Mean gym lady made me feel like shit

[TheBlueKoala]

Need help from you women who know how to be bitchy affirm boundaries. I go regularly to a gym and had a little dispute with a woman there my age (40s) and first I need to know if I'm unreasonable. If not then I need help to "tell her off". People pleaser who can only affirm boundaries when it's something to do with my children- for myself I'm completely useless. My two good friends who are very different told me to "tell her to shut the fuck up" and "just go to another room and wait for her to finish". None of those advice appeal to me.

So there are two different places to stretch/do pushups etc. One is fairly small but got a sort of ladder to stretch out your back/legs etc. Normally you always see two People sharing that space. One woman likes to put herself in the middle as to prevent someone else using the space. There is still room but you have to go further to the side which I did. Plenty of room still- she couldn't touch me while stretching all over. So she told me to go to the other room because she was there first. Like a mug I just said sorry and did. I just wanted to do 20 pushups then use the ladder/bar that was there.

I felt so humiliated afterwards that I let her just decide where I should go because she wanted to be on her own. I need something to say that is almost rude but yet dignified and makes her feel eembarrassed for bossing me around. Any advice?

There's normally room for two in here, but guess you need space for your attitude.

Your response.
“ OK cunty chops off you fuck.”
She’ll know you’re an MN’er and not to upset you.
😉.

I'd say oh this is actually a sharing space, and two or 3 people often use it, but don't worry, I'm not doing a long workout and I'll be out of the way soon

I said that if I had turned towards her (which I didn't) and she turned towards me then our feet could have met. There are usually 2 people there but sometimes 3. Any other details you wish to examinate?

Love it!

I wasn't happy to move. And I would prefer to be alone too but since this is a shared space I wouldn't dream of telling anyone to get lost. I feel uncomfortable when there is a man next to me when I stretch out but that doesn't give me the right to tell him to leave because I was there first.

Are the two people who share the space usually friends? I do think there’s a bit of a difference if it’s a workout buddy rather than a stranger.

I wouldn't be rude. The world doesn’t need more people being rude. Just say, ‘ oh Thankyou! I’m fine here! ‘ and carry on doing what you need to do. If she persists, suggests she clarifies things with gym staff. “ confused about the space here? Perhaps ask the staff! “

No not at all. I regularly have someone at the same space even if I'm there first. Thought this was normal since there is space.

OP, I can completely empathise. I too am a people pleaser and I would not have said anything at that time like you. I actually had a client when I used to work in construction who actually pushed me physically in a kitchen and I apologised that went oops! Silly me for standing in your way when you need to get to the kettle I just can’t believe it now when I look back

Personally, I try to avoid people like that. They harsh my mellow!. Life's too short to engage in conflicts with a-holes.

Laughing at this nearly woke my baby up. Love it