have a yard. i figured it would turn into a carnival of manorexics watching the crazy guy throw stuff and grunt. how wrong i was was. it’s a great way to not meet people. especially chicks.

the moral of the story: people will point; people will laugh; people will stare; but people will not say a damn thing to a man throwing a keg.

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http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/./1/.1118029560880.newgirl01.jpg

Feel better?

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[quote]Xen Nova wrote:
Feel better?[/quote]

Damn, that was unexpected! Thanks! Wow!

16

Why yes, thank you Xen.:slight_smile:

17

Now, how can I get her to come over for some “training”?

18

deapee,
dude I’m not here to either add to or help with your problems, I myslef try to go to the gym a bit later when it is less crowded and maybe I dont have as much of a problem you do bcos people who know me know that I am serious when it comes to my training and just prolly dont get in my way as much as you.
Now having said that I guess if I came in at a different time I might have the same problem you had.
But again when you rack up some serious weights and you’re lifting ‘in the zone’ people usually respect you and get out the way.

19

Xen who is that? I’m in love.

20

That girl can’t be older than 14. Thats just wrong.