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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

One customer totally dominating everything at the gym!

79 replies

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 21/05/2012 12:30

I am a member of a branch of a national chain of gyms.

There is one member who is a total exercise obsessive. She goes to classes every morning, then the gym, then runs home, then is back again in the evening for more classes. As a former fitness professional I can see she has a problem, but that's a whole other thread.

Basically she dominates all of the classes. For example there is a very strict system of booking in for classes, but she gives the receptionist a list days ahead of when the booking list is opened and they book her in for the lot in advance. So she gets into every class. Spaces are at a premium and sometimes it's very hard to get places, especially for things like Body Pump and Zumba.

Next, at every class she is in, the instructors will say things like 'Oh we were going to do X routine now but as S came this morning and did it then we'll do something else' with no thought at all about any of the other customers. I have said before 'Actually I would like to do what you were originally going to do' but it still has to suit this woman. Or in a spinning class the instructor will start playing a track and she'll say 'I hate this one' and the instructors will swap tracks, again disregarding the fact that the other 19 of us in the lesson might like it!

Lastly, in the spinning room she has 'her' bike, in the front row and woe betide anyone who sits on it! Everyone tiptoes around her and if a newcomer sits on they all start saying 'Oh that's S's bike, you can't sit there'. I've seen her really create a scene when others have sat on it and she even stormed out of a huff once as she came in once the class had started, someone else was on the bike and she didn't like it. The instructor chased her out of the room and came back and 'negotiated' with the other person that they moved bikes!!

It's really starting to piss me off and I'm thinking of speaking the club manager about it. We all pay the same amount per month btw, and it's a gym with one level of membership for all, it's not like she's got 'super gold' membership and we're all on bronze or anything like that.

OP posts:
IAmNotACowbag · 21/05/2012 12:32

SIBU. Complain.

Noqontrol · 21/05/2012 12:40

Oh god, that would really piss me off too. Especially the bike bit. Maybe the instructors know something about her that you don't know if they pander to her so much. But I wouldn't blame you for complaining.

Original poster
HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 21/05/2012 12:41

I think she has got an exercise addiction and an eating disorder tbh. She's a lovely woman at times but at other times is very moody and angry. She used to be about a size 14 I'd say and now, well, she's smaller than my 14 year old who weighs 6 and a half stone.

OP posts:
MarysBeard · 21/05/2012 12:42

I bet you aren't the only person thinking this. Definitely complain.

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 21/05/2012 12:42

It sounds bloody annoying. I do think it would be a good idea to have a word to someone in charge.

I guess she might have a mental health issue that the gym are aware of that you are not? I don't really want to go into details, but my goddaughter has issues that would make her do similar things.

HexGirl · 21/05/2012 12:49

The gym aren't acting particularly responsibly if they're letting her do all these classes when there seems to be a clear issue from what you've described.

Whilst there is only so much that they can do and of course they presumably have to respect member confidentiality (so they won't or shouldn't be able to tell you if there is already an issue they're aware of), it might be worth having a quiet word with one of the managers. You can mention that it is frustrating that there is clearly some preferential treatment going on but also refer to the fact that as such they're presumably aware of how often she is attending the gym and it is worrying to see that.

Hammy02 · 21/05/2012 12:51

Definately say something. Why should 19 people ever have to tiptoe around one person?

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 21/05/2012 12:52

Actually, I am really surprised the gym pander to her if she has this obvious problem. I was reading an article the other day written by a former anorexic who said her gym actually banned her because of her extreme weight loss....no other local gyms would let her join either. You gym are just making her problem worse.

But yes it would piss me off too, esp the bike thing. I go spinning regularly and its the same old faces there but we dont have allocated bikes, we just go where there is a space!

OldGreyWiffleTest · 21/05/2012 12:56

I think she must come to my Art Class as well - every time our Art Instructor goes to help someone else she pops up with questions, and off he goes to her........again. We are going to get together one day and keep him so busy that she doesn't get a look in. It's week after week she does this - we all pay the same, but she treats him as her personal instructor!

Complain, complain.

Original poster
HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 21/05/2012 12:58

I think that regardless of any issues or conditions she may have, the gym should still treat us all equally. After all, many others might have conditions too and no one tiptoes around them or tailors classes to their needs.

I'm going to speak to the gym manager next time I go. It is quite a cliquey gym so maybe she is very friendly and in with all the staff.

OP posts:
kilmuir · 21/05/2012 13:02

Complain , and sit on 'her' bike. she gets away with it because she is allowed to.

AnyoneforTurps · 21/05/2012 13:10

YANBU. Ask the manager if she pays a higher subscription than you. Presumably the answer is no, in which case your next question is why she gets preferential treatment. Either they reduce your fee or they stop favouring her.

I bet she is a massive complainer which is why the gym currently feel that it is easier to pander to her - it's the course of least resistance for them. Unless you and other customers complain, they have no incentive to change.

entropygirl · 21/05/2012 13:14

oh definitely use "her" bike yourself! and do report back....

MarysBeard · 21/05/2012 13:18

I would do it on purpose.

MarysBeard · 21/05/2012 13:19

If you confronted her about all this, you'd probably get a round of applause.

Noqontrol · 21/05/2012 13:19

Lol, agree use the bike yourself, refuse to budge and report back GrinGrinGrin

PropertyNightmare · 21/05/2012 13:23

YANBU. She sounds fucked in the head and annoying in the extreme. Agree that you should sit on 'her' bike next lesson. And no worries if a fight kicks off - given her sparrow like figure you can't really lose, lol.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 21/05/2012 13:25

Actually, I think you should go to reception with your block bookings and see i they take them - if they dont demand to know why they take hers and then ask to speak to the manager..thats should do it.

Oh yes, and do make sure you sit on her bike at the next spin session and DO NOT get off it!

typicalvirgo · 21/05/2012 13:29

I sat on 'someones' spin bike before without knowing.

She confronted me and said that she always sat there (I was new)

I refused to move Grin

LadySybilDeChocolate · 21/05/2012 13:29

She sounds as though she has serious issues and the gym is pandering to her far too much. They must have a duty of care, surely? It's not in her best interests to behave this way and the gym really need to do something. Do they have a policy for anorexia?

Clytaemnestra · 21/05/2012 13:31

I would sit on "her" bike. Every single time.

theodorakis · 21/05/2012 13:34

I would also sit on her bike, what's she gonna do? And while you are at it, make sure you leave it with a big sweaty fart on the seat.

Pedallleur · 21/05/2012 13:36

You could book ahead yourself but I suspect she hasn't much else to do but you HAVE to be on that bike. If it was me I'd be on there bare-assed if possible, really sweating on that saddle. And if she didn't like it? Tough. Of course, if you really like mind games you could push that bike to another part of the gym and swap it Grin or sabotage it altho' that might be going to far. Is it the bike or the position she likes. No, I would have to be on it and eyeballing her all thro' the session

choceyes · 21/05/2012 13:38

She sounds bonkers! Yes, please sit on "her" bike and report back!

thisisyesterday · 21/05/2012 13:42

i would definitely complain, but i would also ask any other regulars if they would consider doing it with you.
there is power in numbers and if you can get a group of you together to speak to the management and say this isn't on, we're all prepared to leave and go elsewhere if you don't deal with it then I think you have more chance of getting them to change

i wonder if she has some kind of link with the gym?

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