What is the craziest/strangest/funniest thing you've seen a gym newcomer do?

RWnTX

This topic is inspired by something that happened at my gym just two days ago.

A teenage or twenty-something guy loaded 8 or 9 45 pound plates on each side of the leg press. I think the guy is part of the New Years' crowd because I'd never seen him before. I was resting between my bench press sets. Somehow, I just knew this guy was way over his head and wouldn't be able to press that much weight. Sure enough, he couldn't even do one rep. Thankfully, he locked the leg press down and got out without injury.

So, we return to the title question - what is the craziest/strangest/funniest thing you've seen a gym newcomer do? Let's have some fun talking about this.

lauamy96

Yesterday a guy just started following me around the gym after I showed him where the squat rack and the lat pulldown machines were. I think he thinks we're BFFs now because he also followed me around today. Using EVERY machine that I used right after me. That's creepy. Why. Stop. Go away.

thisonetimeatthegym

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

I visit random equinoxes and edge fitness clubs in the tri-state area (many clubs in three states, the variety makes me go to the gym regularly)

I pop up my collars.

I pull up my fanciest of socks.

And that's my deadlift/squat uniform. Wonder how many think I'm a crazy newbie.

Once they see how much you lift, I don't think they think you are a newbie.

cahubbard6421

Seeing new peoole stay after being judged by everyone for their lack of knowledge always surprises me. The ones that follow you around just see what youve accomplished and assume they should watch to learn.

Just_J_Now

peaceout_aly

lauamy96 wrote: »

Yesterday a guy just started following me around the gym after I showed him where the squat rack and the lat pulldown machines were. I think he thinks we're BFFs now because he also followed me around today. Using EVERY machine that I used right after me. That's creepy. Why. Stop. Go away.

^^ This happened to me with a pair of girls. They were standing so close to me that I kept bumping into them while doing my reps and they kept going, "Oh don't worry, hun. Oh no problem, you're so cute." LEAVE ME ALONE

(P.S. I am not mean and am always willing to help or give advice but don't just blatantly stand in my way...)

thisonetimeatthegym

This one time at the gym, this lady, wearing a sweater, of all things, walks into weight area and loads up the bench press. 135 each side, didn’t even warm up!

Several dudes smirk. She gets up and asks a swoll guy to spot her. He asks her if she's sure, have you ever done this, are you sure, do you need a lift off. She says no. Unbelievable!

The bros stop what they are doing to watch. The woman lifts the weight, holds it in the air for a few seconds.....

Then she presses it. One, two, three, ten times, and puts it back on the rack. The smirkers are no longer smirking.

She gets off the bench and loads up more on each side. Turns out 135 was her warm up. Last week, she got to 190lbs.

I hope that true story about a time at the gym gives you newbies some motivation to ignore those fit and fabulous bros and bunnies who think they are better than you to do what you came to the gym to do: to get fit and fabulous and not feel like you are better than those who didn't get to the gym as early in life as you did.

Have a GREAT New Year, newbies!

P.S. That woman went to the gym with the goal of one day pressing 90lbs. So even if you can hardly lift the bar, or walk a half mile on the treadmill, or do a single push up, know there are people at the gym who are rooting for your success. You'll get there, just keep practicing!

ugofatcat

I saw a bag of rice cakes that someone had left on the exercise bike.

cahubbard6421

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

The stuff the OP does. It's kinda judgemental.

I have seen men come in put 5lb plates on a 45lb barbell and lift/squat it.

I have seen men come in put 4x45lb plates on either side and grunt once and leave. There are others who can lift this and more.

What do I care? Nothing. None of my effing business. The first guy could have had spine problems. It's kind of distasteful to judge newbies. Not everyone is Khal Drogo.

Agree comoletely.

peaceout_aly

Also saw a man holding onto the lat pulldown bars and banging his head up and down violently.

lauamy96

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

I visit random equinoxes and edge fitness clubs in the tri-state area (many clubs in three states, the variety makes me go to the gym regularly)

I pop up my collars.

I pull up my fanciest of socks.

And that's my deadlift/squat uniform. Wonder how many think I'm a crazy newbie.

The Equinox I go to has trainers in the weight training area there just to correct form.
He corrected how widely my fingers were spaced when I was gripping the bar.
Your form must be good if he hasn't called you out yet lol

not_a_runner

Well then I probably looked like a total newb the other day when the gym was packed and I had to dump a 315 lb squat with no spotter. Wasn't even close to getting it.
(But maybe they didn't see that I just hit 295 before that, with excellent depth and mild struggle face. And wanted to try for a PR....)

I don't usually associate missing a lift with being a newb, because it happens.

And besides, there are people in the gym year round who have no idea what they're doing.

benjaminhk

An FBI agent that went nuts fired off a few rounds outside my gym recently but I wasn't there at the time. I listened to the police audio when he got arrested and he sounded like a real loser.

RunHardBeStrong

thisonetimeatthegym wrote: »

So this lady, wearing a sweater, of all things, walks into weight area and loads up the bench press. 135 each side, didn’t even warm up!

Several dudes smirk. She gets up and asks a swoll guy to spot her. He asks her if she's sure, have you ever done this, are you sure, do you need a lift off. She says no. Unbelievable!

The bros stop what they are doing to watch. The woman lifts the weight, holds it in the air for a few seconds.....

Then she presses it. One, two, three, ten times, and puts it back on the rack. The smirkers are no longer smirking.

She gets off the bench and loads up more on each side. Turns out 135 was her warm up. Last week, she got to 190lbs.

I hope that true story about a time at the gym gives you newbies some motivation to ignore those fit and fabulous bros and bunnies who think they are better than you to do what you came to the gym to do: to get fit and fabulous and not feel like you are better than those who didn't get to the gym as early in life as you did.

Have a GREAT New Year, newbies!

P.S. That woman went to the gym with the goal of one day pressing 90lbs. So even if you can hardly lift the bar, or walk a half mile on the treadmill, or do a single push up, know there are people at the gym who are rooting for your success. You'll get there, just keep practicing!

Love this. I once had someone ask me why I didn't warm up. Ummm, because I ran 2 miles to the gym....

I loathe gym judgers... everyone has reasons for doing what they do. As long as it doesn't endanger me. I don't care.

lauamy96

TresaAswegan wrote: »

Well then I probably looked like a total newb the other day when the gym was packed and I had to dump a 315 lb squat with no spotter. Wasn't even close to getting it.
(But maybe they didn't see that I just hit 295 before that, with excellent depth and mild struggle face. And wanted to try for a PR....)

I don't usually associate missing a lift with being a newb, because it happens.

And besides, there are people in the gym year round who have no idea what they're doing.

Me. Still don't know wtf I'm doing some times when I'm holding a dumbbell. I just make up repetitive motions that make my muscles burn lol

thisonetimeatthegym

Now that I've said my bit, in fairness to the OP, we have seen some things:

joemac1988

Not sure if he was a newcomer but had never seen him in my gym before... Dude was mean-muggin' me for a while so I wondered if I'd snaked some equipment he was on but when I asked he just glared...uh...ok? Then, I'm doing tricep pushdowns and I see the dude in the mirror 5' behind me holding a straight pushdown bar and looking like he was gonna hit me. I decided to take the "by the book" approach and talk to the staff. Upon talking to him he told them me and another guy (didn't even know him) were in the military and were tryna get him. Whaaaaaaa????? Not sure if he was high on flakka, straight up delusional or what. He disappeared and I never saw him again but kinda disconcerting to have a guy looking to tee off on your head with a lump of steel when you're not looking...

thisonetimeatthegym

Just_J_Now

I've decided this is why I don't join a gym, for fear of being judged as a newbie. LOL Yup, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

MsAmandaNJ

A heavy chick (5'6, 235 lbs) walked in wearing street clothes (khaki shorts, t-shirt) and had a lost look on her face. She eventually found her way to the elliptical section, fumbled to enter her info on each model, put in less than a minute on each, wiped them all down.

Because of that, I know which elliptical works for me and what to expect when that model is not available. I may have been someone's entertainment or irritation, but I was taking care of myself.

thisonetimeatthegym

I don't think he's a newbie, but I don't think he should be doing it:

SeagalDeeDee

a mid age guy hit the treadmill at high speed..lasted like 10 seconds flew off.

not_a_runner

thisonetimeatthegym wrote: »

I don't think he's a newbie, but I don't think he should be doing it:

Sadly I've seen a PT trying to squat on those little half a ball balance things......
He should have been working on doing a decent squat to depth instead of whatever the heck he thinks he's doing.. but that's none of my business... *kermit the frog meme voice*

thisonetimeatthegym

TresaAswegan wrote: »

thisonetimeatthegym wrote: »

I don't think he's a newbie, but I don't think he should be doing it:

Sadly I've seen a PT trying to squat on those little half a ball balance things......
He should have been working on doing a decent squat to depth instead of whatever the heck he thinks he's doing.. but that's none of my business... *kermit the frog meme voice*

I just don't know what the point of it is. At least the half ball has some stability.

Unknown

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peaceout_aly

benjaminhk wrote: »

An FBI agent that went nuts fired off a few rounds outside my gym recently but I wasn't there at the time. I listened to the police audio when he got arrested and he sounded like a real loser.

*WINS FOR CRAZIEST THING EVER HAPPENING IN A GYM*

stephmph16

Honestly the funniest thing was probably last night. I was at the weight machines and a guy comes strolling over, very new and young. Most guys do this move: they put both hands on the bars in the middle of the jungle gym and casually lift themselves up in a pull up on their way to another machine. But this guy... he couldn't quite do it, he wasn't quite strong enough. So he put his hands up, gave a swing, tried pulling himself up only to quickly meet gravity, then did a hard landing and tried to play it cool that he couldn't do a pull up.

I didn't laugh at him, it just struck me as really funny at that moment. He'll get there one day!

Unknown

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CafeRacer808

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

The stuff the OP does. It's kinda judgemental.

I have seen men come in put 5lb plates on a 45lb barbell and lift/squat it.

I have seen men come in put 4x45lb plates on either side and grunt once and leave. There are others who can lift this and more.

What do I care? Nothing. None of my effing business. The first guy could have had spine problems. It's kind of distasteful to judge newbies. Not everyone is Khal Drogo.

Adding to this, everyone was a noob at one point in their lives. We see a lot of threads pop up on MFP with titles like, "Too embarrassed to run," or, "Am I too fat to work out at the gym?" It makes me wonder how many people quit or don't go at all for fear of being laughed at or otherwise judged by gym regulars.

lauamy96

stephmph16 wrote: »

Honestly the funniest thing was probably last night. I was at the weight machines and a guy comes strolling over, very new and young. Most guys do this move: they put both hands on the bars in the middle of the jungle gym and casually lift themselves up in a pull up on their way to another machine. But this guy... he couldn't quite do it, he wasn't quite strong enough. So he put his hands up, gave a swing, tried pulling himself up only to quickly meet gravity, then did a hard landing and tried to play it cool that he couldn't do a pull up.

I didn't laugh at him, it just struck me as really funny at that moment. He'll get there one day!

Me. I tried doing a pull up and couldn't and had to do the walk of shame to the assisted chin up machine lol

jennybearlv

Years ago when I belonged to a gym I had a new program with back extensions. I had googled back extensions and knew what the equipment I needed looked like. I walk all over this huge gym and can't find the thing anywhere. I find one piece that looks close. I hop on, it feels a little off, and get to work. This group of teen girls stretching on the floor give me a WTF stare the entire time I'm doing back extensions. Next time I asked a staff member if they had a back extension bench. It was hiding behind a water fountain and I'd been misusing an ab bench. Moral of the story in the gym and all things: if you don't know ask or teenagers will look at you funny.

There was also the time the private changing rooms were full, so I figured what the heck I'll change into my swimsuit in the locker room. Of course this is the time I get my underwire tankini twisted up stuck on halfway with one boob hanging out. The more I struggle the more tangled I become. It takes me a good minute or two jumping and dancing around boobs flopping everywhere to finally break free. I got a one-piece after that.