Confessions of a Slightly Annoyed Older Gym Rat
I like going to the gym. Right now I am on a three day schedule alternating upper and lower body with a lot of core work. It will go back to a four day a week schedule probably after Thanksgiving since it is a chunk of my morning when I go. Right now I am walking to and from the gym. When it gets colder, I’ll figure out what I am doing for cardio that doesn’t include fighting someone to the death for a machine to walk to nowhere.
I need to go to the gym for all those good health reasons. That and a strong core means I don’t have back-pain and will keep me moving longer as my spine is in not great shape due to arthritis. There is the mind body connection and the mental health positives that come from exercising. Also, strangely enough, it can help with the tremors but also can kick them into high gear so that’s a bit of a craps shoot.
I like free weights and use them in combination with machines. I feel more in control of what I do when I have my weight in hand and I am controlling very carefully what I do. I like concentrating on a muscle or a group of muscles and feeling what happens when I lift that weight. Most women at the gym use the machines so I am a bit of an odd duck in that.
The gym is my “me” time probably more than any other part of the day. I put away my phone and just do what I came to do not watching the clock or worrying about being somewhere. Once I get done, then I deal with the rest of the world.
One cannot help but observe those around them. Or maybe that’s just me. And there are a couple of behaviors that just drive me up the wall.
Lady 1, yippee, you use free weights but I regret to inform you that what you are doing is not doing your muscles any good and you are heading towards injury. You try to get through your set so fast that you are short arming the weights. In fact you seem totally terrified of the weights. I would suggest that you might try a lighter weight and a better form. Best of luck, the person you stared at like they were some alien while they were going through their sets.
Lady 2, lifting weights is not going to give you crazy muscles unless you lift in a specific way. In fact it can, done right, give you that definition you have been bemoaning to your friend that you just can’t get. And yes even with all the music and rattling of plates, I did hear your lovely snide comment about what I was doing and how I was going to regret it. Also you need to up your weight on the machines a bit. It’s call resistance training for a reason.
Lady 3, thank you for asking me for some advice on how to lift safely, You have been observing me and decided that I was worthy of asking for some help. I hope to see you in the weight room more often.
Dude 1, yes chucklehead, the rules of the place are clearly stated which include that when a machine is not being used, someone else can use it. And if you are in the machine circuit, then the pass goes to the person working through the circuit. Again it is stated in the rules because of people like you. If you really want to set up eight stations and work through them without interruption, may I suggest you get your own gym. Do Not stand there are glare at someone who is following the rules and is doing what their trainer instructed them to do especially since they are obeying the rules and you are not.
Dude 2, hogging weights? Really? What is this kindergarten? This is very annoying when you have at least three sets of weights around your bench making it hard to get to the rack without tripping over something. Take your turn like everyone else and be a man and re-rack the weights you are done with. If everyone did this, then the weights would be there when you need them. Also your form sucks and I am betting that your elbow is going to get worse if you keep up what you are doing.
Dude 3, yeah I am OK and thanks for checking in with me. Yes, I did look like I was going to hurl and my body decided it wanted to shake a lot. I am not having a stroke or a heart attack but I appreciate the concern. It made me feel good that you cared enough to make sure.
I am grateful to the majority of people at my gym who are polite and helpful.
I need to go to the gym for all those good health reasons. That and a strong core means I don’t have back-pain and will keep me moving longer as my spine is in not great shape due to arthritis. There is the mind body connection and the mental health positives that come from exercising. Also, strangely enough, it can help with the tremors but also can kick them into high gear so that’s a bit of a craps shoot.
I like free weights and use them in combination with machines. I feel more in control of what I do when I have my weight in hand and I am controlling very carefully what I do. I like concentrating on a muscle or a group of muscles and feeling what happens when I lift that weight. Most women at the gym use the machines so I am a bit of an odd duck in that.
The gym is my “me” time probably more than any other part of the day. I put away my phone and just do what I came to do not watching the clock or worrying about being somewhere. Once I get done, then I deal with the rest of the world.
One cannot help but observe those around them. Or maybe that’s just me. And there are a couple of behaviors that just drive me up the wall.
Lady 1, yippee, you use free weights but I regret to inform you that what you are doing is not doing your muscles any good and you are heading towards injury. You try to get through your set so fast that you are short arming the weights. In fact you seem totally terrified of the weights. I would suggest that you might try a lighter weight and a better form. Best of luck, the person you stared at like they were some alien while they were going through their sets.
Lady 2, lifting weights is not going to give you crazy muscles unless you lift in a specific way. In fact it can, done right, give you that definition you have been bemoaning to your friend that you just can’t get. And yes even with all the music and rattling of plates, I did hear your lovely snide comment about what I was doing and how I was going to regret it. Also you need to up your weight on the machines a bit. It’s call resistance training for a reason.
Lady 3, thank you for asking me for some advice on how to lift safely, You have been observing me and decided that I was worthy of asking for some help. I hope to see you in the weight room more often.
Dude 1, yes chucklehead, the rules of the place are clearly stated which include that when a machine is not being used, someone else can use it. And if you are in the machine circuit, then the pass goes to the person working through the circuit. Again it is stated in the rules because of people like you. If you really want to set up eight stations and work through them without interruption, may I suggest you get your own gym. Do Not stand there are glare at someone who is following the rules and is doing what their trainer instructed them to do especially since they are obeying the rules and you are not.
Dude 2, hogging weights? Really? What is this kindergarten? This is very annoying when you have at least three sets of weights around your bench making it hard to get to the rack without tripping over something. Take your turn like everyone else and be a man and re-rack the weights you are done with. If everyone did this, then the weights would be there when you need them. Also your form sucks and I am betting that your elbow is going to get worse if you keep up what you are doing.
Dude 3, yeah I am OK and thanks for checking in with me. Yes, I did look like I was going to hurl and my body decided it wanted to shake a lot. I am not having a stroke or a heart attack but I appreciate the concern. It made me feel good that you cared enough to make sure.
I am grateful to the majority of people at my gym who are polite and helpful.