I don’t know if you are close to a Fitness First or not but they are usually cool with chalk, it all depends on the manager. The ones in VA are fine with it, particularly Tyson’s, we have 10 blocks in the back room and use it whenever necessary. I know they have a few Fitness Firsts in Maryland but I am not that familiar with where you are.
As a side note you could go to a powerlifting meet in Maryland and find out where everybody trains or post on a USAPL or 100% Raw website about good gyms, I think both of those orgs (probably plus some others) have forums and have some good lifters in MD so they must be training somewhere.
[quote]Alpha wrote:
So I work out at a Gold’s in Westminster MD and today I got yelled at for using chalk. I am not a guy who claps or throws chalk around or even puts it on my back to squat…and I NEVER make a mess.
But the GM came an talked to me today and said that Chalk messes up the BB’s DB’s and Plates…after arguing for a half hour about how stupid his argument was I said that I HAVE to use is on DL’s over 450 or I will drop it. He said NO-So I said I want out of my contract…
With this lame story told–anyone know of any good Gyms in MD that are ok with serious lifters?[/quote]
Its intersting you say that i faced the EXACT problem with my gym. I gave the ultimatum also and that day I was back for some heavy ass deads I realized with commercial gyms like that, its all about the $$. So when it comes down to a couple hundred bones compared to the occasional chalk blot (which is always cleaned up by who uses them) they would give in. I mean, you COULD use straps, but who the fuck wants to use those wrist breakers? :-P. In regards to the comment I saw about not being allowed to sweat, theres a gym near my house called Hollywood Fitness. Policy is NO TANK-TOPS, cut-off sleeves by staff disgretion. Apparently clientel looking to join may find big ass muscle monkeys showing off huge guns would be intimidating and would deter them from joining. Commercial gyms SUCK ASS. lol
My friend posted this on another board, NOT ME. I’m just passing it along
this is in Rockville Maryland, not far from DC, just north/west of bethesda MD
My good friends Matt and Suzanne Gary have opened a warehouse training center that is PL, Oly, Strongman Friendly. If your in the Bethesda, Rockville, DC area it is the only gym worth going to, check it out. There are no mirrors and only one machine (cable system). everything else elieko, werksan, elitefts made.
check out thier website for more info.
I’m fairly clean when I use chalk because I try to avoid these situations … I worked out at a gym a few years ago in Florida and I was the only person I ever saw who used chalk.
One day I went in there in the afternoon after work and it looked like someone had slaughtered a mob of chalk; there was chalk everywhere. I knew as soon as I saw this where it would lead.
Sure enough, two days later the walls were plastered with signs stating “NO CHALK” and threats “IF YOU ARE CAUGHT WITH CHALK YOU WILL BE BANNED FROM THIS FACILITY”.
I’m a gambler. I like to push authority and it’s gotten me into trouble more times than I’d like to admit. So, I continue to use chalk expecting someone to say something to me and kick me out. I kept my practice of keeping it clean however. And only one old man said something to me, something original like, “Hey can’t you read? It says no chalk!!” I just kind of shrugged and went about my lifts and nothing came of it.
But I hate that they’re so short sighted and there’s a stigma attached to chalk. It doesn’t mess shit up and it’s really not hard for the user to clean it up if need be.
[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
Brett295 wrote:
Good luck. I’ve been looking for a serious gym for a long time. They are hard to find.
I hate Golds too. But I’m pretty much stuck there unless I can find a good gym with child care. I usualy sneak my chalk in with my gym bag which I used to carry around with me. They told me I can’t carry my gym bag with me in the gym so I can’t sneak my chalk around either anymore. I’ve tried some of the liquid chalk and it’s not too bad so maybe you could give that a try.
Did he let you out of the contract?
Why can’t you carry your gym bag with you? That sucks.[/quote]
Because, it’s gym policy. The manager came up to me one day after lifting and said I had to leave my bag in the locker room. he said that the gym bags get in the way and they are a tripping hazard. Nevermind the random dumbells left on the floor.
I think Im going to start carrying it with me again and just play it off like I forgot if the manager says anything. Sometimes you just have to have chalk.
[quote]Brett295 wrote:
Because, it’s gym policy. The manager came up to me one day after lifting and said I had to leave my bag in the locker room. he said that the gym bags get in the way and they are a tripping hazard. Nevermind the random dumbells left on the floor.
I think Im going to start carrying it with me again and just play it off like I forgot if the manager says anything. Sometimes you just have to have chalk. [/quote]
Just put your chalk in a small tupperware container and carry a gym towel around to lay on top of it to cover it up. Convenient and inconspicuous.
[quote]KBCThird wrote:
My friend posted this on another board, NOT ME. I’m just passing it along
this is in Rockville Maryland, not far from DC, just north/west of bethesda MD
My good friends Matt and Suzanne Gary have opened a warehouse training center that is PL, Oly, Strongman Friendly. If your in the Bethesda, Rockville, DC area it is the only gym worth going to, check it out. There are no mirrors and only one machine (cable system). everything else elieko, werksan, elitefts made.
check out thier website for more info.
[/quote]
This is my gym. It’s pretty much the perfect gym. Everybody is either an experienced, serious lifter, or on their way to becoming one. The owners are awesome, the equipment is awesome, and the members are awesome. You can do anything you want (including crazy sled dragging and strongman stuff in the parking lot) as long as you’re respectful.
[quote]Brett295 wrote:
ouroboro_s wrote:
Brett295 wrote:
Good luck. I’ve been looking for a serious gym for a long time. They are hard to find.
I hate Golds too. But I’m pretty much stuck there unless I can find a good gym with child care. I usualy sneak my chalk in with my gym bag which I used to carry around with me. They told me I can’t carry my gym bag with me in the gym so I can’t sneak my chalk around either anymore. I’ve tried some of the liquid chalk and it’s not too bad so maybe you could give that a try.
Did he let you out of the contract?
Why can’t you carry your gym bag with you? That sucks.
Because, it’s gym policy. The manager came up to me one day after lifting and said I had to leave my bag in the locker room. he said that the gym bags get in the way and they are a tripping hazard. Nevermind the random dumbells left on the floor.
I think Im going to start carrying it with me again and just play it off like I forgot if the manager says anything. Sometimes you just have to have chalk. [/quote]
I always have a huge bag with all my stuff and just keep it against a wall. I also carry a small towel for wiping up chalk and sometimes blood. I would do what you said and play dumb. It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.
Elixia is a norwegian commercial fitness chain with clubs all around the country. After training my gf at one of their club I was spoken to by the manager, he wanted to know if I was doing illegal personal training. I got pretty upset about it and complained loudly it was my girlfriend and that we was living together and have been steady for years. He backed off then. I noticed a female PT gave me some strange looks when I was spotting my girlfriend. If she suspected anything, she could have asked me straight out. I hate it when people cannot confront you or ask a simple question but have to complain to management.
I also got complaints when I was using chalk at that gym.
To make a long story short, I stopped my membership, and invested in a home gym. My gf still goes there, I guess girls just like nice surroundings.
[quote]stallion wrote:
After training my gf at one of their club I was spoken to by the manager, he wanted to know if I was doing illegal personal training. [/quote]
Don’t they have tasers at your gym for illegal personal training? That’s hilarious. Did they make you take a test to establish how close your relationship is kind of like immigration does?
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
I would find a new place out of principle. A gym that doesn’t allow chalk is a gym that isn’t getting a monthly payment from me.
Next thing you know, they’ll be banning sweating and heavy breathing too.[/quote]
[quote]ouroboro_s wrote:
stallion wrote:
After training my gf at one of their club I was spoken to by the manager, he wanted to know if I was doing illegal personal training.
Don’t they have tasers at your gym for illegal personal training? That’s hilarious. Did they make you take a test to establish how close your relationship is kind of like immigration does?[/quote]
I said they could check the home adress on both of our memberships. The manager seemed a bit embarassed when I got upset about the issue. And he said it was okay for me to train my gf. I never liked the athomsphere as it was never pl-friendly, so I just quit.
