How to look less approachable at the gym?
Replies
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Nothing like the 90's when the gym was a pick up joint! Those thong work out gear screamed meet me in my car out back!0
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Just keep muttering out loud while doing sets: "kick him in the gut, 1, kick him in the nuts, 2, kick him while he's down, 3" and repeat for each count of three... I am fairly sure I wouldn't approach
Or wear headphones and when someone talks to you point to the headphones and YELL: IS LOUD. CAN'T HEAR YOU! SORRY!... smile or wave, and go right back to what you were doing completely ignoring them.
Might be embarassing if they just want to use some equipment you're hogging... but hey.
I just leave my headphones on and wave hello and I don’t stop what I am doing.2 -
Speak back in a foreign language and look confused.
Or, just say, "Sorry, on a time crunch to get all my sets in. Have a great day!"2 -
I think I'm too worried about offending people, but you're right, I should be more honest. It's nothing personal, just rather not chat.
Why don't you just say that? "It's nothing personal, just rather not chat." If you feel that's too harsh and you need to elaborate, add that you need to concentrate on your workout.
If that doesn't work
1. Grunt really loud during all of your lifts.
2. Scream "lightweight baby!" after you're done a set.
3. Find the biggest guy in the gym and slap his rear then call him soft.
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Just keep muttering out loud while doing sets: "kick him in the gut, 1, kick him in the nuts, 2, kick him while he's down, 3" and repeat for each count of three... I am fairly sure I wouldn't approach
Or wear headphones and when someone talks to you point to the headphones and YELL: IS LOUD. CAN'T HEAR YOU! SORRY!... smile or wave, and go right back to what you were doing completely ignoring them.
Might be embarassing if they just want to use some equipment you're hogging... but hey.
I just leave my headphones on and wave hello and I don’t stop what I am doing.
ya do that. Can still say hello but the second you pause stand up and engage its you saying your okay to talk to. Dont stop what your doing smile say hi but keep going
theyll get the point fast enough 2 -
Interesting.
I wonder if it might also be country/culture dependent.
Over the last few years I have been to few different gym's and haven't really noticed people approach others to randomly chat or generally bother them, even though there have beena some very good looking girls (and some probably attractive looking guys too) at all of them.
But as others have said - wearing headphones helps, specially bigger ones, which are noticable from far away. ( I couldn't imagine going to a gym without something playing on my headphones anyway). Dedicated and "in the zone" expression certainly helps too.
Also, don't be afraid to sound rude. If someone you don't know bothers you, send them straight to somewhere deep, where sun doesn't shine
As a last resort gym usually has staff, you can notify them. Specially if there is one specific person who is constantly really annoying .0 -
I have the opposite problem: I look much more unfriendly than I am...and I'm really not that friendly.
I just say, "Let go get this done, and I'll be back in a minute."
And then don't go back...2 -
I wear headphones, don't wear makeup, don't smile, and don't make eye contact. If someone talks to me I give curt but not rude answers as needed and keep doing what I was doing.
This plus baggy clothes.
If all that fails then one of these too:When I don’t feel like being bothered I have 2 go to shirts, one that says “do not disturb” and one that just says “nope”. They get the job done haha
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- Do not make eye contact with anybody.
- When someone approach you, hesitate for 2 seconds before taking headphones off
- Practice your game face. When people see it, they get it.
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CircleJerkk wrote: »lmao wow.. opposite for me. People stay AWAY from me everywhere I go. I'm told I have resting *kitten* face and come off as intimidating to people. I can be working out with 3 open benches around me and then when i move, everyone goes over there. Maybe it's the vibe we put out?? I have never ever had anyone approach me at the gym. People look everywhere else but at me when I'm out and about too.
I have also been told I having “resting *kitten* face” and utilise it as much as possible at the gym (I’m introverted and hate chatting at the gym) but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to help.
People (mainly men) constantly try and start conversations no matter how pissed off I look2 -
I have reached an aged when people think I am a suitably safe person to talk to at bus stops. Depressing really. Still, at least at the gym you can say, excuse me I must get through my routine as I only have x time. I'm trapped at the bus stop till the bus comes.2
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I just grunt and growl at everyone....1
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.ooopsies.2
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Sounds like a lot of work to accommodate other people. Skip the headphones and buying new shirts and forcing yourself to look mean and grumpy. When someone starts talking, just interrupt and say firmly "Please don't talk to me." It's short and to the point, and they will definitely get the hint.11
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Sounds like a lot of work to accommodate other people. Skip the headphones and buying new shirts and forcing yourself to look mean and grumpy. When someone starts talking, just interrupt and say firmly "Please don't talk to me." It's short and to the point, and they will definitely get the hint.
Agreed. I honestly don’t know why it’s so difficult to say, “Excuse me but I’m working out on limited time and I’d rather listen to my music.” It’s not rude and actually it’s a basic assertive communication skill. Perhaps if this is an area in your life you struggle with, the gym would be a nice place for you to practice this skill. Good luck!6 -
Headphones0
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Look like me? I don't know what is exactly, but I almost never get approached in public.4
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Sounds like a lot of work to accommodate other people. Skip the headphones and buying new shirts and forcing yourself to look mean and grumpy. When someone starts talking, just interrupt and say firmly "Please don't talk to me." It's short and to the point, and they will definitely get the hint.
Agreed. I honestly don’t know why it’s so difficult to say, “Excuse me but I’m working out on limited time and I’d rather listen to my music.” It’s not rude and actually it’s a basic assertive communication skill. Perhaps if this is an area in your life you struggle with, the gym would be a nice place for you to practice this skill. Good luck!
Yes, perhaps that's true. I guess I just don't like to make others uncomfortable, if someone wants to chat I would find it rude to say, sorry I'm busy. I don't spend much time with other people usually, I work and study from home. Being assertive is definitely not in my nature.2 -
Have you tried wearing something that would potentially cause people to avoid you? I'm not talking about silly novelty t-shirts either.
I think you need a better outfit to insure that you are left alone!
I recommend wearing a mixture of different Halloween costumes. Example- Batman ears, Superman cape, clown shoes, belly dancer crop top, 50s style skirt with Petty coat underneath.
Just go into your Halloween box and throw a gym uniform together.
If that doesn't work, just say these magical words and I can personally guarantee that nobody will talk to you again. Plus you don't need to be rude or assertive when saying it-
"Hello I'm on a keto diet . I think keto cures all these ailments magically and want to share my low carb tips with you! I also sell multi level marketing products to help me reach my goals, could I have your phone number to reach you about these multi level marketing items. Have you tried these shakes and pills and wraps? "
I guarantee nobody will ever talk to you again.14 -
100_PROOF_ wrote: »Have you tried wearing something that would potentially cause people to avoid you? I'm not talking about silly novelty t-shirts either.
I think you need a better outfit to insure that you are left alone!
I recommend wearing a mixture of different Halloween costumes. Example- Batman ears, Superman cape, clown shoes, belly dancer crop top, 50s style skirt with Petty coat underneath.
Just go into your Halloween box and throw a gym uniform together.
If that doesn't work, just say these magical words and I can personally guarantee that nobody will talk to you again. Plus you don't need to be rude or assertive when saying it-
"Hello I'm on a keto diet . I think keto cures all these ailments magically and want to share my low carb tips with you! I also sell multi level marketing products to help me reach my goals, could I have your phone number to reach you about these multi level marketing items. Have you tried these shakes and pills and wraps? "
I guarantee nobody will ever talk to you again.
276% going to do this.4 -
One of the big keys to a successful RBF, is looking through, not at people. The "thousand yard gaze"
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jennifer_417 wrote: »100_PROOF_ wrote: »Have you tried wearing something that would potentially cause people to avoid you? I'm not talking about silly novelty t-shirts either.
I think you need a better outfit to insure that you are left alone!
I recommend wearing a mixture of different Halloween costumes. Example- Batman ears, Superman cape, clown shoes, belly dancer crop top, 50s style skirt with Petty coat underneath.
Just go into your Halloween box and throw a gym uniform together.
If that doesn't work, just say these magical words and I can personally guarantee that nobody will talk to you again. Plus you don't need to be rude or assertive when saying it-
"Hello I'm on a keto diet . I think keto cures all these ailments magically and want to share my low carb tips with you! I also sell multi level marketing products to help me reach my goals, could I have your phone number to reach you about these multi level marketing items. Have you tried these shakes and pills and wraps? "
I guarantee nobody will ever talk to you again.
276% going to do this.
Please post pics in this thread . (Just so I can prove to others that my methods do indeed work)1 -
Jus show them the middle finger2
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none of this is happening where I work out. OP wearing some headphones even if not actually listening. Grow a pair and say "gotta be somewhere in an hour"1
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dark glasses and baseball hat. people repellent2
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Work on your RBF! Lol
No really tho I don’t go to a gym but this works everywhere else I go so... work that mean mug1 -
That's interesting. My gym is quite big and full of people but noone talks to anybody unless they are friends. Where are you from? UK here.2
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I need to work on my RBF because apparently I give off a very approachable vibe while having headphones in and doing burpees. I had three people in 20 minutes come up and talk during them.0
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I wear silly looking biker clothes to spin class. I have a very very short haircut. People are either embarrassed or afraid of me.1
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