Rule No. 7 of the weight room at the gym I attend basically states that you should let other members work in-between sets with you if asked. In other words don’t hog the equipment be couteous and share.
Simple enough I’m pretty sure all of that simplicity was instilled in me around the age of 5 as I prepared for Kindergarten and reiterated throughout my life developing into my unconcious awareness of the unwritten rules of gym ettiqutte that states don’t be an Ass Hole other people pay their gym dues just like you!
And so my fellow Body Spacers my ordeal began Thur April 3rd 2008. I woke up happy energized and ready to train. I showered, dressed for the gym made breakfast for my little boys and was out the door.
I dropped off my 8 yr old at 2nd grade and headed to the gym with my 6 yr old he loves going to the gym he equates going to their child care as working out with daddy at the gym. We had a wonderful conversation on the way discussing the plight of the Rebel Alliance in their battle against the Evil Galactic Empire yes my little ones have discovered STAR WARS!
At any rate we arrived and I got him settled in and stowed my gear in the locker room and set off to train legs I had a wanderful training session great pumps, great strength levels and just all around feeling good.
I was just finishing up Calves when I decided to hit Abs then move on to Cardio. As I approached the two ab machines I wanted to use I noticed to middle aged women sitting side by side on them not training but talking.
I contemplated going elsewhere but said no this is what I want to use so I’ll wait a few, I went and got some water then came back the one woman who was specifically on the machine I wanted had probaly 50% or more weight than she could realistically handle or need on the machine and was panting and groaning doing these painful looking little quarter reps very quickly herky jery type of thing.
I patiently waited till she was done destroying her connective tissue then asked politely.
The Bodyguard: May I work in with you please?
Her: What? (Read incredulous indignation!)
The Bodyguard: May I please work inbetwen sets with you?
Her: Unh Uhn I don’T think so not a ****ing chance! Please!
I put my hands up and simply said "OK" and proceeded to walk away. As I walked away she yelled "Hey!" I turned around and was greeted with "Don’t roll your ****ing eyes at me!" I said-
TheBodyguard: Ma’am I only asked to work in-between your sets thats it! I’m not sure what the problem is but it’s not that serious.
Her: Listen here buster why don’t you just go away!
TheBodyguard: I am sorry youre having a bad day but I suggest you not say another thing to me.
Her Freind: Don’t tell her not to speak, who the **** do you think you are? Youre not gonna pull any of that he man woman hater shit with us tough guy.
TheBodyguard: Wow youre really rude and obnoxious, why are you interjecting your self into this she lipped off to me now youre jumping in on this you have got to be kidding me. (I might add the whole time I am trying to back away and leave, but they kept reengaging me.)
Both of them: If you don’t quit picking on us you got a world of trouble coming your way! Youre gonna get ****ed up! (I might also add that all of their responses were screamed at the top of their lungs!)
At this point it was so out of control I can’t even describe it. I could jsut see this blowing up in my face, I am about 5′5" and carry 190-200 lbs I was dressed in a black under armour and running shorts and look every bit a weight lifter I could here the accusations of roid rage and how the big tough barbell boy was abusing two helpless middle aged housewives etc.
I finally was able to free myself of the situation and grabbed a female fitness competitor who is a trainer there and broke it down for her she was so nice my temp started to drop immediately she was like don’t even finish explaining you have trained here since opening day and you nevr do anything except train and go home youre the quietest person in the gym get up to the front desk I think the owner is here.
I was met upfront by the owner and the head trainer again reliving the mess with them, I wrote out a statement urged them to review the video tapes as it will clearly show I kept trying to leave and kept getting confronted several times. The head trainer said he thought he knew they were and went to check.
The owner said it wasn’t my fault and he didn’t want it to affect me coming there (It Won’t) he put a copy of the statement in my file and a note in hers, she came up to the desk and was ranting while I was talking to him but he didn’t want to talk to her.
The head trainer said while there hadn’t been any direct complaint about her or them yet he knew who they were and they have issues he like the other trainer got my back and told the owner I was a good guy and a founding member of the facility (I actually signed up yrs ago before they opened for business) and that I came in kept to myself did my business and left.
The owner was compassionate professional and understanding. And the employees had my back I felt relievd I told the owner my only concern was because of the various He-Man statements mad that I may have a confrontation coming from a son or husband next which I am not fearful of but I’m not looking for a fight or public incident. He assured me that that would be a horrendous mistake on their part and as it stands now if they get another complaint he will revoke their memberships.
I went back in and trained the day after as I consistantly train 5 days at the same time I’m not altering my way of life for anyone no incidents so far but DAMN!!!!
If any one thinks I should have just walked away trust me I did several times they just kept coming at me, if anyone thinks I shouldn’t have said anything back listed Bullys and Obnoxious people do what they do because no one stands up to them and I tried not to say anything but I like evryone else have a right to defend myself against attacks on my person or charactor and I did nothing but ask them to work in-between sets they rudely told me to basically go ‘F" myself and I walked away they pusued and engaged me.
I feel enough is enough man woman who ever they had no right the whole thing was unnecessary and I am not the kind of person to let anyone impose their B.S. on me it was unprovoked I didn’t deserve that.
Finally when the dust cleared I picked up my little man and he started engaging me in one of his wandeful little conversations before I knew it instead of the knot in my gut I was feeling I was just smiling and laughing with my little boy. He has know idea how much I needed him that day but he reaped the benefits after he got out of kindergarten cause I took him to his favorite resteraunt.
As for the two nasty women at the gym I hope evry day they see me in there training as usual it tears them up inside eventually the law of averages will catch up with them and their nastiness will be their undoing.
My wish for everyone who reads this is that you treat each other with kindness and respect and that when youre feeling down spend some time with youre children we need them as much as they need us and there is nothing better in the world than seeing their smiles, feeling their little hugs and hearing their laughter. I promise you’ll feel better!
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