To be fed up with machine hoggers at the gym?

[Glindaa]

Every time I go to the gym there are people who sit around on machines for ages between sets , scrolling on their phone or whatever, as if no one else in the gym needs to use that machine. I always get up between sets in case someone else wants to use it or go between machines. I sometimes politely ask if I can do a set while they’re not using it , people usually say something like “ I’ve got two more sets to left to do” occasionally someone will begrudgingly get up looking miffed. On rare occasion someone has been aggressive towards me. My gym aren’t interested in fixing the problem with signage about gym etiquette. WWYD?

I’ve noticed the younger generation don’t like other people working in around them.

I just do something else and wait till they are finished.

This is lucky , wish gym goers at my gym were unselfish like this. I don’t mind the teens or kids as long as they’re not hogging . They do make gym busier though. Mine used to be adults only

How on earth would that work?!

Unfortunately I don’t have time to wait & don’t much care what they like, they need to learn to share the equipment

Agree with all this.

Just find something else to do

This should be the rule
if you want to use your phone you need to get off the equipment!

There's been moans about women spending too long on treadmills on here too though. To that I say ... tough.

Eh? Easy.

You could go online to their website and they could have a list of available times for every machine.

And then just book the time you want to use the machine at.

In my gym they actually have this in place for one machine only.

It is a really fancy advanced machine. I domt know exactly what its called. But its like a treadmill. Except it is enclosed. And it blows cold air on you while you're in it

You have to book a timeslot to use it.

That’s pure selfishness, if they want to do that they need to go at the least busiest time , even so it’s excessive , can’t they run outside if they’re training ?

I lift heavy, like @LittleBigHead , and sometimes need 4/5 mins between sets. That is completely normal if you are doing heavy sets (low reps, high weight) so yes 3 or 5 sets can take 15-25 mins. I sometimes scroll my phone in that time. This isn't all the time, sometimes I do higher volume (10-15 reps) lower weight sets and then only need a minute or two rest.

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/how-to-build-your-own-workout-routine/#step_4_build_your_own_workout Here is just one of multiple sources (including some peer reviewed ones but this is readable) talking about 3-5 minute rest for heavy sets for strentgh and power.

I often work with a gym partner to maximise use of equipment, and would always ask someone if they wanted to work in if appropriate (depends on the set up, how much re-racking etc - obvs pin loaded machines are fine)

I've trained in multiple gyms and have never been to one where you stand aside during your rests, and would find that very confusing about who was on what kit. There often isn't space anyway.

If you are only taking 30 sec rest between sets then you are training something different which is completely fine but it is not necessarily other people who are out of line then.

And yes often it is men who do the heavy lifting because women have traditionally been told it is not for them - but that's rubbish and it is very good for us.

Use the treadmill as long as you want if no one else is waiting to use it.

However I think it's a bit selfish to use the treadmill for two hours when you can see that other women are waiting for one.

I've seen this happen

I understand if you’re on heavy weights that need reracking etc ( I don’t use those so I don’t know about all that ) but the machines it would be so easy to take in turns

I do think gyms need to be better organised.

Like if you go to a spa, you have to book a timelsot, so not too many people are in at the same time.

Gyms let any amount of people in, until they are absolutely crammed with too many people

Use the treadmill as long as you want if no one else is waiting to use it.

I go on for an hour. There's 12 of them. I wouldn't get off though if someone was waiting because their need is not greater than mine and it's why I pay my membership.

I see what you mean on the big weights that need re racking ( I don’t use those so don’t know about it) but on the machines it’s easy to share & those who sit and scroll are being a bit selfish & inconsiderate , especially if they won’t let others do a set if asked
if they need a 4 min break then fine, just get up.

I’m not shy about asking to share the machines if folk are sitting on them scrolling! I’ve actually made gym friends this way - if you ask politely most folk, in my experience, are happy to swap in and out?!

Agree it’s different for squat racks etc

Similar to a PP I tend to train with a partner but possibly we are seen as a nuisance for hogging the rack for longer!!

Disagree with the woman on the treadmill for 2 hours being selfish - sounds like that gym doesn’t have enough treadmills!

In my opinion , I think an hour max is OK. As the other person can go and do something different for an hour. And then come back.

However I've seen people go on treadmills and stay there for 2- 3 hours. It's a bit much.

TBF I've never seen all the treadmills full and I wouldn't go there if I had to wait around for one.

The last time I went to use a treadmill, they were all taken.

I just went and did sit ups and weights and came back in an hour.

I really had to keep my eye on them though, so when someone got off, I ran over straight away

It depends. A couple of mind rest between sets is fine and I don’t like the idea of jumping on between someone's sets with them standing over me.
Whars happened in my gym a few times have been two girls/lads sat on the same machines next to each other having a good old chat between sets. Really selfish when they could take turns on one.
i also hate the dickheads who use several pieces of equipment to superset- like move onto a private gym if this is what you want. The local busy gym is not it for this kind of shit

I also hate being gym shamed.

I feel if I ever go over to use the weights, the rippling male and female bodybuilders look down on me.

My male friend won't go to the gym at all for this reason

My gym is quite a gym bro place so it's the weights that get busy. I'm there plodding away while my daughter lifts.

Yes, totally agree on the pin-loaded machines it is obviously fine to work in and people should let you, and be polite. If I've only got one set left I might say that tho, just because the other person might prefer to wait and take time with settings, seat height etc (I'm short).

If a machine or rig is regularly in use then maybe the balance of the gym kit is wrong? I train in a very strength-focussed gym so people do stay on the squat racks, bench etc for a while but there are several of them and it isn't normally a problem and everyone expects that you might be on for a while for the big compound exercises. I think heavy lifting has become more popular especially among women which is brilliant but maybe the gym management have not updated the kit?

Re gym partner work - I reckon we take slightly longer than one of us would solo but that's both of us done - sometimes someone else will jump in too (small, friendly gym). When we are doing high volume/short rests we go solo as that wouldn't work.

I only have an hour or less if I go to the gym…
I think 30 mins on treadmill if it’s a busy time of day eg weekday lunchtime is fair ,

Oh I wouldn’t be worried about that, everyone has to start somewhere, I am overweight atm but if I was ripped & saw someone out of shape I’d think good on them for getting to the gym!