"Why you gotta be so mean?"

LC932017

So I've been working out at home (no treadmill but I have a pretty decent weight set) but I started a new job and they have a gym, a really nice one at that. Anyways so this morning I got on the treadmill for 15 min and then went to the weights. Now under no circumstances am I strong (getting there) but I do like the free weights. 25-35lbs.
So I'm doing squats and I hear this guy behind me snickering. No one is talking to him (I see him in the mirror) Okay not a big deal maybe he is remembering something funny or whatever. He then laughs/snickers another 2x. At this point I am assuming it is me that has him laughing. Finally, feeling like I'm who he is laughing at, I go back to the treadmill. Idk if I have bad form or he's never seen a person do a squat but whatever it is it's very intimidating as a woman (speaking for myself) to lift in front of men to begin with but to then snicker?! Please mind your own business and keep your laughing to yourself if you think something or someone looks funny doing something especially at a gym. If he thought I was doing it wrong or looked funny he could have come and showed me otherwise as people have done that in the past which was very appreciated.
So anyway I'm there the same reason as you, to get in shape and get healthy. Just a bit of my day and hope someone can learn from it. Have a good one

DvlDwnInGA

Did you fart mid squat? Who knows really, people are freaking weird. Do your thing and don't worry about what some jerk thinks. If you are unsure about your squat form, a good idea would be to set your phone up and take a video of your squats and check out your own form. Then ask some questions and do some research to make sure your form is where it needs to be. This of course has nothing to do with some jerk laughing, and everything to do with keeping you from getting hurt.

jdhcm2006

Depending on my mood I would have asked him what was so funny.

But just focus on you. Get headphones if you need to in order to tune out distractions. People are strange, best to ignore them.

ninav1980

maybe he was trying to find a way to speak to you or hit on you? In the most immature way possible...

chuck636

Forget them...do your thing girl!!! Throw in some headphones and get in the zone, block it out

JeffseekingV

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

chuck636

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

Second that

jemhh

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

I have not yet worked myself up to doing these at the gym. I always manipulate my schedule to do them at home. Some day...

OP, it's hard but you've got to ignore it. Who knows, he may not have been laughing at you at all. He may have been listening to a funny podcast on his headphones or maybe thought of something funny and the timing was purely coincidental. Try not to let it bother you!

Last week a guy laughed at me at the gym but I had to start laughing too. I started a set of goblet squats, not realizing how close I was to the end of the bench, and as I lowered myself I smacked right into the end of the bench, causing myself to stumble forward. Got up, looked ahead in the mirror, and caught the guy on the next bench trying not to laugh. It was so goofy that I had to go ahead and laugh too.

gsc560

I've always found workplace gyms to be the worst for inappropriate remarks, etc. If you can find a workout partner to hang with you, that might help - and at least gives you someone to chat with so its easier to ignore the bozo's. Just don't let it intimidate you or stop you working out.

yesimpson

I would prefer to tell myself he was fake-laughing to hide his tears at how awesome I am and how inferior he is.
Ignore him. Keep squatting but check your form (and, after reading another thread, that your trousers aren't see through).

disasterman

Possibly refer to Gym Attire for Women thread ? Otherwise, ignore the idiots at the gymand carry on.

jpaulie

disasterman wrote: »

Possibly refer to Gym Attire for Women thread ? Otherwise, ignore the idiots at the gymand carry on.

and carry mace, the guy could have used a shot

sweetdixie92

I hear you on the intimidating part. I have good form for most things, but going to a gym still makes me nervous. I thankfully have a bench, treadmill and plenty of weights at home to work out with.

Either way, I like to plug in my headphones so I can tune everything else out. If you can't hear someone laughing, it won't bother you.

It makes me so mad when people laugh at others working to better themselves. I don't care if you're a macho bodybuilder...everyone starts somewhere.

ninerbuff

The cruelty of people will usually represent their IQ most of the time. Don't sweat it. I tell people all the time that opinions of others on how they feel about me or what I do really has no impact on how I live, how much I make, or how I enjoy life.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

JeffseekingV

jemhh wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

I have not yet worked myself up to doing these at the gym. I always manipulate my schedule to do them at home. Some day...

OP, it's hard but you've got to ignore it. Who knows, he may not have been laughing at you at all. He may have been listening to a funny podcast on his headphones or maybe thought of something funny and the timing was purely coincidental. Try not to let it bother you!

Last week a guy laughed at me at the gym but I had to start laughing too. I started a set of goblet squats, not realizing how close I was to the end of the bench, and as I lowered myself I smacked right into the end of the bench, causing myself to stumble forward. Got up, looked ahead in the mirror, and caught the guy on the next bench trying not to laugh. It was so goofy that I had to go ahead and laugh too.

I have had people look at me like I was from another planet. Especially when I hip thrust more than they dead. Some women stare. I've seen some point. I've had people come up to me and say "you're the only one other than myself that does this".

Hell, I get odd looks when I jump rope in the gym.

do what you have to do.

ShellyBell999

chuck636 wrote: »

Forget them...do your thing girl!!! Throw in some headphones and get in the zone, block it out

This^^
works for me!!

ShellyBell999

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

*Dreams of the day I can HT that many lbs
And look that good doing them!!

rayneface

It's really unfortunate that you felt self conscious and stopped doing your squats.

People are lame but we shouldn't let a stranger dictate what we do or how we feel about ourselves. Men stare, women stare. Just try not to worry about what others think and keep moving closer to your goals. You are the only person that suffers if you take their words/looks/giggles to heart.

jamesleesmith

you should have started snickering as soon as he was lifting. People need to mind their own business else they are trying to help you out.

yopeeps025

JeffseekingV wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

I have not yet worked myself up to doing these at the gym. I always manipulate my schedule to do them at home. Some day...

OP, it's hard but you've got to ignore it. Who knows, he may not have been laughing at you at all. He may have been listening to a funny podcast on his headphones or maybe thought of something funny and the timing was purely coincidental. Try not to let it bother you!

Last week a guy laughed at me at the gym but I had to start laughing too. I started a set of goblet squats, not realizing how close I was to the end of the bench, and as I lowered myself I smacked right into the end of the bench, causing myself to stumble forward. Got up, looked ahead in the mirror, and caught the guy on the next bench trying not to laugh. It was so goofy that I had to go ahead and laugh too.

I have had people look at me like I was from another planet. Especially when I hip thrust more than they dead. Some women stare. I've seen some point. I've had people come up to me and say "you're the only one other than myself that does this".

Hell, I get odd looks when I jump rope in the gym.

do what you have to do.

You might get to the stage of not getting odd looks and people asking you are you trying to be a boxer when you jump rope at the gym.

You want to know what someone say to me when I was doing hip thrust. " You might need to padding I know the bar hurts your groin."

jemhh

yopeeps025 wrote: »

You want to know what someone say to me when I was doing hip thrust. " You might need to padding I know the bar hurts your groin."

Ha! I just started these a few weeks ago. Did them one day and then the next day my hips felt really bruised but it didn't click what it was from. I just kept telling my husband that I had this mystery pain. Then the next day I went to do them again and as soon as I got the bar in place I did an OH, NOW I know why I hurt.

I ended up buying a squat sponge, which I read about on the Bret Contreras site.

Mistapholeezkat

chuck636 wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

Second that

Referring to the picture, what muscles would that be working, besides the hip muscles? It looks like almost a total body workout, yes?

JeffseekingV

I use the squat pad at the gym. Double up when possible. But then it gets hard to scooch under the bar if the padding is too thick

yopeeps025

JeffseekingV wrote: »

I use the squat pad at the gym. Double up when possible. But then it gets hard to scooch under the bar if the padding is too thick

I think my setup is wrong then. OH well.

JeffseekingV

yopeeps025 wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

I use the squat pad at the gym. Double up when possible. But then it gets hard to scooch under the bar if the padding is too thick

I think my setup is wrong then. OH well.

I set up like the woman in the picture. But I have to use the bench press bench with weights on it or the bench starts moving around.

jemhh

Mistapholeezkat wrote: »

chuck636 wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

Second that

Referring to the picture, what muscles would that be working, besides the hip muscles? It looks like almost a total body workout, yes?

Glutes, quads, and adductors.

yopeeps025

Mistapholeezkat wrote: »

chuck636 wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

Try doing weighted hip thrusts. THEN come back and talk to us. If I worried wtf people thought of me, I wouldn't get 1/2 of my stuff done or more importantly, achieve what I set out to achieve

Second that

Referring to the picture, what muscles would that be working, besides the hip muscles? It looks like almost a total body workout, yes?

She is on her tippy toes. SO calfs, hamstrings, and most of all the glutes. I think. That is what I feel when I do they. I found a new way to make that exercise interesting though.

yopeeps025

JeffseekingV wrote: »

yopeeps025 wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

I use the squat pad at the gym. Double up when possible. But then it gets hard to scooch under the bar if the padding is too thick

I think my setup is wrong then. OH well.

I set up like the woman in the picture. But I have to use the bench press bench with weights on it or the bench starts moving around.

Got ya I fell once trying to lend on the bench and I only had 95 pounds on the bar. Men don't really talk about building their butt but if you think about it you can produce more testosterone and we all know the benefits of that stuff.

WandaMM1

DvlDwnInGA wrote: »

Did you fart mid squat? Who knows really, people are freaking weird. Do your thing and don't worry about what some jerk thinks. If you are unsure about your squat form, a good idea would be to set your phone up and take a video of your squats and check out your own form. Then ask some questions and do some research to make sure your form is where it needs to be. This of course has nothing to do with some jerk laughing, and everything to do with keeping you from getting hurt.

This^ Funny and true. Good advice.

JeffseekingV

yopeeps025 wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

yopeeps025 wrote: »

JeffseekingV wrote: »

I use the squat pad at the gym. Double up when possible. But then it gets hard to scooch under the bar if the padding is too thick

I think my setup is wrong then. OH well.

I set up like the woman in the picture. But I have to use the bench press bench with weights on it or the bench starts moving around.

Got ya I fell once trying to lend on the bench and I only had 95 pounds on the bar. Men don't really talk about building their butt but if you think about it you can produce more testosterone and we all know the benefits of that stuff.

I position the bar on the ground (like a dead). Just over the end thin end of the bench press bench. I sit down, then move the bar under my hips and center it. then lift.

jenluvsushi

The truth is that you have absolutley no idea why he was laughing and are probably projecting it upon yourself due to your own insecurity. I hope that as you lift, you get more confidence in yourself. Next time, if it really bothers you-ask him. I bet it had NOTHING to do with you. And if it was because of you, punch him in the effing face.