To be fed up with machine hoggers at the gym?

Ten minutes!!!! Some people are ridiculous.

A new thing at my local gym was people doing a circuit on several machines and essentially reserving them by placing stuff on them - a water bottle here, a towel there, a keyring further down. I just pushed the stuff away and used the machine. Only got "told off" once by a very intimidating dude and I never tried it again. Some people are just morons and it's not worth the stress.

I hate it when people ask to work in. I wipe down all touch points- seat, handles, pin... everything before and after. It's an hangover from covid days- and i don't want to catch any cold or bug, so I'm not going to do that between every set.

Also, if annyone asks how many sets I've got left, I always say "3" with a blank expression, regardless of the real number. Then I just carry on doing my thing.
I never have my phone out though.

The bloke on the treadmill next to me today continually air drummed throughout his run. That was nothing to do with the thread but I thought I’d drop that in!

No aggression at our gym, but hogging machines for ages is common. I watched a young lad go to a weight machine, sit for 10 mins on phone (I was on a cardio machine opposite), then did 1 set and scrolled for 5 minutes again. I wanted to use the machine so asked if he'd finished, he said he had 1 set left. Then he chatted to his friend for another 5 minutes before doing that set!
Unfortunately the friend then went on the machine so I didn't get on it!

I'd find another gym if they won't do anything.

OP, you're focusing your 'rules' only on the equipment you use. Even your proposed restriction of 30 minutes on a treadmill. You seem to expect people to work around your routine.

Exactly. This is such a good observation.

There are different ways to work out. People have different needs and different programmes. I need my three minute rest after sets of 3 deads at 90 kilos when I'm doing 5 sets. I need to sit down. That part of my work out takes 30 minutes. It's entirely legitimate, even if it's different from your workout.

But if a deadlift platform isn't available (my gym has 3), I'll do something else. Indeed, I know that if I don't get to the gym unto 6pm, there won't be a lifting platform or a squat rack free! Same as if I come in to use the sled, but someone else is (we only have one sled track). They were there first & I can wait or do something else.

That's quite rude.

Could you use a home gym. You can buy machines quite cheaply online now. I bought a small treadmill and weights.

Depends what you want to use. But I much prefer it. No weighting times.

I feel like a lot of people who go to gyms go there to show off. A lot of the men go to show off their bodies to women that go. A lot of the people also go to film their workouts and post it on social media for content.

I'm friends with one man I work with on instagram.

He films every single workout. He posts how many calories he's burned. He writes about it all like he's a hero returning from war.

Like "one hour done on the stairmaster. 500 calories burned".

Next day "now it's leg day at the gym. Let's go!!"

In response to pp, it absolutely is the etiquette at all the gyms I have used to sit on the machines (if you want to) between sets. It makes clear who is using the machine, and means you don't take up floor space that someone else might want. Other people can ask to jump in if appropriate and no-one has ever been rude. Some people go to the gym to be alone in their own headspace so they may answer briefly, which is totally fine.

It sounds like some of the gyms described here could do with some education posters about different sets/reps and rest ranges? It seems obvious to me that you can't work in with someone doing 3 sets of 15 with 30 sec rests, any more than you can (easily) with someone benching 120kg if you are on 30 - tho it is possible to swap weight plates as you need decent rest for bench, a lot of people prefer doing the big compound moves alone, or with someone they are used to training with, as you do need to focus, prepare mentally and own the space. It is important to understand the different ways of training IMO and recognise that you do need to stick to the programme for progressive overload and strength building (not using light weights for cardio and conditioning, but heavy weights at low reps) and for most people a gym is the only place they can do heavy lifting, and it is one of most gym's functions. That really doesn't necessarily make them inconsiderate, and those people tend to do fewer exercises per session.

I use my phone in the gym to record sets and reps, my overall programme, and also record and watch videos about form etc.

OP, you're focusing your 'rules' only on the equipment you use. Even your proposed restriction of 30 minutes on a treadmill. You seem to expect people to work around your routine.

I've not been to a gym for a while, but I'd be tracking my progress via my garmin app on my phone etc while resting. And unless you work with a partner you know, it would be just as irritating having someone 'work in' and then eat into your time when you need to step back in.

When I used to go to the gym, I was literally doing timed 30 second rests between sets. I always had people asking if they can work in - then they were all annoyed when I politely explained that literally my whole workout on that particular machine takes about 5 mins.

So it depends. Of course nudge people when they're hogging machines. But equally be conscious that some users have very short times on each machine so it's not really efficient "working in".

My absolute pet peeve, even worse than the machine hoggers, was when I hadn't even started on my set - clearly still only setting up the machine etc - and someone pops to ask how long I'll be. Just go do something else and come back. Are you training for the fucking Olympics or are we all in the local PureGym paying the exact same membership? Just chill.

And not everyone trains to lift as heavy as possible, so clearly you don’t understand how it works either!! I can do 3 sets while you’re “resting” and playing on your phone so move out of the way!!

Speak to gym management formally- ask to make an appointment- or if there is some kind of customer forum, join it. You can make management aware of pinch points, high demand for particular equipment. They could swop lesser used kit out. ie ask them to manage.

You could request that staff on the gym floor are more proactive- just circulating, being present and more vigilant, actually watching how people use the equipment ( eg hogging 2 bits of kit ). Ask that the gym staff supervise, play a more active role in ensuring good etiquette.

I don’t use the machines, I do free weights (not lifting heavy enough yet for racks), but I make sure I’ve only ever got the weights I need for one set instead of grabbing them all at once.

As for banning phones, I have my workout plan on mine & usually an audiobook playing, so if that happened I’d probably look for a different gym.