OMG!! Almost punched this guy @ gym!

coraliethomas

So I cant believe that in this day and age, there is still stereotyping going on at the gym. I went to the Y today to do some strength training... I was doing some bench presses.. now Ive JUST started adding strength to my workouts, so Im still only doing 35lbs.. Im proud of my 35lbs press... I plan on increasing it soon, but I know it looks kinda dumb to those guys who can bench press a gajillion pounds.

So Im happy benchpressing away with my Ipod and this huge beefcake roidrage looking fool taps me on my shoulder.. so I put the bar up and pull my earphones out and say "Yes?"... Well he points to the treadmills and says "The cardio section is over there, where those girls are" so I say "Thanks, I knew that already though, today is my strength day"... so he actually has the balls to say to me "Little girl, this is the MENS area... I think you are lost"... So, I gather up my courage... look him in the eyes and say "NO, this is the 'everyone who pays to be here' area". He stood there looking at me like he might pick me up and carry me to a treadmill... and we have our little wild west stare down and he walks off muttering something about "knowing my place"...

I couldnt believe it!! Is this 2012 or what?? Any other of you lady weight trainers deal with this kinda crap?

katie133

Lol wow.. glad you stuck up for yourself! I would have LOST it on him... My gym has all the cardio machines downstairs, and upstairs is where the weights are.. and generally its 95% men up there.. but i still use that area frequently and, sometimes get a few looks.. but to tell you the truth there are so many guys that dont know "machine etiquette", and are in much worse shape than i am... and then there are all the muscle machines that are always there, every time i go... ah well i guess every gym has its people!! If he gets in your face again there i'd say there is gunna be a problem! lol

meerkat70

I think I'd have been tempted to mention his inappropriate behaviour to the staff. It's borderline harrassment. Interrupting your workout. Calling you a 'little girl'. Not ok. Neanderthal.

At my gym, the weights area is really male dominated (I'm usually the only woman), but the men are nice. I'm sorry you had to deal with such an idiot.

coraliethomas

I considered dropping the bar on his foot and then putting the girlie "Omg... it was just soooo heavy" act on! I think I held it together quite well considering my quick temper...

mrsbastone

OMG! Are you serious?? My jaw dropped when I read that! WOW.. I am speechless..

BlueEyesXoXo

Hahaha... My boyfriend is the biggest guy at our gym. So no one says anything jerk-like to me.

Really though, my gym is full of cool guys who welcome everyone, men and women alike!

That guy is just a douche.

coraliethomas

OMG! Are you serious?? My jaw dropped when I read that! WOW.. I am speechless..

IKR... I mean I live in a teeny town in mid-missouri, Im sure the men here think woman shouldnt even be allowed in the gym, but most dont voice it. This guy was outrageous.

hbrittingham

LOL. I think it was worse when I was first reading it because I thought you were a guy! :flowerforyou:

It would have pissed me off good if that were to happen to me. You were much more tactful than I would have been. And I am super proud of your 35 lbs bench press!

BigDfromNJ

Yes it's sad but it still goes on. I'm a 50 yr old female Mechanical Engineer. I graduated 28 yrs ago, and I still run into men (both younger and older than I) who question my abilities and feel that I have to prove myself to them. It's no different in the gym. I think you handled it very well, At my age, I've learned to tell guys like that to 'go to he_ _ . And then I'd put my ear plugs back in and continue what I am doing. I would have also reported him to the gym staff. Did you? You should, he has no right to intimidate any one who pays to be at the gym. He was a bully and needed to be put in his place. Don't let him do that again. If you see him do it to someone else, stand up to him for her. I'll bet he's scared other women away, and that's a shame. Weight lifting with free weights is a great way to get in shape and lose weight! More women need to pump the dumbbells!

JMarigold

I can't believe this . . .

Proud of you for standing up for yourself though and keeping your temper! Still I would perhaps file a written complaint to the manager. I know you don't know his name but you could still write it up and identify him later. It's good insurance for if he every bothers you again--not to mention any other woman he might harass.

Seriously though???

A little shocked right now. No body ever bothered me in any weight area. Even when I used to use the free weight, male dominated, area at the local gym (when I could afford the dues).

coraliethomas

I didnt report him.. I was too shocked to! However, if it happens again, to me or anyone else, I will report it. I came home and begged my hubby to go with me next time, he didn't seem to keen on the idea though..:grumble:

dHowe4406

Wow I can't believe he said that to you, what a jerk. Great job standing up for yourself!

erineddy81

hmmm...I've never had any issues like that, and I spend most of my workout time in the freeweights part of the gym...but then again I work with just as heavy if not heavier weights than a lot of the boys So they had better not mess with me lol But yeah you were WAY more tactful than I would have been.

JMarigold

I didnt report him.. I was too shocked to! However, if it happens again, to me or anyone else, I will report it.

You can still write it up and give it a manger the next time you are there. I actually highly recommend you doing so. This way if it DOES ever happen again . . . or worse, there will be a paper trail. Just note the date and approximate time it happened. When I was younger I wouldn't have done this . . . but over time I've learned that DOCUMENTATION is everything--even if you don't want to think it will happen again (And most of the time it won't). Again the more of paper trail you have to back yourself up, the more any future allegations will be believed. It's just a better safe than sorry way of thinking.

mamamc03

I say every time you see him...do a little wave & say 'hey Patsy!! Nice to see you in the Men's section again, I am so glad society has moved past segregation, that way we can play with the big boys!!' end it with a teehee!!

coraliethomas

I say every time you see him...do a little wave & say 'hey Patsy!! Nice to see you in the Men's section again, I am so glad society has moved past segregation, that way we can play with the big boys!!' end it with a teehee!!

:laugh: I wish I was quick enough to come up with something like that!

DFWTT

free weight area =DB area. I'm a dude and don't like going over there. Some smirk when I only load up single 45's for my deadlifts. Whatever, my membership is all paid up. Sorry bout your experience but know it happens to guys sometimes too.

tlhorsley

What a JERK! The nerve of some people!

Happy that you stood up for yourself and you should be proud of your 35 pounds.

The free weight area at my gym is mostly men too but I am over there a lot and never had any problems.

catattack13

what an absolute ****. I work at a ymca - report him and people like me will keep an eye on him and toss him out on his dumb *kitten* if he does that again .

keep benchpressin', girl. you rock.

Zombriana

You sh**ing me?? That made me angry just reading it.
Way to stick up for yourself!
I'd have tried to get em right in the balls, I mean, he WAS right there. :grumble:

craig1970

Way to go for standing up to him. Some guys hey!
And well done on that bench press too.