Asked to move at the gym

[CatamaranViper]

Firstly, the way our gym is laid out, you walk in and all the cardio equipment is either side of you, facing the walls. The equipment is all in pairs so it goes two treadmills, two rowing machines, two cross trainers, two bikes, two treadmills etc on each side.
When I came in, all CTs were free so I hopped on one. I usually do a 40 min program which is customised on my profile. All the cardio equipment has a big screen and you can watch netflix etc if you want. I usually do watch something.

So I was on the CT with my headphones in, facing the wall and about 10 mins into my workout. A lady taps me on the shoulder which made me jump and asks me to move machine. I gestured to the one next to me (I was a bit out of breath) and told her that it was free. She then told me that her and her friend like to do it side by side so I'd need to move for them. I was only 10 mins into my workout and I was quite settled where I was and she was rude. I said no, I'll be 30 mins or so, you can use it then.

One of the other pairs of CTs had a bloke on one so there weren't any two free together, but plenty other equipment was available and in pairs.

She demanded I move again and I just put my headphones back in. A few mins later a staff member comes over and asks how long I'll be. The screens shows I have about 25 mins left now, he sees this and off he goes. Next thing I hear a bang and one of the ladies has stormed out the gym. The other one is glaring at me and saying something I can't hear.

I mean, I could have moved to another CT but i always find it difficult if I stop and start again on those machines and there were other free CTs, just not two together. I don't think I did anything wrong but thought I'd ask on here. So WIBU to stay on my machine?

Nah. I'm always the first person to say compromise.

Sometimes gyms put up notices saying "20min max" on treadmills. And unless you go at a quiet time, you should abide by the notices.

However, we all work out routines for ourselves. Without routines, we don't stick to work outs in gyms.

Sounds more like a bossy objectionable person - especially if you could direct her to a same/similar piece of equipment they wanted to use.

Her main objective was working out in tandem with a friend - not just working out.

You just need to work out what is reasonable time on a piece of equipment, at what time of day, with what amount of people using the gym.

Because going to the gym is downtime to de-stress and feel better - not having confrontations.

In my experience, if they can hold a conversation during their cardio, they're not working hard enough 😂

She was an entitled twat.

So glad you didn't move op.

I couldn't imagine this happening at my gym...its bonkers!

How old were they, five?

Hogging the machine? WTAF? You pay for your membership to use the machines. You get there first, you can use the machine for as long as you damn well want. Some people need a good kicking. Why are you any less important than other members? I’m very glad you didn’t move despite the fact that your session was ruined.

TBF, 40 mins on a piece of cardio equipment is absolutely reasonable imo.

Like I've said before, the programme was created for me by the staff at the gym after my consultation. They wouldn't give me a pre-set 40 min cross trainer programme if I wasn't allowed on for 40 minutes.

I exclusively go to the gym when it's less than half full because I don't like going when it's busy and I may not be able to do what I want to do. Our booking app shows you how many people are booked in at any one time.

There are no signs, no rules, no written anything about length of time on certain equipment. There are staff members who will remove items from claimed equipment if they think someone is taking the mick, they will intervene if people are arguing over things, they are quite strict on stopping people hogging equipment. They'll help you pick other equipment if you can't get on the thing you want to achieve the same goals.

I don't really think that age has much to do with it.

That makes no sense at all. 😂

It would also have been a kind thing for the 2 women to leave OP alone. Those 2 women only cared about themselves.

So what you are saying is that OP should have been kind and got out of the way…….so OPs workout takes second place to the 2 women. OP was there first but should move for others and be at the gym for longer despite the women arriving after.

Arseholes and clique gyms drive the hell into me.
YANBU....

YANBU and they were very weird and totally bad gym etiquette. It's one thing to ask someone if they're still using a machine if it's the only one and you've watched them just sit on it looking at their phone for 20 minutes rather than using it, but your machine was obviously in use!

I don't think it's the staff member's fault, from what it sounds like they probably went over and said to him "this woman's been hogging the machine for ages and not doing anything" so he came over, saw the display with the time left (and you clearly using it) and went to tell them so. Hence the storming out by Miss Drama Queen

She wasn't unreasonable to ask initially, but you also weren't unreasonable to stay put. She was the AH for being rude and making a big scene though. YANBU.

Utterly unreasonable of them to have even asked - & to have asked the instructor to get involved is completely ridiculous. They should’ve done something else & waited their turn like civilised adults - not acted like childish brats!!

First come first served etc. Cheeky to ask the staff member

I wouldn’t have moved midway through my programme. It’s unreasonable of them to even ask and put you in an awkward position.

Yes, isn't it?

This made me think of the time I went to a yoga class for the first time and innocently put my mat down next to a woman, who said 'My friend usually goes there.'
I'm older and uglier now and like to think I'd just tell her to grow up, we're not at school any more, but at the time (to my regret now) I stuttered Britishly and snatched up my mat and scuttled off somewhere else.

So no, you're not U. I don't know why grown people do this shit.

There was zero harm in what I initially said. If nothing else, my post encouraged a bit more empathy and consideration for people at the gym.

I shared I think there are a fair few (“many people”) at the gym struggling with mental health. This, as I explained later, was based on the fact I know many people who battle to go to the gym despite how positive it is for for their mental health.

“unsubstantiated” Eh like the majority of viewpoints on here ( a discussion forum!) I hardly have to present peer reviewed research to back something like that up. But I do have my reasons for believing this, which I’ve outlined clearly.

Someone had questioned why I thought that and I replied, but there was no obvious or justifiable reason for you joining in with sneery mocking comments and you didn’t even refute my point.

And btw you have some nerve to call my post pointless when your initial contribution to the conversation was literally just a post that said this “😀” 😂

So yeah I’m glad to hear I won’t be getting any more of your unpleasant miserable responses that serve no good purpose 😀

You were right to stand your ground.

Well done.

Don't feel bad, the 2 other women were pushing their luck.

That is ridiculous for adults to have a tantrum because they can’t be right next to each other in the gym.

pedalling

There’s always one 🙄😂

Asking in a gym like that is inconsiderate. Like said previously it interrupts your flow and you have to move all your things.

They sound so entitled. I’m glad you didn’t move. I’d have felt so uncomfortable dealing with that.

Absolutely not unreasonable!! In fact she was bang out of order and and incredibly childish. People are effin nuts 😳

incredibly rude to be interrupting someones work out, especially when they have headphones in - its clear they are busy.

The odd time I've offered to move to let friends exercise side by side if I am not really started my workout yet but not once I'm into it and it would always be rude to ask.