WTF?! (Annoying gym behavior)

This was in a recent post in someone's workout journal:
 
Some dip **** was wanting to do BB wrist curls in the power rack
 
Got me to thinking this might be an amusing, and actually useful, subject for a thread.
 
There's the standard gym fare:
*  not unloading a bar
*  not putting plates, collars, dumbbells, etc. back in their place
*  not wiping your sweat off of a machine
*  being unnecessarily noisy with grunts, screams, cheers, banging plates, dropping dumbbells
*  using foul language
 
But what are some peculiar behaviors that are annoying and have you saying, "What are they thinking?" or worse?
 
For me:
*  doing your 10 minute stretching routine under the cable rack
*  finishing your set and then hanging out on the machine as you BS with your buddies
*  using a machine you are not using as your coat rack and countertop (drink, keys, phone, towel)
*  using the preacher bench for twenty sets of one arm curls, taking, no exaggeration, twenty minutes
 
 
Now I'm sure I'm as guilty as the next guy for annoying other people at the gym.  Perhaps if we list what annoys us, each of us will know how to behave next time.  "Can't we all just get along?"
 
Any doozies you can think of?

I spend 80% of my time in the power rack, and I'm sure that annoys people, and causes them to talk about me behind my back.  F*** em though!

Personal trainers that have people curling and dumbell bench pressing on the swiss ball on their first day annoy me to no end.  I just wanna go over to the trainer and smack him in the face, and tell him to make his client get his a** over to the squat rack.

"True genius, in many fields of human endeavor, is often revealed in elegant simplicity."

- A smart man

Journal: http://www.wannabebigforums.com/showthread.php?t=117358

 I get soo pissed when some douche is curling in the squat rack and im trying to get in there for something important because the other one is also taken.

LMAO, two days I saw this kid, absolutely no muscle on him, hes walking around with ILS (invisible lat syndrom) arms spread way out to either side, headphones blasting in either ear.  Hes got this pissed off steroid look on his face and a belt so tight his intestines had to be pressing up against his heart.  Loads 2 plates onto the leg press machine and gets on (with his belt for leg press) and pumps out 5 reps, screaming as loud as he can while pressing each one up.  I was about to do a heavy set of deads but I had to stop because I couldnt stop laughing and couldnt get ready for the set.

So then yesterday me and my one partner went in and I was telling him about this kid, and what do you know he walks in and hes standing at the front desk so I pointed him out to my friend, hoping he might be as entertaining as the previous day.  He comes out of the locker room picks up and 2 10lb dumbells and then checks himself out in the mirror for literally 5 minutes turning his face to either side and raising his eyebrows like hes the sexiest POS alive.  Then he starts leaning back (and im not making this up) and kind of humping towards the rack still eyebrows up like hes having sex while looking at himself.  We were benching and neither of us could do a set cause we were so weak.

working on explosive phase
vertical: 35
weight: 206

Big 3: 300/440/515

Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

Bri,
   I too am madly in love w/power rack.  I hang out there.  I do try to look over my shoulder every so often and see if anyone looks like they're waiting.  If so, I offer to let them work in.  Sometimes if I've got more than one exercise on the machine and someone is waiting, I'll just do one exercise and come back later for the other.

RS,
    Lmao!  That is CHOICE!  I'd be trying to be there whenever that guy was there for the entertainment!  Probably would have a tough time getting anything accomplished though!  I think that one's gonna be tough to beat!  :)

What's wrong with curling in the rack? ;)

I've done curling in the rack a few times, only because of convenience as the bar is inside the rack.

vdk_au


What's wrong with curling in the rack? ;)

I've done curling in the rack a few times, only because of convenience as the bar is inside the rack.

I only have one power rack in my gym.  Today I did a set of barbell shrugs on it.  But if it looked like someone needed it for squats I'd let him have the power rack and I'd just load a bar on the floor.  I think developing a repution as a nice guy (not a pushover however) gets you nicer treatment down the road.

I would probably do that too, if you read in the other post I made in out of bounds, this guy was being a total jackass so yea, he didn't deserve the rack =)

Oh so many stories where to begin. My favourite was the day this guy took off his top went over to the smith machine to do bench press and got his girlfriend (I presume) to take photos of him topless, whilst pausing at the top and bottom of his range of motion, this went on for a good 5 minutes.          


Something that really annoys me is the fact the instructors at my gym know nothing and are potential going to cause injuries to newbies. One instructor, who is their specialist on olympic lifts, was demonstrating the deadlift to a guy and his own technique is terrible, I saw him trying to deadlift 185Kg one day when he is only able for 130 tops with good form, his back was as rounded as it could get and then he jerked the weight of the ground, my back hurt just looking at him.

Blocker,
   I have to admit I like the staff at my gym.  They don't always have the answers but they're nice and always seem to have safety and sanity in mind.  Many of them have paid me compliments which has meant the world to me.  When they orient newbies to the equipment, they are thorough and use light weights.  They ask questions about the newbie's health, problems, and training history.  There's not a lot of personal training going on in my gym, but when it happens, again they focus on form.  Good.
   Sometimes a group of guys will come in the gym and one will be the "expert."  It's his job to show the others the ropes and how strong he his.  Oy vay!
 
   The girlfriend photographing shirtless guy is too funny!  "Work it, baby, work it!  Make love to the camera!"  Ha!  ;)

Well this is not related to the work out area.... but It still counts as being in the gym....

I don't get it when dudes just roam around butt naked in the locker room... I mean, I do understand that you have to in your birth suit while changing and that's fine.... but having a 5 minute phone conversation, while sitting butt naked on the bench is a bit odd to me. At least throw a towel on!

Stingray


Well this is not related to the work out area.... but It still counts as being in the gym....

I don't get it when dudes just roam around butt naked in the locker room... I mean, I do understand that you have to in your birth suit while changing and that's fine.... but having a 5 minute phone conversation, while sitting butt naked on the bench is a bit odd to me. At least throw a towel on!

Perhaps they're lookin' for a little action.  ;)
 
Seriously, in my gym sometimes guys will be naked in the sauna and not even put a towel down.  Gross!
 
Also we have two sets of locker rooms:  Adult and Family.  I don't know why, but old guys sometimes use the family locker room (with no kids with them) and have no clothes on.  Freaks the kids out.

Well at school I love every kid that is doing like 115 on squats going half way down, then tells me 2 things, 1 i'm using to much weight I could hurt myself (which I am not using alot of weight at all tbh never put more than 2 45's on there at school yet) and that I am going to low and could hurt myself.
Also I loved watching this 1 kid who is pretty beast I gotta admit, incoming freshman, 5' 10 210 lb. middle linebacker, try and get 205, he took the lift off and the bar just went straight down lol, took 3 people to get it off of him haha. There is alot of stuff that is fun watching the high school kids do can't think of anything else atm though.

Goals by end of 2009:
Bench 205
Squat 255 ATG
Squat Clean 185

"There is no elevator to success, you must take the stairs."

I remember I saw these two couples in the stretching area, and then the guy is like doing some sort of stretching, while lying on his back. His girl then just sits on him, and then kinda rides him like a horse. It was kinda entertaining, lol.

vdk_au


I remember I saw these two couples in the stretching area, and then the guy is like doing some sort of stretching, while lying on his back. His girl then just sits on him, and then kinda rides him like a horse. It was kinda entertaining, lol.

Once there was this guy and girlfriend.  He was really built (looked great) and she looked pretty fit too.  He would train her on how to do an exercise and then do his own thing.  He was doing this loud shadowboxing thing.  Then he'd jump on and off a bench making a lot of noise.  It was annoying.  Then I was doing presses and having a tough time getting the last rep up (I could have made it) and he comes over and just starts spotting me.  He'd say, "Come on, get another one.  Okay, one more."  At first I thought he was rude and then I thought he was cool.  Later I tapped him on the shoulder (he had his iPod blasting) and asked him a question, saying, "You look like you'd be able to help me with this."  He helped me out.  Sometimes you never know until you get to know someone!  :)

Jane


-Growling. and exsessive yelling and screaming. yeah and its the guys that do this I start to laugh I get distracted.
-Staring. Yes I know I am a female. I understand that sometimes I am the only female in there more often than not.  I check guys out too. I will watch them lift because I am looking at their form, technique, etc. Staring I hate...I am covered up and I look like a$$...I just hate the staring. The staring does not happen often,...I would sy 1-2 times a week where it actually creeps me out 
-I guess other stuff does not bother me as much as it did before.

Well I haven't had the honor of the full out stare.  I guess I've got quite a bit of work to do for that!  ;)  (I'm working on that "gorgeous" compliment from you, Jane!)  But I enjoy the little peeks at me.  I do the same to both the ladies and the guys (no homo!).  An exchange of smiles as I pass by a girl is heaven on a stick! 

somethin that annoys me is when some1 is just finished their exercise, and then they look over at you, look u up and down, then smirk as if to say, ya u so couldnt lift that.
in my gym, sum ppl that do this are complete tanks so thats understandable, but the other half that do it are only at the same level or lower than me. like that annoys me so much that i have to use all my self control not to walk over, throw another plate on each side of the bar he was using, and go do the exact same exercise lol

After a few months: 

Weight: 177lbs

6 reps 
Deadlift: 300lbs
Squat: 240lbs
Bench: on hold. Rotator cuff injury 

There are all kinds of threads like this on other bodybuilding websites; suprised it took so long for one of these to get started here.

Anyway I was feeling a little sick so i went in the dry sauna and there was a naked guy in there doing all kinds of stretches, huffing and puffing and listening to some really crappy music turned really loud. Nontheless i lasted about 30 seconds before I was out of there.

PumaKrieg


There are all kinds of threads like this on other bodybuilding websites; suprised it took so long for one of these to get started here.

Anyway I was feeling a little sick so i went in the dry sauna and there was a naked guy in there doing all kinds of stretches, huffing and puffing and listening to some really crappy music turned really loud. Nontheless i lasted about 30 seconds before I was out of there.

Of course there's the guy who puts two ladles of water on the rocks without asking.  Then I have to do the old "stop, drop, and roll" to avoid burning my ears and lungs.  :(

gmcdrum


somethin that annoys me is when some1 is just finished their exercise, and then they look over at you, look u up and down, then smirk as if to say, ya u so couldnt lift that.
in my gym, sum ppl that do this are complete tanks so thats understandable, but the other half that do it are only at the same level or lower than me. like that annoys me so much that i have to use all my self control not to walk over, throw another plate on each side of the bar he was using, and go do the exact same exercise lol

Most of the guys at my gym aren't that direct about it, but a lot of the high school and college jocks would come in in their tank tops and just take over, struttin' around like they were the hottest thing around.  They thought they owned the place.  It was as if I wasn't even there.  On a lot of lifts, they lift a lot more than me.  As I've said in other threads, I got so pissed off (and childish) that I started wearing tank tops myself which seems to have put them in their place.  I realize a lot of guys want the strength more than the look, but I honestly think they are amazed at how developed I am without using a lot of weight.  Perhaps they're thinkin' "Roids".  I also hope it pisses them off when the good looking ladies from my Pilates and yoga classes talk to me.  So they see me with my yoga mat, or my 3 boys in tow, and I wonder what they're thinking!  ;)  Let's see if you look this good at 45, punk!  (On the inside!)  ;)

There are many things that annoy me, some you have already mentioned...
 
But how about when there is someone supersetting exercises and for some reason he believes this means both machines are his and you cannot use it until he is through.... why can´t people learn to allow people to train in while they are either resting or in another machine..
 
Hate when girls go to the gym and all they do is talk, among each other or on the phone, sorry, not trying to be sexist,  I know there are some guys who think the gym is a social spot as well, but in my situation there are more ladies that do this than guys.  Hate it even more when this is done while they are on a machine I would like to use and since they are talking, an excercise that would normally be done in 5 mins tops, takes them about 20.
 
Definetely bothers me when the "experts" try to correct people and they have an even worse form or in my gym when the trainer is next to a person who is totally getting set up for an injury due to form and they do not correct them.
 
Just as you mention with the rack, I feel the same, if I´m using it for overhead presses or something else rather than squat, I´m more than nice enough to take a bar to the floor and allow people to do their stuff but when that kindness is not returned it kills me.

Here's one that pisses me off:

"Sweepstakes" displays at local restaurants claiming "Sign up now for a chance to win a free membership."

Of course, the fine print says free two-week membership.  Go ahead.  Fill one out.  I'll bet you any sum of money you'll "win".  Who do they think they're fooling?

As for things that annoy me once I'm in the gym, that's easy:

Everyone bigger than me.

My home away from DBB

Lightning5,
   The supersetting thing hits home with me.  But I usually know who was on a machine and if it's abandoned and loaded, I'll walk across the gym to where they are and ask if they're done.  They're usually good about it, letting me work in if possible.  If I want to use an already loaded machine, I'll ask whether anyone is using it.  Sometimes guys will do God knows what for like ten minutes (bathroom break maybe) leaving their stuff at a machine.  I do that too but try to make my break brief.  When I've supersetted in the past, I always try to hurry so others can use the two pieces of equipment.

veggeep


Here's one that pisses me off:

"Sweepstakes" displays at local restaurants claiming "Sign up now for a chance to win a free membership."

Of course, the fine print says free two-week membership.  Go ahead.  Fill one out.  I'll bet you any sum of money you'll "win".  Who do they think they're fooling?

As for things that annoy me once I'm in the gym, that's easy:

Everyone bigger than me.

Veg, you're back!  Did you have to do that dreaded "working" thing again?  I'm exhausted from holdin' down the fort.
 
Whaddaya mean, everyone bigger than you?  What's that, like two people?  You hunka hunka burnin' love!  ;)  Err, obligatory "no homo" inserted here.  Okay, I suppose 'inserted' is a poor choice of words. 
 
Man,  I never fill in the sweepstakes things at the mall.  It's a ploy to get junk mail and spam.  F that.  :(

Easy.
when EVERYONE can lift more than I can. this sucks. Really sucks when I get the sympathy-sorta stares, older people wondering if I'm 11 or something.

After reading some of this, I can't complain too much about my gym.


I know almost everyone there.. But there is always "the new guy"

I remember about 6 months ago there was some 14 year old, 130 pound blonde kid with ILS like RS was talking about. He would load up ridiculous amounts of weight on machines and cheat his ass off to get one rep. I remember watching him try to shrug 275 on the smith machine. Not only did he look like he was humping it to move it with his entire body, he afterwards jumped around and mirror boxed for a few minutes before doing it again.

Eventually, the legit guys got tired of this tool, so they offered him some help and tips. The kid immediately copped a 'tude which wasn't smart, and I haven't seen him since.

One problem we have now is a baseball team coming in to lift. All of these guys are like 6'3" and 160. They talk, take up the power rack for wrist curls, take up benches to sit and bull **** until it's their turn to go to the power rack, and do some dumb ass plyos in the middle of the weight area, which makes a lot of sense seeing as how we have courts for that ****.

/rant

i remember i had just gotten to the gym for my upper body day and i set up the bench on the power rack( its the only bench they have unless i use smith or dumbbells). went to get a sip of water and drain the vein and when i get back theres some huge dude sitting on the bench curling then doing these ridiculous sideways tricep extensions...i just ended up on dumbbells

edit: i forgot to mention this dude who works there as a trainer( and his clients work so hard with their iso's lol) and the idiot posted pictures of himself everywhere when he was in college hitting 315 on bench and with stupid sayings on them like "do you have what it take?"(yes the idiot forgot the S on takes) and "how big is your bench?".  then he brings his buddies in to workout with him( while surely on the clock getting paid) and puts them through rigorous calf and ab workouts.

/s on the rigorous part

first day with no buds, 11/17, need a new job. 1 down 13 to go.

Jane, when you are old and wrinkly, you will miss having a bunch of guys checkin you out and staring at you.

"True genius, in many fields of human endeavor, is often revealed in elegant simplicity."

- A smart man

Journal: http://www.wannabebigforums.com/showthread.php?t=117358

CreaOtine


Easy.
when EVERYONE can lift more than I can. this sucks. Really sucks when I get the sympathy-sorta stares, older people wondering if I'm 11 or something.

There are indeed those of us who would think it's cool that you care about your body and health at your age.  When you're their age you'll be lifting as much as some of them.  If you're at the gym trying to better yourself, then you're a success story.  Anyone who would look down on you because they can lift more is, imo, an ass.  But I know how you feel.  I would love to lift more and hopefully that will happen, but I'm also happy that I am, imo, the most muscled I've been in my life.  Keep on keepin' on, CreOtine!  :)

brihead301


Jane, when you are old and wrinkly, you will miss having a bunch of guys checkin you out and staring at you.

Please tell me that's not going to happen.  I'm counting on the workouts to look good until I'm dead.  I guess that's why pretty people get plastic surgery when things start to head south.  It must be tough to not be beautiful anymore.  Maybe I should think long term and look just look like crap the whole way.  Where are the chips and remote?  ;)

Dude, theirs this 75 year old dude that works out at my gym, but he looks lke he's about 60! He's jacked!!!!!