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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have been shamed at the gym

311 replies

Bonbon12 · 04/01/2017 20:42

I am a plus size lady who has made it her New Years resolution to lose weight. I joined a gym in December and mainly use the pool. I suffer from knee pain so I have to use the pool for my exercise I can't do running or bike.

So I do little bit of swim-hops/walking which helps my knee and also helps me lose weight. When I arrived I went into the fast lane as it was completely empty and was the smallest lane. It suddenly got really busy and that made other lanes quite busy.

Then two men moved into my lane. They started a fast swim. I asked them could they wait another 15 mins for me to finish and that I have a knee problem so this is helps me.

They replied that "that's not our problem and that the pool was for those who do real exercise". I replied it is real exercise and then I heard one of the men mutter "it's not the lard lane" and I left straight away.

Aibu to think that these men are complete cunts.

OP posts:
Looneytune253 · 04/01/2017 20:50

The men were disrespectful but you prob shouldn't have been in the fast lane. Maybe next time (if you're not swimming) walk next to the lanes perhaps? Try not to be put off by them though please.

PurpleDaisies · 04/01/2017 20:50

If you were in the fast lane I'd have asked you to move as well (much more politely). You can't commandeer a lane and keep it.

Really well done for getting to the gym and do g let these men put you off. You do need to observe the lane discipline though.

MrsMeeseeks · 04/01/2017 20:50

Very sorry that they were so rude to you but I think YABVU to ask them to wait 15 minutes.

SorrelSoup · 04/01/2017 20:50

Agree with pp. YANBU to think they're cunts, but there's no way you can ask them to wait FIFTEEN minutes for you to finish your exercises. I would've waited for you to finish your length at most. I would've put a complaint in about the rude comment; that's no way to speak to anyone I can't actually believe someone would say that

WhiteStars · 04/01/2017 20:51

They were rude but how can you expect people to put their day on hold whilst you monopolise a lane to yourself? Do you really think that's reasonable? You sound incredibly entitled, I don't know anyone at my gym who would ask that. YABU.

MandyFl0ss · 04/01/2017 20:51

The lard comment was rude and unnecessary but you were beyond cheeky to expect them to wait 15 minutes for you to finish in the fast lane.

Exactly that.

However, don't let this put you off and continue going.

harderandharder2breathe · 04/01/2017 20:51

Yabu for asking them to wait to use the fast lane for fast swimming

They were unnecessarily rude about it thiugh

DereksGotATail · 04/01/2017 20:52

They were very rude to you and hopefully it won't put you off.
You should have moved lanes as soon as they enteted the pool if you wasn't swimming as the lane is intended for.

whattheseithakasmean · 04/01/2017 20:53

Why didn't you move to the slow lane when the pool started to get busy? I cannot understand why you felt you needed to hog the fast lane for 1 mins (which is quite a long time for someone to shiver in their swimmies waiting for you to finish hopping).

So yes, they were rude, but you started the rudeness by not politely vacating the fast lane without needing to be asked and then refusing to move when you were asked.

statetrooperstacey · 04/01/2017 20:53

They were rude yes but you were massively unreasonable , understandable I suppose if you have just started and don't know how it works. Fast lane is for fast swimming and that is all, 15 minutes!Shock is a really long time when most people only go for 30/60 mins.
What did u expect them to do fir 15 mins? Use the slower lanes? Like you could have done presumably.?
I have actually swum over the top of people fucking about in the fast lane before so it could have been worse. On balance you were ruder than them. But you know for next time!

Original poster
Bonbon12 · 04/01/2017 20:54

I went in the fast lane as it was the smallest lane and would effect less people. I told lifeguard about this and he said it would be fine due to my medical condition.

OP posts:
Blacksox · 04/01/2017 20:54

They were rude but YABVVU to expect them to wait for you to 'swim-hop/walk' in the 'fast' lane!

Really - it's for swimmers only.

Amaried · 04/01/2017 20:55

Disgusting comment from them but you were bonkers to think they should have waited 15 minutes...

FoodieToo · 04/01/2017 20:55

I actually can't believe anyone would do this.
As in go very slowly on the fast lane when there's a slow lane .
And ask those who legitimately wanted to use the lane to wait 15 minutes!!!
Unbelievable. Who do you think you are ?

They were really horrible but you were so in the wrong .

Soubriquet · 04/01/2017 20:55

Well yeah course it was ok for you to use.. whilst empty

There's no rules sayind you can't use them

But you can't hog them to go slow in either when people want to use them

PurpleDaisies · 04/01/2017 20:56

I went in the fast lane as it was the smallest lane and would effect less people. I told lifeguard about this and he said it would be fine due to my medical condition.

While no one else was there I'd probably what he meant.

I'd have been livid to have my swim ruined by a walker in a fast swimming lane.

DeleteOrDecay · 04/01/2017 20:56

You should have moved out of the fast lane when they arrived. I can't imagine many people would be best pleased at being asked to wait for you to finish your exercises when you were in the incorrect lane in the first place.

What they said was awful though, there was no need for them to be so horrible. Please don't let their stupid comments get to youFlowers

longdiling · 04/01/2017 20:56

Is it always lane swimming in the pool? Surely there are times where it's open swimming that would be more appropriate for you?

EmmaC78 · 04/01/2017 20:56

I agree with others who have said they were rude to say what they did but it was very uinreasonable for you to expect them to wait for 15 minutes. If I had been them I would not have been happy at being asked to wait by someone who was using the incorrect section of the pool.

QueenMortificado · 04/01/2017 20:56

I actually can't believe anyone would do this.
As in go very slowly on the fast lane when there's a slow lane .

Completely agree, this is definitely one of those "only on mumsnet" situations

cherrycrumblecustard · 04/01/2017 20:57

You were very unreasonable, sorry. If you don't want to be shamed at the gym, don't instigate arguments at the gym.

BarbarianMum · 04/01/2017 20:57

Fine if no-one else wanted it, unreasonable if they did. Is there no un-laned area you could walk in? If not, pick the slowest of the lane - the no-one can complain as long as you are not standing still mid lane.

As plus side lady I totally believe the lard comment btw, although my gym is not a place I've ever received any negativity - unlike the street. Sad

Only1scoop · 04/01/2017 20:58

I lap in the fast lane when it's empty. I'm not a fast swimmer though. If others come to use I wouldn't dream of asking them to 'please wait 15 mins' Shock

TheWitTank · 04/01/2017 20:58

I would have thought tucking in next to edge of the pool in the bigger slow lane would be a much better idea rather than using a competitive fast swim lane? In the slow lane people are moving at a slower pace allowing them time to swim around you, the fast lane is constant, head down and fast turns. You can't expect someone to wait 15 mins. I'm in and out in 30 -that's half my swim wasted!

Hissy · 04/01/2017 20:59

They were rude. No doubt about it

BUT YOU WERE FLAMING PISSING ABOUT IN A SWIMMING FAST LANE

I had this yesterday. It's fucking dangerous and why would you do that?

You must be aware of others and their abilities and right to enjoy facilities for the purposes they are intended.

Was there not a general area? Non lanes? For leisure swimming? That is where you should be with your hops. Not in a lane where people who want to swim 100s if not 1000s of metres.

The stupid woman I had to contend with yesterday told me that she'd been doing this for years and thatbas it was part of HER fitness program, she had a right to do it.

Pool duty manager has confirmed this ISNT the case and it won't be happening again.

Please don't stop swimming, but please understand the huge amount of work and effort it takes for swimmers to get to a lane standard, and then fast lane standard. The dedication it takes is enormous

Ask the centre if they have adult lessons, or perhaps even aqua fitness etc, that's a good place to start as you get the space and direction you need.