I'm not an unassuming person normally but perimenopause has left me quite depleted in navigating social situations like this . I think because my job is quite stressful and requires a lot of emotional intelligence, i have no capacity left in my personal life.
There's a woman at my gym who is a bit of a bully. She is very overfamiliar with the staff too and kind of takes over. My gym is a small weird private one in the annexe of a golf conference centre. There's often only one member of staff on, they are all quite young trainers and are often a bit absent. She'll do things like ask for a squeeze of body lotion, or to borrow deodrant, things that you can't really say no to, if people do try and say no, she takes their reason apart so they have no excuses left. She will go behind the reception desk, and answer the phone if the staff are not there and then give them a message. She sits in the gym a lot doing loud facteimes or calls.
What I need help with is how to phrase my refusals for her ro borrow my stuff/share a locker etc etc.
I know mumsnet says just say no and repeat it, but she will go on and on.
The way the gym is managed is by the golf centre manager. I know people have reported things before but the manager is not always on shift, so a complaint would be reported, and a few days later a printed sign would go in the gym which she ignores anyway. She definitely targets people, there are a group of women in their 70s who come to a swimming club each morning and she never bullies them.
What are phrases I can say? Friend at work said I could say 'no sorry, I don't share my things" which I think could work as it makes the emphasis on me being the one with the issue (not sharing) anyone dealt with a similar person? FYI she is not homeless or anything like that and needs support. She is also quite physically dominant (female boxer)