Doing weights at the gym

[obamanut2012]

Does anyone else ever get looked at strangely -- by men and women -- for doing deadlifts or hacks, using the Smith Machine, etc.? It annoys the hell out of me. It annoys me more, however, when I'm treated as if I shouldn't even be in that area.

Several times over the last few years, I've had guys come over while I was doing something and say, "Um... I need to use that machine/bench/squat cage." WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M DOING???

I find it very odd.

***I'm not broadbrushing anyone here. I was shown how to properly do deadlifts and squats by a terrific MALE friend of mine. As stated, I've noticed this behavior by both men and women, regardless of their age.***

[marybourg]

1. Are you grunting?

[obamanut2012]

2. NO

I've never understood why some people do that.

[marybourg]

3. Probably because they're pushing

themselves beyond their capacities.

[JoeyT]

9. Peacocks.

It's for attention. You should watch them on gym security footage sometime, it's hilarious.

Often starting on the first rep they'll RAAAARGH! three or four times, getting louder each time while looking around to see if anyone notices, and if no one looks their way they'll just quit what they're doing and move to another section of the gym.

The gyms that ban them are supposed to be much more friendly environments for women, usually because if a gym cares enough to take a big chunk out of the "loud and obnoxious" section, they care enough to stop any sort of harassment.

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. I used to belong to a gym that specifically forbade that activity.

Called Fitness Planet or something. Haven't seen one in years, but back then, they had a sign on the wall with a list of things that could get you tossed. Started with "no grunting" and said something about the company being a 'judgment free zone'. I don't remember everything on the list, but do remember do-rags (however that is spelled) were specifically verbotten and shirts had to be worn at all times.

They were pretty strict about people treating people with dignity and were known to approach those who were acting like classic gym rats to tell them to tone it down.

It was a pretty cool place.

[JoeyT]

11. They're one of the main ones I was thinking of.

Slamming the weights down over and over will also get you pitched out of a Planet Fitness.

I liked it, I just don't live near one anymore.

[murielm99]

4. Fortunately, that does not happen at my gym.

I have seen it other places, though.

I think the trainers keep an eye on things and discourage that. Also, we seem to have a lot of young women who are National Guard or other military. They know how to train, and they know how to lift properly.

I like my gym.

[enough]

5. At my gym (a suburban eastcoast Y) this is entirely a matter of generation.

The only people who act like this are the older men. You know, the guys who spend a lot of time there, but most of it is spent leaning against a machine chatting loudly with a friend while neither of them actually does anything.

The younger guys would never behave the way you're describing, and neither would the women of any age. Women lifting is as common as men in this gym.

I'm 68, female.

[obamanut2012]

7. Your post made me think about this a bit more

And, it IS mainly older men (and, I mean older) who do this, although some of the younger guys have seem irritated about having to wait to use the hack or sled. The women are usually the ones who "dress up" for the gym. My mother said they look at her, too, and she is your age.

[justiceischeap]

6. I'd have an issue with this on principle

What are you doing at the gym in the first place!? *gasp* The horror!

I think it depends on the gym you belong to and the region you live in. There are just some areas of the US where *some* people aren't as evolved. Proper ladies don't do deadlifts or hacks (whatever those are). I'd pick up a 10lb free weight and "accidentally" drop it on someone's foot if they were treating me as though I didn't know better (I really wouldn't because I probably couldn't lift a 10lb free weight ) When I did belong to a gym in my younger days, I don't recall ever seeing women in certain areas of the gym--those areas were men only but that was in the early 90's I think.

*skips off to drink a Pepsi*

[obamanut2012]

8. I feel like I don't even know you anymore