Hey All, what am I to do? A math professor of mine “works out” at the same gym. (Does 15 mins of cardio, then talks to everyone for an hour). Well, he always talks to me in the middle of my workout for about 15-40 mins depending on how many people he knows are there, and worst yet, he always does it when I’m in between my most important sets. It seems as if he makes sure I start squatting or incline benching when he comes over and talks to me. I can’t exactly tell him to f*ck off since I will probably ask him for a letter of recommendation soon for grad school, but my workouts are really getting disrupted. Any ideas on what I should do? Thanks in advance!
Im not trying to be rude, but i dont like to talk to people during my workout.
Definitely an awkward situation. I hate to wear headphones, but they might be a subtle way to tell him to leave you alone.
put on headphones, change your workout time, tell him youll catch him later, you’re busy, etc
You could always tell him to fuck off… oh wait a second…
Right when you see him walk up, ask for a spot. This way your not interrupted and he’ll be glad he can do something to help, it’ll probably also put you on better terms for when letter of reco time comes up.
When you see him heading your way and he’s about to spout something, say, loud and firmly "hold that thought"and do your set. THEN afterwards, let him speak and then say again (if you need to) - “HOLD that thought…” and do another set. Ya, it’s a bitch that you have to do this, but I think he’ll get the idea after a few “hold that thought…”
Given that he’s somebody that it sounds lie you’d do well to cultivate, why not just try planned four minute rests between sets? That’s how I train anyway. It is a completely valid training method. If it’s different from how you prefer to train, well, training differently for a while is not a bad thing.
He won’t be offended if every four minutes you say, “hang on, I gotta do this set, I’m doing this program where the rest intervals are pretty precise, four minutes.”
(I suppose you could do three minutes if you preferred but four allows better recovery between sets.)
This could be a great opportunity to establish a contact. Next time he comes over keep an eye on your rest period and when it is up quickly interrupt…‘hold-up a second could you spot me on this set’. After the set briefly explain that your finding that timing your rest-periods are giving you better results. Resume the conversation still watching your time and do it again and again. You won’t be offending him and as a professor he should be impressed that you are that serious about another of your goals. I know you said he doesn’t lift (and if you don’t think he would be a complete drag to your workouts) but since he is always there when you are you could try suggesting hitting legs together the next time or something like that. (Although my boyfriend just told me that you are probably huge and your professor is a scrawny-girly-man.) Either way you could really come out ahead here.
If you’re in better shape than your prof, I have a truly evil solution for you. Offer to put together a workout program for him that involves only the most popular machines. Specify ultra high reps and very light loads. He’ll be tied up in interminable sets or waiting to work in and will have plenty of opportunity to chat with the other machine users.
THis is a funny and rare situation. I would tell the guy that you lose ur voice when u lift… or simply tell him to fuck off
This is kind off topic, but I was curious about your 4 minute rest periods in between sets. Are these rest periods used when you go “heavy”, or do you utilize 4 minutes rest all the time?
LOL, “oh wait a second”…haha
I’ve tended to use the 4 minutes just generally regardless of whether at the lighter (60% 1RM) or heavier (about 90% 1RM) of training cycles, but sometimes I will plan instead for the lightest phases to be much briefer rest like 45 seconds. When this is done then of course it completely changes expected number of reps. Probably it is actually more advisable to work in both phases of brief rest and longer rest, with the brief rest at the lower percentage 1RM as you were pointing out.
Even when generally using the 4 minutes rest, there will often be exercises where I’ll have an exception, for example 10 sets of calf raises with 45 seconds rest.
OK, here’s a quick lesson from a corporate “assertive communications” class. (Hey, this stuff works; I’ve tried it.) Step 1: tell the guy what he’s doing in a NON-judgemental way. Be factual and careful with your words. “You’ve been striking up a conversation while I’m lifting.” Step 2: Explain how you feel about that. (Hey, real T-Men can “feel” things.) This step requires some thought. Don’t jump right out and say it pisses you off. Maybe, “I feel conflicted because I like talking to you, but it disrupts my workouts.” Step 3: Suggest a solution or ask for what you want. “Let’s talk when I’m done with my workout.” You’d be surprised how well this works, and people don’t get upset about being corrected when you do it like this.
Yorik had the right way to go. Also, you might want to include him in on some part of your workout–a spot perhaps? Be frank and treat him as an equal and you won’t be impolite–tell the truth, you’re lifting and can’t really talk right now. Take the opportunity to ask to have coffee or something afterwards and while talking about workouts, etc., go in for the kill on the recommendation. Remember, some people never get the hint, so they’ve got to be told!
I just started EDT and it seems to help a lot. Moving quickly back and forth between exercises doesn’t give anyone time to talk to me. If I see someone I know, I just say, “I’m going to be pretty busy for the next 20 minutes, but we can talk after that.”
always have a time watch with a bip after your rest between your sets. i.e. if your rest is 2 min, your watch start bipping a 1min45.
And, always have a walkman on you and never take it off.
if never you take it off…when your watch bip put your walkman on your hear and go away.
Don’t care about their comments or frustration, and don’t care if they say that your an antisocial guy.
There’s no easy way out !
Frankk.
The more assertive and up front aproaches are best. People who are assertive and control their environment thus give off an aura of power (you sense that they are in contrl and know what they want) and are generally leaders. If you are a doormat do you think more assertive people are going to look after you goals for you. If you use blocking techniques you are going to appear stand offish anyway if he realises. Take the difficult path as first preference and in the long run your interpersonal relationships will prosper.