Venting! arg do u feel the same?

freebirdjones
freebirdjones Posts: 236 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Vent:

I just finished my last day with my personal trainer.. So I have posted on facebook to my friends list to hopefully find a gym partner.
Does anyone find it hard to find one? I've had a hard time not being able to brag about becoming fit so I don't hurt anyone's feelings so I haven't been to crazy about it I know not everyone is into that. But I didn't think no one would be into that... I almost want to post on facebook. Thanks guys next time you need a friend to watch a movie and eat chips with count me out lol if you cant come to the gym with me I'm no going to eat chips with you.
That's just me being rude but I need a spotter for some lifting unless the smith machine is always going to be my gym partner. At least the smith rack wont let me down just too bad my workout partner is a rack!
Does anyone else find it hard to find a gym buddy even though you have friends??

Replies

  • jenstanley13
    jenstanley13 Posts: 193 Member
    This is why I workout alone...trying to find someone that can go to the gym (or even on a walk for that matter) at the same time I can has proven to be a huge obstacle so I use my workouts as my "me" time and focus on just myself and that keeps me sane in this crazy life.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Nope can't say I do... I totally prefer to go it alone... If I need a spot there is always someone around to ask but I just like to workout solo... My wife even goes her own way when we hit the door at the Y..... but it is personal preference so hopefully you will find someone to workout with... Best of Luck...... :drinker:
  • Ninguneado73
    Ninguneado73 Posts: 832
    I find that very few privileged people do this with a SO or a friend. Most do it by themselves. It is incredibly frustrating at first, but, slowly, one must learn to adjust and accept most people are not interested in fitness.
  • PeanutButterLuver
    PeanutButterLuver Posts: 910
    I workout alone. I prefer to go on my own schedule & not wait on others. I'm usually pressed for time. That hour is mine & I like to use it w/o having to talk to friends.
  • twestla70
    twestla70 Posts: 28 Member
    I hear you....and what I can say is some of your BEST friends can be a sabotage to fitness goals. What I was lucky enough to do, was to go to some fitness bootcamps (all types - but Kettlebell class is my true love). As a result, I met some really cool chicks, who share my love for the same classes/fitness. So, I found new friends who understand my need to be fit (I didnt ditch the old friends, just found more). So my advice is simple. Find some new friends that share your same passion and interest in working out. Don't replace the old, just acquire some new!

    Cheers1
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    I prefer to train alone...but then again most of my friends are not quite on my level and would slow me down...although, it would be nice to have a spotter from time to time ..
  • freebirdjones
    freebirdjones Posts: 236 Member
    Thanks everyone! I feel a bit better. I think I was throwing a pitty party realizing my next workout will be my first solo one. And you know I have an mp3 player and I won't have to wait for myself and I won't cancel. So maybe you are all right and I may just enjoy it. And you know I get to pick all the machines I use, where to go and what to do next. Maybe I will love this new found freedom.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    I usually workout alone but sometimes I bring my boyfriend, dad, or brother.

    Side note: get away from the evil smith machine before it destroys your back. Use a barbell for best results.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    I just workout with me + power rack: No fuss, no muss.

    I like to be solo and focussed when I workout, but then I'm probably just an anti-social git!

    PS regarding the Smith machine: back away slowly! A rack with safety bars is fine if you're lifting on your own. No need to resort to the Smith!
  • Mmmmona
    Mmmmona Posts: 328 Member
    I am slowly moving my husband towards the idea. It is a delicate process. I have to make it seem like his idea. May take months to do. But it will be worth it.
  • Lupercalia
    Lupercalia Posts: 1,857 Member
    I've never been one to have a workout partner. I workout alone, always. I love it!

    You don't need a partner to spot you, just politely ask anyone who's around for a spot. I've never been turned down, and have never turned anyone down myself. Just wait until the person you're going to ask isn't in the middle of their set and ask if they could give you a hand real quick.

    It's pretty rare that I even need a spotter, to be honest. I do squats in a power cage or a squat rack which has the safety bars in case I need to bail--I always make sure the bars are at the proper height for me before I start lifting. I'm not benching anything heavy enough that I couldn't get out from underneath it if I couldn't lift it back to the rack, and I leave the collars off on my heaviest sets so that if I need to dump the weights, I can. My other lifts, which are dead lifts, OHP, and power cleans, don't need spotters at this point.

    I agree with everyone who is suggesting you abandon the Smith machine.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    I've always preferred to workout alone. The gym is the one place I don't feel pressure to be happy, smiling and polite. Plus, my schedule is so chaotic that some days I'm in the gym at 8 am, some at 8 pm, and anywhere in between. Finding some one who has the same schedule would be next to impossible.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    At least the smith rack wont let me down!
    Oh you have so much to learn.

    Ok, I'm going to try and say this as politely as possible; Grow up.

    I've been going to the gym for years and you know what I do when I need a spot.

    'Hey man, mine giving me a quick spot when you're done with that set.' I've never had someone say no.

    You can't get mad at your friends because they're not into the gym. You can find new ones who are but whining on facebook and getting all pissy is a good way to not get invited to anymore social functions.
  • bokodasu
    bokodasu Posts: 629 Member
    The gym? Full of people who go to the gym. It's funny like that. And the best way to get a workout buddy is to be one - if you see someone else lifting heavy, offer them a spot. Or just ask for one if you need it. (And make friends with the safety bars and the dumbbells for when there's nobody else around.)
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    All this talk of "friends", "buddies" and, God forbid "Social functions" (yes, Cr01502 I'm lookin' at you!) hurts the ears of my inner Lone Wolf.

    Set those safety bars and get at it!
  • koing
    koing Posts: 179 Member
    No. I coach weightlifting so I have at least 1-5 friends that train on any given day that I train.

    The friends that I spend the most time with are the friends that train with.

    Koing
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    Make friends AT the gym.
    Never be afraid to ask for a spot. Never refuse spotting someone if asked.
  • frommetobetterme
    frommetobetterme Posts: 124 Member
    My friends have gym memberships, but we all have different gyms. I don't think that you can qualify friendships on if they're ready to go to the gym or not.

    If you want your current friends to join you, ask them to go on a hike, do something more social.

    If you want friends at your gym, make friends at the gym as they're already there, so you know they already go... it's the path of less resistance and a way to diversify! :)
  • freebirdjones
    freebirdjones Posts: 236 Member
    No. I coach weightlifting so I have at least 1-5 friends that train on any given day that I train.

    The friends that I spend the most time with are the friends that train with.

    Koing

    So I will do it up and go solo for sure! =) Got an mp3 player and I didn't think I should ask anyone when they are working so hard with their own routine (still don't know all gym etiquette), so I will ask some people at the gym if I need it.

    But I don't just want a spotter. My hubby has someone he goes with 3 days a week. His gym buddy & gf come over for bbq's and its awesome they are good friends. That's cool & it would be neat to find a gym buddy like that. I don't see many friends or family much but I do see the gym. So if I had someone come to the gym with me 3 times a week that would be the person I see the most. Maybe sometime at the gym I will meet someone.

    Thanks everyone for always being so motivating on the site! Well all but 1 =)
  • freebirdjones
    freebirdjones Posts: 236 Member
    I usually workout alone but sometimes I bring my boyfriend, dad, or brother.

    Side note: get away from the evil smith machine before it destroys your back. Use a barbell for best results.

    I have spent 27 years not doing a thing. So it was a wake up call when I decided to work out I went to the gym signed up got a personal trainer and found out how little weight I could lift. So just over a month into it, my weights went up. I joined and mfp put me at 1200 and after some reading I eat 1800. So this is all learning as I go. with 3 sessions left I told my trainer I want to squat and he brought me to the smith machine. so I thought it would be okay.. This is all a learn as I go. So any opinions on the smith rack? not good?
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    This is why I workout alone...trying to find someone that can go to the gym (or even on a walk for that matter) at the same time I can has proven to be a huge obstacle so I use my workouts as my "me" time and focus on just myself and that keeps me sane in this crazy life.

    Yep. Me too. Even when I found someone that could go at the same time as me, she'd always end up leaving me hanging. I've come to love my me time and now when someone wants to workout with me, it sorta bothers me! lol
  • imp8tient1
    imp8tient1 Posts: 25
    I very much prefer to work out alone, too. No excuses not to go...if your buddy backs out. I do a lot of high cardio high impact, makes me sweat....I love it....
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    What/how much are you lifting that you NEED a spotter? I've been lifting for more than a year and have never required a spotter. I lift what I can lift safely and with proper form. If you're lifting so heavy that you need a spotter, you may want to decrease your weight a little and increase your reps so you can maintain control and safe form.

    My personal observation is that most of the serious lifters at my gym lift by themselves. When I see people lifting in pairs or groups, they are spending most of their time standing around waiting or socializing and only spending a fraction of their gym time working out.

    Edited to add: ditto on the Smith machine. Move over to the squat rack and use a barbell.

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