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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be fed up with machine hoggers at the gym?

109 replies

Glindaa · 21/04/2025 19:11

Every time I go to the gym there are people who sit around on machines for ages between sets , scrolling on their phone or whatever, as if no one else in the gym needs to use that machine. I always get up between sets in case someone else wants to use it or go between machines. I sometimes politely ask if I can do a set while they’re not using it , people usually say something like “ I’ve got two more sets to left to do” occasionally someone will begrudgingly get up looking miffed. On rare occasion someone has been aggressive towards me. My gym aren’t interested in fixing the problem with signage about gym etiquette. WWYD?

OP posts:
LittleBigHead · 21/04/2025 19:30

YABU

If you're lifting heavy, it is essential to rest between sets. Otherwise, you don't get the muscle strength development, and you could injure yourself.

I rest up to 4 minutes between heavy sets of deadlifts (say 90 to 105 kilo lifts) and heavy squats (anything over 560 kilos). Between warm up sets - anything up to 70 kilo deads, I rest at least 2 minutes.

Maybe you're not lifting heavy enough, or you don't understand how it works?

You can ask to "work in" with someone. But they can say no.

Yougetmoreofwhatyoufocuson · 21/04/2025 19:29

Funny how those that take the longest between sets inevitably have a phone. They must believe that excercising their thumbs will give them bigger muscles!

dollyblue01 · 21/04/2025 19:28

Have you not thought that people who are on their phones need a little rest in between sets, that’s what I do and don’t have an issue or judge anyone else doing it neither, maybe go when it’s quieter if you don’t like to wait.

Kellybonita · 21/04/2025 19:25

What's even worse is when I'm asked to get out of the way when I'm not even using the same equipment as them.

Twice recently I've been asked to move by women at the gym.

I was doing sit ups on a mat on the floor. The woman behind me was doing something on a piece of equipment and asked me to move as I was too near her, and she wanted to see herself in the mirror! She was very aggressive

Original poster
Glindaa · 21/04/2025 19:23

Kitchensnails · 21/04/2025 19:15

Hmm I get it's annoying but often the rest between sets is quite short for people (mine varies from 20 seconds to 50 seconds), you'd have no hope of getting back onto the machine to finish them off if it's busy. I think that's the only acceptable reason though and not just sitting there for no reason.

A minute rest between a set is no problem , although in my gym people literally sit there for ages like they’ve got all the time in the world. I saw one woman hog a machine while she had a work call one day. It’s so selfish of people

OP posts:
Original poster
Glindaa · 21/04/2025 19:20

nachoaverageusername · 21/04/2025 19:14

I agree Op, a bloke the other day hogged 2 separate machines with his towel, I watched him do it once then realised what he was doing. I politely asked him if he was done, then he did apologise and move his stuff, but the audacity! One machine at a time is fairly standard etiquette.

i have seen this same behaviour too! Once a guy left a machine and I went on it and he came running back to tell me he was using that machine ! I told him I would finish my set and he could go back on . He was weirdly angry about it !

OP posts:
Kitchensnails · 21/04/2025 19:15

Hmm I get it's annoying but often the rest between sets is quite short for people (mine varies from 20 seconds to 50 seconds), you'd have no hope of getting back onto the machine to finish them off if it's busy. I think that's the only acceptable reason though and not just sitting there for no reason.

nachoaverageusername · 21/04/2025 19:14

I agree Op, a bloke the other day hogged 2 separate machines with his towel, I watched him do it once then realised what he was doing. I politely asked him if he was done, then he did apologise and move his stuff, but the audacity! One machine at a time is fairly standard etiquette.

Kellybonita · 21/04/2025 19:12

Yeah it's annoying. It's also the gyms fault as they have a bad system.

There really should be reservation time slots for machines. So that way, everyone would rotate between machines better.