Embarrassed myself at the gym

heatherdear18
heatherdear18 Posts: 17 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Ok, so I'm writing on here basically because I am so embarrassed to tell anyone I know personally.
So I've been working out The gym again for about 6 months. 2 months ago I finally gained the courage to go into the weight side of the gym, it's a military gym so it is quite intimidating. Today I decided to use the squat rack for the 2nd time, instead of the smith machine, for my squats. I used the squat rack wrong, as the levers weren't on it and I used the deadlift portion to put the weight down and lift it back up, ultimately I could have hurt myself. A guy came up to help me set it up properly. Really nice of him. However, now I am just so embarrassed, like I don't even want to set foot in the gym again. How am I supposed to build my confidence back up ? I feel like such an idiot lol
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Replies

  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    You'll get over it. We've all done embarrassing things in the gym. Good for you for trying something new! I flew off the stairmaster once. I laughed and got back on. :*
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    I've done that and more! You live and you learn ! We where not born knowing how to lift and proper form , this takes learning and time. Trial and error sometimes. I bet 98% of the members of your gym have made mistakes also when they where new ! It happens to the best of us !
  • Shells918
    Shells918 Posts: 1,070 Member
    I fell off the treadmill at my work gym, where at least 3 of my coworkers got to witness my clumsiness lol. Hey, you're at the gym working out. Feel proud of yourself. You're trying. :)
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    IF everyone stopped doing something because of an embarrassing moment, nobody would be doing any activity what so ever.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    I didn't wanna admit this but here it goes -
    I used to leave the gym with bleeding shins. I would literally cut my legs with the bar because I was doing it wrong.
    One time a trainer came up to me and said " if you leave the gym bleeding then you have a problem !" I was mortified! But I went home and researched why I was doing this and how to correct it.
    We all do embarrassing things in life. Don't let this stop you from achieving your goals!
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    You learned. Now you know the correct method. Does that give you confidence? Perhaps you could work with a trainer of stuff member to learn proper use of the equipment. Beyond tha,. I doubt anyone else noticed, remembeted, or cares. Carry on!
  • heatherdear18
    heatherdear18 Posts: 17 Member
    Thanks everyone lol. I don't think I need a trainer, I know how to use everything else, but that, well I'm sure I could benefit from one but they're expensive. I guess I'll just have to continue on, I mean it's funny, don't get me wrong. Just ugh lol
  • datsundriver87
    datsundriver87 Posts: 186 Member
    We all do dumb things when we're learning, I was on the bench press without a spotter last week doing relatively lightweight when on my last rep I just lost all strength and couldn't get the bar back up on the rack, struggled for prolly 30 seconds of panic before I was able to get the bar back up finally. I knew people were watching but whatever next time I know to tune it down when I don't have a spotter. Live and learn and then get lean!
  • beemerphile1
    beemerphile1 Posts: 1,710 Member
    Why should that be embarrassing? The person that helped you was new at one time and someone showed him/her.
  • amazingames82
    amazingames82 Posts: 11 Member
    Military gyms are no joke I used to work out at the one at my last base and the weight room can be intimidating as hell to walk into! Hold your head up and be confident we all make mistakes. You got this!!
  • TenaciousTAZ
    TenaciousTAZ Posts: 135 Member
    There are muscle heads in every gym, and I see so many that don't have the right form when they lift....yours was just a mistake....No big deal, and no reason to be intimidated.
  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    I was really hoping for something that was actually embarrassing, like "I did a squat and split my pants" or "I was straining so hard to lift that weight that i shat myself." Or even "I was flirting and I tripped and did a faceplant." lol. What you did isn't even a little embarrassing. For future reference, most gyms will have an attendant, or even a trainer, that will be glad to spare a moment to help you learn how to use equipment. And if you are wanting to use free weights, then paying for a session with a trainer, in order to set you up with a safe routine, is probably a good idea.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    edited February 2016
    I got stuck in the leg press machine once. It was slightly different machine than I'd use in the past and i couldn't figure out how to latch the weight back in place when I was done. And I was a 30 year old, just had a baby 6 weeks ago (so squishy), grad student working out at a engineering university gym. I had to call the 20-year-old engineer/football player that worked there over to help me.

    So yeah, many of us have done stupid things at the gym. Shake it off.
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    Once I was looking for some weights for my bar and I actually took one off a bar some guy was about to bench press. His eyes nearly popped out of his head!! Hilarious!
  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    CassidyScaglione wrote: »
    I was really hoping for something that was actually embarrassing, like "I did a squat and split my pants" or "I was straining so hard to lift that weight that i shat myself." Or even "I was flirting and I tripped and did a faceplant." lol. What you did isn't even a little embarrassing. For future reference, most gyms will have an attendant, or even a trainer, that will be glad to spare a moment to help you learn how to use equipment. And if you are wanting to use free weights, then paying for a session with a trainer, in order to set you up with a safe routine, is probably a good idea.

    ^^This. Go eat some bran muffins, drink black coffee, and run 5 miles on the treadmill. I'll wait.

    In all seriousness, you're fine. Blush if you've got to, but go back. It's the better end to the story.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I've been embarrassing myself in gyms for 40 years - the ability to laugh at yourself helps.
    As does a loud voice when you go for one rep too many on bench press..... HELP!

    It was your turn this time, next time someone else will take their turn in the spotlight.
  • Deadcat66
    Deadcat66 Posts: 18 Member
    I embarrass myself every time I go! My local gymn is attached to a school and I'm 48! 99% of the people are under 20 and already fit. but... they don't care how fat and old I am. The guy who helped you probably forgot all about it in 2 minutes. You should do the same.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    i embarrass myself on a daily basis at the gym.

    laugh at yourself and move on ;)
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    I banged my forehead on an Olympic bar and it cut my scalp. I bled all over the gym and bathroom. I was trying to stop the bleeding while simultaneously trying to clean up the blood. It looked like a war zone!
  • lisalsd1
    lisalsd1 Posts: 1,519 Member
    I'm unimpressed with the level of embarrassment in OP. I saw a lady fall on a treadmill and be shot into the wall behind it. Now, that is embarrassing. I saw her the next day at the gym (not on the treadmill though).
  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    lisalsd1 wrote: »
    I'm unimpressed with the level of embarrassment in OP. I saw a lady fall on a treadmill and be shot into the wall behind it. Now, that is embarrassing. I saw her the next day at the gym (not on the treadmill though).

    YESSS! Now that is embarrassing! I was also disappointed with the level of embarrassment here. I wanted to hear a really funny story.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I have done so many things and felt like an idiot, i know how incredibly shameful you may feel.

    I was on my last set, last rep of squats. On the descent i knew that i wasn't going to make it back up. I had to lower down slowly, get down on my knees, and crawl out from under the bar. About 5 other gym members came over to make sure i was okay. I fled in tears I was so embarrased.

    I also failed on bench press once and had to be rescued because i pinned myself down.

    There was the time i thought i was going to do sit ups on the medicine ball and literally fell off to the side and the ball was shot across the room out from underneath me.

    I was walking down the stairs from the cardio section after leg day + cardio. My legs gave out and i fell down like 6-7 steps on my butt the whole way. THUMP THUMP THUMP

    Literally, you've just got to suck it up and go back in. Learn from your mistakes, and don't judge yourself or others too harshly. :)
  • icemaiden37
    icemaiden37 Posts: 238 Member
    Don't worry, I'm sure nobody noticed!

    Last June I dropped a 15kg plate on my big toe in the gym. I was so embarrassed that I tried to pretend it hadn't happened. I carried on with my workout - my foot was throbbing so hard but I was determined to be nonchalant about it. I spent the rest of that day with my foot up and an ice pack on it - luckily it wasn't broken and 8 months later, the resulting black toenail has now almost finished growing out!
  • heatherdear18
    heatherdear18 Posts: 17 Member
    It is em
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    I have done so many things and felt like an idiot, i know how incredibly shameful you may feel.

    I was on my last set, last rep of squats. On the descent i knew that i wasn't going to make it back up. I had to lower down slowly, get down on my knees, and crawl out from under the bar. About 5 other gym members came over to make sure i was okay. I fled in tears I was so embarrased.

    I also failed on bench press once and had to be rescued because i pinned myself down.

    There was the time i thought i was going to do sit ups on the medicine ball and literally fell off to the side and the ball was shot across the room out from underneath me.

    I was walking down the stairs from the cardio section after leg day + cardio. My legs gave out and i fell down like 6-7 steps on my butt the whole way. THUMP THUMP THUMP

    Literally, you've just got to suck it up and go back in. Learn from your mistakes, and don't judge yourself or others too harshly. :)
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    I have done so many things and felt like an idiot, i know how incredibly shameful you may feel.

    I was on my last set, last rep of squats. On the descent i knew that i wasn't going to make it back up. I had to lower down slowly, get down on my knees, and crawl out from under the bar. About 5 other gym members came over to make sure i was okay. I fled in tears I was so embarrased.

    I also failed on bench press once and had to be rescued because i pinned myself down.

    There was the time i thought i was going to do sit ups on the medicine ball and literally fell off to the side and the ball was shot across the room out from underneath me.

    I was walking down the stairs from the cardio section after leg day + cardio. My legs gave out and i fell down like 6-7 steps on my butt the whole way. THUMP THUMP THUMP

    Literally, you've just got to suck it up and go back in. Learn from your mistakes, and don't judge yourself or others too harshly. :)
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    I have done so many things and felt like an idiot, i know how incredibly shameful you may feel.

    I was on my last set, last rep of squats. On the descent i knew that i wasn't going to make it back up. I had to lower down slowly, get down on my knees, and crawl out from under the bar. About 5 other gym members came over to make sure i was okay. I fled in tears I was so embarrased.

    I also failed on bench press once and had to be rescued because i pinned myself down.

    There was the time i thought i was going to do sit ups on the medicine ball and literally fell off to the side and the ball was shot across the room out from underneath me.

    I was walking down the stairs from the cardio section after leg day + cardio. My legs gave out and i fell down like 6-7 steps on my butt the whole way. THUMP THUMP THUMP

    Literally, you've just got to suck it up and go back in. Learn from your mistakes, and don't judge yourself or others too harshly. :)
    rainbowbow wrote: »
    I have done so many things and felt like an idiot, i know how incredibly shameful you may feel.

    I was on my last set, last rep of squats. On the descent i knew that i wasn't going to make it back up. I had to lower down slowly, get down on my knees, and crawl out from under the bar. About 5 other gym members came over to make sure i was okay. I fled in tears I was so embarrased.

    I also failed on bench press once and had to be rescued because i pinned myself down.

    There was the time i thought i was going to do sit ups on the medicine ball and literally fell off to the side and the ball was shot across the room out from underneath me.

    I was walking down the stairs from the cardio section after leg day + cardio. My legs gave out and i fell down like 6-7 steps on my butt the whole way. THUMP THUMP THUMP

    Literally, you've just got to suck it up and go back in. Learn from your mistakes, and don't judge yourself or others too harshly. :)

    wow! Thanks for sharing . I know some people don't think it's that big of a deal, but for me it is. I mind my own business, literally don't pay attention to anyone else, have my headphones in and do my workout. So for me to actually have someone notice I was doing something so wrong to come and help me out, it's not like my form was wrong, it was literally just stupidity.
  • tkphotogirl
    tkphotogirl Posts: 245 Member
    I was air drumming on the treadmill once, hit the emergency stop and flew halfway across the room. I was alone in the upstairs part of the gym but I knew from the look on the receptionist's face when I came downstairs later that she'd seen it on the CCTV.
  • christch
    christch Posts: 238 Member
    One of my first bench sessions in a new gym I didn't set safeties high enough failed the rep, pinned myself to bench and had to yell HELP and be rescued by a young 20 something. Trainer then came over to check I was OK and give me a telling off. Worse bit was it was only 30kg. I felt so stupid kind of finished my workout and went home. Didn't want to go back but teenage daughter said I couldn't give up. Went in on a Sunday morning and practiced failing lifts so next time it happened I could do it safely. And I have had to do it with both bench and squat
    But you get yourself back up , acknowledge that was a fail, take some weight of the bar and go again. Sometimes others notice and check you're OK but usually they don't. Don't let it stop you use it as a learning experience.
  • heatherdear18
    heatherdear18 Posts: 17 Member
    tkphotogirl wrote: »
    I was air drumming on the treadmill once, hit the emergency stop and flew halfway across the room. I was alone in the upstairs part of the gym but I knew from the look on the receptionist's face when I came downstairs later that she'd seen it on the CCTV.

    ^^man! I hope you were okay! And lmfao! Now I know why the receptionists were acting so weird with me when I asked for my card before leaving! Gah!
  • Mavrick_RN
    Mavrick_RN Posts: 439 Member
    edited February 2016
    Yeah, I had the exercise ball thing while attempting to sit on it, I fell off, shooting the ball into some girl doing step ups. She screamed, looked around and saw dumb me sitting on the floor with a big smile and the "sorry" look. She kicked the ball back my way and I tried again. She was watching me this time.......

    There are some pretty good YouTube videos that can show you how it's done.
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    When I was first lifting I tried doing box squats with a too heavy weight. I got pinned to the box and was too high up to dump the bar on the pins. There was only one other guy in the weight room at the time and he was facing away wearing head phones. I had to shout for a while to get his attention. All the while I was stapled to a box with 225 on my back. He finally heard me, pulled the bar off and then lectured me.

    I've rolled countless bars off my stomach missing a final rep on bench.
  • AbigailC17
    AbigailC17 Posts: 78 Member
    We all have our embarrassing gym moments. Mine was when I was doing barbell bench press. When I was hooking it back up, I failed at putting it back. What happen is a catastrophe as it almost hit my chest and struggled with balancing it so I can put it back up. One person looked at me and asked if I need help. I said "No" and I never came back to the Combatives gym (military gym). I just went to another military gym nearby :'(

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