How do you handle people hogging the weights area at a small gym?
a nearby gym closed down and it seemed ALL the members are now coming to gym...which was kinda short on space on some days in the first place...seems the guys think that only THEY need to do weights...all up in the mirrors and the weights room, hogging the machines etc. I'm pretty assertive and I try to be nice with letting people know I'm waiting, but it gets annoying ----whats your advice, or have you had to handle a situation like this before ---frankly, I think the owners should nto have accepted all those new memberships given the space, but hey.
Oh, changing gyms is not an option right now.
Tight gym space ---advice needed?
Moderators: Boss Man, cassiegose
Sometimes finding the right gym is harder than training.
I hang stuff all over the things I want. When I was doing EDT and hogging the leg curl and extension, I'd put towel on one and training log or water on the one I wasn't using for that set. As soon as someone rests after a set, just sidle up and work in.
Other than that, stop being nice. If a guy is heading for the power rack that you want, trip him. Small gyms are dog eat dog.
I hang stuff all over the things I want. When I was doing EDT and hogging the leg curl and extension, I'd put towel on one and training log or water on the one I wasn't using for that set. As soon as someone rests after a set, just sidle up and work in.
Other than that, stop being nice. If a guy is heading for the power rack that you want, trip him. Small gyms are dog eat dog.
classy women, i love em
can be a bit shit like that gyms...try and go during quite times if you can
mirrors aren't neccsaary really, you should be able to "feel" good form better then seeing it
what are you having trouble having access to?
also have a chat to the staff and see if they can put some signs up or something to let people work in etc
can be a bit shit like that gyms...try and go during quite times if you can
mirrors aren't neccsaary really, you should be able to "feel" good form better then seeing it
what are you having trouble having access to?
also have a chat to the staff and see if they can put some signs up or something to let people work in etc
Youre right, its such a rat race...i do the sidling up thing too and ask how many sets they have left, and so on....yesterday while i had last set left, this girl and her trainer proceeded to set up to do bench presses on the smith machine (I was doing squats), without even asking if the machine was being used ---i had to firmly but nicely tell them that i wasnt finished yet. The trainer seemed cool about it --but the girl got all puffy. I just ignored her and did what I had to do.DianaB wrote:Sometimes finding the right gym is harder than training.
I hang stuff all over the things I want. When I was doing EDT and hogging the leg curl and extension, I'd put towel on one and training log or water on the one I wasn't using for that set. As soon as someone rests after a set, just sidle up and work in.
Other than that, stop being nice. If a guy is heading for the power rack that you want, trip him. Small gyms are dog eat dog.
I HAVE to use a mirror for certain exercisesswanso5 wrote:classy women, i love em
can be a bit shit like that gyms...try and go during quite times if you can
mirrors aren't neccsaary really, you should be able to "feel" good form better then seeing it
what are you having trouble having access to?
also have a chat to the staff and see if they can put some signs up or something to let people work in etc
quiet times: the mirror also keeo me focused, I find that doing it without, I get distracted ---i can only go after work, except for some Tuesdays when I have a day off. I also go on Fridays and some saturdays, so those two days are great because hardly anyone is there.
I mostly have trouble accessing the smith machine where I do squats ----i need the support. I lean forward too much and just dont get much out of it when I do it without the machine. I do most of bench presses with dumbells, so if the smith machine is being used when I want to do presses, i just use the dumbells. Sometimes you cant get a flat bench either.
Getting to the cardio machine sisnt too bad ---they are usually available, and even if they arent, there is always the cardio classes, or I just go and run some laps outside.
speaking to the staff may be a godo idea ---they do have signs telling people to limit their use of the cardio machines to 20 mins during peak hours, bot nobody follows that rule.
I'm pretty up front, vocal and assertive with getting a machine, etc, and I'm friendly with most if not all of the original people who are there (not those from the other gym who are coming there now), so we have a good rapport and I have no problems alternating, or asking if someone is finishing soon, etc....but I can imagine how tough it must be for some new members, or people who are afraid to ask questions or speak up.
Last edited by FeeFee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
No sign up sheets...only thing we sign is the attendance registerkatiesuarez wrote:Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
FeeFee, when I was in college, the gym there had sign-up sheets for the equipment. Is there anything like that in your gym? Or, do as Swanso suggested and ask if that can be arranged.
How does the sign up sheet work for equipment Katie? Sounds like a good idea.
I know, I know....i guess I' d better man up pretty fast and just attack it.swanso5 wrote:fee you must get off the smith machine, you'll only end up hurting yourself and it won't make you better at free squats...learn with a light wt and work up is the only way
How do you prevent all that leaning forward though? I think I have pretty good ankle mobility, but I still lean forward if I dont use the machine
Feef, you may be falling forward due to tightness in the upper back, it's a common problem. Try overhead squats with a broomstick, and go as deep as you can, this will also help the ankle mobility. You can also put a couple of nickel plates under your heels, it will help out, but this is part of the progression from machine squats to real ones, not a permanent solution.
Work on your core as well, you need core strength to be able to squat.
And get off that machine today, you may not be perfect yet but the Smith squats are likely aiding this imbalance. Just use the bar and start adding weight in light increments.
Work on your core as well, you need core strength to be able to squat.
And get off that machine today, you may not be perfect yet but the Smith squats are likely aiding this imbalance. Just use the bar and start adding weight in light increments.