Page 7 | Asked to move at the gym

CatamaranViper · 2024-03-22T20:16:17+00:00

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?

Iwasafool · 23/03/2024 09:14

CatamaranViper · 22/03/2024 20:48

Ha, I've worked in hospitality for years and honestly, it doesn't shock me anymore. I vividly remember a group taking chairs from a decorated reserved table because "only the table is reserved".

I feel like these people are those people.

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I had one years ago when I bought tickets for me, DH and two kids to a special event. We got there and sat down and a few minutes later a family arrived who had tickets for the same seats, they were going mad and demanding we move, poor young attendant checked the tickets and we were in the right seats but they also had tickets for those seats. To stop the ruckus and out of pity for the attendant we let them have the seats unsure what would happen next. We were escorted to ringside seats sitting with the players families. My kids got taken onto the court and allowed to play with the teams and given team shirts.

I just wished I'd seen their faces when they realised what they missed out on.

NoIamcactusius · 23/03/2024 09:15

iloveeverykindofcat · 23/03/2024 05:45

You were fine, first come first served on the gym machines.

Don't get me started on men who leave their towels on machines they aren't presently using but want to use shortly. One day I'm just going to move the towel.

I would assume someone has left it behind and helpfully hand it in to a staff member.

Brawcolli · 23/03/2024 09:25

Auburngal · 22/03/2024 22:17

Good for you to be able to pluck the courage to go alone sometimes. Its those who are sheep that if one bucks out for reasons I mentioned, the other(s) don't attend.

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Some people have anxiety and find it easier to go to the gym/groups with a friend. That doesn’t make them ‘sheep’ if they don’t want to go alone!

PrimalLass · 23/03/2024 09:25

DutchCowgirl · 22/03/2024 20:51

yanbu, but … my gym has a rule you shouldn’t use one machine longer than half an hour, because otherwise some people occupy machines like poolbeds at a resort. So maybe check if there is such a rule at your place because 40 mins sounds like a long time to me. So last week at my gym i tapped a guy on the shoulder who was already running for 40 minutes and i was waiting for a treadmill. He was annoyed by it , but i believe i was in my right to do so.

I go on the treadmill for 40-45 mins and it's the reason I pay for a gym membership.

curiousasacat · 23/03/2024 09:26

Some people have anxiety and find it easier to go to the gym/groups with a friend. That doesn’t make them ‘sheep’ if they don’t want to go alone!

Thats fine, but you cannot demand people move mid workout so you can be next to your friend. Its rude. The world doesnt revolve around you and your friends. It would cause me anxiety to be hassled mid workout.

pavedwithgoodintentions · 23/03/2024 09:28

SoupChicken · 23/03/2024 06:36

I’ve only had this once at my gym, a man came over to me and said he was using the weights machine I was on, I said ‘well I’m using it now, I’ll tell you when I’m finished’ and he looked astonished that I didn’t give it up for him, but as I’d had time to change all the settings and the grip he couldn’t have been using it or he would’ve seen me. Some people are just rude.

No doubt one of those men who would genuinely 'be surprised' if he walked into a woman who didn't move out of his way whilst out walking.

Iwasafool · 23/03/2024 09:41

pavedwithgoodintentions · 23/03/2024 09:28

No doubt one of those men who would genuinely 'be surprised' if he walked into a woman who didn't move out of his way whilst out walking.

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It's funny how men are somehow getting the blame because two women were being entitled. Some men are entitled, some women are entitled. I don't think the sex matters.

Beautiful3 · 23/03/2024 09:41

You did nothing wrong, you'd started your program and there were others free. You don't ask people to move, so you can exercise next to your bestie?! They sound horrible. You should complain about them.

Boomboxio · 23/03/2024 09:41

GoodOldEmmaNess · 23/03/2024 09:05

Our gym has really changed over the last decade or so. It used to be full of people who were actually, ... you know ... trying to get/keep fit in at least a moderately serious way. Now 50% of members seem to be people who have no real intent to do any proper exercise at all. They stroll on the treadmill using their phones, they come to have their nails done in the salon bit and then flaff around on the machines for a while, or they come to meet their mates and do a bit of low-level moving before they head off to the gym cafe.

I guess the silly woman asking the OP to move was in that category of gym user, and simply had no understanding that if you are pushing yourself it is incredibly disruptive to be expected to stop and hop on to another piece of equipment. You were definitely NOT being unreasonable OP!!

It's a bit narrow minded to assume if someone isn't exercising a certain way (your way) they are not doing 'proper exercise'.

Some people can only exercise gently, especially if they're recovering from injuries or illness etc. Or if they're just starting out.

xSideshowAuntSallyx · 23/03/2024 09:53

GoodOldEmmaNess · 23/03/2024 09:05

Our gym has really changed over the last decade or so. It used to be full of people who were actually, ... you know ... trying to get/keep fit in at least a moderately serious way. Now 50% of members seem to be people who have no real intent to do any proper exercise at all. They stroll on the treadmill using their phones, they come to have their nails done in the salon bit and then flaff around on the machines for a while, or they come to meet their mates and do a bit of low-level moving before they head off to the gym cafe.

I guess the silly woman asking the OP to move was in that category of gym user, and simply had no understanding that if you are pushing yourself it is incredibly disruptive to be expected to stop and hop on to another piece of equipment. You were definitely NOT being unreasonable OP!!

I have my workouts on my phone so flick through it on the treadmill and also make a note of my weights during/after my sets so I'm updating the notes as I go. No different to someone using a notebook, I mean do you have a problem with someone using a notebook too?

And, I 'stroll' on the treadmill to warm up and cool down (and have dodgy knees), I also watch sport on my phone (I have had rugby and Tennis on in the past) whilst I'm working out.

Not everyone who is on their phone is posting on Instagram or not exercising seriously.

Brawcolli · 23/03/2024 09:55

curiousasacat · 23/03/2024 09:26

Some people have anxiety and find it easier to go to the gym/groups with a friend. That doesn’t make them ‘sheep’ if they don’t want to go alone!

Thats fine, but you cannot demand people move mid workout so you can be next to your friend. Its rude. The world doesnt revolve around you and your friends. It would cause me anxiety to be hassled mid workout.

Well aye, obviously!

MagentaRocks · 23/03/2024 09:57

DutchCowgirl · 22/03/2024 20:51

yanbu, but … my gym has a rule you shouldn’t use one machine longer than half an hour, because otherwise some people occupy machines like poolbeds at a resort. So maybe check if there is such a rule at your place because 40 mins sounds like a long time to me. So last week at my gym i tapped a guy on the shoulder who was already running for 40 minutes and i was waiting for a treadmill. He was annoyed by it , but i believe i was in my right to do so.

40 minutes isn’t a long time on a machine, especially cardio. Lots of people do an hour on the treadmill or bike etc. I don’t think that is unreasonable.

Tattletwat · 23/03/2024 10:02

First come first served.

The woman was fair to ask but that's it you said no so that should be end of it.

They are pathetic if they need to be joined at hip, eithier use a the CT apart or find something different they can do together.

Tattletwat · 23/03/2024 10:05

ThursdayTomorrow · 22/03/2024 22:02

You could have moved OP - it would have been the kind thing to do.
I find it sad how people only care about themselves now a days.

How about the idiots who wanted her to move only caring about their selfs.

I find people who want others to be kind aren't that kind thier selves and incredibly selfish.

ElliottFromScrubs · 23/03/2024 10:09

People are ridiculous in the gym.

Its not ok to be “tapping people on the shoulder”
don’t be touching anyone.

also stop taking selfies on the machines when the gym is busy.

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 23/03/2024 10:10

LuciaSoto · 22/03/2024 20:22

not unreasonable, but I would also been really annoyed with the gym staff member, they shouldn’t have even come up and asked you.

Definitely this too, I'd mention it as it's not on from the number of staff. It's not like you're on a long haul flight and a couple/parents and kid have been seated separately and you're politely being asked if you'll change seats.

Oblomov24 · 23/03/2024 10:13

Good grief, absolute cheek!

Iwasafool · 23/03/2024 10:28

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 23/03/2024 10:10

Definitely this too, I'd mention it as it's not on from the number of staff. It's not like you're on a long haul flight and a couple/parents and kid have been seated separately and you're politely being asked if you'll change seats.

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The staff member was dealing with a complaint, he didn't ask the OP to move, he obviously upset entitled woman by telling her that. I can't see what he did wrong.

kalokagathos · 23/03/2024 10:33

YANBU at all- they were

Gettingonmygoat · 23/03/2024 10:36

They were absolutely in the wrong in fact they are a pair of cheeky bitches to even ask you to move.

LakeTiticaca · 23/03/2024 10:39

Good for you. How old were they, 10?
The entitlement of some folk nowadays is off the scale

Crochetablanket · 23/03/2024 10:42

ThursdayTomorrow · 22/03/2024 22:02

You could have moved OP - it would have been the kind thing to do.
I find it sad how people only care about themselves now a days.

No words! I assume this is sarcasm no one can be that much of a people pleaser.
Very well done OP!

Luluissleeping · 23/03/2024 10:59

A bloke once asked me Can I jump on ahead of you?" when I was on a machine. I said I had only just got on it. He waited by the machinr, staring daggers at me, for the full 10 minutes I was on it
Quite intimidating. These days I would not have put up with it. Those that do little exercise, but scroll on their phones irritate me.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 23/03/2024 11:03

This is why I dislike gyms. I almost always get men trying to “show me” stuff, and no way would I move for some women demanding to use what machine I was on. You did nothing wrong OP.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 23/03/2024 11:03

Luluissleeping · 23/03/2024 10:59

A bloke once asked me Can I jump on ahead of you?" when I was on a machine. I said I had only just got on it. He waited by the machinr, staring daggers at me, for the full 10 minutes I was on it
Quite intimidating. These days I would not have put up with it. Those that do little exercise, but scroll on their phones irritate me.

My next words to him would be to “foxtrot Oscar” but those words because then it’s not rude!