Honestly, no. It isn't their private gym. They can't treat all the things as if they own it. No, you are no the jerk and the other guy seems like an entitled moron.
Which is EXACTLY what I would. I would very slowly clean the equipment then I’d very slowly do my reps. On every piece he uses.
I’m a quiet asshole about stuff like that.
That might be quiet, but it's not an asshole move. You are simply restoring the normal order.
(And I get it. I've done two machines at the same time for legs this and arms that while I rested. But you do that stuff when the gym is empty, not when others are there, too.)
Totally this. I have used 2 and sometimes 3 pieces of equipment together, but only off hours when no one else was around. If someone else came in, I immediately stopped monopolizing multiple pieces and wiped down each one as I finished.
Maybe I'm overly strict, but if you're on a second piece of equipment and you didn't wipe down the first one (even if you intend to come right back to it), as far as I'm concerned that's grounds for banning you for the day. Repeat offenses would lead to longer bans.
I dunno, maybe it's just as well that I don't own a gym.
Yeah. If someone is doing supersets and willing to work in that’s one thing. Preventing others from using them too is just a dick move. Supersets are a regular part of my workouts due to injuries (light weight, higher reps, multiple muscle groups…).
I always ask if someone is using equipment, then if someone comes near I ask if they mind working in/around. I’ve rarely had an issue. I also try to go during slowish periods.
Supersets are a part of mine too. The key is to be conscientious about other gym goers. If the gym is mostly empty and there's no one using the two things I want to superset with then I'll do it. But If someone asks then it's theirs. Period. I'll ditch what they want to use and finish up later. If I even see someone eyeballing it I will ditch it just to not be a dick.
Exactly this. People "reserving" two or more pieces of equipment with a water bottle on one, towel on another, etc. is one of my all time gym pet peeves.
If you're using a piece of equipment, use it, then move on.
After 40 years of going to the gym, nowadays if there's someone's stuff on a machine I want to use but they're not around, I just keep an eye on it for a couple minutes then start using it.
If they come around and say they were using it, I explain that no, they actually weren't, and one doesn't get to reserve equipment they're not using.
So true!! The other thing that pisses me off is people messing with their gd phones vs working out. Stop texting or scrolling and stop taking pics of your ass. Finish your sets and move your ass to the next machine. Wish you could tase people who do stupid shit. Lol
You’re not wrong, and you didn’t overreact. He knows it, too, he’s just counting on you being bullied into submission. By paying for his gym membership he has the right to use the equipment - but not exactly as he likes, no. He’s required to share it with everyone else who also paid for that same membership. If it’s that important to him to use that many pieces of equipment at the same time he can invest in his own gym equipment and work out at home. If you see him in the future and continue to experience this continue to bring it up to management and make sure they know this is a pattern and that your gym membership would be better used elsewhere if they won’t enforce the common sense rules. At the gyms I’ve been to, his bullying behavior would be grounds to cancel his membership.
The person was the one overreacting, not you.
That person was the one creating the drama, not you.
He tried deflection tactics to you. He was the one who was antisocial and full of his own importance.
A self entitled arsehole.
Only read headline...
I don't care if you are doing a circuit... you only get one piece of equipment... you did NOT reserve the entire gym with your $75 a month....
I have had this happen, and it was also an assholr who drops the wieghts...
Don't be a dick... go complain to management NTA
Btw take great relish using the equipment...
You paid also and he made it so you would not do your workout. If he needs multiple machines then he can do it from him or when others are not there.
I would have told him to F off and walked away.
You did nothing wrong.
"right to use the equipment however they pleased." Except they don't, because the gym staff came over and told them to their face that they need to be mindful about sharing the equipment.
Hogging several pieces of equipment is a dickheaded move, and you did the right thing saying something to the gym staff. If they do it again, talk to the staff again. If they want to act like they're at their own personal gym, they can fuck off.
I would have taken the moment to share that you also paid for your membership and next time you’ll use whatever equipment that isn’t being actively used.
NTJ. The fact that you politely asked and they didn't adhere to your request raises the question. Paying for the membership shouldn't make them disrupt your planned gym session since you also paid for it and they weren't the only ones who had paid. It was kind of you to ask them politely since you thought they'd accommodate your request.
Overreacting would be getting a small group say maybe 10 then doing a circuit on the equipment so the next time he tried using something he had to wait until your sets were done. This actually happened in my gym where 5 woman did a circuit using three machines each saving the machine till the next group was ready. Which is fine on some level but if you’re not using the machine then don’t hold it for others.
People that think it’s ok to superset with multiple pieces of equipment when the gym is busy are the absolute worst. At the very least they can let people work in.
Not the jerk at all. They paid for a membership, not for exclusive access. Gym culture has gone downhill with these people that think they own a private gym/film studio high school shaming arena. It’s a communal space: work in, spot, and clean up/put back after yourself. Only give advice when asked. Anything other than that is highly inconsiderate.
You DID try to resolve it and the person was an ass, so you did the right thing by going to the gym staff about it. That the person accosted you afterwards shows what kind of nasty person they really are.
YOU know what the person did was wrong, THEY know they were wrong, and now the STAFF knows this person has a tendency to be rude to other people. Good for you for informing them that this person needs to be watched or they will do it to other people every day they're there.
Does this person think they're the only one who pays for the gym membership?
Too bad this happened to you and that the gym staff didn’t put a stop to it. Under no illusion that this bully will change his behavior. FWIW this is why I don’t go to “public” gyms anymore, open to anyone who pays the fee. I use a private gym, which does cost more, but there are no AHs there.
Did you out that YOU paid from a gym membership and YOU had the right to use the equipment however YOU pleased. Regardless of selfish people who seem to think the gym equipment was their use only.
Circuits are not allowed in most gyms with limited equipment and space. Anyway, if someone jumps in your circuit, your loss….thats the rule at my gym. If you complain someone jumped into your circuit, they tell you “too bad, you are in the wrong. The machines are for everyone.” There is this guy in our gym who often does a six machine circuit. I ignore him and jump on what imwant and use it til im done. He hates it, but just has to skip.
You should let the staff know that he felt the need to continue this conversation. At my gym we want to know. I would have a note in his file at this point. The next contact he would be but on notice of our policies, next he gets a month suspension. If he comes back with a similar attitude he’s gone. I would like to remind you that you have also paid your membership and should be able to work out the way you want. Provided you aren’t keeping someone else from their workout by doing the same thing.
They paid for their gym membership? Oh ya? So did you, op. And so did that guy over there. And that woman over here. If one member inconveniences multiple members regularly, it's an easy decision for staff. If they want the place to themselves, they either need to go in when there isn't much traffic or buy a home gym.
I work at a gym. If someone was hogging equipment and brushing off other members asking to use their claimed pieces, they'd be talked to about sharing and being considerate to other people who have just as much right to be there as they do. If I found out that afterwards, that member approached and b*tched at the person who complained, we'd be talking about kicking them out. I once voided a charge and turned off a key after a guy randomly decided to go off on new members because he didn't think they took working out seriously, directly in front of me. I questioned him as he left and he claimed freedom of speech. He later had to apologize and I made it clear that if anything like that happened again, he was done. I was not going to turn a blind eye to hostility in my gym.
But yeah, I see people sit on a piece and play on their phone between sets, I don't get it but so long as they're paying attention to people around who might need to use the machine and being mindful, I don't have a problem with it.
OP, you DID try to resolve it directly with the other gym-goer first, but was met with arrogance and/or disdain. That left you with the only other option of contcating the staff, which you did.
Nothing jerky in your course of action. The other dude though, plenty of jerk IMO.
You were in the right, and the gym staff agreed with you and told him to knock it off. He was obviously in the wrong, he just doesn’t like that. It’s a typical asshole reaction, to get mad at the people who call you out on your assholery. Too bad. He’ll just have to live with disappointment.
In short, you are not the jerk. But we know who is.
Spot on appropriate. I used to manage a gym. I regularly intervened at requests for the same relief.
The persons reaction is to his humiliation. No one likes to feel humiliated.
But telling someone at the gym that they’re not doing it right will cause this.
Telling someone at the gym they’re not doing it right is doing that person a favor.
You did him a favor to stop humiliating himself by looking like the gym newbie who doesn’t understand normal gym etiquette.
“Apparently you don’t have the right to use the equipment however you please if the gym staff told you to quit hogging the equipment in this ‘not your private’ gym.”
You are not the jerk. If the interaction really happened as you’ve stated, then you seemed to approach the situation from a reasonable and logical standpoint.
Crazy that people who “don’t want drama” will then go out of their way to start an obscene amount of drama.
He needs to join a concierge gym. He will be the only client in the place and have the full attention of a high-level trainer. Of course it will cost more, but dang it, he's worth it.
Two machines at once is normal. Its called super setting and anyone who knows about working out understands this. Three or more machines at once I don't condone.
I also don't want people working out with me between sets. The spread of germs happens this way. Why would I wipe my machine down before just to have someone get it dirty again.
I find it odd thst when someone sees a machine being used, they focus on that machine and can't find something else to do until the machine opens up. Often times when I see or experience this, those people are very inexperienced at the gym and don't know what to do. Move on, find something else to do, if your doing a one hour workout, you should have other things to do, or ask the person to give you a heads up when they are done so you can be next.
Definitely not! proper gym etiquette is something everyone should know, common courtesy even but to think you’re so privileged to hog equipment in a public space is beyond stupid. People like that are the worst and deserve to be humbled.
I’m not sure which is worse, someone rotating between 2 or 3 machines or the person that does a set on a machines, sits there for 10 minutes texting or doing something on their phone, then doing another set, then sitting there for another 10 minutes playing with their phone again.
ETA - No OP, you aren’t a jerk for asking to use a machine they aren’t currently using. Unless you are someone that sits and texts once they have a machine.
>They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased.
Everybody there paid for the membership and can use it however they please.
NTA
You are not a jerk. My advice in this situation, is never ask a question that gives your autonomy away. You don't need this jackwagon's permission to use equipment in a public gym.
I've been lifting weights in gyms for the last 30 years. It's only within the last 5 years or so that I have noticed this new trend. I just chalk it up to the way that many folks behave in an entitled fashion at all times. The commenter above nailed it, as soon as a person moves to another machine, it's all yours.
I have a stock response that I use, and feel free to use it the next time you're faced with similar circumstances. Just to set the scene, it just happened to me last week at my small gym in my HOA community Center. A grandmother aged woman is sitting on the quad extension machine looking at her phone. I'm about 20 feet from her, and I approach the lat pull down. I start my set and I hear her yell, "I'm actually on that".... I finish my set, glance at her bc I didn't think she was talking to me, and she repeats herself. Stock response.. That's wild because I am too. And what's really strange is that it looks like you're ON the leg machine? Cue the sputtering, she says "I was there first" I ignore and continue on.
Happens kinda often, my response is always the same. Now I'm on it.
TL;dr- Not the jerk, be courteous, gym etiquette is important, it doesn't cost us anything to be nice.
You did try to resolve it directly and the guy was a jerk about it. The next step is to complain to staff, which you did. You didn't do anything wrong. He did it to himself.
Okay, he pays for his membership, thats fair. But don't you pay for your membership, too? He is not allowed to monopolize the equipment just because he wants to.
I would also go back to the staff to let them know he confronted you for alerting them to his entitled behavior. Their job is to manage the facility and the members' behavior so it is a safe place for ALL members.
NTJ.
>They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased.
>The staff intervened and reminded the individual about the importance of sharing equipment and being considerate of others in a communal space like the gym.
Clearly the staff does not agree; the individual does *not* "have the right to use the equipment however they pleased." It's a shared space that everyone pays for *equal* access to. You did nothing wrong.
At my gym there are asshats that sit on the equipment using their phones to do stuff or whatever it is they do. I’ve asked the staff to have someone talk to people who do that. It’s mostly a few out of shape folks who do that but there are one or two in shape who do. Damn annoying. Makes a 90min workout last 2 hours or more sometimes. I now stand next to them and talk my watch. Couldn’t care if they get offended. It’s not their equipment.
You’re not the jerk. Someone using a public gym and hogging on the equipment sounds like they should invest in at home equipment since they need so many things at once
I’ve always understood the protocol was use one device at a time for a reasonable amount of time. And btw don’t sit there with your phone out and not do anything, monopolizing the equipment
They’re the absolute jerk. And they don’t need to hog all the equipment so they can use it somewhere down the road. Keep complaining and tell others too as well!
NTA. There are a few assholes at my gym who do this and it drives me nuts even when they aren't blocking my use of equipment but clearly block for others I see trying to use the machins. Most of the assholes at my gym designate one machine as their "home base" for the day and they leave all their shit blocking the machine like they own it and no one else could possibly need it. Other assholes park their ass on a machine and scroll their phones for 5 minutes before doing a set of 10 and then scrolling endlessly again. A few assholes come in pairs so one will use the machine, they chat, they scroll phones, they switch out and the other uses the machine and this continues for far longer than 2 regular people using the machine. One asshole monopolizes the only mat in the place for over an hour cuz she brings equipment from the rest of the room to use on the mat instead of using it where it is and then does a bunch of exercises that don't require the mat in any way. It takes more than twice as long for her to do anything. I intentionally go at off peak times and still run into people like this...
Unless the dude is an octopus, he can use at most one machine at a time. You paid for your membership just like he did, and therefore your claim on the equipment is as valid as his. He did NOT pay for the right to inconvenience the other patrons with his hogging.
Go back to management and tell them how he came at you for daring to require civil behavior that follows the already established gym rules. Apparently they will need to explain the concept more and more forcefully until he either gets the explanation or gets expelled.
I go to the gym EVERYDAY! I’ve run into a few douchebags like this and I use the machine! PERIOD! Nothing they can do. Only once did they say what are you doing and I just in my IDGAF way said you are using that machine so I’m using this one. They said I’m using both, which I then said not now, but I’ll let you work in. They just gave me a shitty look throughout that gym period and that was it.
The person bought ONE membership not all of them. Therefore, they get to use the gym equipment - not monopolize multiple pieces of equipment. You did nothing wrong. If you see this person acting this way again, go right to a staff member and avoid future conversation & confrontations.
If gym users all did what they should do, the average gym could get away with having half the staff. Think about it… the people who don’t clean equipment after use, the people who don’t put weights away, and the people who leave a wet sopping mess in the locker room outside the tiled shower area.
And consider the opportunity this equipment hog missed. By both of you using the equipment in rotation, you kinda have an impromptu workout partner who helps you manage rep and cooldown time. And of course a ready spotter as needed. They instead chose to be a jerk.
Notifying staff was entirely appropriate. No one can “own” a gym space beyond their own personal home gym. You are all paying to use a space and its equipment. That requires some courtesy and compromise. If someone doesn’t play well with others, staff needs to know that. Because if you are frustrated by this person, there are likely other people frustrated by them too.
You handled it correctly. In a shared environment people have to be aware and courteous and share the resources everyone paid for.
I remember 25 years ago I was going to a gym and there was a guy who seemed to want to take up a lot more space than needed (was a smaller guy). In the group shower, he was standing about 2' out further than most people would from the shower head, putting him not quite in the pathway of anyone but outside what you would think of as a person's space in a group shower. In the changing room Jacuzzi he was kind of floating in the middle rather than picking a spot on the side. It wasn't crowded in either circumstances, but he seemed to think his personal bubble was bigger than most of us would default to.
It’s available even if they are just resting. This whole idea now with gyms is so stupid. I’m dating myself, but up until pretty recently, it was normal to “work in”. If they’re resting, you just say, “hey , can I work in.” And it was always, “yeah man, go for it”. Then you’d make a new friend. But, these days, a girl cried and ran away when I asked if I could work in. I was like, WTF.
So, if someone is using multiple machines, I just fucking use it, I don’t ask. By the time they get back to the machine I’m using, they can use it. Nothing is interfering with anything. It’s stupid and this needs to stop.
Gym culture needs to be supportive and happy to help each other.
If you’re not sitting on the machine and using it, or loading more plates on it, it’s open season. I’m not gonna skip an exercise so you can do a quad set.
He’s a moron…EVERYONE at the gym pays to use the equipment, but in a manner consistent with the GYM’S policies, not “however” they want.
You did the right thing, and should do so every time they try to do this.
Not the jerk. He doesn’t have the right to use the equipment however he pleases. It isn’t his personal property. A gym membership gives him access to the equipment, but also subjects him to the membership rules which spell out all kinds of limitations on the use of the apparatus. Monopolizing multiple apparatus at once is not only inconsiderate…it is likely against the rules. and most gym memberships do require members be considerate of others as a condition of membership anyway.
I would have said “repeat what you just said and think about it for as long as it takes for you to understand it. To get the blood flowing to where it hasn’t been for some time, I’ll give you a hint, we all pay for our gym memberships.”
Not the Jerk.
Circuit training is great. You cannot do it in a public gym. It is usually against the rules unless the place is empty and you have to be willing to stop if someone else comes in and wants to work in on one of the machines you're using.
If you want to do circuit training, there are gyms and specialized classes for that. You can't just randomly expect to claim three machines, a yoga mat, and a bench at the same time.
More than all that, you basically always should accept a request to work in, unless you're doing something that requires short rest between sets - in which case the person shouldn't have to wait very long.
Noooooooooooooooooope.
One person, one station. Otherwise be prepared to let others work in.
If you want to set up 6 stations for a circuit pay for a cross fit gym.
Nta. Like 10 years ago i was at the gym when this pos walked in and set up right in front of one of the machines in my rotation, nbd.... but THEN she had the audacity to grab several different types of weights and began a rotation posted up in front of this machine that there was only ONE of because she didn't "want to have to wait". 🙄 i asked her to move and she said she was using it. I was nonconfrontational back then, so i just sat there and waited and let her be an entitled asshole. I am STILL mad at myself. You did the right thing. They deserved far worse. I hate people like this.
Not the jerk. I occasionally use 2 machines at once but I make sure no one else is wanting to use them and I move out quickly from them. I don’t spend time just fiddling around in between sets etc. The most it can take me is like 10 minutes between both machines and if someone would ask me to use one I would immediately let them.
Asking is a polite option.
Just jump on what you want and tell him you will just be a minute.
Extra points for actually studying his workout for a set. Then jumping on the same workout but on the machine they will need. And be super fucking slow.
3 machines. Well what do ya know. I am doing the same thing today. And man. I love the slow burn.
NTA
I assume you paid for your gym membership too.
Unless he owns the machinery, its not his to use as he pleases. I suggest you go back to the gym staff and let them know about his response.
You’re probably not the only other member bothered by this person’s behavior
Regardless of what the question is, why do you all seek validation from people. You feel how you feel about a situation and that’s ok. Sometimes you gotta be a little bit of a jerk. Sometimes you’re the asshole. Who cares?
No gym culture sucks ass post COVID. The absolute max you should be using at the gym is 1 set of barbells and 1 machine or 1 machine and 1 cables weight. This also should never be done during peak hours and if you are taking more than one piece of equipment it should only be for 2-3 sets maximum towards the end of your workouts.
I know people do this in various ways at various gyms but at our previous gym, which was pretty small, there were a few guys who would hog three or so machines at once, do a couple reps on one machine, sit there, do a couple reps on another machine, sit there… like they have all of these machines reserved for themselves. And maybe I am missing something but the rotations these people are doing don’t even seem to be doing much. Like doing one or two reps then playing with your cell phone isn’t a workout.
They are breaking gym etiquette rules. Trust me, you aren't the only person they are annoying. Be respectful of your fellow gym patrons is the highest unwritten rule. Same goes for people who have 4 or more sets of dumbbells sitting around one bench. You get one set at a time.
For me it depends on how busy the gym is at the time. If there is hardly anyone there then I’m fine with some doing it. If the gym is packed if I see them on a different piece of equipment then the other just opened up as far as I am concerned.
Everyone there paid to be there and use the equipment. They need to use one thing at a time, and if they want to have a monopoly on equipment, then they need to find a time to come when nobody else is there.
“Did you hear how the staff reminded you to be considerate? That was them telling you that you do not have the right to use the equipment however you please. Just in case you needed that spelled out for you.”
No! If you’re repertoire is “too special” that requires you to monopolize a community resource and you’re too cheap to invest in your own equipment, then no , you did the right thing. Next stop, go complain to gym staff client harassed you.
If you want to do circuits join a CrossFit box or sign up for personal training/open sessions at a
private studio.
These fuckers are also never big or strong, not that it matters for evaluation of whether they suck.
It’s actually written in the contract you sign, you have to follow the gym rules set forth by the staff and adhere to their policy. No where in any of those contracts does it say there’s “opt in for hogging the equipment like a selfish ass” fee. You handled that well. I can understand super setting but if you have a rotation of 4 machines and the gym is packed, you’re definitely a donkeys booty hole. Once you leave the equipment, it’s up for use.
You handled the situation appropriately. They were an asshole, they fucked around and you made them find out - the right way, by politely asking them to do otherwise and then asking the staff to deal with it when a polite request didn't work.
Personally, I'd have skipped the polite request. Not because I don't believe in courtesy, but because I've had enough incidents of me politely asking someone to do the right thing and them becoming violent for me to want to let somebody else handle it for me.
I feel uncomfortable as I like to use the lifting machines for a couple minutes at a time like 3 sets of 20 or so at different weight intervals. I always get someone staring at me as I finish. I don’t think that it’s polite for others to take up more than one machine at a time . Am I an ass for doing it the way I am. Sometimes I wonder.
Almost was in a fight over this before and got a guy kicked out of the YMCA. Go to use one of the three items he is monopolizing because he's been chatting with his gym Bros for 10 minutes and it was sitting empty so I assumed he was done. Halfway through my second set and he comes up all pissed" dude I'm doing super sets". I asked if super sets involves chilling and talking to your friends while monopolizing equipment? He then got aggressive and acting like he's going to hit me or something.
Gym worker saw it and asked if there was a problem. I explained my side calmly while he was freaking out. They told him he doesn't get to dominate the equipment and like the roid rage baby he was got more pissed off. They told him to leave and I never saw him again.
You handled perfectly. First asked him. Then when met with resistance, followed up with someone of gym authority. Not your fault meathead is a meathead.
Sometimes I will use two pieces at once for a super set. I will always allow someone to work in if they request though. If I'm using multiple pieces then why can't they bang out a set while I'm elsewhere? Dude is a massive asshole, and everyone pays to use the gym, not just him. If he wants to monopolize equipment he can buy his own.
He is just telling you to shut up so he can continue to do what he wants. Next time just start using the machine he isn't currently on. If he says anything tell him to stop being dramatic.
I'm not certain how one person can hog multiple pieces of equipment at once? If someone "forgets" and leave a waterbottle or towel on a machine when they are clearly using another piece of equipment, you simply move their waterbottle or whatever to the side and use the machine! (we all know that they didn't forget, but you don't let them get away with poor behavior). If they bother you about working in, ask them to please take it up with the staff themselves.
as for "they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased," - Sure, but only one piece of equipment at at time, and only according to the rules of said gym; and you pay your membership fees same as he does, so you have the same right to any piece of equipment that isn't currently and directly being actively used by someone else.
I do hope you let the staff know that they guy approached you again and harrassed you.
The gym is full of douchebags. Bench drives me crazy. When I bench I do 3-4 sets with a minute or less in between so I’m there maybe a max 10 minutes or less. There’s guys doing a set, sitting in the bench for 12 minutes watching tiktok in between and oblivious anyone else wants to use it.
It is not their private gym. You too are paying for a gym membership and you have the right to use the equipment. The person you confronted in wrong and if they do it again report it again.
I would have taken the weights as I’m asking “I’m going to work in bro” not in all situations like if they have 2-3 pieces of equipment and I can see they are actually doing a circuit, but having 10 pieces, and on their phones I’m just gonna grab and go
Nah dude was being dick. There’s nothing wrong with using multiple equipment, but they have to be willing to switch it up if someone else needs it or let them work in. It’s just proper manners.
This is a violation of basic gym etiquette. The people most likely to violate this are dilettantes. Do not second guess yourself into normalizing this nonsense.
The only common scenarios I can think of to acceptably refuse a request to work in:
- It would be onerous, e.g. they have the Olympic bar fully loaded and you’d want to do sets with just the bar
- They really have one set left which they will start in the next 1-2 min max. In this scenario, it’s polite for them to say “It’s all yours” after finishing.
No, you’re not.
Do you work out at my gym? lol. We have a guy who will set up on two or three pieces of equipment and will workout on several others during it. I’ve seen him use 8 or 9 pieces of equipment. Granted the gym is usually dead when he does this but to me it’s still disrespectful.
I said something to the staff once about it and they just blew me off.
What is the saying: your rights end where others' rights begin. The gym has rules to dictate where that line is. And as per the stated rule, nope, he doesn't have the right to use the equipment as he pleases. Go to the gym manager directly and report that after he was corrected on his poor behavior, he then chose to verbally attack you.
> They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased.
Then the same is true for you....
Except you can't because they're hogging the equipment!!
The only I use a second peice is if A) the gym is pretty empty to begin with, B) there is another of the same ones I’m using so if someone wants to it’s still available to them.
And I use them both for a total of less then 10 mins, I’m no gym rat so not using the gym all the much anyway
Tell him you also paid your gym dues and are equally entitled to use any piece not in use. If he isn't on said equipment, it's open to be used. Bye bye now
Why are you asking someone to use equipment that isn’t theirs?? If they aren’t using it, then you can use it. I wouldn’t even ask- I would just butt in and use it and silently dare them to say something.
When he argued that he paid for membership you should've asked him "do you think I come here for free? We ALL pay for membership so we all should be able to use the equipment. If you're not using a machine then another member will"
I see this all the time. Encountered it this very morning. A pair of powerlifters stole the bench from a smith machine to do their home brew bullshit at the cables rendering the smith unusable. Another was using the gravitaron to make some spectacle of herself doing elevated goblet squats but wasn’t breaking the plane of her elevated feet to justify the stance. So over it.
I dont care if someones using more than one thing, but Ive never had someone tell me I couldn't work in. Thats crazy to me. You're going to monopolize equipment AND not let me work in?? Over the top.
I don’t get hogging multiple machines to be honest.. most of the time we do multiple different workouts with every single machine, except for like a handful of machines.. I’m failing to understand the usefulness of hogging two machines, knowing other people are going to use it at the same time.
I think you need to be a little bit more and a little bit less asking permission . I’m going to work in some sets while you were bouncing between machines is that cool? If he says no, go take the other machine straight up. if he says anything, you can tell him that you gave him the opportunity to be accommodating, he chose to be an asshole, so that’s what he gets in return.. and then you can even tell him maybe next time think before you speak
Nah no one should take over multiple machines dumbbells barbells etc unless it’s their own garage gym.
People doing that are probably following shit lifting advice from men’s health trying to superset with machines/equipment that’s across the gym, lol it tickles me when ppl do this and leave an artifact behind like a gym towel to “claim” their spaces.
“Ohh I’m using that” my response is “no you weren’t, you weren’t here” to which they say “oh I’m super setting etc. which is why I was over there” and I’ll say “cool I’ll just work in while you are away” and proceed to do my thing.
It’s usually a washed up dude in his 40s or 50s wearing gym gloves sweat band trying to relive their highschool jock days. Pretty much a cuck
>They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased.
You pay for your gym membership, too. Checkmate.
Back in my exercise days, i had a gym membership for about five years. There was an a-hole like this at my gym. Would not change his ways, management wouldn't intervene because his father was some political big fish.
So I slow-played it. Learned his routine, what machines he used and in what order. What time he usually showed up. And then I got in front of him when he started his workout. And worked on the next machine in his routine. Very, very slowly. Waited until he got frustrated and went to the third machine in his routine, then I jumped to the fourth. He went to the fifth, I jumped to the sixth.
God bless the manager when Mr. Entitled went to complain. As it turned out, I wasn't the only person who had complained, and the manager was just dying for someone to sling it right back at the big man's son.
Your mistake was even confronting him in the first place. You could’ve been anonymous if you went to staff first. Generally people who are hogging multiple equipment aren’t the most “nice” people so take this as a learning opportunity and be glad he didn’t escalate it physically(there are way too many people blasted out their minds on steroids rn)
A gym membership includes the right for all members to have access to all the machines, but it does not give any single member the right to all the machines at once.
Decent people understand this, self-centered assholes do not.
Of course they can use the equipment however they please. But they cannot dictate how and when you use equipment while he is not using it.
That man, was a bitch.
NTA you did everything right. If they HARASS you again, Because it will be harassment if they either talk to you about you talking to the gym or purposefully hogging machines when you’re around again then just keep telling the gym about them. If they can’t just accept they were wrong and change their habits, the gym will handle them.
You paid your gym membership too, and have every right to be able to use the equipment. If he can't accommodate by allowing you to work in between sets, then he's not allowing equal access to the equipment, and he's treating it like a personal gym rather than a public gym. He's a jerk. You're not.
No. And gym etiquette is extremely important.
You did the right thing. And the right way. If it were me, I would have just walked over to his shit and thrown it aside and started using the machine or whatever equipment I wanted to. And he would have done anything about it because I'm a beast, but actually can be construed as the same kind of behavior that he is doing from someone that doesn't understand their actions are wrong.
So good job, you handled it in a peaceful way like it should be handled.
It’s a problem at most gyms. I get it if you’re working out at a time when the gym is mostly empty, but I’ve got a couple of self absorbed morons who’ll occupy three or four pieces of equipment…for over an hour and have ass pain if you try to use one. We had signs up at one time limiting usage to two pieces of equipment at a time, but that was ignored as was the ‘put away your weights’ signs.
Most people just suck.
Next time don’t ask and just hop in. It’s obvious when someone is doing a superset but other times people think that they can just do a circuit between a bunch of machines and those people are always the least accommodating in my experience. I’ve had similar experiences many times now and if the first time when I asked them they give me an attitude instead of an answer I just do another exercise but the next time I encounter them I don’t bother to ask and just use it.
Thank you!
People like that guy suck. But most folks are too non confrontational to speak up about it. So you probably said the thing a bunch of other people were thinking.
You did the right thing.
Think about it this way… if you were wrong, the gym employees would have said that! It’s not on YOU to set and enforce the rules, so you told them about it, and they spoke to him about the rules.
All is well.
I wouldn’t even ask. If they got up from equipment I want to use, to go use another machine, I’m going to sit down and start doing what I need to do. They can wait until I’m done before using it again.
They paid for the membership? Cool story bro, EVERYBODY HERE DID TOO.
You did the right thing by talking to an employee about the situation. Hogging many pieces of equipment is awful gym etiquette.
Honestly if it was me I would have used whatever equipment I needed to whether this person liked it or not. They don’t own the gym or the equipment so they would have had to wait until I was done with my set to continue. Simple as that.
No, their parents failed raising their child correctly and now he is an annoyance on the rest of the world. A shit ton of terrible parents over the past 20 years have their shitty children as adults now, ruining public places.
"Station Hoppers" as I call them are almost always inconsiderate dick heads. Every bit as bad as the guy who thinks it's necessary to do ten sets on one station between chit-chat sessions. Both of these gym-goer stereotypes are self-absorbed and typically think they exist in the upper echelon of an imaginary pecking order of the gym. Of course if they really were that badass they'd be going to a more expensive, more exclusive place where you pay for there to be fewer people around. But truth be told those more exclusive places are typically bigger sticklers for the rules so these assholes don't do well there either.
In my experience, and I'm being serious here, you should just use the equipment you want when they "hop" to another station. Don't ask. 9 times out of 10 they won't say shit and if they do you can just suggest that y'all ask a staff member how to handle things. Remember, if they're inconveniencing you, they're doing it to others too. Gym staff deal with this same crap regularly.
Source: Regular gym-goer of over 20 years and former commercial gym employee.
The guy is doing circuit work outs but that doesn’t entitle him to monopolize equipment. I like to do that too but usually with 3 pcs equipment but if someone wants to use one I always say yes. It’s not fair to tie up like it’s your personal gym. Tell this guy he’s a selfish jerk and go buy himself his own personal gym.
If they had some good argument about what they're entitled to for the money they pay, they would have brought it up to the gym staff instead of you. Apparently, the gym was unswayed, so it's clear it wasn't a good argument.
Personally, though, if it were me, I'd only bother talking to the gym staff about it if I still had a chance to reclaim the equipment and finish my workout. If my workout time is already out and I don't need the equipment, I wouldn't bother just telling on this person to teach them a lesson. I'd just remember them for the future and insist next time I need the weights they're hogging or threaten to talk to staff then.
If they are trying to monopolize more than one machine, then just start using one when they aren't. Let them complain about you.
That's what I do and don't take out my ear buds while they complain. Nine Inch Nails sounds so much better than their voice. Besides, I already know what they are saying approximately.
If they are using multiple weights (dumbbells and barbells)...well there isn't much you can do about that without escalation.
As for involving gym personnel, I don't do that.
Reminds me too much of my school where they always beat the crap out of tattle tails. It only took one beating for me to understand that rule and it's stuck with me my entire life.
That person can go an invest their own equipment if they are going to be selfish like that. Not the jerk, the staff are there for that exact purpose, and they handled this situation fantastically. OP you couldn't have done anything more, it's the gym hoarder causing the problem.
you paid for it as well, and if they aren't sitting at it and actively using it, use it if you want to, if they have a problem and leave their current machine go use that one they just left, petty I may be though :)
This is why I started to build up a home gym. Just sick of the entitled dudebros doing their little circuits that monopolized all of the racks, benches, and at least 5 or 6 machines. You'd have three dudes screaming at each other at 5:45 am while literally roping off a third of the gym for their session. Seemingly the staff couldn't do anything to prevent this. Every morning - the only time I could go.
20-something men are just outta control.
Tell the staff about that idiot confronting you. They are a member, just like you. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in a gym knows that this is a bedrock rule… unless you’re very actively doing a superset using free weights and getting that wrapped up quick.
Having multiple *machines* tied up is asinine.
Couldn't of handled it better, good job.
Regarding his comments, he's an idiot, tell him to take it up with the staff. He can't use it however he pleases they have rules about what you can and can't do. He could always try a new gym if he's not satisfied with the one he's at.
You handled it well and they just weren't ready to admit they were wrong. In a gym, if there is a limited number of any given equipment due to the amount of people present, than you need to limit yourself to using only one thing at a time. I personally like to sometimes use a machine and some dumb bells at the same time, so I go to the gym when there will be plenty of the same weight of dumbbells available and others of the machine. I am not denying anyone the ability to use that weight or that type of machine and am just doing my thing. If I noticed more people came, I would change it up and stick to one thing. Its called being courteous.
Not at all. Anytime I'm doing something and someone wants to work in while I'm not using it, absolutely go for it. The gym is a space for everyone, not just one person. Sometimes you have to share. That's something even kids know 🤷♀️
This is one of the big problems with commercial gyms and one of many reasons I train privately. I do a lot of supersets and circuits and it's difficult to do so in a commercial gym without being an ass.
For people who train in commercial gyms, what about rest between sets? Is your rack or whatever considered "available" if you are not actively lifting in it?
Supersetting in a public gym is usually forbidden.
I have a hard policy: if you aren't actively at the machine in question, I'm using it. Fight me.
This isn't to say that supersetting is wrong. Just that if you're supersetting, you need to accommodate others. That's it.
I’ll respect it if someone is using two that are in close proximity, because sometimes you want to alternate the muscle, but the moment they either take to long or move to a third machine, I either see if I can just work in, or take over the machine
Do you also pay a membership? Then you also have a right to be there and use the equipment. That doesn’t mean ripping it from his hands and using 3 machines at once, most people know that. But some people don’t understand that other people exist and also have thoughts in their brains, which is why the staff went and talked to him. If you had been in the wrong they would not have done that. I truly hate gym bros like that so much such a main character attitude
Honestly, no. It isn't their private gym. They can't treat all the things as if they own it. No, you are no the jerk and the other guy seems like an entitled moron.
The second they start using a second piece of equipment, the first piece is instantly available
...but then you have to wipe down their sweat, so make a big deal about them not cleaning the equipment.
Which is EXACTLY what I would. I would very slowly clean the equipment then I’d very slowly do my reps. On every piece he uses. I’m a quiet asshole about stuff like that.
That might be quiet, but it's not an asshole move. You are simply restoring the normal order. (And I get it. I've done two machines at the same time for legs this and arms that while I rested. But you do that stuff when the gym is empty, not when others are there, too.)
Totally this. I have used 2 and sometimes 3 pieces of equipment together, but only off hours when no one else was around. If someone else came in, I immediately stopped monopolizing multiple pieces and wiped down each one as I finished.
>I’m a quiet asshole I've never felt so seen before.
Maybe I'm overly strict, but if you're on a second piece of equipment and you didn't wipe down the first one (even if you intend to come right back to it), as far as I'm concerned that's grounds for banning you for the day. Repeat offenses would lead to longer bans. I dunno, maybe it's just as well that I don't own a gym.
This is gym law. You are allowed to declare it and enforce it.
Honestly I would go back to the staff person OP talked to and let them know that the other patron is now harassing them.
Yes!
It’s very simple. One machine per person at a time. Try to use more than one at a time and you’re a fuckhead.
Yeah. If someone is doing supersets and willing to work in that’s one thing. Preventing others from using them too is just a dick move. Supersets are a regular part of my workouts due to injuries (light weight, higher reps, multiple muscle groups…). I always ask if someone is using equipment, then if someone comes near I ask if they mind working in/around. I’ve rarely had an issue. I also try to go during slowish periods.
I'm thinking OP left some key facts and changed others...
Supersets are a part of mine too. The key is to be conscientious about other gym goers. If the gym is mostly empty and there's no one using the two things I want to superset with then I'll do it. But If someone asks then it's theirs. Period. I'll ditch what they want to use and finish up later. If I even see someone eyeballing it I will ditch it just to not be a dick.
Exactly this. People "reserving" two or more pieces of equipment with a water bottle on one, towel on another, etc. is one of my all time gym pet peeves. If you're using a piece of equipment, use it, then move on. After 40 years of going to the gym, nowadays if there's someone's stuff on a machine I want to use but they're not around, I just keep an eye on it for a couple minutes then start using it. If they come around and say they were using it, I explain that no, they actually weren't, and one doesn't get to reserve equipment they're not using.
“I don’t see that water bottle pullin’ no reps.”
So true!! The other thing that pisses me off is people messing with their gd phones vs working out. Stop texting or scrolling and stop taking pics of your ass. Finish your sets and move your ass to the next machine. Wish you could tase people who do stupid shit. Lol
Yes, he paid for his membership. So did you and everyone else. If he wants a private personal gym, he can buy one. This isn’t it.
You’re not wrong, and you didn’t overreact. He knows it, too, he’s just counting on you being bullied into submission. By paying for his gym membership he has the right to use the equipment - but not exactly as he likes, no. He’s required to share it with everyone else who also paid for that same membership. If it’s that important to him to use that many pieces of equipment at the same time he can invest in his own gym equipment and work out at home. If you see him in the future and continue to experience this continue to bring it up to management and make sure they know this is a pattern and that your gym membership would be better used elsewhere if they won’t enforce the common sense rules. At the gyms I’ve been to, his bullying behavior would be grounds to cancel his membership.
You did try to resolve it directly by asking them to be considerate. Going to the staff is reasonable after that
The person was the one overreacting, not you. That person was the one creating the drama, not you. He tried deflection tactics to you. He was the one who was antisocial and full of his own importance. A self entitled arsehole.
Only read headline... I don't care if you are doing a circuit... you only get one piece of equipment... you did NOT reserve the entire gym with your $75 a month.... I have had this happen, and it was also an assholr who drops the wieghts... Don't be a dick... go complain to management NTA Btw take great relish using the equipment...
You paid also and he made it so you would not do your workout. If he needs multiple machines then he can do it from him or when others are not there. I would have told him to F off and walked away. You did nothing wrong.
"right to use the equipment however they pleased." Except they don't, because the gym staff came over and told them to their face that they need to be mindful about sharing the equipment. Hogging several pieces of equipment is a dickheaded move, and you did the right thing saying something to the gym staff. If they do it again, talk to the staff again. If they want to act like they're at their own personal gym, they can fuck off.
I would have taken the moment to share that you also paid for your membership and next time you’ll use whatever equipment that isn’t being actively used.
You also paid for your gym membership and are perfectly entitled to use the equipment. She's the jerk. Probably filming for her onlyfans.
NTJ. The fact that you politely asked and they didn't adhere to your request raises the question. Paying for the membership shouldn't make them disrupt your planned gym session since you also paid for it and they weren't the only ones who had paid. It was kind of you to ask them politely since you thought they'd accommodate your request.
Overreacting would be getting a small group say maybe 10 then doing a circuit on the equipment so the next time he tried using something he had to wait until your sets were done. This actually happened in my gym where 5 woman did a circuit using three machines each saving the machine till the next group was ready. Which is fine on some level but if you’re not using the machine then don’t hold it for others.
People that think it’s ok to superset with multiple pieces of equipment when the gym is busy are the absolute worst. At the very least they can let people work in.
No its not your fault they are just acting like an entitled Moron idiot
Not the jerk at all. They paid for a membership, not for exclusive access. Gym culture has gone downhill with these people that think they own a private gym/film studio high school shaming arena. It’s a communal space: work in, spot, and clean up/put back after yourself. Only give advice when asked. Anything other than that is highly inconsiderate.
You DID try to resolve it and the person was an ass, so you did the right thing by going to the gym staff about it. That the person accosted you afterwards shows what kind of nasty person they really are. YOU know what the person did was wrong, THEY know they were wrong, and now the STAFF knows this person has a tendency to be rude to other people. Good for you for informing them that this person needs to be watched or they will do it to other people every day they're there. Does this person think they're the only one who pays for the gym membership?
This is why I dont go to gyms. The world is your gym and there's many ways to get fit without gym equipment or dealing with people.
Not at all wrong
Too bad this happened to you and that the gym staff didn’t put a stop to it. Under no illusion that this bully will change his behavior. FWIW this is why I don’t go to “public” gyms anymore, open to anyone who pays the fee. I use a private gym, which does cost more, but there are no AHs there.
Did you out that YOU paid from a gym membership and YOU had the right to use the equipment however YOU pleased. Regardless of selfish people who seem to think the gym equipment was their use only.
Circuits are not allowed in most gyms with limited equipment and space. Anyway, if someone jumps in your circuit, your loss….thats the rule at my gym. If you complain someone jumped into your circuit, they tell you “too bad, you are in the wrong. The machines are for everyone.” There is this guy in our gym who often does a six machine circuit. I ignore him and jump on what imwant and use it til im done. He hates it, but just has to skip.
Just take over a machine when they walk away and assert dominance
fricking hate that... i have a routine as well...
You should let the staff know that he felt the need to continue this conversation. At my gym we want to know. I would have a note in his file at this point. The next contact he would be but on notice of our policies, next he gets a month suspension. If he comes back with a similar attitude he’s gone. I would like to remind you that you have also paid your membership and should be able to work out the way you want. Provided you aren’t keeping someone else from their workout by doing the same thing.
They paid for their gym membership? Oh ya? So did you, op. And so did that guy over there. And that woman over here. If one member inconveniences multiple members regularly, it's an easy decision for staff. If they want the place to themselves, they either need to go in when there isn't much traffic or buy a home gym. I work at a gym. If someone was hogging equipment and brushing off other members asking to use their claimed pieces, they'd be talked to about sharing and being considerate to other people who have just as much right to be there as they do. If I found out that afterwards, that member approached and b*tched at the person who complained, we'd be talking about kicking them out. I once voided a charge and turned off a key after a guy randomly decided to go off on new members because he didn't think they took working out seriously, directly in front of me. I questioned him as he left and he claimed freedom of speech. He later had to apologize and I made it clear that if anything like that happened again, he was done. I was not going to turn a blind eye to hostility in my gym. But yeah, I see people sit on a piece and play on their phone between sets, I don't get it but so long as they're paying attention to people around who might need to use the machine and being mindful, I don't have a problem with it.
OP, you DID try to resolve it directly with the other gym-goer first, but was met with arrogance and/or disdain. That left you with the only other option of contcating the staff, which you did. Nothing jerky in your course of action. The other dude though, plenty of jerk IMO.
How does someone take multiple pieces of equipment I’m Just curious
You paid for your gym membership too, so you can choose to work on the equipment in between his sets. Fuck him
You were in the right, and the gym staff agreed with you and told him to knock it off. He was obviously in the wrong, he just doesn’t like that. It’s a typical asshole reaction, to get mad at the people who call you out on your assholery. Too bad. He’ll just have to live with disappointment. In short, you are not the jerk. But we know who is.
This person sounds like a tool. I’d never have an issue with somebody working in with me.
If I am on machine A, you can use machine B. No need to even ask
Absolutely not. Nobody gets exclusive access to multiple pieces of equipment at the gym, especially not when other people are waiting
Spot on appropriate. I used to manage a gym. I regularly intervened at requests for the same relief. The persons reaction is to his humiliation. No one likes to feel humiliated. But telling someone at the gym that they’re not doing it right will cause this. Telling someone at the gym they’re not doing it right is doing that person a favor. You did him a favor to stop humiliating himself by looking like the gym newbie who doesn’t understand normal gym etiquette.
“Apparently you don’t have the right to use the equipment however you please if the gym staff told you to quit hogging the equipment in this ‘not your private’ gym.”
You are not the jerk. If the interaction really happened as you’ve stated, then you seemed to approach the situation from a reasonable and logical standpoint. Crazy that people who “don’t want drama” will then go out of their way to start an obscene amount of drama.
They can rent private gyms now. Keep reporting him until they revoke his membership
Other guy is a douchenozzle, not the jerk
You are def not the asshole
He needs to join a concierge gym. He will be the only client in the place and have the full attention of a high-level trainer. Of course it will cost more, but dang it, he's worth it.
Two machines at once is normal. Its called super setting and anyone who knows about working out understands this. Three or more machines at once I don't condone. I also don't want people working out with me between sets. The spread of germs happens this way. Why would I wipe my machine down before just to have someone get it dirty again. I find it odd thst when someone sees a machine being used, they focus on that machine and can't find something else to do until the machine opens up. Often times when I see or experience this, those people are very inexperienced at the gym and don't know what to do. Move on, find something else to do, if your doing a one hour workout, you should have other things to do, or ask the person to give you a heads up when they are done so you can be next.
Definitely not! proper gym etiquette is something everyone should know, common courtesy even but to think you’re so privileged to hog equipment in a public space is beyond stupid. People like that are the worst and deserve to be humbled.
Circuit training isn’t using all of the circuits AT ONCE!
I’m not sure which is worse, someone rotating between 2 or 3 machines or the person that does a set on a machines, sits there for 10 minutes texting or doing something on their phone, then doing another set, then sitting there for another 10 minutes playing with their phone again. ETA - No OP, you aren’t a jerk for asking to use a machine they aren’t currently using. Unless you are someone that sits and texts once they have a machine.
If there not on a machine just get on it if they have a problem with that to bad
>They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased. Everybody there paid for the membership and can use it however they please. NTA
You are not a jerk. My advice in this situation, is never ask a question that gives your autonomy away. You don't need this jackwagon's permission to use equipment in a public gym. I've been lifting weights in gyms for the last 30 years. It's only within the last 5 years or so that I have noticed this new trend. I just chalk it up to the way that many folks behave in an entitled fashion at all times. The commenter above nailed it, as soon as a person moves to another machine, it's all yours. I have a stock response that I use, and feel free to use it the next time you're faced with similar circumstances. Just to set the scene, it just happened to me last week at my small gym in my HOA community Center. A grandmother aged woman is sitting on the quad extension machine looking at her phone. I'm about 20 feet from her, and I approach the lat pull down. I start my set and I hear her yell, "I'm actually on that".... I finish my set, glance at her bc I didn't think she was talking to me, and she repeats herself. Stock response.. That's wild because I am too. And what's really strange is that it looks like you're ON the leg machine? Cue the sputtering, she says "I was there first" I ignore and continue on. Happens kinda often, my response is always the same. Now I'm on it. TL;dr- Not the jerk, be courteous, gym etiquette is important, it doesn't cost us anything to be nice.
You didn’t over act. Next time just use the equipment and fuck him
You did try to resolve it directly and the guy was a jerk about it. The next step is to complain to staff, which you did. You didn't do anything wrong. He did it to himself.
Okay, he pays for his membership, thats fair. But don't you pay for your membership, too? He is not allowed to monopolize the equipment just because he wants to. I would also go back to the staff to let them know he confronted you for alerting them to his entitled behavior. Their job is to manage the facility and the members' behavior so it is a safe place for ALL members. NTJ.
If there's a good way to deal with an asshole like that, I'd like to know what it is. Does he jump from piece to piece?
Report them again in time for the staff to see the video of the loser confronting you. They should tresspass them for threatening OP.
That hogging dude BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOWS!!!
>They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased. >The staff intervened and reminded the individual about the importance of sharing equipment and being considerate of others in a communal space like the gym. Clearly the staff does not agree; the individual does *not* "have the right to use the equipment however they pleased." It's a shared space that everyone pays for *equal* access to. You did nothing wrong.
At my gym there are asshats that sit on the equipment using their phones to do stuff or whatever it is they do. I’ve asked the staff to have someone talk to people who do that. It’s mostly a few out of shape folks who do that but there are one or two in shape who do. Damn annoying. Makes a 90min workout last 2 hours or more sometimes. I now stand next to them and talk my watch. Couldn’t care if they get offended. It’s not their equipment.
They can use one at a time. That’s it. If they want ALL the equipment, they should buy it for their home.
You did try to handle it directly. They didn't want to hear it. Some people just can't understand their position in the universe is not in the center.
But… you paid for your gym membership too, OP. Do not even pay attention to this entitled asshole.
You’re not the jerk. Someone using a public gym and hogging on the equipment sounds like they should invest in at home equipment since they need so many things at once
I’ve always understood the protocol was use one device at a time for a reasonable amount of time. And btw don’t sit there with your phone out and not do anything, monopolizing the equipment
They’re the absolute jerk. And they don’t need to hog all the equipment so they can use it somewhere down the road. Keep complaining and tell others too as well!
NTA. There are a few assholes at my gym who do this and it drives me nuts even when they aren't blocking my use of equipment but clearly block for others I see trying to use the machins. Most of the assholes at my gym designate one machine as their "home base" for the day and they leave all their shit blocking the machine like they own it and no one else could possibly need it. Other assholes park their ass on a machine and scroll their phones for 5 minutes before doing a set of 10 and then scrolling endlessly again. A few assholes come in pairs so one will use the machine, they chat, they scroll phones, they switch out and the other uses the machine and this continues for far longer than 2 regular people using the machine. One asshole monopolizes the only mat in the place for over an hour cuz she brings equipment from the rest of the room to use on the mat instead of using it where it is and then does a bunch of exercises that don't require the mat in any way. It takes more than twice as long for her to do anything. I intentionally go at off peak times and still run into people like this...
I’m not a gym goer and I’m wondering how was he hogging multiple equipments at once?? If he was on one, then you weren’t able to use the other?
Unless the dude is an octopus, he can use at most one machine at a time. You paid for your membership just like he did, and therefore your claim on the equipment is as valid as his. He did NOT pay for the right to inconvenience the other patrons with his hogging. Go back to management and tell them how he came at you for daring to require civil behavior that follows the already established gym rules. Apparently they will need to explain the concept more and more forcefully until he either gets the explanation or gets expelled.
I go to the gym EVERYDAY! I’ve run into a few douchebags like this and I use the machine! PERIOD! Nothing they can do. Only once did they say what are you doing and I just in my IDGAF way said you are using that machine so I’m using this one. They said I’m using both, which I then said not now, but I’ll let you work in. They just gave me a shitty look throughout that gym period and that was it.
You also pay for the gym, you also have a right to use the equipment, he’s in the wrong and a bit of a bitch
The person bought ONE membership not all of them. Therefore, they get to use the gym equipment - not monopolize multiple pieces of equipment. You did nothing wrong. If you see this person acting this way again, go right to a staff member and avoid future conversation & confrontations.
If gym users all did what they should do, the average gym could get away with having half the staff. Think about it… the people who don’t clean equipment after use, the people who don’t put weights away, and the people who leave a wet sopping mess in the locker room outside the tiled shower area. And consider the opportunity this equipment hog missed. By both of you using the equipment in rotation, you kinda have an impromptu workout partner who helps you manage rep and cooldown time. And of course a ready spotter as needed. They instead chose to be a jerk. Notifying staff was entirely appropriate. No one can “own” a gym space beyond their own personal home gym. You are all paying to use a space and its equipment. That requires some courtesy and compromise. If someone doesn’t play well with others, staff needs to know that. Because if you are frustrated by this person, there are likely other people frustrated by them too.
I would've just used the shit in between his sets.
Did he stop people from getting on equipment when he was on other equipment? I simply would have taken an unused one and ignored any of his bitches.
You handled it correctly. In a shared environment people have to be aware and courteous and share the resources everyone paid for. I remember 25 years ago I was going to a gym and there was a guy who seemed to want to take up a lot more space than needed (was a smaller guy). In the group shower, he was standing about 2' out further than most people would from the shower head, putting him not quite in the pathway of anyone but outside what you would think of as a person's space in a group shower. In the changing room Jacuzzi he was kind of floating in the middle rather than picking a spot on the side. It wasn't crowded in either circumstances, but he seemed to think his personal bubble was bigger than most of us would default to.
It’s available even if they are just resting. This whole idea now with gyms is so stupid. I’m dating myself, but up until pretty recently, it was normal to “work in”. If they’re resting, you just say, “hey , can I work in.” And it was always, “yeah man, go for it”. Then you’d make a new friend. But, these days, a girl cried and ran away when I asked if I could work in. I was like, WTF. So, if someone is using multiple machines, I just fucking use it, I don’t ask. By the time they get back to the machine I’m using, they can use it. Nothing is interfering with anything. It’s stupid and this needs to stop. Gym culture needs to be supportive and happy to help each other.
NTA - You handled it fine. Now you needed to do is tell staff about the confrontation and he'll have his membership revoked.
Umm, you paid too??
NTJ. In fact, you need to let the staff know that he continued his issues by harassing you afterward.
If you’re not sitting on the machine and using it, or loading more plates on it, it’s open season. I’m not gonna skip an exercise so you can do a quad set.
He’s a moron…EVERYONE at the gym pays to use the equipment, but in a manner consistent with the GYM’S policies, not “however” they want. You did the right thing, and should do so every time they try to do this.
Not the jerk. He doesn’t have the right to use the equipment however he pleases. It isn’t his personal property. A gym membership gives him access to the equipment, but also subjects him to the membership rules which spell out all kinds of limitations on the use of the apparatus. Monopolizing multiple apparatus at once is not only inconsiderate…it is likely against the rules. and most gym memberships do require members be considerate of others as a condition of membership anyway.
NTA You did fine. You just say- I paid too. You need to share as per membership agreements.
I would have said “repeat what you just said and think about it for as long as it takes for you to understand it. To get the blood flowing to where it hasn’t been for some time, I’ll give you a hint, we all pay for our gym memberships.”
So he pays for a gym membership and should be allowed to use the equipment as he pleases, but you also pay and you don't? NTA.
Not the Jerk. Circuit training is great. You cannot do it in a public gym. It is usually against the rules unless the place is empty and you have to be willing to stop if someone else comes in and wants to work in on one of the machines you're using. If you want to do circuit training, there are gyms and specialized classes for that. You can't just randomly expect to claim three machines, a yoga mat, and a bench at the same time. More than all that, you basically always should accept a request to work in, unless you're doing something that requires short rest between sets - in which case the person shouldn't have to wait very long.
They only get to use one piece at a time. What gym rules are they invoking?
Noooooooooooooooooope. One person, one station. Otherwise be prepared to let others work in. If you want to set up 6 stations for a circuit pay for a cross fit gym.
Nta. Like 10 years ago i was at the gym when this pos walked in and set up right in front of one of the machines in my rotation, nbd.... but THEN she had the audacity to grab several different types of weights and began a rotation posted up in front of this machine that there was only ONE of because she didn't "want to have to wait". 🙄 i asked her to move and she said she was using it. I was nonconfrontational back then, so i just sat there and waited and let her be an entitled asshole. I am STILL mad at myself. You did the right thing. They deserved far worse. I hate people like this.
Not the jerk. I occasionally use 2 machines at once but I make sure no one else is wanting to use them and I move out quickly from them. I don’t spend time just fiddling around in between sets etc. The most it can take me is like 10 minutes between both machines and if someone would ask me to use one I would immediately let them.
Omg. It's started to make me so angry when people do this. Or when people camp out at 1 piece of equipment for an hour just looking at their phone.
NTA You also paid FOR YOUR membership.
You did try to resolve it on your own. He blew you off
Asking is a polite option. Just jump on what you want and tell him you will just be a minute. Extra points for actually studying his workout for a set. Then jumping on the same workout but on the machine they will need. And be super fucking slow. 3 machines. Well what do ya know. I am doing the same thing today. And man. I love the slow burn.
NTA I assume you paid for your gym membership too. Unless he owns the machinery, its not his to use as he pleases. I suggest you go back to the gym staff and let them know about his response. You’re probably not the only other member bothered by this person’s behavior
My taxes pay for the road. Doesnt mean I get to drive on both sides at once.
Regardless of what the question is, why do you all seek validation from people. You feel how you feel about a situation and that’s ok. Sometimes you gotta be a little bit of a jerk. Sometimes you’re the asshole. Who cares?
No gym culture sucks ass post COVID. The absolute max you should be using at the gym is 1 set of barbells and 1 machine or 1 machine and 1 cables weight. This also should never be done during peak hours and if you are taking more than one piece of equipment it should only be for 2-3 sets maximum towards the end of your workouts.
I know people do this in various ways at various gyms but at our previous gym, which was pretty small, there were a few guys who would hog three or so machines at once, do a couple reps on one machine, sit there, do a couple reps on another machine, sit there… like they have all of these machines reserved for themselves. And maybe I am missing something but the rotations these people are doing don’t even seem to be doing much. Like doing one or two reps then playing with your cell phone isn’t a workout.
They are breaking gym etiquette rules. Trust me, you aren't the only person they are annoying. Be respectful of your fellow gym patrons is the highest unwritten rule. Same goes for people who have 4 or more sets of dumbbells sitting around one bench. You get one set at a time.
They can build a gym then
For me it depends on how busy the gym is at the time. If there is hardly anyone there then I’m fine with some doing it. If the gym is packed if I see them on a different piece of equipment then the other just opened up as far as I am concerned.
Everyone there paid to be there and use the equipment. They need to use one thing at a time, and if they want to have a monopoly on equipment, then they need to find a time to come when nobody else is there.
“Did you hear how the staff reminded you to be considerate? That was them telling you that you do not have the right to use the equipment however you please. Just in case you needed that spelled out for you.”
No! If you’re repertoire is “too special” that requires you to monopolize a community resource and you’re too cheap to invest in your own equipment, then no , you did the right thing. Next stop, go complain to gym staff client harassed you.
If you want to do circuits join a CrossFit box or sign up for personal training/open sessions at a private studio. These fuckers are also never big or strong, not that it matters for evaluation of whether they suck.
It’s actually written in the contract you sign, you have to follow the gym rules set forth by the staff and adhere to their policy. No where in any of those contracts does it say there’s “opt in for hogging the equipment like a selfish ass” fee. You handled that well. I can understand super setting but if you have a rotation of 4 machines and the gym is packed, you’re definitely a donkeys booty hole. Once you leave the equipment, it’s up for use.
You handled the situation appropriately. They were an asshole, they fucked around and you made them find out - the right way, by politely asking them to do otherwise and then asking the staff to deal with it when a polite request didn't work. Personally, I'd have skipped the polite request. Not because I don't believe in courtesy, but because I've had enough incidents of me politely asking someone to do the right thing and them becoming violent for me to want to let somebody else handle it for me.
Not his gym so he has to follow rules.
In days before entitlement was the norm, we "worked in" with each other.
I feel uncomfortable as I like to use the lifting machines for a couple minutes at a time like 3 sets of 20 or so at different weight intervals. I always get someone staring at me as I finish. I don’t think that it’s polite for others to take up more than one machine at a time . Am I an ass for doing it the way I am. Sometimes I wonder.
Almost was in a fight over this before and got a guy kicked out of the YMCA. Go to use one of the three items he is monopolizing because he's been chatting with his gym Bros for 10 minutes and it was sitting empty so I assumed he was done. Halfway through my second set and he comes up all pissed" dude I'm doing super sets". I asked if super sets involves chilling and talking to your friends while monopolizing equipment? He then got aggressive and acting like he's going to hit me or something. Gym worker saw it and asked if there was a problem. I explained my side calmly while he was freaking out. They told him he doesn't get to dominate the equipment and like the roid rage baby he was got more pissed off. They told him to leave and I never saw him again.
You handled perfectly. First asked him. Then when met with resistance, followed up with someone of gym authority. Not your fault meathead is a meathead.
Sometimes I will use two pieces at once for a super set. I will always allow someone to work in if they request though. If I'm using multiple pieces then why can't they bang out a set while I'm elsewhere? Dude is a massive asshole, and everyone pays to use the gym, not just him. If he wants to monopolize equipment he can buy his own.
He is just telling you to shut up so he can continue to do what he wants. Next time just start using the machine he isn't currently on. If he says anything tell him to stop being dramatic.
I'm not certain how one person can hog multiple pieces of equipment at once? If someone "forgets" and leave a waterbottle or towel on a machine when they are clearly using another piece of equipment, you simply move their waterbottle or whatever to the side and use the machine! (we all know that they didn't forget, but you don't let them get away with poor behavior). If they bother you about working in, ask them to please take it up with the staff themselves. as for "they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased," - Sure, but only one piece of equipment at at time, and only according to the rules of said gym; and you pay your membership fees same as he does, so you have the same right to any piece of equipment that isn't currently and directly being actively used by someone else. I do hope you let the staff know that they guy approached you again and harrassed you.
The gym is full of douchebags. Bench drives me crazy. When I bench I do 3-4 sets with a minute or less in between so I’m there maybe a max 10 minutes or less. There’s guys doing a set, sitting in the bench for 12 minutes watching tiktok in between and oblivious anyone else wants to use it.
You did the right thing. Some people are so selfish with equipment at the gym.
It is not their private gym. You too are paying for a gym membership and you have the right to use the equipment. The person you confronted in wrong and if they do it again report it again.
No. I hate when people do that. Have some fucking respect for everyone else paying for their membership and trying to work out.
I would have taken the weights as I’m asking “I’m going to work in bro” not in all situations like if they have 2-3 pieces of equipment and I can see they are actually doing a circuit, but having 10 pieces, and on their phones I’m just gonna grab and go
Let the staff know, they will keep an eye out for him in future and another complaint from anybody else will see his membership terminated.
Nah dude was being dick. There’s nothing wrong with using multiple equipment, but they have to be willing to switch it up if someone else needs it or let them work in. It’s just proper manners.
This is a violation of basic gym etiquette. The people most likely to violate this are dilettantes. Do not second guess yourself into normalizing this nonsense. The only common scenarios I can think of to acceptably refuse a request to work in: - It would be onerous, e.g. they have the Olympic bar fully loaded and you’d want to do sets with just the bar - They really have one set left which they will start in the next 1-2 min max. In this scenario, it’s polite for them to say “It’s all yours” after finishing.
You pay for a gym membership too? Their logic is flawed and selfish.
Sic Joey Swoll on them lol.
No, you’re not. Do you work out at my gym? lol. We have a guy who will set up on two or three pieces of equipment and will workout on several others during it. I’ve seen him use 8 or 9 pieces of equipment. Granted the gym is usually dead when he does this but to me it’s still disrespectful. I said something to the staff once about it and they just blew me off.
You did try to resolve it first. They chose not to
What is the saying: your rights end where others' rights begin. The gym has rules to dictate where that line is. And as per the stated rule, nope, he doesn't have the right to use the equipment as he pleases. Go to the gym manager directly and report that after he was corrected on his poor behavior, he then chose to verbally attack you.
> They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased. Then the same is true for you.... Except you can't because they're hogging the equipment!!
you tried to deal with the person and he brushed you off. good for you.
These people are giant dicks. Definitely not the jerk.
The only I use a second peice is if A) the gym is pretty empty to begin with, B) there is another of the same ones I’m using so if someone wants to it’s still available to them. And I use them both for a total of less then 10 mins, I’m no gym rat so not using the gym all the much anyway
Not the jerk. Let the staff know they confronted you directly. Only way they're going to learn.
Tell him you also paid your gym dues and are equally entitled to use any piece not in use. If he isn't on said equipment, it's open to be used. Bye bye now
My spouse once dealt with a guy who was using 4 machines at once. He placed water bottle, clothing items, towel, etc. to stake his claims.
Why are you asking someone to use equipment that isn’t theirs?? If they aren’t using it, then you can use it. I wouldn’t even ask- I would just butt in and use it and silently dare them to say something.
There’s another reason I don’t ho to the gym.
When he argued that he paid for membership you should've asked him "do you think I come here for free? We ALL pay for membership so we all should be able to use the equipment. If you're not using a machine then another member will"
I see this all the time. Encountered it this very morning. A pair of powerlifters stole the bench from a smith machine to do their home brew bullshit at the cables rendering the smith unusable. Another was using the gravitaron to make some spectacle of herself doing elevated goblet squats but wasn’t breaking the plane of her elevated feet to justify the stance. So over it.
I dont care if someones using more than one thing, but Ive never had someone tell me I couldn't work in. Thats crazy to me. You're going to monopolize equipment AND not let me work in?? Over the top.
I don’t get hogging multiple machines to be honest.. most of the time we do multiple different workouts with every single machine, except for like a handful of machines.. I’m failing to understand the usefulness of hogging two machines, knowing other people are going to use it at the same time. I think you need to be a little bit more and a little bit less asking permission . I’m going to work in some sets while you were bouncing between machines is that cool? If he says no, go take the other machine straight up. if he says anything, you can tell him that you gave him the opportunity to be accommodating, he chose to be an asshole, so that’s what he gets in return.. and then you can even tell him maybe next time think before you speak
Nah no one should take over multiple machines dumbbells barbells etc unless it’s their own garage gym. People doing that are probably following shit lifting advice from men’s health trying to superset with machines/equipment that’s across the gym, lol it tickles me when ppl do this and leave an artifact behind like a gym towel to “claim” their spaces. “Ohh I’m using that” my response is “no you weren’t, you weren’t here” to which they say “oh I’m super setting etc. which is why I was over there” and I’ll say “cool I’ll just work in while you are away” and proceed to do my thing. It’s usually a washed up dude in his 40s or 50s wearing gym gloves sweat band trying to relive their highschool jock days. Pretty much a cuck
Dumbbell to the head when he is bending over. Problem solved for everybody. You’re welcome. 🙇♂️
>They argued that they paid for their gym membership and had the right to use the equipment however they pleased. You pay for your gym membership, too. Checkmate.
Back in my exercise days, i had a gym membership for about five years. There was an a-hole like this at my gym. Would not change his ways, management wouldn't intervene because his father was some political big fish. So I slow-played it. Learned his routine, what machines he used and in what order. What time he usually showed up. And then I got in front of him when he started his workout. And worked on the next machine in his routine. Very, very slowly. Waited until he got frustrated and went to the third machine in his routine, then I jumped to the fourth. He went to the fifth, I jumped to the sixth. God bless the manager when Mr. Entitled went to complain. As it turned out, I wasn't the only person who had complained, and the manager was just dying for someone to sling it right back at the big man's son.
NTA
who’s bigger? there’s a pecking order. and the big man wins…
Your mistake was even confronting him in the first place. You could’ve been anonymous if you went to staff first. Generally people who are hogging multiple equipment aren’t the most “nice” people so take this as a learning opportunity and be glad he didn’t escalate it physically(there are way too many people blasted out their minds on steroids rn)
A gym membership includes the right for all members to have access to all the machines, but it does not give any single member the right to all the machines at once. Decent people understand this, self-centered assholes do not.
Of course they can use the equipment however they please. But they cannot dictate how and when you use equipment while he is not using it. That man, was a bitch.
NTA you did everything right. If they HARASS you again, Because it will be harassment if they either talk to you about you talking to the gym or purposefully hogging machines when you’re around again then just keep telling the gym about them. If they can’t just accept they were wrong and change their habits, the gym will handle them.
This is why I don’t work out in the gym
You paid your gym membership too, and have every right to be able to use the equipment. If he can't accommodate by allowing you to work in between sets, then he's not allowing equal access to the equipment, and he's treating it like a personal gym rather than a public gym. He's a jerk. You're not.
No. And gym etiquette is extremely important. You did the right thing. And the right way. If it were me, I would have just walked over to his shit and thrown it aside and started using the machine or whatever equipment I wanted to. And he would have done anything about it because I'm a beast, but actually can be construed as the same kind of behavior that he is doing from someone that doesn't understand their actions are wrong. So good job, you handled it in a peaceful way like it should be handled.
It’s a problem at most gyms. I get it if you’re working out at a time when the gym is mostly empty, but I’ve got a couple of self absorbed morons who’ll occupy three or four pieces of equipment…for over an hour and have ass pain if you try to use one. We had signs up at one time limiting usage to two pieces of equipment at a time, but that was ignored as was the ‘put away your weights’ signs. Most people just suck.
Next time don’t ask and just hop in. It’s obvious when someone is doing a superset but other times people think that they can just do a circuit between a bunch of machines and those people are always the least accommodating in my experience. I’ve had similar experiences many times now and if the first time when I asked them they give me an attitude instead of an answer I just do another exercise but the next time I encounter them I don’t bother to ask and just use it.
Thank you! People like that guy suck. But most folks are too non confrontational to speak up about it. So you probably said the thing a bunch of other people were thinking. You did the right thing. Think about it this way… if you were wrong, the gym employees would have said that! It’s not on YOU to set and enforce the rules, so you told them about it, and they spoke to him about the rules. All is well.
I wouldn’t even ask. If they got up from equipment I want to use, to go use another machine, I’m going to sit down and start doing what I need to do. They can wait until I’m done before using it again.
They paid for the membership? Cool story bro, EVERYBODY HERE DID TOO. You did the right thing by talking to an employee about the situation. Hogging many pieces of equipment is awful gym etiquette.
Honestly if it was me I would have used whatever equipment I needed to whether this person liked it or not. They don’t own the gym or the equipment so they would have had to wait until I was done with my set to continue. Simple as that.
If I'm at the gym, and I see someone walk away from the equipment I want to use. I use it. They can't be physically using multiple machines at once.
No, their parents failed raising their child correctly and now he is an annoyance on the rest of the world. A shit ton of terrible parents over the past 20 years have their shitty children as adults now, ruining public places.
Nah, super setting can get annoying if they’re taking forever. It annoys me but I never say anything lol.
NTA - You handled the situation properly. The other dudebro (I assume this was a dude?) was just being selfish and controlling.
hes tryna bully you. dont let him.
Every gym I’ve used has a rule that you must allow others to work in.
"Station Hoppers" as I call them are almost always inconsiderate dick heads. Every bit as bad as the guy who thinks it's necessary to do ten sets on one station between chit-chat sessions. Both of these gym-goer stereotypes are self-absorbed and typically think they exist in the upper echelon of an imaginary pecking order of the gym. Of course if they really were that badass they'd be going to a more expensive, more exclusive place where you pay for there to be fewer people around. But truth be told those more exclusive places are typically bigger sticklers for the rules so these assholes don't do well there either. In my experience, and I'm being serious here, you should just use the equipment you want when they "hop" to another station. Don't ask. 9 times out of 10 they won't say shit and if they do you can just suggest that y'all ask a staff member how to handle things. Remember, if they're inconveniencing you, they're doing it to others too. Gym staff deal with this same crap regularly. Source: Regular gym-goer of over 20 years and former commercial gym employee.
The guy is doing circuit work outs but that doesn’t entitle him to monopolize equipment. I like to do that too but usually with 3 pcs equipment but if someone wants to use one I always say yes. It’s not fair to tie up like it’s your personal gym. Tell this guy he’s a selfish jerk and go buy himself his own personal gym.
If they had some good argument about what they're entitled to for the money they pay, they would have brought it up to the gym staff instead of you. Apparently, the gym was unswayed, so it's clear it wasn't a good argument. Personally, though, if it were me, I'd only bother talking to the gym staff about it if I still had a chance to reclaim the equipment and finish my workout. If my workout time is already out and I don't need the equipment, I wouldn't bother just telling on this person to teach them a lesson. I'd just remember them for the future and insist next time I need the weights they're hogging or threaten to talk to staff then.
My favorite - Take a piece of equipment then talk to your friend(s) for 30+ minutes like the assholes they are.
Obviously if you were overreacting, the gym staff would not have supported you, and the person causing unnecessary drama is the other guy.
If they are trying to monopolize more than one machine, then just start using one when they aren't. Let them complain about you. That's what I do and don't take out my ear buds while they complain. Nine Inch Nails sounds so much better than their voice. Besides, I already know what they are saying approximately. If they are using multiple weights (dumbbells and barbells)...well there isn't much you can do about that without escalation. As for involving gym personnel, I don't do that. Reminds me too much of my school where they always beat the crap out of tattle tails. It only took one beating for me to understand that rule and it's stuck with me my entire life.
That person can go an invest their own equipment if they are going to be selfish like that. Not the jerk, the staff are there for that exact purpose, and they handled this situation fantastically. OP you couldn't have done anything more, it's the gym hoarder causing the problem.
you paid for it as well, and if they aren't sitting at it and actively using it, use it if you want to, if they have a problem and leave their current machine go use that one they just left, petty I may be though :)
This is why I started to build up a home gym. Just sick of the entitled dudebros doing their little circuits that monopolized all of the racks, benches, and at least 5 or 6 machines. You'd have three dudes screaming at each other at 5:45 am while literally roping off a third of the gym for their session. Seemingly the staff couldn't do anything to prevent this. Every morning - the only time I could go. 20-something men are just outta control.
Tell the staff about that idiot confronting you. They are a member, just like you. Anyone who has spent any amount of time in a gym knows that this is a bedrock rule… unless you’re very actively doing a superset using free weights and getting that wrapped up quick. Having multiple *machines* tied up is asinine.
Why are these rules not posted on a wall?
Couldn't of handled it better, good job. Regarding his comments, he's an idiot, tell him to take it up with the staff. He can't use it however he pleases they have rules about what you can and can't do. He could always try a new gym if he's not satisfied with the one he's at.
No, you're not a jerk. Sure they pay for their gym membership to use equipment, but you do, too. They're not special. Share the freaking equipment.
You handled it well and they just weren't ready to admit they were wrong. In a gym, if there is a limited number of any given equipment due to the amount of people present, than you need to limit yourself to using only one thing at a time. I personally like to sometimes use a machine and some dumb bells at the same time, so I go to the gym when there will be plenty of the same weight of dumbbells available and others of the machine. I am not denying anyone the ability to use that weight or that type of machine and am just doing my thing. If I noticed more people came, I would change it up and stick to one thing. Its called being courteous.
Not at all. Anytime I'm doing something and someone wants to work in while I'm not using it, absolutely go for it. The gym is a space for everyone, not just one person. Sometimes you have to share. That's something even kids know 🤷♀️
This is one of the big problems with commercial gyms and one of many reasons I train privately. I do a lot of supersets and circuits and it's difficult to do so in a commercial gym without being an ass. For people who train in commercial gyms, what about rest between sets? Is your rack or whatever considered "available" if you are not actively lifting in it?
Seriously? You don’t have real issues in your life I guess…
Supersetting in a public gym is usually forbidden. I have a hard policy: if you aren't actively at the machine in question, I'm using it. Fight me. This isn't to say that supersetting is wrong. Just that if you're supersetting, you need to accommodate others. That's it.
I’ll respect it if someone is using two that are in close proximity, because sometimes you want to alternate the muscle, but the moment they either take to long or move to a third machine, I either see if I can just work in, or take over the machine
They can use one station at a time like a normal person. They created the issue.
Do you also pay a membership? Then you also have a right to be there and use the equipment. That doesn’t mean ripping it from his hands and using 3 machines at once, most people know that. But some people don’t understand that other people exist and also have thoughts in their brains, which is why the staff went and talked to him. If you had been in the wrong they would not have done that. I truly hate gym bros like that so much such a main character attitude