Woman went ballistic at me in the gym

[JennaR]

My gym had a big refurb recently, all brand new kit etc and it is really nice.

The issue is that there’s now very little ‘free’ space where you can place mats and do work on these.

The only space is directly in front of 3 of the machines (chest press etc) where there is a mirrored wall, there’s room for about 3 people to be working on mats in a row and the machines are about a metre away. This space is intended for mat work and it’s where they are hung up.

Yesterday, I was working out on one of the mats with ear pods in. There was a man using the machine directly behind me.

After being there for about 5 minutes, I noticed a woman walk over to me so took my ear pods out. She started ranting at me saying I was trying to get her boyfriends attention and why was I being so attention seeking by exercising right in front and ‘bending over’.

I quite firmly explained I was using the space as intended. She kept going on and then said I can do what I want because ‘she’ll be the one fucking him tonight’.

The man was silent throughout and once she finished going on, they walked off together.

Another member nearby came up to me and checked I was okay.

I’ve told a couple of people this today with mixed views - one thinks I probably shouldn’t have been there and it’s a stupid design, and the other says the woman was out of order.

Would welcome any views - it’s a hotel gym with regular members and I didn’t recognise them so am hoping they were guests and I won’t see her again.

@JennaR her issues or her issues with her partner are not your problem !
The not so great lay out is an issue though .
However I doubt you will get another person like her bothering you any time soon.

Id complain to the gym manager

Sounds like an awful set up. Id be so uncomfortable doing mat work in front of machines.

Oh my word. That’s awful. You should complain about her. It’s abuse for no valid reason, other than you’re clearly in good shape and/or attractive for her to behave so irrationally!!!

Correct

What on earth is 'engagement farming'?

This.

You should report her. Gyms are full of young, fit bodies, often bending over so anyone who feels insecure is in the wrong place!

Omg, that’s deranged

I am overweight, use the gym, and was about to say the same. I have a husband and wouldn't behave like this if another woman exercised in front of him, because I'm in a healthy and secure marriage, but it sounds like she's projecting some deep issues, here. Something like this comes from an abusive marriage where the husband has gaslighted them into thinking they're 'lucky' to have someone when they are overweight, that other women will want them, add that to her poor self-esteem and you end up with an unhinged, deeply paranoid person.

This does not excuse her behaviour and I would ask the staff to check the cameras so they can be banned from coming back. They'll know the time they entered and whatever information the used to register accessing the gym.

Congrats OP you must have looked hot! And not in the sweaty gym way!

Stupid bitch she is. What else can you do if the gym layout is poor?Forget it she is not worth another thought.

There may well be CCTV cameras in the gym. Please let Reception know what happened.

Congratulations on your great arse!

What a loony

Well, at least you know you're hot!! You triggered her insecurities and her crazy side. She's unreasonable, unhinged and out of line. I would report this though, she needs to learn that this is not acceptable or, even better get kicked out , then hopefully can brush it off as an encounter with another one of life's rich... characters.

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Blimey, yes. I used to go to a hotel health club as a member and there was some properly lunatic behaviour. My favourite was swimming with just one other woman one day and wherever I was in the pool she was virtually on top of me. Eventually I asked her to stay over one side and I'd stay the other. She started shouting that she only got this close because she didn't want people near her

They walk - and swim - amongst us.

As for Little Miss Loony Tunes and her "I'll be the one fucking him tonight", I'd have been tempted to pat Mr Loony Tunes on the head and say "You poor thing, dear. Never mind, chin up!".

And then I'd report her to the management.

So we want great arses to trigger others insecurites or attract sexual attention?

It sounds like a bad design, but you acted in a standard way with no reason to be too concerned.

@JennaR She started ranting at me saying I was trying to get her boyfriends attention and why was I being so attention seeking by exercising right in front and ‘bending over’.

This is so weird.

1. Women do not go to the gym to seek attention from men.
2. Men do not go to the gym to look at women.

Report to the gym. She’s mad.

Not that it should make any difference... but were you bending over in front of him, wriggling your bum and looking back at him suggestively 🤣

I think her reactoon was disgraceful. I also think placing the mats directly in front of the machines making it possible & tempting for men to ogle women doing stretches etc is dreadful.

Wow she needs to work on her own jealousy and trust issues.

Not your problem if she thinks her guy might be checking you out, you did nothing wrong.

Sounds bizarre but this is a possibility. You might just have been an unwitting extra in some weird sex game of theirs.

Or she’s a completely controlling nutter. There are women out there like this.

It might be a bad gym design, but that is really irrelevant here. If she'd moaned you were in the way, then speaking to the staff about mat areas would be the way to go, but that is not the point. It's not ok for her to speak like that. If a man did similar (while his girlfriend stood there silently), you'd report it, and maybe hope she was asked if he was abusive to her.
The fact she's a woman does not make it ok.