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AIBU?

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Original poster

Asked to move at the gym

336 replies

CatamaranViper · 22/03/2024 20:16

Firstly, the way our gym is laid out, you walk in and all the cardio equipment is either side of you, facing the walls. The equipment is all in pairs so it goes two treadmills, two rowing machines, two cross trainers, two bikes, two treadmills etc on each side.
When I came in, all CTs were free so I hopped on one. I usually do a 40 min program which is customised on my profile. All the cardio equipment has a big screen and you can watch netflix etc if you want. I usually do watch something.

So I was on the CT with my headphones in, facing the wall and about 10 mins into my workout. A lady taps me on the shoulder which made me jump and asks me to move machine. I gestured to the one next to me (I was a bit out of breath) and told her that it was free. She then told me that her and her friend like to do it side by side so I'd need to move for them. I was only 10 mins into my workout and I was quite settled where I was and she was rude. I said no, I'll be 30 mins or so, you can use it then.

One of the other pairs of CTs had a bloke on one so there weren't any two free together, but plenty other equipment was available and in pairs.

She demanded I move again and I just put my headphones back in. A few mins later a staff member comes over and asks how long I'll be. The screens shows I have about 25 mins left now, he sees this and off he goes. Next thing I hear a bang and one of the ladies has stormed out the gym. The other one is glaring at me and saying something I can't hear.

I mean, I could have moved to another CT but i always find it difficult if I stop and start again on those machines and there were other free CTs, just not two together. I don't think I did anything wrong but thought I'd ask on here. So WIBU to stay on my machine?

OP posts:
Brawcolli · 23/03/2024 09:55

curiousasacat · 23/03/2024 09:26

Some people have anxiety and find it easier to go to the gym/groups with a friend. That doesn’t make them ‘sheep’ if they don’t want to go alone!

Thats fine, but you cannot demand people move mid workout so you can be next to your friend. Its rude. The world doesnt revolve around you and your friends. It would cause me anxiety to be hassled mid workout.

Well aye, obviously!

xSideshowAuntSallyx · 23/03/2024 09:53

GoodOldEmmaNess · 23/03/2024 09:05

Our gym has really changed over the last decade or so. It used to be full of people who were actually, ... you know ... trying to get/keep fit in at least a moderately serious way. Now 50% of members seem to be people who have no real intent to do any proper exercise at all. They stroll on the treadmill using their phones, they come to have their nails done in the salon bit and then flaff around on the machines for a while, or they come to meet their mates and do a bit of low-level moving before they head off to the gym cafe.

I guess the silly woman asking the OP to move was in that category of gym user, and simply had no understanding that if you are pushing yourself it is incredibly disruptive to be expected to stop and hop on to another piece of equipment. You were definitely NOT being unreasonable OP!!

I have my workouts on my phone so flick through it on the treadmill and also make a note of my weights during/after my sets so I'm updating the notes as I go. No different to someone using a notebook, I mean do you have a problem with someone using a notebook too?

And, I 'stroll' on the treadmill to warm up and cool down (and have dodgy knees), I also watch sport on my phone (I have had rugby and Tennis on in the past) whilst I'm working out.

Not everyone who is on their phone is posting on Instagram or not exercising seriously.

Boomboxio · 23/03/2024 09:41

GoodOldEmmaNess · 23/03/2024 09:05

Our gym has really changed over the last decade or so. It used to be full of people who were actually, ... you know ... trying to get/keep fit in at least a moderately serious way. Now 50% of members seem to be people who have no real intent to do any proper exercise at all. They stroll on the treadmill using their phones, they come to have their nails done in the salon bit and then flaff around on the machines for a while, or they come to meet their mates and do a bit of low-level moving before they head off to the gym cafe.

I guess the silly woman asking the OP to move was in that category of gym user, and simply had no understanding that if you are pushing yourself it is incredibly disruptive to be expected to stop and hop on to another piece of equipment. You were definitely NOT being unreasonable OP!!

It's a bit narrow minded to assume if someone isn't exercising a certain way (your way) they are not doing 'proper exercise'.

Some people can only exercise gently, especially if they're recovering from injuries or illness etc. Or if they're just starting out.

Beautiful3 · 23/03/2024 09:41

You did nothing wrong, you'd started your program and there were others free. You don't ask people to move, so you can exercise next to your bestie?! They sound horrible. You should complain about them.

Iwasafool · 23/03/2024 09:41

pavedwithgoodintentions · 23/03/2024 09:28

No doubt one of those men who would genuinely 'be surprised' if he walked into a woman who didn't move out of his way whilst out walking.

Show quote history

It's funny how men are somehow getting the blame because two women were being entitled. Some men are entitled, some women are entitled. I don't think the sex matters.

pavedwithgoodintentions · 23/03/2024 09:28

SoupChicken · 23/03/2024 06:36

I’ve only had this once at my gym, a man came over to me and said he was using the weights machine I was on, I said ‘well I’m using it now, I’ll tell you when I’m finished’ and he looked astonished that I didn’t give it up for him, but as I’d had time to change all the settings and the grip he couldn’t have been using it or he would’ve seen me. Some people are just rude.

No doubt one of those men who would genuinely 'be surprised' if he walked into a woman who didn't move out of his way whilst out walking.

curiousasacat · 23/03/2024 09:26

Some people have anxiety and find it easier to go to the gym/groups with a friend. That doesn’t make them ‘sheep’ if they don’t want to go alone!

Thats fine, but you cannot demand people move mid workout so you can be next to your friend. Its rude. The world doesnt revolve around you and your friends. It would cause me anxiety to be hassled mid workout.

PrimalLass · 23/03/2024 09:25

DutchCowgirl · 22/03/2024 20:51

yanbu, but … my gym has a rule you shouldn’t use one machine longer than half an hour, because otherwise some people occupy machines like poolbeds at a resort. So maybe check if there is such a rule at your place because 40 mins sounds like a long time to me. So last week at my gym i tapped a guy on the shoulder who was already running for 40 minutes and i was waiting for a treadmill. He was annoyed by it , but i believe i was in my right to do so.

I go on the treadmill for 40-45 mins and it's the reason I pay for a gym membership.

Brawcolli · 23/03/2024 09:25

Auburngal · 22/03/2024 22:17

Good for you to be able to pluck the courage to go alone sometimes. Its those who are sheep that if one bucks out for reasons I mentioned, the other(s) don't attend.

Show quote history

Some people have anxiety and find it easier to go to the gym/groups with a friend. That doesn’t make them ‘sheep’ if they don’t want to go alone!

NoIamcactusius · 23/03/2024 09:15

iloveeverykindofcat · 23/03/2024 05:45

You were fine, first come first served on the gym machines.

Don't get me started on men who leave their towels on machines they aren't presently using but want to use shortly. One day I'm just going to move the towel.

I would assume someone has left it behind and helpfully hand it in to a staff member.

Iwasafool · 23/03/2024 09:14

CatamaranViper · 22/03/2024 20:48

Ha, I've worked in hospitality for years and honestly, it doesn't shock me anymore. I vividly remember a group taking chairs from a decorated reserved table because "only the table is reserved".

I feel like these people are those people.

Show quote history

I had one years ago when I bought tickets for me, DH and two kids to a special event. We got there and sat down and a few minutes later a family arrived who had tickets for the same seats, they were going mad and demanding we move, poor young attendant checked the tickets and we were in the right seats but they also had tickets for those seats. To stop the ruckus and out of pity for the attendant we let them have the seats unsure what would happen next. We were escorted to ringside seats sitting with the players families. My kids got taken onto the court and allowed to play with the teams and given team shirts.

I just wished I'd seen their faces when they realised what they missed out on.

Brefugee · 23/03/2024 09:10

43ontherocksporfavor · 23/03/2024 08:25

DD goes to a gym and she gets asked how long she’s going to be quite often. I wouldn’t dream of that. Just go and do something else!

Edited

I've been using gyms for years and it's perfectly ok to ask someone (doing sets for eg, when they're on the break bit) how much longer they need.

It isn't ok to ask anyone when similar machines are free, though.

GoodOldEmmaNess · 23/03/2024 09:05

Our gym has really changed over the last decade or so. It used to be full of people who were actually, ... you know ... trying to get/keep fit in at least a moderately serious way. Now 50% of members seem to be people who have no real intent to do any proper exercise at all. They stroll on the treadmill using their phones, they come to have their nails done in the salon bit and then flaff around on the machines for a while, or they come to meet their mates and do a bit of low-level moving before they head off to the gym cafe.

I guess the silly woman asking the OP to move was in that category of gym user, and simply had no understanding that if you are pushing yourself it is incredibly disruptive to be expected to stop and hop on to another piece of equipment. You were definitely NOT being unreasonable OP!!

DarkDarkNight · 23/03/2024 09:04

Wow, they were very rude and it’s ridiculous behaviour from two adults. You were right to stand your ground, why should you move mid-workout?

Brefugee · 23/03/2024 09:01

ThursdayTomorrow · 22/03/2024 22:02

You could have moved OP - it would have been the kind thing to do.
I find it sad how people only care about themselves now a days.

do you use a gym? Once you start your programme it is unreasonable for anyone to ask you to move unless there is an actual emergency.

Sure it is nice to train next to your friend, but meh. I wouldn't have moved either.

Should the man have been kind too?

YouJustDoYou · 23/03/2024 08:56

They can fuck off.

Dibilnik · 23/03/2024 08:54

Learn to punch 😜

RemarkablyBrightCreature · 23/03/2024 08:52

BreakfastAtMimis · 22/03/2024 20:22

I wouldn't have moved either. Adults wanting to be next to each other at the gym is just pathetic.

Why on earth is it pathetic?? 😄

I like to work out next to a friend sometimes but we’d always wait for machines to be free - have NEVER asked anyone to move! Crazy.

Booksandwine80 · 23/03/2024 08:49

They were in the wrong. They sound like those annoying twats who chat rather than exercise properly (who can chat when doing cardio?!) then go for a massive calorie ridden coffee and claim they’ve been to the gym for a “workout”🤣

NotaNorovirusFan · 23/03/2024 08:47

I wouldn’t have moved either because I work by heart rate zones and it would have been a massive pain to me to get off the machine when I was in my target zone and then restart somewhere else back in z1. I would have complained to the gym manager about it as well, they shouldn’t have asked you to move.

And for people saying it would be the ‘kind’ thing to do. The kind thing would have been for the bratty pair of women to not interrupt someone else’s workout and demand they move.

curiousasacat · 23/03/2024 08:45

Absolutely not, they were incredibly rude. For the person saying it would have been "kind" to move, NO. If you stop mid point on a treadmill you cannot transfer your data to the next one, you have to re-start the program all over again. It's a right pain in the arse. There is no reason why they have to run next to each other, sure they might prefer that but I would prefer the gym is empty when I work out but it never is. You cannot just demand to get what you want all the time. Rude fckers and I am glad you refused.

IReallyStillCantBeBothered · 23/03/2024 08:40

EmmaGrundyForPM · 22/03/2024 22:19

My gym has a rule that, if someone else wants the machine, you can only have it for 20.minutes.

If there's no similar rule at your gym, then you can stay on for however long you want.

That rule only makes sense if there are no other machines not because you want to work out next to your friend.

43ontherocksporfavor · 23/03/2024 08:25

DD goes to a gym and she gets asked how long she’s going to be quite often. I wouldn’t dream of that. Just go and do something else!

Sneezingdust · 23/03/2024 08:24

TerfTalking · 23/03/2024 07:10

😃

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And to be clear by “many people” , I’m not necessarily saying most. As per my previous post, it would be hard to quantify exactly how many do or equally how many don’t.

Tortiemiaw · 23/03/2024 08:18

On the flip side, people who have used a machine then just sit there on their phones for about 10 more minutes. That's really annoying and unnecessary