Gym etiquette

I went to the gym tonight and that guy was doing push ups and steps in front of the squat machine. he also was doing chin ups ( circuit). since I wanted to use the bar to do my squats, I asked him how many sets he has left and he said " I don't know". so I went to do some thing else and finished my other exercises. I came back and he was still there.  I said " can we share the bar since you are doing push ups ". he started to give me a lecture on how much money he pays for the gym and he should be able to use any machine any time he wants. I felt there is no point of arguing with this crazy man so I didn't really say anything to him. I just left. 

I am just wondering is it ok to ask someone who does circuit training to share the machine or do you have to wait for that person till he is done??? 

I want to add another question. I have been away from the gym for a whole month due to injury. My body is heavy and not conditioned. for sure, I need to get back to my workouts gradually. Is cardio enough during the first few weeks or do I have to add weight training also?

the worst gym etiquette where i workout is the teenagers not re-racking the weights.  it is perfectly acceptable in my opinion to ask to join in with somebody, but you also shouldn't be offended if they say no.  courtesy usually will go a long way but no doubt there are some jerks out there.  it may be something where if he's setting up machines and not using them you may want to speak to a manager or owner about that person hogging machines that is if a conversation with the person doesn't work. 

as far as the other question goes, it really all depends on whether it's an injury or pain you're dealing with.  i'll lift through pain but i'll rest an injury.  if it's pain just don't work that muscle for a day or two until it heals.  if it's an injury you either want to rest it or if it's bad enough see your physician.  depending on these factors should show if you can proceed with weightlifting and cardio instead of cardio alone.  i feel weight lifting is more important just because of it's long term benefits compared to cardio's short term.  cardio is a definite  but you shouldn't miss weightlifting if you're able to do it.

thanks. I just felt he was rude to not allow someone use the squat machine while he was doing push-ups IN FRONT OF the machine. I mean if he is not doing squats, why can't I use the machine?

I know the weight training is very important. I just feel heavy and unconditioned. maybe I should focus on some cardio for a week or so just to warm up?

The guy's an ****.  I've never had a problem like that in my gym. I figure so long as you are polite, it shouldn't be an issue.   If it is, it's their issue, not yours. 

Your best advice is to start slowly, doing what is comfortable for you.  When I first started working out, I started real slow, because I did not want to get injured.  I lifted lighter weights to get my muscles used to it and only did cardio on the elliptical machine for quite a while.  I worked my way up to heavier weights, eventually free weights, running etc.   If you go slow, your body will tell you what your limits are.  Just remember to always try and progress.  If you are curling 5 lbs for example and it becomes easy, move up to 7.5 for a couple of weeks.  Do this for several weeks on all the machines and weights you use, until you reach the weight that you can only lift 8-12 times.   Slow and steady wins the race.

Same with cardio.  At first, being an older fat guy, I was afraid of my heart exploding out of my chest quite frankly.  Being stock by nature, I had always enjoyed weight training, but hated cardio.  But I know I need cardio to ensure my heart health, so I forced myself into the elliptical and eventually the treadmill and now I love it.  I started out on the elliptical but carefully monitored my heart rate so that it was in, or just above my target zone, basically 220 - your age  and then multiply by 65-80%.  At age 40 that translates into 117-144.    Slow and steady..works every time.

You pay just as much to be a member of the same gym.  If he's not using the machine, you have every right to go ahead and use it.  I'd ask first, of course, but then use it anyhow if he says no... since he's NOT using the darn thing.

what a nitwit... I experienced the same thing some time ago. People who "hog" a machine while they do another exercise while in their 30 seconds rest. But this girl really took her time with the other machine and left her towel over the machine that I wanted to use.

I would use some lighter weights while getting back into your routine.

Im not one for the circuit trainers. I had a small encounter with one but she was polite. Im just bothered that people will save a machine so it looks like thier using it. Anyway with this lady I politely asked her if she was using the leg extension machine and she said not really and I asked if I could use it real quick. I just wanted to do my 2 quick sets and go. I dont hover around machines long. Ill spend most of my time on a mat doing squats, lunges or stretching.

Edit: oh I dont like the younger crowd because they'll sit at a machine for like 10 minutes doing nothing. Hello! thats y where are chairs out side the raquet ball court! Liek I said im almost always on a mat.

I think you handled it the “correct way…However:

I would have handled it differently:

!st way:  Sir I’ve seen you on this machine for a while, and I just want to get a couple of quick sets in.  I apologize if I cause any inconvenience, but we all pay, and we should share.

2nd way:  After he told me how much HE PAYS FOR THE GYM.   (Foot meets Face…..game over…roll his ass off to the side, and pretend like nothing has happened) 

This has happened to me before….where the fool was using the machine for like 20 minutes...I asked if I could jump in…he told me no…HA….so I simply started my set on the machine, and told him that I will use it.  simple as that...too many people around to be fighting. 

Some good gym etiquette:

1) Ask if you can "work in" and allow others to "work in" between your sets

2) Don't rest on equipment in between sets (allows people to work in).

3) Strip the bars of all weights when you're done. Think of it as a bonus workout.

Sounds like the guy wasn't even using the squat rack.  Was he doing pull-ups on it?  Does your gym have other places to do pull-ups on?  I can't stand it when people use squat racks for things that can be done on other equipment.  Our gym has 2 preacher curl racks and 6 flat barbell bench set-ups but only 2 squat racks.  Yet people somehow feel they need to use the squat racks to do barbell curls and shoulder shrugs.  I suppose it makes them feel tough.  Heck, you can do barbell curls from the floor.

If I'm feeling irritated enough, I'll ask: "Could I work in and do some SQUATS here?" Implying that they are merely wasting space by being there.

I'm much nicer to cute girls of course. 

he was actually doing ciruit training. I wanted to finish my quick 3 squat sets but he wouldn't allow me. I don't really know if I should argue next time or just leave. I am not into fighting anyway. I don't think it is inappropriate to use the machine if he is doing ciruit training. right?

Eddie, I wouldnt jump in after he said no. LOL he sounds like a crazy man. too bad that i pay a lot for the gym. I shouldn't even be fighting at all.

 The correct answer to any rant about how much someone pays to use the gym so s/he should be allowed to act like s/he owns the place is "What, you think I work out here for free?"

 I'm with Eddie, except my option 2 would be to go find someone from staff to do the kicking.

 Circuit training is interesting for some goals, but I find that a lot of people who do it are mostly hooked on CrossFit, and CrossFit O-lifting bears about the same relationship to real olympic lifting as Tae-bo does to the kind of fighting Eddie here does.

 When it comes to starting up again after some time off - start slow, don't push the volume for a couple weeks until your connective tissue has a chance to adjust, and increase from there.

I don't do circuit, but I superset, which requires two diff things usually....if someone wanted to use one while I was doing the other, I would def have let them....unless I'm just finishing up the last set and will be done or whatever....luckily most of my superset has something, and then the other exercise is w dumbbells so I never have to leave the machine entirely, but I hope someone would just ask if they wanted it!

I can't imagine some doing taht though. If I had gotten beef from the guy I would have done Eddie's number 2 and not even given it a second thought! We all pay for the gym, so he shouldn't be so selfish! I can see not wanting to be bothered, but he needs to think of others....ppl KNOW when someone wants to use something they are on!

When someone is on something I want, I'll just flip my workout around so I don't have to use that machine or rack yet (I hate it, but....)  and have never had to wait for someone.

For future reference, you ran into the .0001 % that does have a problem with sharing. Shouldn't happen again. The other 99.999 % will graciously let you jump in because they hope that you would do the same for you. If somehow your on the machine and the same guy asks to jump in, you should be somewhat humble and let him in, but give him a hard time about the last time you met. Perfect way to avoid the situation in the future.

I just posted here because I wanted to make sure if it is appropriate to ask someone to share in.

the guy was rude and mean.  I hope I will not see him again. I really doubt that the manager would do anything and I was not in the mood to argue with a crazy man.

Lol…hahaha…you guys are funny…on a serious note though…I would never start a fight in the gym…as much as I like to dish out a beat down…I always humble myself when in confrontation; however…some people just ask for it, and I’m not into the yelling and puffing up of the chest…that’s for posers.   Usually if you ask nicely, but in a firm voice…they say..ohhh sure I just gotta finish one or two more sets….and they do it slightly faster…

LOL

"How many sets do you have left?"

"I don't know."

Someone should write a book on the annoying gym types. That guy along with farting guy, sweaty guy, and chatty guy who sits to chat with you for an hour between his sets would be enough to make me lose interest in going to the gym.

Someone should write a book on the annoying gym types. That guy along with farting guy, sweaty guy, and chatty guy who sits to chat with you for an hour between his sets would be enough to make me lose interest in going to the gym.

 Oh dear god.  I went to a yoga class at another franchise gym, because it was closer and a better time for me on a day off.  I picked a spot, this other person came in and picked his spot next to mine.  No problem.  10 minutes in, he silently farts.  I hold my breath.. no dirty looks, nothing, it happens.  15 minutes after that, he farts AGAIN.  I do my level best not to notice, but he does it one more time, and I resolved not to come back to that class unless I can get in early and either pick a spot across the room or somehow separate myself from that guy.  I would be so embarrased if he came in a again and put his mat down next to mine and I moved because of it.  We're talking some really gawd-aweful farts here too, not something that wafts away in half a minute..

haha. That's awesome.

fluffydragon, LMAO.

To make him stop, just slowly turn your head towards him, look directly into his eyes, and sternly say, "Farting is not cool." He will stop instantly.