Don't Be, "That Guy"

Recently I got into a great, very long conversation with a friend and a fellow bodybuilder who goes to the same gym as me. I was talking to him about a recent experience I had a few nights before.

That night I was feeling super motivated, all the prefect songs were paying through Pandora, I was hitting my reps hard, THEN….in walks a group of guys. I’ve seen them several times over the months, but I don’t pay attention to much happening around me when I am training because I tend to get into my own zone. On this particular night though I felt as though I was the target of bullying by this group of guys. Every machine I went to use, as soon as I was done with my 1st set I felt as if they were swooping in on it and over took that machine. After about the 3rd incident I walked up and said: “I’m sorry I have a few more sets to do, can I work in on this between your sets?” To which I was replied to “NO!” What the…….So I watched these boys lift up their shirts and flex in the mirror, examining each other’s abs and biceps for about 3 minutes between each and EVERY set *insert eye roll*. Needless to say, I left the gym that night and finished my workout with the weights I had at home.

This made me think….I’m a pretty strong and secure woman and I don’t get intimidated very much by men. But how would this have made a woman feel who just joined the gym and is starting her journey to a healthier and fitter lifestyle?

As I told my story about my experience to my friend (who happens to be a male bodybuilder) I got some great insight as to how we can go out of our way to make sure we aren’t “that guy/girl in the gym”. Being courteous to others in just the smallest way can help motivate another person. Everyone started somewhere! Just because you are farther along in your fitness journey, doesn’t mean that the workout of the guy or girl next to you is any less important as yours.

Oh and for heaven’s sake……stop flexing in the mirror and lifting up your shirt to check out your abs every 30 seconds…we all know you work out!