Gym ettiquette/Cred - JP Fitness Forums

Irishdazza · 09-20-2006, 03:50 AM

I've fallen into a routine of hitting the gym at regular times, but recently, I was able to go a good deal earlier and it got the old cogs turning.

I've seen every gym cliche from every rant - but for at least the the last year and a half, things have really improved.

Almost no curling in the squat rack, nearly no crowding during "dangerous" exercises, etc. Even see more people doing squats and deads, you know....proper exercises! At last the word is out people are reading and following the right sources...right?

Wrong!

Going in a couple of hours early, introduces me to a whole new bunch of gym users, plus I'm training on my own instead of with my training partner.

So now I have to "whoa, mate I'm using that!", with every superset set-up (twice on one exercise, no way the guy didn't see me tell the first guy!), stop an exercise cause idiots keep trying to squeeze past me rather than go the safe way round, and the classic hogging of equipment for no good purpose.

I gradually get more and more irritated and my politeness starts to turn to "ahems!" and dirty looks. I catch the eye of one of the PT's who's giving me a knowing smile.

When people see you regularly, see you lifting a lot more than them regularly and having informed discussions with the PT's, over time you start to develop credibility. As the PT's show you respect - so do the other gym users, and they pay attention to the stuff you're doing.

In other words the ettiquette of the people around you improves with your gym cred!

What do you think? Am I delusional? Or have my partner and I, single handedly improved the manners and programs of almost everyone who trains at the same time as us - without nessecarily ever talking to them!?!

Education by osmosis!

jj · 09-20-2006, 05:03 AM

My gym experience is probably far different from yours, but I would have to agree with you. I think that if you are constant, knowledgeable, and show physical gains, then yeah, people watching are gonna jump on the deadlift/insert exercise here bandwagon. You can't change the world of lifting, but you can set an example.

Cynic · 09-20-2006, 05:30 AM

I think it also depends on the gym. I belong to a bally's and in the nine months I've been there, I've seen maybe 10 people use the rack and/or cage.

I would like to think that my carrying a clipboard, sweating like a pig at a BBQ, I'd make some impression. It's hard to say...national chain with cheap rates, yadda, yadda, yadda.

GG300 · 09-20-2006, 08:38 AM

Irish my expierences are similar to your findings. Since I have been doing my EDT trianing I am tying up 2 stations for 15 minutes and using a water bottle at 1 station and my trianing log at another people seem to let me bust my butt uninterupted. No problems at all but I have been working out with the same folks at the same time for the last 3 and 1/2 years. I still see plenty of stupid lifting being done but since my rest breaks are limited it does not bother me as much.

eastcoastsurfer · 09-20-2006, 08:39 AM

I think gym cred works. When we moved to a new gym we had the same problems. Not that we're very big, but the other big guys in the gym started talking to us between sets and stuff after watching us to DLs, squats, and all the other things most people don't do. Pretty soon, just asking someone doing curls in the squat rack how many sets they had left was enough to always have them say "I'm done."

Lisa~ · 09-20-2006, 10:20 AM

Irish, I agree with building credibility. I'm one of the trainers at my gym, but it's still interesting to see people watch me train clients and then turn around and try what they saw. Sometimes that's a good thing and other times it not so great, lol, but at least I'm having an impact. I'll answer questions for anyone who comes up and asks me. I always try to be available to the members when I'm not with a client. Credibility goes a long, long way and during the mornings when I'm at the Y there are a lot of people making good exercises choices these days. Many of them are people I've trained in the past. The word gets around.

Good for you for setting a great example and having a positive impact on those around you.

Waittz · 09-20-2006, 11:07 AM

Dude I lift at a college gym. I have to wait 20 min every tuesday to let a group of 5 finish curling in the squat rack before i can get some squattin on. In fact we woke up early to work out early this morning thinkin we would miss the idiot crowd. Im doing some chins and I look to my right and a group of 3 kids are standing in a circle facing eachother each with 30-50 lb barbells having a curl a thon. In a college gym this is what happens any time/all the time.

BFG · 09-20-2006, 11:07 AM

I agree Dazza if you are consistant in an approach and people see the changes and the weights going up they start to follow your lead.

People tend to mimic others in the gym, alas when new they try and mimic the apes on acid who throw the weight around at a .5/.5 cadence, only ever work the upper body, have shocking form in a hope they get big overnight! All from the bottle of protein they swallow afterwards

Mahler · 09-20-2006, 11:31 AM

Irish,
Since I workout at home, I have little experience in this area. The few times I have used a commercial gym or fitness center were on vacations. Credibility really works. When I went in, set up and started my routine, it seemed like the people who were just plodding along stayed out of my way. LOL

eastcoastsurfer · 09-20-2006, 12:01 PM

That's a good point Mahler. Go in looking like you have a purpose and the people just meandering around will get out of your way. Plus in that pic you look like a guy who would kick peoples ass for fun

RacerBill · 09-20-2006, 05:29 PM

What you say makes sense, ID, but I think a big part of the problem is the turnover in clientele. Probably half the people I see at any given day at the gym will turn up a few more times and then disappear. The folks who stick with it become gym regulars and eventually know the ropes.