Gym jerks: Trying to do supersets or interval training in a packed gym

This only applies to machines in the gym but I see it happen so frequently and it is normally from people with an attitude as well. This is totally against the rules of the gym but a lot of these people do it anyway even though they know that they are not allowed to save more than the machine they are using just for themselves.

When I encounter it in the gym I calmly explain to them that supersets using multiple machines are not allowed in this gym and they can go speak to the staff about it if they would like.

Then I put my headphones back on.

src

Let's start with interval training: This is where you are doing a variety of exercises in order with no breaks between them. Normally this will involve less weight than if you were just going for heavy or a PB but it happens a lot quicker. This is basically the entire idea behind Crossfit and for many, it can get really good results. This is all fine and dandy if it is in a Crossfit class or something you are able to pull off at your own home, but in a crowded gym, you are just a dick if you monopolize this much equipment for you and ONLY you to use.

The gym I am at will put a stop to this if they see it because especially since the new-year new-me people are here for the next month or so, we don't have any space to spare.

I have seen people use one machine and because they are doing a super-set, they are also "reserving" another nearby machine with a towel. You do not get to reserve a machine with anything other than your body as far as I am concerned. If you are sitting on it or standing next to it between sets then it is your machine provided you aren't just screwing around on your phone and you are actually there to work out.

The superset abuse is something I see more frequently on machines because it is simply two sets of exercises that normally are going to use opposing but complementary muscle groups. An easy one to think about would be triceps and biceps. However, these machines are normally two of the most popular in the gym because everyone, male and female, want to improve their biceps and triceps.

I encountered someone using the bicep machine and had a towel on the tricep machine next to it. The guy said to me that "I'm using that one" while he was using the machine next to it. I said "ill give it back to you later."

I'm not trying to be a jerk or try to intimidate anyone because of my size but it is completely absurd that this person thinks that in a gym as busy as ours that he can reserve two of the most popular pieces of equipment in the gym during peak hours. It came as no surprise to me that when he finished his bicep set he walked over to where his phone was (it was recording) then he said something and briefly pointed the camera at me. When he came back over to me I calmly stated to him that I know what supersets are and that they are not allowed to be performed on machines in this gym and he could go ask the management if he didn't believe me.

He backed off immediately and didn't try to make more of a fuss about it but it really wouldn't surprise me if he uploaded that video trying to make me look like a jerk even though he is the one that is being a jerk here.

src

There is no reason to get into an altercation at the gym. We are all there for the same reason for the most part but I have noticed an increasing amount of people that are using the gym to make some sort of Instagram or TikTok something or other and well, this just isn't the place for that. If you want to do that then maybe choose a time of day that isn't peak hours because I am never going to adhere to someone reserving a bunch of machines that they aren't using right at that time.

I fear that for smaller people (I'm 180cm and around 100kg) that they would allow this person to intimidate them into monopolizing all the machines and the gym really shouldn't be like that. These rules are actually stated at the front entrance but nobody reads them.

My gym has taken steps to prevent this sort of thing but are actually in the process of stopping people from wasting everyone's time in the gym because they are in the middle of making a video to upload. I'll get to that at a later date.

The point of all of this can be summarized into a simple thing: don't be a dick at the gym or even better, just don't be a dick in general.