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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Gym bastards

320 replies

Nettletheelf · 05/12/2017 23:22

Am I being unreasonable in being annoyed with tw@ts at the gym? Am I?

  1. Bodypump.

Selfish equipment-hogging woman. Class usually full. This woman arrives half an hour early and sets up a bench for herself with two - TWO! - bars, several of every type of weight disc, a pair of every type of dumb bell and TWO mats.

Means that other class members are short of weights, because she has provided herself with every permutation she might possibly need, although she doesn’t use half of them. When they aren’t enough bars to go around, she stays quiet and waits to be asked to relinquish one of hers, at which point she pulls a face and reluctantly yields the minimum amount of equipment.

She seems unembarrassed by this. Apparently she ‘needs’ two bars so that she can swap over during one of the tracks in case she gets a bit tired. So everybody else can feck off.

  1. Spinning.

Bike hogging bastards saving bikes for themselves and their friends, even when they aren’t sure that the friends will be turning up.

People arriving just before the start of the class have to run the gauntlet - you sign up for the class in advance, so there are theoretically enough bikes - trying to get on a bike with a jacket draped over it whilst somebody snaps, “my friend is on there!”.

Naturally, the friend never turns up and you end up either missing the start of the class or putting up with being scowled at for taking your booked place.

  1. Body attack

Home of the show offs who try to put in extra big jumps and other athletic moves into the routine. No matter how many times the poor instructor says, “don’t put a big jump in here, the routine is designed like this for a reason. No big jumps!”, they still insist on doing them. Just so everybody knows they are really fit and the routine is too easy for them, being virtually professional athletes and all.

Is it just me? Share your stories of gym idiocy. Also your advice on dealing with the equipment hoggers.

OP posts:
YouTheCat · 06/12/2017 17:58

There was one at our gym who made sex noises when he was using the resistance machines. He didn't even have much weight on them. Total weirdo.

ohfortuna · 06/12/2017 18:00

Am I supposed to be impressed that you're buying prednisone off t'internet
lol...I think you are somewhat confused Wink :o

SelmaAndJubjub · 06/12/2017 18:01

Why are people so infuriated by so called muscleheads?

Because lots of them intentionally make women using free weights uncomfortable and as if they don't have the right to be there.

SelmaAndJubjub · 06/12/2017 18:02

lol...I think you are somewhat confused

I'm a doctor. With a lot of steroid-abusing patients.

Nancy91 · 06/12/2017 18:35

Not likely to be very muscular at all if they're abusing prednisone! I've never met a horrible "musclehead" in all my years of training but they seem rife in mumsnet circles Confused

MaisyPops · 06/12/2017 18:37

Saturday gym bunnies - women in their 20s, full face of make up, carefully done messy bun, instagramable outfits. Attend the gym together, take mirror selfies, do 20 mins on tje treadmil at walking pace whilst subjecting us all to the plan for tonight's nighy out eitj 'these ones'. Then make their way ti weight machines where instead of doing reps bunny 1 does a rep then sits and talks to bunny 2 (so noone is using the machine!) Then bunny 2 does hers, whilst bunny 1 checks her phone. Then they both sit at the machine looking at something cute or hilarious that bunny 1 has just found on snapchat.
After 1 turn each on that machine they choose a new gossip station and then decide they want to use the steam room because their 'muscles were on fleek tofay girl'.
AngryHmm

And that is why I avoid saturday gyms

MaisyPops · 06/12/2017 18:38

Me neither nancy.
In fact the very few nasty people I've met at the gym tend to be youngish women laughing/sneering at other (usually older) women.

VivaLeBeaver · 06/12/2017 18:39

Prednisolone is a corticosteroid not an anabolicsteroid. Would have thought a doctor would know the difference.? Won’t make you muscly at all, will possibly make you fat.

Onlytheyoungones · 06/12/2017 18:46

The spin coach who comes round and turns up your resistance. I have chosen (and paid) to attend your session. I know what I want from it, I can manage my fitness myself. Alba you are one of the reasons I haven't renewed my gym membership - still keeping fit though (for free :) )

areyoubeingserviced · 06/12/2017 18:55

A few fitness snobs on this thread
I happen to love body pump and have seen major changes in my body.

ohfortuna · 06/12/2017 19:07

I'm a doctor. With a lot of steroid-abusing patients
really??
really???
and you think that men who use steroids to gain muscle would be on prednisone?
hahahahaha
you are talking out of your arse

G5000 · 06/12/2017 19:09

Only weights I touch nowadays are in Bodypump classes. I can show you my biceps if anybody claims this is pointless non-exercise. I agree about fitness snobs, those are the most irritating ones at any gym. So yes you have this super fancy expensive personal trainer of the stars who gives you the best workouts. Not one of those bog standard personal trainers either, oh no. Well good for you. No need to look down your nose and declare anything else useless.

SelmaAndJubjub · 06/12/2017 19:22

There is loads of abuse of prednisolone because it is cheaper and more readily available than anabolic steroids. Used as an energy boost - often in combination with dietary supplements (creating a bizarre black market in drugs usually prescribed to the elderly) and to keep exercising through injury. Some people also report a high from it. And yes, it is a stupid choice - which was rather my point.

ohfortuna · 06/12/2017 19:23

anyone who needs a personal trainer long term is a lightweight in my book....if you're seriously into lifting you'll be able to train on your own
I managed to figure it out for myself back in the day before you could find out all you need to know from the internet

Lilmisskittykat · 06/12/2017 19:50

Bodyattack - YABU -don't hate... if you can't keep up - train harder.... or hide at the back. Everyone knows the rows work in fitness level from front - v fit can tuck jump and burpee to rear... can't be fecked and just like to say I do bodyattack.

So in response in bodyattack if your out of shape, have no coordination or can't count sets don't stand in the middle of the room and get in everyone's way.

Body pump - whilst in the class if you need a weight they aren't using just say Can I grab this for this track as you grab it ... Smile

MaidOfStars · 06/12/2017 19:51

anyone who needs a personal trainer long term is a lightweight in my book
My personal trainer is worth every penny. He knows when I should finish a set, he tweaks exercises to my capacity and body proportions, he mixes everything up for me, he does all the planning.

ForalltheSaints · 06/12/2017 19:56

A sauna and steam room where because we are in the UK and many/most men are immature, swimwear has to be worn.

ohfortuna · 06/12/2017 20:04

My personal trainer is worth every penny. He knows when I should finish a set, he tweaks exercises to my capacity and body proportions, he mixes everything up for me, he does all the planning
I can do all that for myself, I mean come on personal trainers arent exactly rocket scientists are they...it's not an especially academic discipline.
If you need someone to motivate you and make you train then I guess there is a use to having a trainer but if you're really into strength training you dont need motivating and you're tuned into your own body enough that you can train by feel

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 06/12/2017 20:10

FortheAll

Do you want to go nude in a mixed steam sauna ? Grin I salute your North European liberalism !

Mine are aggressive swimmers that don’t sync and steam room panting

Or really fast people in the middle lane

I only swim it’s sooo stress free

ohfortuna · 06/12/2017 20:12

further more who has the best physiques in the gym?
In my experience it's not people who are using personal trainers, to get in shape and stay in shape you need to train consistently week in week out for years, if you have the motivation/dedication/obsessiveness to do that you dont need a trainer

ohfortuna · 06/12/2017 20:15

there are so many pervy bastards in the pool that I've given up on swimming

PlausibleSuit · 07/12/2017 08:01

I mean come on personal trainers arent exactly rocket scientists are they...it's not an especially academic discipline.

Oi! Hmm Thanks a bunch. People make their own choices and all that but please don't write us all off as thick just because you have the nous to train yourself. I've got two degrees.

Ultimately it's just finding the fun thing that gets you moving, isn't it? You've evidently immersed yourself in the type of training that you love and educated yourself on it. (I don't disagree with you on the benefits of lifting, by the way.) Other people want to go to a class, or train with a PT, or walk the dog, or kickbox, or whatever. Horses for courses.

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 07/12/2017 08:36

So in response in bodyattack if your out of shape, have no coordination or can't count sets don't stand in the middle of the room and get in everyone's way

I think most people are thinking of situations where they are co-ordinated and in time, but someone else is doing everything too fast and out of time. And in the middle of the room, in many cases!

Anyway, am doing Pump for the first time in ages this morning, so unlikely to be able to move tomorrow... and I will indeed be the prat going the wrong way and getting everything wrong. Wish me luck!

MaidOfStars · 07/12/2017 08:43

My personal trainer has a degree in sports physiology something something.

I’m a biology academic - developmental genetics. He knows more about muscle mechanics/bone anatomy/etc than I.

He’s knowledgeable, he’s careful, he’s thorough (he spent time researching a sport he knew nothing about in order to tailor my programme to maximise my performance). He’s ace. Apart from when he’s shouting that I’m a weakling (he may use stronger language).

MaidOfStars · 07/12/2017 08:47

ohfortuna I suspect those with the best physiques - competition level - do have personal trainers for at least part of the year. My friend’s sister is an international Crossfitter type and she has a PT - she’s looks amazing.