to think that if you regularly work out in gyms...

[daretodenim]

..you haven't been approached by a random woman - not an employee - who off the bat offered unsolicited advice on what you should be lifting or your form?

This idea came up on another thread but I didn't want to derail.

I've not had it happen to me recently because I'm rarely in the gym, but definitely had random men do this when I was there more often. I've got a qualification in personal training and the advice they gave was usually nonsense for my body. I thought it was because I was younger, but a couple of friends have had it recently (since lockdown ended) and they're 49 & 50.

In all my years of working out though, I never had a random woman tell me I should be doing it differently. The most random women would say, if anything, was "Hi" as we passed and recognised each other. Or ask if I'd finished with some equipment. No unsolicited advice at all.

Anybody find women do it too?

Nope, it’s only ever men who do this. They know more, because they are big strong men, and we obviously know nothing as we are weak, pointless women who can’t do weights.
I hate it. But I hate men most of the time too.

My husband was outraged at that original thread. She was offered advice he said, with which there was nothing wrong, in his eyes....

It certainly wouldn't wash in reverse would it....

I've spent a lot of time in gyms in my life, and not once has a woman done this, nor has a woman hogged the weights, made weird noises, sweated like a fucking gorilla everywhere, or perved at me. Just blokes.

I think it depends. My gym has women who know what they're doing, so would have no problem with being approached. For anyone doing weights, form checking is essential, even for the experienced.

I totally get the annoyance and there are a lot of dicks in gyms. But I also see a lot of men and women with really poor form. The sort of form that'll result in injury. Personally I just leave them to it but I sometimes wonder if there's a duty of care with other gym goers.

Ultimately it's a sad state that we can't help others, especially when you can see they're doing it wrong.

It's never happened to me, either men or women. If it did I would just say thank you but I'm ok, and then carry on with what I'm doing.

No, never happened to me.

I've been to different gyms most people avoid eye contact and get on with what they're doing.

You do get older women doing a similar with baby care though “where’s his hat” etc

I get approached by women regularly complimenting my gym outfit or asking if I do pt, never men in my gym (pure gym)

We have a woman at our gym that tries to coach everyone. People have left because of her. I would say she is more of an exception - she is very lacking in self awareness.

In my experience:
Regular gym -men offering advice
Weightlifting classes - both.

I think it depends on the type of gym and the type of person that goes there and whether or not certain types of people are allowed to dominate.

What was the other thread?

This has never happened to me either, from a man or a woman!

I go regularly and I lift weights and do resistance training and it's never happened to me from either men or women. Can't say it would bother me if it did though

Yes!! Always younger women with a phone. 3 times. I always say I have a PT thank you, are you soliciting for business? When they say no, I say, well don't give people advice as.you are unqualified and might injure someone. That gets rid of them. I'm slightly older so probably get away with the cheeky older woman thing but honestly!

By women - no, never.
Men - over the years: yes, definitely.

Ditto: how to park a car/use a computer etc. Which I can do perfectly well.

Unsolicited advice from a man really really gets on my tits.

Never been approached by a woman with unsolicited advice at the gym but have by men. Very annoying. Luckily the bloke that use to do it at our gym (not just yo me) appears to have moved on thankfully.

Can't believe the amount of people on the other thread who want to excuse this type of behaviour. These guys aren't being helpful, they are doing it to feel superior.

but I also see a lot of men and women with really poor form. The sort of form that'll result in injury

This judgement is partly why I won't go to a gym - I have a disability with my foot, it's not noticable at all and I look 'normal' but I have to adapt some exercises to do them safely, after advice from a PT.

To you, it may look like I'm lifting 'wrong' but I'm absolutely fine.

What is form checking?

Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to carry out certain lifts. Deadlift, squat, bench etc. Getting it wrong will result in injury. Perhaps not immediately but over time.

Form checking, or checking one's form is something everyone needs to do, irrespective of experience as form can deviate. Every PT or class instructor should be prioritising this but many don't. Hence why you might not have heard about it.

No I haven’t but I have given advice before when someone was using the machine backwards and clearly struggling. I told her I had done the exact same thing before and showed her how to use it. I haven’t had anyone correct my form male or female but I don’t think I would be offended either way.

My DD (25) has, she is also a qualified PT and looks seriously ripped, so she obviously trains correctly. She uses two gyms and now two older men have been told that she doesn't need advice or has time to talk, they've started making comments about how she is too small to be lifting the weights she is. Now the comments have moved on to what she is wearing, which is standard gym gear, just not baggy. She's had to make a complaint. There's people in there who do need help and they've approached my DD for advice. It's only random young women who the two older (70's) men try to give advice to. In the other gym it's just hogging the equipment (by men from women), not wiping it down and the noises from the men who go.

Nope, never happened to me.

I do it if someone is doing something that could potentially hurt themselves but that's because I'm qualified, I have had unqualified men correct me but tell them to go away as they are clearly talking crap.

Oh if it's a man I'm giving advice to 9/10 times they tell me they know what they're doing. If it's a woman they'll 9/10 take the advice on board.

@Lunar27 but a random gym goer shouldn't be checking someone's form and going over to them. If worried, they should ask a staff member / PT to approach them. Some people lift poorly and it's painful to see, but also some people adapt their lifts due to issues with their body or mobility. I always hear people saying don't let your knees go past your toes in squats, which simply isn't true. That's why it's best left to qualified individuals rather than random people.

Can anyone link to previous thread?

I had a young male PT once encouraging me to slow down with my single leg squats, I was ok with that tbh.