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    Gym Rant- Impatient People and the Squat Rack

    Posts: 899 Member
    edited March 4 in Fitness and Exercise
    Just a rant, but I was working out on the squat rack yesterday and ran into someone who was very impatient and rude while waiting for me to finish my sets. I had just finished my 3rd set and this guy rudely asks me if I'm done yet, I politely tell him no I have two more sets then for the duration of the next two sets he stands next to the squat rack and is huffing and puffing impatiently the entire time staring at his watch as I complete my workout, and the dirty looks he was giving weren't exactly nice either.

    I can understand the frustration of having to wait for the squat rack, but my gym as 3 racks and I only spend a minute or two max in between my sets. At least I'm using the squat rack for it's intended purpose and I don't walk away for 5 minutes or more at a time like I see plenty of other people do. Also I've been at this gym for months and I can only count on my hand the numbers of times I've had to wait for a squat rack for more than a few minutes / have never had a problem working in or allowing someone else to work in-between my sets.

    I was very close to telling this guy to either be patient or go to hell, I really didn't like the way he was acting. You guys experience this much?

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    Replies

    • Posts: 831 Member
      I haven't experienced it but I go to the gym at 5am and I am usually the only one in the weight room. If I were you I probably would have said something if you were truly not taking extensive breaks.
    • Posts: 3 Member
      Without being there it's hard to get a real sense of how this went. Perhaps this person was being impatient and rude; but then again, perhaps you were just being overly sensitive. If you strip out the adjectives from your post, you get:

      Someone asked if you were done with the squat rack. You told them you were not. That person then waited until you were done with the squat rack.

      This doesn't seem all that uncommon, and I can think of several ways where someone could have been far more rude.

      At my gym, there is one squat rack, and one area to do deadlifts/barbell rows. I regularly find myself having to ask other people if/when they'll be done, and then wait for them. Sometimes I do other things while they're finishing. Sometimes I dont, and just wait. I think that's pretty typical.
    • Posts: 1,301 Member
      He probably just needed a place to do curls, you should have known to just move aside, clearly you were using the rack for squats, which it was never intended for. :grumble: Next time you'll know better.

      Rigger
    • Posts: 899 Member
      Without being there it's hard to get a real sense of how this went. Perhaps this person was being impatient and rude; but then again, perhaps you were just being overly sensitive. If you strip out the adjectives from your post, you get:

      Someone asked if you were done with the squat rack. You told them you were not. That person then waited until you were done with the squat rack.

      This doesn't seem all that uncommon, and I can think of several ways where someone could have been far more rude.

      At my gym, there is one squat rack, and one area to do deadlifts/barbell rows. I regularly find myself having to ask other people if/when they'll be done, and then wait for them. Sometimes I do other things while they're finishing. Sometimes I dont, and just wait. I think that's pretty typical.

      Definitely a good point I perhaps was a tad overly sensitive, he was probably just really motivated/ in the zone to start his workout and maybe I picked up a little too much on it.

      Never had a problem like this before, usually the guys at the gym are friendly when inquiring to my status and they will wait close by but will give me plenty of space and time to finish my workout. Hearing him constantly huff, puff and sigh was starting to get to me and was distracting, wish he would have given me more space is all.
    • Posts: 2,131 Member
      I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure there are times that people have thought I'm rude at the gym - in reality, I go to the gym right after work. On days when I'm stressed out or something went wrong at work, I carry it into the gym. I might be "huffing and puffing", but not necessarily because I'm waiting for a rack.
    • Posts: 2,561 Member
      Reason #184 why I invested in lifting equipment for my house. The gym sucks. I never have to wait for a machine or deal with pushy people. It's just me, myself, and I in the comfort of my own home wearing as little as possible. It's pretty great. :)
    • Posts: 899 Member
      Reason #184 why I invested in lifting equipment for my house. The gym sucks. I never have to wait for a machine or deal with pushy people. It's just me, myself, and I in the comfort of my own home wearing as little as possible. It's pretty great. :)

      As soon as I stop renting and purchase my own home I'm actually really excited about the idea of having my own squat rack that's adjustable for bench press. That's the only real equipment I need aside from free weights so that would be awesome.
    • Posts: 597 Member
      Reason #184 why I invested in lifting equipment for my house. The gym sucks. I never have to wait for a machine or deal with pushy people. It's just me, myself, and I in the comfort of my own home wearing as little as possible. It's pretty great. :)

      If I had my own home gym, I'd just workout naked.

      Anyway, if someone's waiting to use the equipment you're using - then as long as they don't intend to do sets with a ridiculously high number of reps, I think it's always decent to invite them to use it whilst you're resting between your sets.
    • Posts: 229
      Come on man maybe he had to get in a set of curls real quick...
    • Posts: 8,680 Member
      Yeah I do not get that at the gym. If people ask how many sets I have. I tell them then say "you can work in if you want to. '
    • Posts: 8,680 Member
      Come on man maybe he had to get in a set of curls real quick...

      You mean shoulder shrug because he cannot deadlift it up first.
    • Posts: 552 Member
      It always amazes me when people just stand there waiting for equipment. I don't get why you can't go do something else -- while keeping an eye on the equipment you're waiting for (and if the person who is using the equipment is nice they will politely tell people that someone else is using it after them -- and work in a set of something else.

      My husband and I were using the cable machine one day -- both sides which typically a lot of people do -- and this one guy was just hovering watching us. He didn't ask if we were almost done, didn't say a word. He was just standing there. Staring. Then he'd walk away for a minute and come back. And just stand there. Finally he left (we saw him another day doing that to someone else and came to the conclusion that that's his thing).

      Anyway, I typically go to the gym knowing what equipment I'm going to use for my workouts. If it's a dumbbell day and the dumbbell area is full then I'll use the cables or something else or I'll do a warm up set and keep my eye on equipment that's being used and when it's vacant I'll take it. There have been plenty of times I've had to alter my workout because something I wanted to use was occupied.

      It's really not that difficult. But maybe I'm just odd.
    • Posts: 6,208 Member
      He probably just needed a place to do curls, you should have known to just move aside, clearly you were using the rack for squats, which it was never intended for. :grumble: Next time you'll know better.

      Rigger

      :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
    • Posts: 899 Member
      show previous quotes

      :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

      Ok I had to share this, cracks me up every time

      10 Machines You Didn't Know Were Bicep Machines

      http://youtu.be/GzxRhtZLItY
    • Posts: 3,942 Member

      If I had my own home gym, I'd just workout naked.

      I used to - until I caught myself in the lat pulldown machine.
    • Posts: 2,273 Member
      Just a rant, but I was working out on the squat rack yesterday and ran into someone who was very impatient and rude while waiting for me to finish my sets. I had just finished my 3rd set and this guy rudely asks me if I'm done yet, I politely tell him no I have two more sets then for the duration of the next two sets he stands next to the squat rack and is huffing and puffing impatiently the entire time staring at his watch as I complete my workout, and the dirty looks he was giving weren't exactly nice either.

      I can understand the frustration of having to wait for the squat rack, but my gym as 3 racks and I only spend a minute or two max in between my sets. At least I'm using the squat rack for it's intended purpose and I don't walk away for 5 minutes or more at a time like I see plenty of other people do. Also I've been at this gym for months and I can only count on my hand the numbers of times I've had to wait for a squat rack for more than a few minutes / have never had a problem working in or allowing someone else to work in-between my sets.

      I was very close to telling this guy to either be patient or go to hell, I really didn't like the way he was acting. You guys experience this much?
      I would have told him to go to hell.
    • Posts: 5,481 Member
      Reason #184 why I invested in lifting equipment for my house. The gym sucks. I never have to wait for a machine or deal with pushy people. It's just me, myself, and I in the comfort of my own home wearing as little as possible. It's pretty great. :)

      tumblr_mi1mc5jkQd1rqfhi2o1_500.gif
    • Posts: 2,480 Member
      Maybe he was running out of time and needed to get his workout in, so he didn't want to risk you walking away and having someone else swoop in? I've had situations where I was bumped 2-3 times because I didn't happen to be standing next to the equipment I needed to use when the person finished and someone else "stole" it.
    • Posts: 2,561 Member
      show previous quotes

      If I had my own home gym, I'd just workout naked.

      Anyway, if someone's waiting to use the equipment you're using - then as long as they don't intend to do sets with a ridiculously high number of reps, I think it's always decent to invite them to use it whilst you're resting between your sets.

      tumblr_lxtjxbKOWY1r3dtleo1_400.gif
    • Posts: 3,942 Member

      It's really not that difficult. But maybe I'm just odd.

      I agree with you. But that doesn't mean you're not odd. :-D

      I wanted to use the cable row machine last week. 3 BIG guys were busy using it so I did DB rows instead. Still got a decent workout. And didn't get wedgied in changing rooms. WIN-WIN!
    • Posts: 481 Member
      It always amazes me when people just stand there waiting for equipment. I don't get why you can't go do something else -- while keeping an eye on the equipment you're waiting for (and if the person who is using the equipment is nice they will politely tell people that someone else is using it after them -- and work in a set of something else.

      My husband and I were using the cable machine one day -- both sides which typically a lot of people do -- and this one guy was just hovering watching us. He didn't ask if we were almost done, didn't say a word. He was just standing there. Staring. Then he'd walk away for a minute and come back. And just stand there. Finally he left (we saw him another day doing that to someone else and came to the conclusion that that's his thing).

      Anyway, I typically go to the gym knowing what equipment I'm going to use for my workouts. If it's a dumbbell day and the dumbbell area is full then I'll use the cables or something else or I'll do a warm up set and keep my eye on equipment that's being used and when it's vacant I'll take it. There have been plenty of times I've had to alter my workout because something I wanted to use was occupied.

      It's really not that difficult. But maybe I'm just odd.

      I think it depends on your workout. For example, if I'm doing squats - I have to do them first. I can't do something before as it'll fatigue my legs. Having a lot of extra weight while squatting - I need my legs to be fresh. So yes, it is extremely irritating when guys are doing ARMS in the squat rack. Last week this older gentleman was doing shoulder shrugs then he'd do some random set of dumbbells. My workout is virtually at a standstill until it free's up.
    • Posts: 2,273 Member
      show previous quotes

      tumblr_mi1mc5jkQd1rqfhi2o1_500.gif
      Everyone doesn't have:

      1. Space
      2. The initial investment

      So suggesting a home gym isn't an option. Like I said before, the guy would have waited.
    • Posts: 12,950 Member
      show previous quotes

      I think it depends on your workout. For example, if I'm doing squats - I have to do them first. I can't do something before as it'll fatigue my legs. Having a lot of extra weight while squatting - I need my legs to be fresh. So yes, it is extremely irritating when guys are doing ARMS in the squat rack. Last week this older gentleman was doing shoulder shrugs then he'd do some random set of dumbbells. My workout is virtually at a standstill until it free's up.

      Kettle squats.
      Put the curl bar (weighted) on your back and do lunges.
      DB jumping squats.

      You're fine. Get to the gym earlier next time. Or you know, squat outside the rack.
    • Posts: 1,949 Member
      It's polite and proper gym etiquette to invite them to work in a set during your 1-2 minute rest period.

      Be clear up front how long your rest period is and ask if them to return the favor and finish their one set during that time.
    • Posts: 899 Member
      It's polite and proper gym etiquette to invite them to work in a set during your 1-2 minute rest period.

      Be clear up front how long your rest period is and ask if them to return the favor and finish their one set during that time.

      Totally agree,but this fella wasn't really in the talking mood and was aggressive from the very beginning. He really didn't like it when I told him I had 2 more sets to go. Normally I am the first to offer someone to let them work in, but I really didn't like his attitude.
    • Posts: 796 Member
      Could you finish with the rant already OP... it's my turn to rant already dammit.
    • Posts: 12,950 Member
      show previous quotes

      Totally agree,but this fella wasn't really in the talking mood and was aggressive from the very beginning. He really didn't like it when I told him I had 2 more sets to go. Normally I am the first to offer someone to let them work in, but I really didn't like his attitude.

      Then **** him. He can do something else.
    • Posts: 899 Member
      show previous quotes

      Then **** him. He can do something else.

      My thoughts exactly.
    • Posts: 899 Member
      Could you finish with the rant already OP... it's my turn to rant already dammit.

      Go for it haha, what really grinds your gears?
    • Posts: 12,950 Member
      show previous quotes

      My thoughts exactly.

      Is that a sword from Halo, or a Mass relay from Mass Effect?
    This discussion has been closed.

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