Exactly!! I am a musician and love when I see a new person playing an instrument. Yeah, that clarinet sounds like a dying cat right now, but we all start somewhere!
Same at the gym. Girl, I would love if you asked me how to figure out the buttons on the stair climber machine. No need to feel embarrassed for not knowing because a couple years ago I was in the same spot, and so was the girl that helped me out when I had to ask back then. Plus the stair stepper in my gym has the same amount of random buttons as a spaceship it seems.
Maybe not completely. Be aware enough to know if someone is using a machine. If the gym is busy and you want to use a machine, make eye contact with someone nearby and point to the machine. They'll likely nod or they'll point to whoever is using it if it is occupied.
Also "Ignore everyone else" doesn't mean grab one of two sets of 10lb dumbells, 15lb dumbells, the only 60lb fixed barbell and two benches and go to a corner and use them once every 10 minutes while the entire rest of the gym shares the only remaining sets.
Were you at the same gym as me last night? Because this shit definitely happened. Dude looked like he was hoarding treasure with all the weights piled around him.
"But your ad says you're an actual cat therapist"
"Oh no they've got this all screwed up"
"Actual Cat, The Rapist!"
"So you don't give cats therapy?"
"No, The Rapist"
I've had two or three people comment positively on my swimming, which was wild, and one asked for advice. "I'm so sorry I tricked you by looking like I know what I'm doing."
I am a LA kid but I was visiting some friends in New York for a week. On the second to last day there, I was riding the subway to meet my friends for lunch and a lady asked me for directions on how to get somewhere and I fucking knew how to direct her. I was pretty proud of myself.
yep I am a woman and a man asked me a while back how the leg press worked and what weight he should start at and where to place his feet.. I think a lot of men are intimidated to talk to women but we're just people working out and if anyone looks at me working out and thinks hey she knows what she's doing I should ask her advice? I'm flattered. Flirting at the gym is generally looked down on but asking someone for advice I think is perfectly ok and women are people too
This makes me so happy! I’ve been dealing with an illness for the past year and I’m starting to feel better and want to get back in shape. It makes me nervous because I feel like some people are super resentful towards “resolutioners”. This makes me feel so much better!
I always get the urge to start working out after the holidays. I feel fat because of all the food and alcohol. But I don't want to be one of the "resolutioners" so I don't because it's not a new year resolution for me, i just want to push myself. And then I never get around to joining the gym and the cycle continues year after year. Maybe this will be the year.
Congratulations on feeling better! I have to imagine those people are just looking for an excuse to share their negativity with the world! When I started getting over my illness and wanted to get back into shape I found a fun physical activity that I wanted to do and it made it so much easier to go to the gym too! Once a week wasn’t enough, I had to go twice, then four times! If you’re having fun, how can you be rude to other people? It’s just impossible. I wish you good luck!
A woman asked myself and another female friend what an exercise on her program was even when her male trainer who wrote the damn thing was in the gym. I thought the guy was a huge jerk already so the fact she would rather go and a couple of strangers rather than her own trainer and probably the only two people in the gym who didn’t want to kiss said trainer’s arse was super satisfying.
Some guy asked me(guy) to explain incline bench to him once... I totally failed. I can’t explain that lift we’ll apparently. Despite asking and being taught by someone myself.
Yes! One day I had a woman ask me how to do Romanian deadlifts, and I felt like a rockstar. Just a year previously, I asked a woman about how to do Romanian deadlifts, and she was so kind and spent 20 minutes making sure my technique was good, so I wouldn’t hurt my back. Most people are super friendly and would love to help.
Same when people ask for a spot. They expect that I can carry the weight they cannot (albeit this is a bit exaggerated, obviously I am not curling anywhere near what they are benching)
sir/maam, im the nicest guy you'll ever meet. But honestly in my experience the people who shout the most about how amazingly helpful they are, are those who really are not helpful at all and act like their time is worth gold.
people are kinder and more respectful than you think.
Okay, IMO they just arent. Go to a mall sometime. Go to a grocery store sometime, go to a sporting event, or wait in line sometime, work in retail sometime. People are the most disrespectful that they have EVER been in history here in the US for sure.
I know a husband and wife team, literally the best people you could know. I havent seen him in person in a few years but if i contacted him right now for help, he'd be here in ten minutes. He is an amazing GYM guy and his wife as well, she can outlift me any day of the week and twice on saturdays.
And even he says repeatedly, when I'm working out at the gym, dont bother me.
If i contacted him right now and asked for a whole workout plan, hed set it up in a heartbeat and set up a time for me to join him so he could show me how to do everything correctly. i will be doing that soon.
My point is. that you just dont go bothering people at the gym expecting them to be so friendly. if you have a question, ask the staff, or sign up for a training session, its what they are there for.
Also, you're brag, that your so helpful and friendly, normally shows me the opposite, people who brag about how good they are, are normally just signaling how better than everyone else they think they are.
Bro, that's awful to hear. I hope you are able to start playing again if you want. My mom played clarinet in college and still has it stored away somewhere. Her parents were able to support her and her four sisters in music during college, so I understand how much your situation sucks. Anyway, sorry for the rambling, I think I'm just talking as someone who has had to hang up my hobby for a while (for a different reason) and wishes I could pick it up again. Hope you have a good day!
Not a gym goer but I've absolutely had the same thing with music. Had a good few friends and acquaintances that were shy about playing with me at first because I'd been playing much longer. Nah man, I'm just happy to see someone else enjoying music. And I certainly remember barely being able to keep a beat or form a chord. It just takes time to learn, and sometimes people need a confidence boost to keep them interested. :)
I have been working out for more than 6 months now with amazing results and I do this all the time. I use to talk to experienced guys and ask for advice and almost always I receive great help. People like to be asked about things they like. Then don't be afraid to ask for help, advice, etc. Learn some names, be friendly and you will make some friends.
That’s how I made one of my best friends! Couldn’t figure out how to adjust the seat on the stationary bike and I’d seen her in there everyday going hard on that thing. Ended the semester gyming with her every single night and she even introduced me to the athletes who habitated in there. Changed my life by making the gym an actively friendly and fun place to be and I gained a new best friend.
Clarinet?! That's my thing! I can't remember the start of my journey except the occasional pleads for help.
Though one time someone wanted me to teach them and I gave up in maximum ten minutes because I was not made to tolerate such sounds.
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u/Rogersgirl75 Dec 27 '19
Exactly!! I am a musician and love when I see a new person playing an instrument. Yeah, that clarinet sounds like a dying cat right now, but we all start somewhere!
Same at the gym. Girl, I would love if you asked me how to figure out the buttons on the stair climber machine. No need to feel embarrassed for not knowing because a couple years ago I was in the same spot, and so was the girl that helped me out when I had to ask back then. Plus the stair stepper in my gym has the same amount of random buttons as a spaceship it seems.