I can't find a judgment free gym =(

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GetSoda
GetSoda Posts: 1,267 Member
I just want to go and lift some weights. I don't care what everyone else is doing.

But every time I go, and keep to myself, people in the cardio section glare at me and call me a meat-head behind my back.
I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

Sometimes it goes 'clank' setting it down. It's heavy, and I don't want to slip a disc.
But I guess it interrupts the moderately loud WOOSH-WOOSH of the ellipticals.

The worst part is, sometimes people, usually women, come into the weight area and glare at me.
I can't even look around the weight room to see what's free without someone getting all huffy' like I'm trying to creep on them.

Just the other day, I saw a young lady struggling to load plates on a bar sitting on the ground for deadlifts. I went over to offer to hold the bar to she could load it, but when I approached she just huffed up and said "WOMEN CAN WORK OUT ON THIS SIDE OF THE GYM TOO."

Does anyone know a judgment free gym for the rest of us?
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Replies

  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
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    Iron Sport Gym in Glenolden, PA.
  • Morninglory81
    Morninglory81 Posts: 1,190 Member
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    I find that it is the small gyms not the chain gyms that are judgment free. I always feel the chain game feel like a fish tank with everyone there to see or be seen working out. My advice find a hole in the wall gym with real equipment.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
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    I find that it is the small gyms not the chain gyms that are judgment free. I always feel the chain game feel like a fish tank with everyone there to see or be seen working out. My advice find a hole in the wall gym with real equipment.

    This is true. Chain gyms attract a completely different type of clientele than smaller gyms.
  • Excuse_less
    Excuse_less Posts: 874 Member
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    Have you ever tried working out in the outdoors? Trail running or hiking?
  • 1ConcreteGirl
    1ConcreteGirl Posts: 3,677 Member
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    Try that one "no judgment" place with pizza.
  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,081 Member
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    I find that it is the small gyms not the chain gyms that are judgment free.

    This, I belong to a small what used to be an all male bodybuilding gym...it now has three female members...none of us judge anyone and there is a lot of noise at all times in there! : )
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
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    I just prefer to never leave my house. Ever.
  • jesindc
    jesindc Posts: 724 Member
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    Find something you really like to listen to. I find that listening to Podcasts holds my attention a little better than just music. When I'm listening to a podcast while I'm working out, the rest of the world totally fades away and I barely notice anyone else in the gym. People might judge me for some reason or another, but if they do, I have no idea. Good luck.
  • JDBLY11
    JDBLY11 Posts: 577 Member
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    I just want to go and lift some weights. I don't care what everyone else is doing.

    But every time I go, and keep to myself, people in the cardio section glare at me and call me a meat-head behind my back.
    I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

    Sometimes it goes 'clank' setting it down. It's heavy, and I don't want to slip a disc.
    But I guess it interrupts the moderately loud WOOSH-WOOSH of the ellipticals.

    The worst part is, sometimes people, usually women, come into the weight area and glare at me.
    I can't even look around the weight room to see what's free without someone getting all huffy' like I'm trying to creep on them.

    Just the other day, I saw a young lady struggling to load plates on a bar sitting on the ground for deadlifts. I went over to offer to hold the bar to she could load it, but when I approached she just huffed up and said "WOMEN CAN WORK OUT ON THIS SIDE OF THE GYM TOO."

    Does anyone know a judgment free gym for the rest of us?


    Well, when I used to go to the gym years ago I liked when men offered to put on or remove the 25+ lb weights for me but that is because some guys left on 50lb plates that I could not lift without fear of hurting myself.

    I have not noticed this attitude at any of the gyms I have been to. Usually the people are great.
  • sexymuffintop
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    Just ignore them, thats what headphones are for. I couldn't care less if I get looked at (I don't) I pay my gym fees like the rest of them, I'd just use the equipment and do my workout, and block out anyone else.
  • jaymesjourney
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    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    Meant to add its fairly cheap $10 base price $20 for the black card which gives you tanning, "massages" and the ability to go to any PF gym.

    Its definitely a basic gym. No classes, no pool or anything like that. but its a good place to just workout!
  • ladypitek
    ladypitek Posts: 91 Member
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    Have you ever tried working out in the outdoors? Trail running or hiking?

    Running (well really power walking/jogging), hiking, and yoga are my exercises of choice. It helps to get out of the stuffy gym and away from all the eyes boring into you. Maybe I just imagine that, but it makes me self conscious enough to not want to work out in the gym! I love nothing more than getting out into nature and beathing clean fresh air to help get fit - and I think my lungs appreciate it too!
  • akadrea
    akadrea Posts: 85 Member
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    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    you're kidding, right? You can't make noise there when lifting! you'll get kicked out!
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
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    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    Guess you missed this part which would set off that lunk alarm leaving him to feel even worse than he already does now.
    I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

    Eta: OP Grow some confidence and just do your own thing. You say when you go to the gym that you keep to yourself but you help people that don't ask for it?!¿ Probably shouldn't do that and you should be all good from there.
  • jaymesjourney
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    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    you're kidding, right? You can't make noise there when lifting! you'll get kicked out!
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    Guess you missed this part which would set off that lunk alarm leaving him to feel even worse than he already does now.
    I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

    Just trying to make a suggestion which is what the OP asked for.

    EDIT: And when I worked out there they dont kick you out for making "noise". When you slam the weights down hard enough yes the alarm goes off but I've only seen it once and the guy shouldn't have been lifting that much weight to begin with and dropped it hard so he wouldn't break his neck.
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
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    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    you're kidding, right? You can't make noise there when lifting! you'll get kicked out!

    In 16 months I've never seen anyone get kicked out of my PF. I personally set off the lunk alarm but that was after Brady was intercepted and I very loudly and profanely expressed my displeasure.

    My PF is 7/24 and living in the land of ice and snow is a nice place to run when it's icy or during the darker parts of the day as if the sun is up I am often home with my 18 month old daughter.

    I have gotten sick of how crowded it gets that one day a month they give out pizza so I either don't go or I wait until my daughter and wife have gone to bed. All the pizza is generally gone and the people there are there to work out or at least hit the cardio equipment..
  • akadrea
    akadrea Posts: 85 Member
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    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    you're kidding, right? You can't make noise there when lifting! you'll get kicked out!
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    Guess you missed this part which would set off that lunk alarm leaving him to feel even worse than he already does now.
    I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

    Just trying to make a suggestion which is what the OP asked for.

    The problem is that it wasn't a valid suggestion - Planet Fitness claims to be judgement free - except for those that don't make noise when lifting....There was a news story on recently where a corrections officer was "escorted" out because he made little grunting/ loud breathing noises while lifting. Google "lunk alarm" and see
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
    Options
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    you're kidding, right? You can't make noise there when lifting! you'll get kicked out!
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    Guess you missed this part which would set off that lunk alarm leaving him to feel even worse than he already does now.
    I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

    Just trying to make a suggestion which is what the OP asked for.

    EDIT: And when I worked out there they dont kick you out for making "noise". When you slam the weights down hard enough yes the alarm goes off but I've only seen it once and the guy shouldn't have been lifting that much weight to begin with and dropped it hard so he wouldn't break his neck.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=you+tube&rlz=1C1DVCJ_enUS496US496&aq=f&oq=you+tube&aqs=chrome.0.57j0j5j0j62l2.3740j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=getting+kicked+out+of+planet+fitness+site:youtube.com&sa=X&ei=yguAUd6uFcTtygGAnIHQDA&ved=0CE4Q2wE&rlz=1C1DVCJ_enUS496US496&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45645796,d.aWc&fp=3667838120add375&biw=1024&bih=677

    Have a nice day :wink:
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    Options
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    you're kidding, right? You can't make noise there when lifting! you'll get kicked out!
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    Guess you missed this part which would set off that lunk alarm leaving him to feel even worse than he already does now.
    I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

    Just trying to make a suggestion which is what the OP asked for.

    The problem is that it wasn't a valid suggestion - Planet Fitness claims to be judgement free - except for those that don't make noise when lifting....There was a news story on recently where a corrections officer was "escorted" out because he made little grunting/ loud breathing noises while lifting. Google "lunk alarm" and see

    They are franchise owned and the gym experience will vary from PF to PF and probably shift to shift at a given PF
  • jaymesjourney
    Options
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    you're kidding, right? You can't make noise there when lifting! you'll get kicked out!
    They have Planet Fitness which bases itself on a judgement free zone...maybe try there?

    Guess you missed this part which would set off that lunk alarm leaving him to feel even worse than he already does now.
    I try and be quiet, but sometimes when you're lifting your body-weight-plus on a bar, a little noise comes out. It's just natural.

    Just trying to make a suggestion which is what the OP asked for.

    The problem is that it wasn't a valid suggestion - Planet Fitness claims to be judgement free - except for those that don't make noise when lifting....There was a news story on recently where a corrections officer was "escorted" out because he made little grunting/ loud breathing noises while lifting. Google "lunk alarm" and see

    "Mr. Argibay was expelled largely because he became hostile when she confronted him, a claim he disputes."

    “He immediately created an intimidating atmosphere not only for me but for the guests around me,” Ms. Palazzolo said. “He got very offensive and very loud, so I walked away and I called the police department.”

    I'm not saying that he's wrong or that PF was right. But from when I worked out there I loved it and so did everyone else.