Poll: Giving compliments at the gym?
Replies
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I always go up to the biggest scariest dude and compliment him on his glutes while he's curling in the squat rack.0
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I like to tell folks how absolutely amazing they look...then I take a picture and walk away. No one seemed to might, but for some reason my membership was revoked.
Is that how my pic ended up on all over the internet?0 -
I give *kitten* smacks as compliments.0
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I like to tell folks how absolutely amazing they look...then I take a picture and walk away. No one seemed to might, but for some reason my membership was revoked.
Is that how my pic ended up on all over the internet?
:laugh:0 -
These people are just rude. How do you develop and nurture a support system with such rudeness. Is this what you teach your children? No wonder we as a society are in trouble. My goodness!
Actually what I find rude is that some people don't seem to accept they everyone is different and might not take a compliment the way you intend it.
Me awesome. Makes me smile.
My friend on the other hand has days where the fear of bring noticed and singled out keeps her at home for days.
Some people might be super shy and hate attention. Just because YOU think we should all love receiving compliments doesn't mean we do, or that those who don't are rude.
*smh*0 -
apparently since Al Gore invented the internet (curse you Al Gore!!!).....and people have decided that staring at their phone is more important than actually being in the company of real life friends and family.....because though we claim that the world is more "in touch", the reality is that social media has caused us to want to stay away.... /endrant \m/OMG it's just a compliment! I love giving and receiving compliments? Since when has it become a bad thing?
:huh:0 -
very well put. I am a social friendly person out and about but just not at the gym. I'm either working really hard or a total nasty sweatbox and I don't usually feel like talking in those situations. I have told someone I've noticed she was doing really well when I saw her at the gym repeatedly and we were both in between machines.I am a friendly complimenter in life, I hug my friends (probably guys more than girls) however in the gym/exercise situation, I am careful Compliments there are body related and I really dont EVER want to make someone feel uncomfortable. So I error on the side of caution and not being a "creep".
Here on MFP, I really like friends with kick *kitten* diaries that I learn from, who work out hard, share ideas, they push me by example. Frankly, some are smokin. I dont say anything, because I dont want to lose friends like that and I could if I made them feel uncomfortable.0 -
In the lobby, a classroom, or generally any other common area, I guess I can understand it. But when I'm into the workout, it's totally apparent that I'm wearing earbuds and don't want to talk. I'm shutting out the outside world, and using the music set pace (with cardio) or pump myself up (when lifting). I would prefer not to lose focus over small talk.0
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Start with one of these:
"Thank you for showing me that all of this work will be worth it..."
"It is nice to have a living, 3d, un-photoshoped, motivational poster here in the gym..."
"When I grow up, I want to look like you..."
End with
"...and now back to it, as it will not happen just by wishing and watching"0 -
I've had women ask me what I was doing and ask if I had any tips for how to improve certain things and it turns into a short compliment giving conversation. I had a guy ask me about the deadlifts I was doing the other day and then that led to some compliments. Initially, I'm kind of shocked by someone talking to me because, as a lot of these other posts state, talking to people is considered pretty much the rudest most inappropriate thing you can do at the gym... like, I'm trying to lift bro...
Wait until she's finished with a set and ask her a question about some movement she was doing or ask how long it's taken her to accomplish whatever you look up to her for... the gym is a social environment as much as people insist that it isn't.
One of the few who clearly understands both sides of the issue and has a balanced viewpoint on this matter. Everyone else is mostly just taking sides.0 -
I do not like when people make comments about my body (even positive), it tends to make me uncomfortable.These people are just rude. How do you develop and nurture a support system with such rudeness. Is this what you teach your children? No wonder we as a society are in trouble. My goodness!
wut?0 -
I give *kitten* smacks as compliments.
Thank you - this made my day! :drinker: :laugh:0 -
I just did this yesterday :-) She works with the same trainer I do and in passing I told her how fantastic she looked and how far she'd come. Yea....she looked a little uncomfortable, she thanked me and blushed. I don't care though, I wanted to do it. I think as long as you don't make a whole conversation about it and just give the compliment and go it's not a creepy thing to do.
After reading the post, I guess it is creepy?!? heheheheheh I wouldn't mind receiving a compliment, guess others do.
I guess I am creepy too! I have complimented a couple people and have asked some about their workout routine because I was impressed with their physique and dedication. I would LOVE if someone complimented my at the gym. For the record, I keep my headphones on and don't talk to anyone at the gym, I usually give everyone my signature *****y face. SO I doubt if anyone will EVER talk to me!0 -
These people are just rude. How do you develop and nurture a support system with such rudeness. Is this what you teach your children? No wonder we as a society are in trouble. My goodness!
Actually what I find rude is that some people don't seem to accept they everyone is different and might not take a compliment the way you intend it.
Me awesome. Makes me smile.
My friend on the other hand has days where the fear of bring noticed and singled keeps her at home for days.
Some people might be super shy and hate attention. Just because YOU think we should all love receiving compliments doesn't mean we do, or that those who don't are rude.
*smh*
Yeah, this is a really good point and I totally agree!
I wouldn't necessarily mind if someone complimented me, and I'd more than likely compliment someone else if I was talking to them and it seemed appropriate, but I wouldn't go up to them and compliment them out of the blue for a few reasons...
They could have social anxiety, low self esteem, some sort of disorder or exercise addiction, or maybe they (like me) like to come to the gym to get 'away' from everybody and see it as some 'me' time. Sometimes it's a bit uncomfortable knowing that someone is watching you do your thing.0 -
I'd love to get complimented at the gym! I'd be all like, aw shucks~ (n˘v˘•)¬0
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Also for the record, I absolutely hate the people that do nothing but talk at the gym. And those couple of people who think it is their job to wander around the gym and talk with every person they see at the gym on a regular basis.
But on the other hand, I would love if someone approached me and gave me a short and simple compliment about my physique and/or lifting.0 -
Thanks everyone for your input. I want to clarify that she was not wearing headphones and she was working out with a friend. If I had complimented her I would have done it in passing with a smile and walked away. And since this was the first time I noticed her, i couldn't exactly note any improvement
Maybe a targeted approach like "Hey you have nice arms!"
Girl complimenting a girl still taken as a come on? I mean I know it happens but I guess I would never assume a girl was hitting on me. Maybe I'm naive?0 -
Compliments in passing which aren't interrupting a set are fine and welcomed IMO. Someone who took the time to say something is appreciated.0
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Thanks everyone for your input. I want to clarify that she was not wearing headphones and she was working out with a friend. If I had complimented her I would have done it in passing with a smile and walked away. And since this was the first time I noticed her, i couldn't exactly note any improvement Maybe a targeted approach like "Hey you have nice arms!"
Girl complimenting a girl still taken as a come on? I mean I know it happens but I guess I would never assume a girl was hitting on me. Maybe I'm naive?
I wouldn't worry about it being creepy or as if you're hitting on her. 0 -
People know why you are at the gym. Commenting on body might be taken as 'cruising' the gym. Dudes know themselves, since I see them staring at the mirror and rubbing their abs to lift the shirt slyly. Women know what they got as they wear those tiny black booty shorts on the treadmill. Focus on yourself and look for inspiration and see aspirational bodies but no need to tell them.
But they have to wear booty shorts and sports bras to be comfortable! Only guys can manage to be comfortable at the gym in shorts and a t-shirt.0 -
Also for the record, I absolutely hate the people that do nothing but talk at the gym. And those couple of people who think it is their job to wander around the gym and talk with every person they see at the gym on a regular basis.
But on the other hand, I would love if someone approached me and gave me a short and simple compliment about my physique and/or lifting.
^this^. Short compliments in passing are fine. Chatterboxes are not. Are you there to work out or for social hour? And if you are on a machine and chatting away the whole time, you are not working hard enough.0 -
It wouldn't creep me out in the least. I work out hard for the body that I have and I want people to notice it. I'd be flattered if someone complimented me on my hard work.0
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I have done it many times in passing. The trick is to not try to make it a conversation, but a statement, and keep going on about your routine.
Good advice^^^
I've given & recieved compliments at the gym, just don't make it a big production. You can tell who is approachable and who doesn't want bothered at all. If someone is offended because you took 3 seconds to pay them a compliment, that's their problem.0 -
I think a lot depends on your approach. It's going to be hard to do without coming across as creepy.
I remember watching a re-run of "Mad About You" recently. Jamie was looking for a gynecologist. Cousin Ira goes around asking women, 'Hey, who's your gynecologist?" and keeps getting smacked in the head. Of course it's a sit-com....but there's a way to ask a woman about that that won't get you smacked. ("Hey, my cousin just got pregnant and is looking for a good ob/gyn. Do you know of any?")
Most people at the gym want to be there, but be invisible. (Like me.) But if someone came up and said, "Hey, I've seen you in here and noticed you've lost a lot of weight. Can I ask what you're doing or how you're doing it? Do you work with a trainer, have you up'd your protein?" I wouldn't be offended. Maybe a little dumbstruck that someone noticed.
For what it's worth.0 -
Also for the record, I absolutely hate the people that do nothing but talk at the gym. And those couple of people who think it is their job to wander around the gym and talk with every person they see at the gym on a regular basis.
But on the other hand, I would love if someone approached me and gave me a short and simple compliment about my physique and/or lifting.
^this^. Short compliments in passing are fine. Chatterboxes are not. Are you there to work out or for social hour? And if you are on a machine and chatting away the whole time, you are not working hard enough.
You don't know what everyone's intentions are for being at the gym. Sometimes it is used as a huge social outlet.
And you can mind your own business when it comes to how hard I or anyone else is working. We all pay gym dues, get over it.0 -
You don't know what everyone's intentions are for being at the gym. Sometimes it is used as a huge social outlet.
From someone named "shutupandlift" lol0 -
I think there's nothing wrong with complimenting someone at the gym. When I'm there, I'm there to work, but I still notice what other people are doing. There aren't a lot of women where I am (free weights), so any compliments I've received have been from men--they've all been strength-related compliments. Today an older guy (in his 80s) told me he was impressed with how many plates I was pressing for my size.0
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The only times I've done it is if someone has already approached me to chat and it's a person I'm familiar with. Even then it was something like "your shoulder definition is looking great!", not "dang, you are hot!". I've gotten compliments, but mostly older women (in their 70's, at least) coming over to compliment me about how much I'm lifting. It happened this weekend, actually, and cracked me up.0
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You don't know what everyone's intentions are for being at the gym. Sometimes it is used as a huge social outlet.
From someone named "shutupandlift" lol
:bigsmile:0 -
You don't know what everyone's intentions are for being at the gym. Sometimes it is used as a huge social outlet.
From someone named "shutupandlift" lol
:bigsmile:
The "shut up" part is meant for people's bullsh!t excuses, not because I think no one should ever speak to me in a public setting.0
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