Was I wrong?

olee67
olee67 Posts: 208 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So, I was at the gym today doing my workout, and, there were these two women there. They got there about 10 minutes into my workout. My gym isn't very big, so, benches are very limited when using dumbbells. Essentially, these two women were using two benches to sit on. Not work out, but, to sit on. Their routine went something like this:

Do a few reps, while standing, sit down and talk for 5 minutes. Stand up, do a few reps, sit down and talk for 5 minutes. 90% of what I was doing today was standing until I wanted to finish with incline curls. While they were sitting and talking (this had been going on for about 40-45 minutes now) I walked over and asked "can I use one of these benches while you're talking?"
"No, we're using them," said one of the women.
"Right now you're talking. How about you guys just use one bench and one works while the other rests? I just need to use it for a few minutes" I said.
The other women replied, "there's other benches you can use. Just use one of those."
"I would, but, othere people are actually using them to work out not as a park bench" I said.
"Whatever, not our problem" one said.
"You know, there is a women's section in this gym. They have all the free weights, benches, and machines you could ever need. You can use that area to sit and talk all you want" I said.
"The music is too loud from the aerobics in there........"
I cut her off, "So you won't be able to talk? Exactly!"

Mind you, this is a very isolated incident. Like I said, my gym is small. Everyone goes there to work out. Men, women, young, and old alike. I've never encountered this or witnessed anyone else deal with this there. And yes, the last thing I said was a backhanded why of saying "get the F%$* off the bench" and I kind of said it in a way to imply it as well... LOUDLY.

Needless to say, I had to alter my routine to finish my workout. But, I don't think it mattered what I did at that point. I was so angry that anything I did I was going to get the most I could out of it.

Oh, one more thing. Do all old men walk around the locker room in their birthday suits everywhere else?
«1

Replies

  • kilasumowrestler
    kilasumowrestler Posts: 6
    You weren't wrong at all! They should have been courteous enough to realize space was limited and they weren’t putting forth 100% like the other patrons.
    Now from a pride standpoint, if they left shortly after the encounter, they too, realized they were being unfair with the equipment/space.
    If they stayed even longer and continued with their “routine” they are just jerks.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    And yes, the last thing I said was a backhanded why of saying "get the F%$* off the bench"

    You asked nicely at first, they're hogging exercise equipment while not exercising. I think the last statement pretty much sums up what they should have done.

    Oh, one more thing. Do all old men walk around the locker room in their birthday suits everywhere else?
    Yep, pretty much. I went to a spa with my wife this year and in the men's locker room it was full of naked old men. The gray hair and folds of wrinkly skin was everywhere to be seen.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    No, you weren't wrong. At that point, I would have gone to find a staff member.
  • sheila569
    sheila569 Posts: 269 Member
    NO, you were not wrong. I thought you were nice about it acutally. I know I wouldn't have been so sweet.... and definately complained to management.
  • Pgarcia413
    Pgarcia413 Posts: 28
    Basic gym etiquette is to share (assuming it doesn't completely interfere with the other person's workout). I learned this years ago in the gym when I first started lifting. If someone was using a bench and were resting, I would ask to "work in" with them if they had a long rest. It was never a problem. Nowadays I see people want to monopolize the machines and benches and not share. You can ask to work in, but half the time they don't even know what that means and just respond with "I'm not done yet." "Yes, I get that you are not done, but while you rest, I can do a set and than I rest and you do a set. And we are alllll happy. :)"

    Seriously, gym orientation needs to go over this stuff with people or post it in big letters on the walls.
  • sharonfincher1
    sharonfincher1 Posts: 311 Member
    You weren't wrong... and I don't know about men, but the women do.. so unsettling..LOL
  • twinmom430
    twinmom430 Posts: 457 Member
    You weren't wrong at all...from the sounds of it, you went about it very nicely...they were just being rude....no reason they couldn't have let you work out while they finished their conversation elsewhere.
  • Emancipated_Tai
    Emancipated_Tai Posts: 751 Member
    No, you were not wrong. That was just plain ignorance on their part. Next time get a staff member.
  • gwduker
    gwduker Posts: 293
    Oh, one more thing. Do all old men walk around the locker room in their birthday suits everywhere else?
    Hey, I resemble that remark! :smile: When I was in the military EVERYONE walked around the locker room that way. I'm just used to it.
  • mbajrami
    mbajrami Posts: 636 Member
    You were so right that I now love you. Though it would have taken me less time to give out the ol' verbal b!tch slap.
  • dfborders
    dfborders Posts: 474 Member
    No you were not wrong. The ladies were wrong for not being considerate enough to allow you to finish your routine. The could have easily had their rest together on one bench. The elderly that went to the gym I used to go to did this a lot and it caused a lot of problems.
  • ladykate7
    ladykate7 Posts: 206 Member
    No, you were not wrong. That was just plain ignorance on their part. Next time get a staff member.

    This, I totally would have once they got snarky. Or said. "Do I need to get the manager?"
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    I would have just grabbed the bench while they were "working", dragged it off to another area and started doing my set.. but thats me.

    You are no way in the wrong and were plenty polite.

    People need to realize that just because they pay to go to the gym, does not mean that they can monopolize the space.

    Reminds me of an incident I ran into yesterday while visiting my mom at a rehab center. Some women was having car trouble so instead of pulling off to the side or into an actual space, she parks her car in the middle of aisle, blocking all the other cars in on both sides and proceeds to leave it there un-attended. When she finally came back out and saw me going to my car, she tells me "oh don't back out yet because I'm having car trouble and I'm going to try and pull forward"(mind you at this point she had backed up a bit so I could free my car and if she pulled forward I would have been blocked in again). I told her look, you already blocked me in once because you couldn't be bothered to stay with your car and I'll be damned if you do it again!
  • RejoicingL
    RejoicingL Posts: 95 Member
    I think if I asked politely and they said, "No, we are using it." I would have probably just backed off and waitted for one to be available. I don't think arguing with them would help any. But, that's just me. You can't control other people, only your own response to them.
  • RedHotHunter
    RedHotHunter Posts: 560 Member
    Seems to me that you handled yourself pretty well.
  • Najay
    Najay Posts: 273 Member
    Heck no you wasn't wrong. I hate when incidents like this happen at the gym. Either people need to workout or go home. Geez. Furthermore after they use the equipment, they should wipe it down too.
  • EmilyLStuart
    EmilyLStuart Posts: 172
    I just hate I missed seeing it!

    Reminds me of the two women at my gym who shout (talk) - loudly - non stop - to each other, over the hum of the treadmills. They are always in there together and I seriously can hear every single word they shout to one other from any local in the gym. It is so very annoying.
  • Lennox497
    Lennox497 Posts: 242 Member
    You were right on par. You asked nicely, they declined. Basically they have no comprehension gym etiquette.

    Only suggestion, always keep in mind alternate lifts/exercises when you run into an issue like this as you don't want to slow down your burn because they suck at life.
  • Heaven71
    Heaven71 Posts: 706 Member
    This is why I refuse to go to the Gym. I bought what i need for home and will make do with what I lack. People are rude and nasty sometimes! I used to get to the gym, 6 treadmills, only 3 working and wait for 30 minutes while 3 women walk at 2.5 and chat. I'm sorry but all I wanted to do was run 7 MILES!!!

    I do it at home now, have 2 treadmills just in case.
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    No, you were not wrong.

    I dont know about old hairy men and what they do. Youre on your own with that one.
  • HeavyLiftGirl
    HeavyLiftGirl Posts: 1,267 Member
    It's about respect, and those ladies don't have any. If they want to park their *kitten* and talk, they shouldn't be at the gym.
    Just my two cents.
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    Not at all.
    If they are gossiping more than working out, they are being inconsiderate.
    I would have also asked management to step in if they wouldn't budge.

    My gym is also small, and one day a lady was working on her legs (the machine is meant to do both together) but she had one on, on a very low weight. She would do a couple, stop and send a few texts, then do another couple. I hoovered for a couple minutes and she didn't get people were waiting. I went to another machine and thankfully she was gone when I got back -- or I would have said something. I was sooo irritated.

    I seriously saw someone texting in a group class last week. People blow my mind.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    You weren't "wrong" until you directed them to the women's area.
  • MrsSorenson
    MrsSorenson Posts: 450 Member
    No you weren't wrong, they were being stupid.
  • zombiefarmboy
    zombiefarmboy Posts: 221 Member
    Sounds like they weren't there to work out. Which in and of itself wouldn't be a problem, but the fact that they are preventing people who actually came to the gym to work out to do just such is a problem. Sounds like you were in the right, but I'm sure the whole thing was lost on them, dude.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    I just hate I missed seeing it!

    What? The naked old men or the two ladies hogging the bench?
  • MrsM1ggins
    MrsM1ggins Posts: 724 Member
    You weren't "wrong" until you directed them to the women's area.
    See, I thought this at first, then I agreed with the OP. If they're not using the benches to work out, but there are other free benches that THEY can use but the OP can't, then they should have had the good grace to MOVE!
  • sailorsiren13
    sailorsiren13 Posts: 460
    Nope not wrong !!! wish i could have seen this i would have laughed my butt off!!:laugh:
  • RedHeadDevotchka
    RedHeadDevotchka Posts: 1,394 Member
    Not at all. Especially since you asked first.
  • PANZERIA
    PANZERIA Posts: 471 Member
    You weren't "wrong" until you directed them to the women's area.

    I agree with this to a point...if you were mad and doing it in a spiteful way, like "There's a f*cking woman's area!" then, if I was them, I would have done the same thing and stayed on the bench just to spite you.

    If you had said politely "You know, there is a woman's area with free benches that I'm not allowed to use. I really need to finish my workout, etc." it would have been different. The whole "music is too loud thing" is a bunch of b.s., imo, and I think they were just being snarky.

    I think you absolutely had a right to ask them to move, though. That's just rude. I don't use the gym anymore because of men/women like that who monopolize stations for an hour while barely using them. Instead, they just sit around gabbing when I want to do my workout, finish, and leave! Lol.

Categories