Unsolicited Advice

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tracielinn
tracielinn Posts: 113 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Yesterday was my leg day. I typically switch up my workouts so that my body doesn't get used to the same thing on that given day. Yesterday I was working on my superset of lunges and deadlifts when a member of the gym approached me:

Him: Can I ask you a question?
Me: (annoyed because he caught me in the middle of my lunges) Sure
Him: It seems that you are doing alot of extra stuff here. Are you in training for something? I know you are working with Janice. (my PT)
Me: Well, right now I'm working on reaching my inital goal weight. I have 25 more pounds to go and I'm trying to get down to 18% body fat.
Him: Are you going to be able to maintain that?
Me: I'm not sure, I've never been at that percentage before.
Him: I know that you are training with Janice, but my advice is that you want to be between 20 and 25% body fat. It's very hard to maintain anything below that. I tried maintaining at 15% but my body fat kept jumping up. It's very hard.
Me: Well, thanks for the advice, but this is what my goal is right now. I'll see what happens when I get there!

*proceeded to continue with my lunges*

Does anyone else get unsolicited advice at the gym? I found it very annoying that someone who KNOWS I'm working with a trainer/nutritionist and getting wonderful results (20 lbs lost and down almost 10% bf) would come over and try to change what I am doing.
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Replies

  • joybell32
    joybell32 Posts: 252 Member
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    wow!!!
  • whatluckycat
    whatluckycat Posts: 52 Member
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    Is it possible he just wanted to chat with you? Maybe he's been checking you out for a while.
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,522 Member
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    If he couldn't maintain 15% bodyfat, I wouldn't listen to him anyway.

    It's easy to get off track by listen to other people's advice, trying to copy other people, etc. Just stay focused and keep grinding.
  • jacquelynkay
    jacquelynkay Posts: 149 Member
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    WOW...

    I don't go to the GYM but I would chaulk it up that he thought you were attractive and used that to talk with you :)
  • Mom_4_More_Muscles
    Mom_4_More_Muscles Posts: 46
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    Me: Well, thanks for the advice, but this is what my goal is right now. I'll see what happens when I get there!

    *proceeded to continue with my lunges*
    :noway:

    I commend you for handling yourself with the utmost grace & dignity. :flowerforyou: I don't know that I couldn't been quite that graceful about it. I DO find that if I have my earbuds in, I tend to be left to my routine by myself. And your progress is FANTASTIC!! :bigsmile: Keep at it!!

    Have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY!!
  • ATLMel
    ATLMel Posts: 392 Member
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    Worst. Come-on. Ever.

    my favorite unsolicited advice comes from my (often very overweight) Co-workers...You eat too many veggies! You should have some (nasty grocery store) cake for janice from accounting's nephew's birthday! Don't run, you'll ruin your knees! You better be careful with that weight lifting. Guys don't like bulky girls!....

    Sometimes you gotta laugh.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
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    I don't think they were trying to be mean or uppity or anything, I am sure they felt that was good advice, based on their own experience. Clearly you have the right idea, stick with the plan and see how it works for YOU. Just because they had a hard time maintaining doesn't mean much to anyone but them.
  • DannyMussels
    DannyMussels Posts: 1,842 Member
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    If he couldn't maintain 15% bodyfat, I wouldn't listen to him anyway.

    That.

    It's so weird. I wanna be 10%ish or lower, and maintain at that.

    At 14 or 15 I'm fat.
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
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    what the hell, that's weird.

    And I agree wiht the others - 15% for a guy is not PARTICULARLY low, so he doesn't know what the hell he is talking about.
  • gp79
    gp79 Posts: 1,799 Member
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    Noone has ever come up and said anything to me in the gym. I definitely don't throw myself out there looking for any conversation. Head phones are in and I don't usually make eye contact with anyone. Better be a good reason why I need to take my headphones off though :)
  • wisebadger53
    wisebadger53 Posts: 382 Member
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    Is it possible he just wanted to chat with you? Maybe he's been checking you out for a while.
    ^Perhaps this...although not the smoothest approach I've ever seen. :laugh:
  • MelissaSosa2
    MelissaSosa2 Posts: 10 Member
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    That's so annoying. I don't know why people feel as though they can just share their opinion without being asked for it. That is a huge pet peeve of mine. I would have been upset for sure, and probably not as nice. :-(
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
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    So glad I workout at home......:)
  • MarieAnneN
    MarieAnneN Posts: 205
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    arghhh hate these situations but mostly hate the people that look themselves in the mirror and keep the machines busy for not working out. They are the same breed I think.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,167 Member
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    really? and you heard what he said? i think his strategy failed lol
    I've thought of giving advice to people, but then i rather keep it to myself. And mostly for girls would be because i think they're hot or cute or both.
  • wahmx3
    wahmx3 Posts: 646 Member
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    I always look at the positive side of things.... so a few possibilities, he likes you and wanted to chat although poor way to start, maybe he honestly thought he was helpful. I say, cut the guy some slack and see what happens in the coming days.
  • cgsr
    cgsr Posts: 113
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    He can't manage 15% body fat and he's a personal trainer - um, I would warn his clients!
  • sofitheteacup
    sofitheteacup Posts: 397 Member
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    Wow, you handled that very well. I agree though, he made it obvious that he knows you're working with someone and you've been successful... I don't get why he would feel his negative contribution would be appreciated or listened to at all.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
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    Ugh, that's really lame...he just wanted someone to relate to his misery of not being able to maintain!
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
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    Some clown gave me the advice that I'd lift better if I didn't scream profanities at the bottom of every bicep curl rep and 'get some' at the very top.
    people should mind their own business.

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