Gym question...Problem.....

Ok guys.... I've been a member of a meat head gym for over a year now...mom and pop...small but you can get your work done.... Well the guy who has manages the place for years has finally bought the place....and is making changes.... there was a seperate room for the power lifters....now that is going to be for yoga, and karate... so the power lifters, are crammed in with the average members....and I can work in a crowd... but there are a couple of the guys, who wanna block off, incline, decline and bench....for their sets...and tell you don;t touch them....and they rest in between sets... Maybe these guys are rebeling because they have to join us mortals... I don't know.... when I was leaving the owner said...you just got here...I said, they don;t wanna let you work in.... Now the owner is a passive aggressive MF, and I think he would go back there and say...you gotta let this guy work in... but then, you got other ******** thinking you are a ***** baby... Ok since i'm whining, like i'm on the main board.... things are a tad more complicated.... this gym is 1/4 mile from the house...and after all this time...Kelly is getting up at 5 am to go do cardio....and he is dropping weight... So see I would be busting up two exercise routines.... I'm hoping that just by typing this out, I will come to a conclusion... But right now I wanna go throw a brick through someones window... thanks for listening.... all comments welcome.... Russ

All I can say is you may have to adjust the time that you go.  Ask the new owner what times they are slow.  I know where I go, if I get there after 9 am, they are quite busy, but 8.30 works really well.  I can get my crunches and weights in before 9, and go to the indoor track to walk for an hour. I know it sucks to have to adjust your routine, but I don't see any other choice in this situation besides switching establishments. good luck Russ. Kevin

I think you are right....and I don;t know that switching up is something I can do with my work schedule... right now my ass is chapped, that I'm paying for something that I can't use... Russ

Hey Russ, Kevin might be right about adjusting your time, as crummy as that is. Or, let's hope, the rude guys find that they're the ones who don't like crowds and adjust their times. For the moment, it might be best to try to alter the order of your routine. I had to make some  some months ago to avoid a guy who strutted around the gym laughing very loud (honking really), talking at the top of his voice, and following anyone around who would put up with him. I finally had to will myself not to make any eye contact with him, not to nod hello, etc. It was annoying and exhausting. So I changed my gym times, reluctantly, and got used to the change. One thing I find for me is not to make any big changes immediately, especially when I'm steamed. Hope things resolve soon.

I'm gritting my teeth.... russ

oh boy russ, you ain't gonna like this reply.

being a contractor and an ex gym rat i live with guys like this all day. sometimes it seems like a ******g match all day long and i for one am tired of it. why can't we all just get along?

ok, here's my answer. you gotta assert yourself to these guys first. tell them you can work out with them. in between them whatever but you're gonna work out and finish up. blocking it off is bull**** unless they bought the equipment they need to share it. if you feel a need to say something then say.....i know it's a b* losing the space you had to yourself, i'm with you guys. i hate it too but i only have x amount of time so let me work in between your sets and i'll be out of here. plus i'll chase off the next guy!

the other part of me says, f* you. get out of my way. i didn't see your name on it. of course that will start a fight. so i say let them know you're one of them. not a yoga nut. then if that doesn't work, go to the owner, pissed off. you tried to handle it yourself and tell him you almost got your light*****hed out for the effort. he ought to appreciate you tried to handle it without his involvement. however, you're a paying member and it's really HIS problem. he's got jerks for members and he needs to straighten them out. i worked out in a lifting only gym in LA with guys going out for international titles. the owner made it work for everyone. that's his job. these guys have a big attitude. listen, life is tough. we would all like to act like it's our private gym. fact is, your gym has changed and they need to quit acting like it belongs to them. don't get your ass beat over it but try to tell them you understand. you just want to get your sets out of the way and try to work out with them. they may be cool to that much. if they tell you to get lost, tell the owner. it's his job anyway and you're not a baby. i wouldn't walk up to a couple of huge olympic lifters and tell them to quit hogging the equipment! well, i would but i would be scared. trick is to not act like it. i can't tell you how many times i've bluffed my way out of a fight on a site. actually, i can't believe at my age i still have to do that crap.

i feel for ya. act like one of them and you're pissed at the same thing. maybe then the three of you can block off the next guy! carbonblobl

You blob... I'm such a ......unstable guy....that stuff like this draws my focus, and it takes me time to get back to a good work out... I really have to have me head in it to got the work don'I need to not get distracted with crap..... how about if I get about 6 good Powerball numbers and you and me open a gym, (Ok....i'm getting ready to be really nasty here....I saw this guys routine....it was ****hit huffed after 4 mins on the cardio...and only had 3" movement on his shoulder press....If he had tried to keep up with me one reps I would have smoked his ass....and he had a gut) I'm fine...my therapist assured me I will be fine Russ

yeah, i guess i was trying to say what cards fan said and some of the other guys. it's really the gym owner's problem. these guy are killing his profit. is that what he wants? well, that's what is going to happen. i would approach the owner again and let him know if these guys do this then he will lose business and these guys will just keep getting bolder to the point HE won't be able to control them. i'm sure he wants women in there and all kinds of accounts. you can't go showing the place to prospects if they see these roid monsters hogging the equip. remind him of that. is that what he wants his PAYING clients to see? and have to ask permission of some ahole to work out? no way. not your problem. take it to the owner and don't get your ass beat. if they are on roids then it's a bad combo for you. maybe band up with some other guys you know and approach the owner as a group. if he does nothing then do what i said before and try to ask to work in between. god, i hate jerk offs like that. you know, it's never easy dealing with bullies. i'm short (5'8") like you and some people think that's an invitation to step on me. these guys just size up everyone they think they can intimidate. especially since it's two guys. i feel for ya. it should have never even happened. stand your ground as best you can and as i said, blast the s**t out of the owner, i would be so mad at him for allowing that to happen. if it doesn't work out, tell him to refund your money or you'll see him in court. let us know how it plays out.....carbonblob

I think I realize now why anabolic steroids and testosterone are so popular in gyms; they don't enhance muscle development directly, they give guys the cojones to get in the face of lunks like you describe (who are probably already juiced up and their aggressive hoarding behavior is just a variant of 'roid-rage). Changing your workout schedule or switching your gym membership to your local "Curves" outlet may make a difference! /Steve

Russ, if the gym owner won't step in and take charge, then maybe you can ask the powerlifters what their schedule is and work on different body parts than they do.  If they work bench on Mondays, maybe you can work legs; if they work deadlifts on Wednesdays, you could work chest; if they work squats on Fridays, you could work back & biceps, etc.  Just a thought.  Hope you can get it worked out to everyone's benefit somehow.  P.S. I bet there are more "regular lifters" than powerlifters. If that is so, then if enough of you complain and threaten to leave, economics will dictate that the owner get the powerlifters under control.