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Boyfriend ended relationship after gym misunderstanding with friendly personal trainer

533 replies

Wittypeach · 27/08/2026 23:17

Hi everyone, I really need some outside perspective because I am in shock and questioning myself.
My boyfriend and I have had trust issues and were trying to rebuild. We started going to my gym together. I am 35, and there is a young PT there (around 20) who is just a naturally friendly person. He gives out fist bumps and hugs to regular members. I’ve only ever spoken to him about gym classes, a lost ring, and a minor incident at the gym. It is purely polite, casual small talk.
Today, as we walked into the gym, the PT smiled and walked over to give me a hug. Knowing my boyfriend's jealousy, I immediately backed off, refused the hug, and gave him a fist bump instead, whispering "no". The PT got the message and walked away.
My boyfriend immediately snapped. He told me I could finish my workout but that he was leaving. I followed him out to his car to try and talk to him, but he was having none of it. He ended our relationship right there in the car. He called me a "liar" and a "slag", saying no woman of his should be close enough for a man to feel comfortable hugging her, and insisted something is going on between us.
He then drove me home, made me go inside to get all of his belongings from my house, and drove off. He has now blocked and deleted me on absolutely everything and refuses to speak to me.
I feel completely blindsided, humiliated, and sick to my stomach. I actively tried to stop the hug to respect his boundaries, and now I'm being punished and dumped over it. Am I crazy? Is this reaction normal, or is this extreme control and an excuse to leave? Has anyone experienced a partner completely cutting them off like this?

OP posts:
GreatLimePeer · 31/08/2026 17:54

Be very very careful. A suicide threat is one of the most common things an abusive, male or female, person threatens to do. It only gets worse.

Think about routines. It may very well sound over the top, it isn't. Vary your routine now that the weekend if over. Often an abusive person cannot handle rejection, in fact they never do. So, think about where you will be on your own regularly. Where you exercise, where you regularly grab coffee, etc etc.
You need advice from Refuge and Womens aid. Think about all the behaviours you have experienced. Get locks changed ASAP and put other safety measures in place where you live. Tell other trusted people in your life, but crucially no one that is linked to the other person. Be prepared for him to use other people against you.

NorthernJim · 31/08/2026 22:39

You haven't done anything wrong. But that PT sounds highly unprofessional going round hugging customers like that. Why was he trying to hug you and not hug your boyfriend? Fist bumps are fine.

Gabitule · 31/08/2026 23:50

I hope he won’t come back but, if he does (which is likely), I hope you’ll have the strength not to go back. Thank ALL your lucky stars that it ended now!

Bones101 · 31/08/2026 23:54

He took the trash out.

MrsPerfect12 · 03/09/2026 01:40

Hope all is well and you haven’t taken him back.

Toooldtocare25 · 03/09/2026 07:26

No woman of his?? Ffs higher your standards

FlipStonkDragon · 03/09/2026 08:19

Toooldtocare25 · 03/09/2026 07:26

No woman of his?? Ffs higher your standards

FFS try reading the whole thread.

Toooldtocare25 · 03/09/2026 08:50

FlipStonkDragon · 03/09/2026 08:19

FFS try reading the whole thread.

Ffs I did thanks my comment was about finding someone like that not about the OP. Thanks

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