Gym Etiquette Question
shrinkingbrian
Posts: 171 Member
I was at my local gym on Sat. morning (Planet Fitness) and I headed over to the squat rack. No one is there and I start to take off the plates on the bar to do some squats. Lots of people leave weights on the bar so I think nothing of it. Then this guy from the other room comes in and starts to get all mad at me. We get into a disagreement and he says that he was using the rack.We get into a dispute. I said I thought it was bad gym etiquette not to stay at the squat rack if you aren't using it. He then asks if I ever get a drink of water or do a different exercise between sets. It gets more heated and I talk to management and the staff just says everyone has their own system. Squat/power racks get pretty busy, especially on a Saturday morning. I let it go and do some other exercises but I then watch as he does one set of dead lifts on the squat/power rack, moves to the other room to do another exercise I guess, and then goes to back to the squat rack. He does this for about 4 sets. He is going to the other room at the PF between sets. Any thoughts?
0
Replies
-
That would drive me crazy. People at my gym leave weights on the bars all the time. If no one is in there, I just go to the squat rack and unload the bar. If there are people in there, I ask if anyone is using it. I usually have to go to the bathroom before my deadlifts. Because it takes a lot out of me to load 2 45's on each end, I take my gloves off and leave them and my water bottle by the bar once it's on the ground. That way, anyone who comes in knows I'm coming back for it.0
-
Sounds like he needs to hang a sign on the bar saying, "This apparatus reserved until further notice." :frown:0
-
The guy just sounds like he is a bit inconsiderate of other people. If it was me, I'd see if he's there every Saturday at the same time and plan to go earlier so you can call dibs on the rack before he does.
Not a whole lot else you can do, some people just are like that.0 -
People at my gym do that all the time. If the bar has weights on it, I don't touch it. I'll find something else to do. If I see that no one has come back to claim in within 5-10 minutes, then I remove the weights and use it for myself. I've never had an occassion when someone came back after 10 minutes claiming the rack.0
-
Ask him if he'd be willing to let you work in with him, so you lift while he's off doing something else.
If that fails, you can always report him to management, saying he's grunting and making you feel "gymtimidated" and they'll throw him out for you. :drinker:0 -
just another center of the universe douche
be the bigger person
namaste0 -
God I hate people that do that. At the very least they should let you work in.0
-
LOL ... personally, in past situations like that, I just started working out on the equipment while they were onto their other exercise. I have no tolerance for that *kitten*.0
-
The issue is when he came back and decided to get all pushy. If he would have been polite and explained the situation, I'm sure something could have been worked out. There's really nothing you can do about people like this. Well, nothing that won't get you kicked out of your gym
0 -
Ha....
I did that at the gym this afternoon.....
I was on bench, finishing up my sets on that....and the equipment I wanted to do next (seated chest press machine)
Had someones stuff at it....
But the person wasn't there...
So i finished my two sets on bench.....wiped down bench....put away weights....
Still the equipment I wanted to use, sat empty...except for the guys stuff....
So I walk over to it...stand by it for like a min....
Still no one.
So I start stripping down one of the plates....and then the guy comes over.....
I just said look, no one was here and I want to use this.
Can I work in??
He was fine with it....so we worked in.
Funny thing was he stayed nearby the machine until he finished his last two sets. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Dumbass0 -
Personally, I think that is bad form. Doing a different exercise between sets is one thing, but generally, the person should pick something close by. The fact that he's leaving the room entirely between sets and still expects to keep his rack on a busy morning, is frankly kind of ridiculous.
But, from my experience, once someone gets set in their way of doing things, it's hard to get them to stop, or to even acknowledge that there might be a need for them to change. He obviously thinks it's no big deal to abandon his rack and then expect it to still be there.
Next time, just use it, and maybe keep track of how long he's gone (assuming this happens again), and then bring it up with management again, and say that he's monopolizing the equipment. Throw around the word "lunk" maybe that'll get their attention. I had to switch gyms because I hated that stupid alarm going off all the time. Always seemed to hit between songs when I was running. Couple times I almost fell off the treadmill because it startled me so bad! lol.0 -
sounds like a person who thinks the gym belongs to them and its ok to circuit train during a busy time.
"sigh"0 -
yeah no.
he's wrong.
it's different if he had to take a dump or go get water- but you can't do half your workout away from the equipment- if he wanted to do that- he/you should have said- I'll work in with you.
it's an easy pain free solution.
he's been a douchecanoe- but there are easy solutions.0 -
Stories like these make me glad I have a home gym, and explain why I don't go to the movies, and avoid the mall, and....0
-
this totally pisses me off. it happens all the time. you have every right to be upset. these people who do this are the ones with NO ettiquette what so ever. All he had to say simply was... can i work in with you. he was not there... nor did you see anyone. next time... screw him and carry on!!!!!0
-
I see several faults in the situation.
I agree with all who say the guy was in the wrong for thinking it was his and only his to use and on his schedule. Yeah, it would be ideal for you to find the person who was using it and diplomatically ask if you can work in. But why should you have to do that? Seriously, how long do any of us spend on one particular piece of (non-cardio) gym equipment?
I also think management handled it incorrectly. From what you described, they just wanted to avoid an incident where anyone (including them) had to come out being the bad guy. And aren't you a dues paying member just like he is? Why does he get preferential treatment? I'd have a serious talk with the top manager and ask to be enlightened as to why behavior like that is ok.
This is one of the reasons I avoid the squat rack at any gym I've ever been to. That one station seems to be a magnet for the gym members who I want nothing to do with. (Not all users, just most of them)0 -
Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm glad to think it's just not me. I read some other gym etiquette articles and there are some differences of opinion I guess.0
-
If he's away from the rack for a while, then the least he could do is let you work in between his sets. If I'm hogging the power rack at my gym (which I frequently do, but I stay IN the rack just in case) and someone asks how many more sets I have left, I tell them and always say they are welcome to work in. That way I get adequate recovery between my sets anyway. No biggie. No need to get heated about it.0
-
Except for the guy drowning in cologne (later remedied) I must go to the most polite gym ever. I will ask if anyone is using the bench. It's always no. Even the kids, after one reminder, are good about empting the bar and not hogging. I'm sorry this happens.0
-
If the gym is busy, people who try to use two machines at once are being douchey, in my opinion. It is uncool! If people want to hog multiple machines, they should go to the gym at off hours.
I've had to ask women (nicely) to free up the leg adductor machine a few times when they have been sitting, without doing any reps, and gabbing with friends who are standing around them, for 5-10 minutes. Each time they have had the good grace to look sheepish and apologize.
Finally, I am jealous your PF has a rack. Mine only had Smith Machines so I had to switch gyms.0 -
Lots of people leave weights on the bar so I think nothing of it.
That's an issue at mine as well and so you never know whether or not someone is using the equipment any more. Usually I'll try and keep an eye on the person who is using the equipment and if they walk away and go over to another section of the gym and start doing something different then IMO the equipment is free.
I'm also like one of the other people who posted who will put my stuff on the bench/near the equipment if I have to use the bathroom or something before I start my routine. I can honestly say I haven't yet come across any douche bags at my gym. Everyone seems to be pretty nice.0 -
Sounds like another Planet Fitness horror story. Gotta love that place0
-
If theres no one there and there stuff isnt there, then i would have done the same taken the weights off and put my own on. if someone were to start yelling at me for it i would just tell them you werent here so im doing my sets. i dont think its fair to assume that just because you were using it that no one else wants to also use it. i mean stay there do your sets, or go do something else.
at my gym the only time ive seen people go from one machine to another is when they are in the same area like right next to each other, thats what i do, ill set my stuff in one corner and work my way through each machine doing smaller sets on each and i do the routine about 3-5 times till all my sets or more are in then move on, but if someone were to come in and use one of the machines in my row when i wasnt i would tell them im using it, when clearly i was using a different one, i would just skip it and remember to come back to it. its called being polite, and respecting what someone else is doing.
it just bothers me when im waiting for a machine or something and i see someone using it and so im waiting, waiting, waiting, and then they go somewhere else but leave all their **** on the machine (towels, water, ect) and go use something else for 20+ minutes. at that points its like do i move their stuff? or is that totally rude? i never know.0 -
Sounds like another Planet Fitness horror story. Gotta love that place
Things like that happen every where.0 -
Sounds like another Planet Fitness horror story. Gotta love that place
happens at my golds....daily.
you mad @ PF?0 -
He is an *kitten*. If he's using it then he should be using it, not in another room. I would point that out to him and that as far as you're aware there's no "reserved" sign on it.0
-
That is bull... You can rest in between sets even run for a drink of water but to leave and go to another room exercise and expect no one else to use the machine is a bunch of crap. Squat racks are popular . This guy is inconsiderate but there are people like that every where Management should have told him to stay by machine or let other people work in during his rest periods0
-
This is why I invested in my own lifting equipment at home.0
-
Sounds like another Planet Fitness horror story. Gotta love that place
Things like that happen every where.
Haha yes so true!
We have a few guys who like to leave heavy weights on especially the dead lift bar. And I don't know about anyone else but even if it's 10 lbs I HATE unracking that bar!! Last week a guy was using it quite a bit in between other exercises and I didn't want to work in with him as it would be a huge pain, but after he was done he was still in the weight room and I just hopped in > i was never sure if he was done because he didn't unrack them. It actually made me really really irritated and I almost said something but sometimes I'm just way too b*tchy and need to let things go.
On the other hand, the other location i go to in the early mornings, people are nice as can be. i started unracking the squat rack thinking the guy was done as I didn't see him there (a few guys talk a LOT in the morning) he came over and told me he was using it. Super nice. I was about to walk away and he just told me to do my set. Super super nice.
Come to think of it - IDK if it's the difference in locations or the difference in times (morning vs. evening) but the morning crowd at that location is a lot less douchey.
I always thought the rule of thumb was to let someone work in with you in between sets. I've never seen/heard anyone say no or act like an *kitten* when they needed to.0 -
there is a guy at my gym who uses the machines almost daily (no problem with that) but he takes a stroll around the entire gym between each of his sets on a given machine (and then he doesn't clear the weights after he finishes). Sad thing is, he's one of the trainers at the gym...
I just alter my sets so that I am not using the particular machine that he is unless I can get it before him or after him.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions