Excuse me

firef1y72

So I've got up to 3 sets of 10 reps with 80lb (heavy for me and going up to 90lb next week) on the lat pulldown and need a couple of minutes rest between sets. I prefer active recovery, so I'll get up and walk around a little in the same area, leaving my towel, water bottle and notebook on the floor next to the seat. Both the towel and notebook are bright pink and can't be missed (this is relevant, I promise).

Turned my back for literally 2 seconds after my first set and there's someone jumping on the machine, dropping the weight down to 20lb for their 20 reps and then wandering off without replacing the pin or even acknowledging me.

I was too shocked to say much at the time, but I would have happily wiped my puddle of sweat up and let her work in. (After all she took less than 2 minutes). It took all my control to do no more than roll my eyes at her cheek and not ask if she enjoyed sitting in my sweat. Mind she did give me a funny look when she saw me putting the pin back in 80lb for my next set.

sammyliftsandeats

It happens. Some people don't know how to ask. Obviously, it would have been better for them to have asked to work in.

Don't know if they adjusted the seating at all, but at least it's just having to adjust the pin. Taking your plates off the barbell without asking is worse, in my eyes, and then not helping you put them back on. That's more of a hassle.

Sued0nim

You're not on the machine so it's free

You think she has been watching you so she understand by getting up you're mid set?

You left your stuff on the floor beside machine that's not a sign of usage

And it's not like she was failing to re-rack weights, it was a pin

Sorry I think this is one of those "Imma gonna complain cuz I can" non-issues

_incogNEATo_

That's part of working out at a public gym. There's not really much you can do other than post about it in a public internet forum.

This kinda seems more like a brag post about being able to do 3 sets of 10 at 80 pounds for lat pulldowns. I wouldn't have initially thought that, but then you threw in the part about doing 90 pounds next week...

Alluminati

firef1y72 wrote: »

Mind she did give me a funny look when she saw me putting the pin back in 80lb for my next set.

I'm sure this happened

singingflutelady

_incogNEATo_ wrote: »

That's part of working out at a public gym. There's not really much you can do other than post about it in a public internet forum.

This kinda seems more like a brag post about being able to do 3 sets of 10 at 80 pounds for lat pulldowns. I wouldn't have initially thought that, but then you threw in the part about doing 90 pounds next week...

+1

singingflutelady

Plus you really make a puddle if sweat from lat pulldowns?

fitgamercatlady

Not everyone is aware of what others are doing or of their surroundings at all. She could have either not have seen your stuff or thought someone accidentally forgot their stuff there. I think these two scenarios are the most plausible explanations to the behavior--I really doubt she was trying to be rude and sneak in on your machine.

My suggestion: Put your stuff on the machine. Or, since you mentioned sweat, carry a sweat towel with you. Lay that over the seat when you're doing your rest. If I have to get up from a machine between sets to go to the bathroom or refill my water bottle, I put my drawstring bag on the machine to let people know I'm still using it.

KiyaK

Aside from not putting your pin back, I don't see what she did wrong. If your breaks between sets are multiple minutes long why can't someone work in?

Hornsby

Rule #1 - if you aren't on the machine, it's free.

meshashesha2012

if you aren't on the machine it's free. you share the space. the machines aren't yours, the only way to "reserve" them is by putting your body in the space.

i suppose this type of entitlement explains why i've been getting so many passive aggressive eye rolls at my gym recently. i'm totally fine with eye rolls. i'm there to do my workout not wait for people and their "active rests" that can take who knows how long between sets lol

jemhh

I don't understand the problem. Surely you would have let her work in. Since you weren't using the machine or sitting on it, do you think she should have followed you around to ask? Why? It was less effort for both of you to do what she did.

ndj1979

not sure what the issue is here...if I am resting and someone wants to work in then I let them ....I guess you could of left your towel on the machine, which some take as a sign that it is in use...but like @Hornsby said, once you leave the machine it is free ....

fishgutzy

I can't sit or just walk between sets so I rotate 2 or 3 different lifts. Never had a problem with people moving the pin. Takes a second for me to put it back. I don't own the equipment. It is shared. It does me no good to get upset because someone else doesn't move a pin.

Cahgetsfit

If i'm hogging something for my supersets I will leave my towel ON the machine. I do try to superset on things next to each other and if I see people looking at the machine I offer to let them share it (people tend to hover - I do anyway!) so we share way and change weights as needed. Especially if a pin - I tend not to ask to share if on a plate-loaded machine.

LazSommer

This didn't go how OP planned it, did it?