New Rules of Lifting For Women (NROL4W)

Join
We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Someone is always using the equipment I need

AussieMisfit
AussieMisfit Posts: 78 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
My gym is kind of small and it seems like someone is always using the lat pull-down and cable row machines when I get to that bit in a workout. I've kind of become a little (too?) assertive and will ask if I can jump on for a quick set if someone is resting on/by the machine, but it's not always possible. I end up taking longer rests than I should and shuffling the workouts. I might do A1-B1 alternates then A2-B2 or something. Is this ok? Anyone else have this problem, and what do you do?

Replies

  • asidebottom
    asidebottom Posts: 67
    I feel your pain! It's the squat rack for me so sometimes I have to use the Smith machine which is far from ideal. Assuming you have an adjustable cable column you can do the lat pull down on that, I use a swiss ball to sit on. Strangley I can't lift as high a weight doing it that way, I guess because I am having to use my core to stay upright. With the row you could substitute with a bent over dumbell row.

    I bought a copy of "The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises" the other day, as it offers alternatives to exercises, might be worth thinking about.

    Alison
  • Febgirl
    Febgirl Posts: 68 Member
    This happens for me too if I workout at lunchtime (it's a CBD gym so busy with office workers). I just fit it in as I can so the order is often out, I figure as long as I do them all it it's ok even if not ideal.
  • theginnyray
    theginnyray Posts: 208 Member
    Similar situation at my gym. Sometimes I'll wait for a machine, other times I'll switch the order of my workouts. I know I know, you're supposed to follow the plan to a T, but that just doesn't always work for me! The other day I knew that another woman was going to use the cable machine after her cardio workout, so I switched and did like A, D, E, D, E, B, C, B, C rather than ABCDE and it worked out well.
  • AussieMisfit
    AussieMisfit Posts: 78 Member
    Alright, so I'm not a complete failure if I don't follow the workouts perfectly lol.

    Thanks :drinker:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories