Trainers and Gyms treating bigger guys like assholes

[BrooklynBB]

So I was training today, doing legs on the hack squat. A miniscule trainer comes over - MID SET, WHILE I AM PUSHING THIS BITCH UP - and says, "Your form is horrible, you should get a trainer."

Is this the new way trainers get clients? By insulting gym members technique and form? Gee, that's a turn on.

I can picture it now...

Walk into a bar, see a beautiful woman sitting there, smiling at me, looking perfect, and next to her is her boyfriend, pretty big and buff. I go up to her and say, "Your boyfriend is an ugly scumbag. Maybe you need a new man."

Hmmm.... You know, it may actually work.

But I digress:

The point is, these trainers - at this particular gym that I am borderline about to announce if they keep fucking with me consistently - is a giant shit-box filled with walls that are painted over with 10 coats of water based bullshit to cover the shit stains on the walls. But they paint between the hours of 2pm and 8pm DURING THE WEEK. Idiots.

This same gym doesn't have proper ventiliation anywhere (Fire hazard), nor does it have an escape route for members in two distinct sections (another fire hazard) nor do they have a working fire alarm (I think you can guess what kind of hazard that one is?).

They also have ditches in the fucking floor, benches and machines that aren't bolted in, and cable machines with broken cables, missing pins and broken handles.

No, this isn't a hardcore lifters dream. This is bodybuilding purgatory, a place where old men who used to be big or school kids trying to get big, tossing around the 30 pounders like they're lifting the 100's and making noises that would rival an in progress homosexual orgy.

And the trainers and management ONLY GO AFTER MEN WHO LOOK LIKE BODYBUILDERS when it comes to dropping weights or leaving weights on machines (something I NEVER DO-- but CONSTANTLY get blamed for).

Thanks to Planet Fatness, this gym, I sense, is going the way of not the Hunk Alarm (lunk, whatever) but the REVOKE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE BIG GUY DUE TO VIOLATIONS OF POLICY alarm.

To top this all off, this miniscule little itty-bitty trainer challenges my form while this fat horse on the elliptical looks like she's racing to the nearest Good Humor truck to purchase a chocolate covered eclair, nearly TILTING the fucking thing while sweating up a steam bath of putrid lard gas, but this THING is allowed to continue while I get harassed for doing my own thing, quietly, just because I look good.

WHAT THE FUCK IS THE GYM ENVIRONMENT COMING TO!?!

(End of rant!)

 

[HSBulker]

Weird you mentioned this..today, as I was walking out one of the "trainers" at the YMCA I work out at, looked straight at me and said word for word "Are you done over there?" and gestured towards a cornucopia of plates and dumbbells on the ground. Of course I was, so I said yeah. Then, this is where all hell broke loose. He looks STRAIGHT AT ME and says "Are you gonna pick your shit up?" I was talking to a friend amid all this, and I just KNEW it had to be a joke, so I laughed and said "Yeah, I guess so!". About halfway through saying it, I looked up and his face was dead serious. I was fucking speechless. I couldn't have used all those weights if I had spent the entire day in the gym circuit training. Almost half the dumbbells were strewn all over, along with two of the EZ curl bars, and some plates. To be fair, one of the barbells was one I left, one of the ones that have the weights welded to it. I just couldn't believe that he singled me out like that. I've been working out there for going on 5 years now, a hell of a lot longer than he has even been there. Of course I wasn't going to argue with the guy, I had just finished my workout and, in fact, I wouldn't even know what to say! So I just cleaned everything up and left. He didn't even give so much as a thank you. Now said guy is about 5'6 140 8% BF..that type. Oh, and with a Jewish afro. I don't know whether to file a complaint with the gym next time I go, or wait and see if he continues his dickhead-ish actions. I do know that I'm sure as hell not gonna confront the guy. He seems like the type to slap me with a restraining order and a battery charge for coughing next to him.

 

[oldfella]

Weird you mentioned this..today, as I was walking out one of the "trainers" at the YMCA I work out at, looked straight at me and said word for word "Are you done over there?" and gestured towards a cornucopia of plates and dumbbells on the ground. Of course I was, so I said yeah. Then, this is where all hell broke loose. He looks STRAIGHT AT ME and says "Are you gonna pick your shit up?" I was talking to a friend amid all this, and I just KNEW it had to be a joke, so I laughed and said "Yeah, I guess so!". About halfway through saying it, I looked up and his face was dead serious. I was fucking speechless. I couldn't have used all those weights if I had spent the entire day in the gym circuit training. Almost half the dumbbells were strewn all over, along with two of the EZ curl bars, and some plates. To be fair, one of the barbells was one I left, one of the ones that have the weights welded to it. I just couldn't believe that he singled me out like that. I've been working out there for going on 5 years now, a hell of a lot longer than he has even been there. Of course I wasn't going to argue with the guy, I had just finished my workout and, in fact, I wouldn't even know what to say! So I just cleaned everything up and left. He didn't even give so much as a thank you. Now said guy is about 5'6 140 8% BF..that type. Oh, and with a Jewish afro. I don't know whether to file a complaint with the gym next time I go, or wait and see if he continues his dickhead-ish actions. I do know that I'm sure as hell not gonna confront the guy. He seems like the type to slap me with a restraining order and a battery charge for coughing next to him.

So you do what I would have done.........go and put away the bar that you left out! and then leave. If he has anything else to say You politely tell him that you put away the stuff you were using so go and find out who left all the other shit there and make them put it away. Smile and say, have a good day!!

 

[Nat]

They are just jealous little people!

Us big people just laugh at them!

 

[The Wolf]

I would smack the cunt in the face, just slap him like a bitch and the tell him to stick the gym up his ass and find a better place.

 

[Kane]

So you do what I would have done.........go and put away the bar that you left out! and then leave. If he has anything else to say You politely tell him that you put away the stuff you were using so go and find out who left all the other shit there and make them put it away. Smile and say, have a good day!!

Exactly! Better yet, after you tell him to have a good day add in, a nice " go phuck yourself. "

 

[muscledoc1]

Usualy when a rude trainer aproaches me next to his client-i say:"by the way thanks for that gear you got me last week bro!".

 

[Largeman250]

you know this is funny i was having this discussion with one of my training partners the other day.. most of the trainers in the gyms here in my town are all club hopping spray on tanned retards who LOVE to use the workout balls for everything... and half the time they train anyone they arent even focused on the client they stare at the women in the gym and look at themselves in the mirror... and most of them dont even really look above average to be honest... just your typical club going moron those of you in club security you know what im talking about lol. im not sure what i would do if one of them criticized my training methodology im sure it would make me angry to say the least but who knows.. sorry to hear your getting messed with bro

 

[Alex A]

I can relate to this shit!

Ive been working out at this Gym a while now, its a great place. Im one of the few that competes everyear, so allot of the members know I get in crazy condition and im a serious member.

I was waiting for someone to finish on the squat rack. Once they left, i put my weight on and did a set of squats.

I did my second set and racked the weight. Now im putting on some serious weight and getting ready for my third set.

Some trainer, who just got hired, wearing a shirt that says PERSONAL TRAINER comes up to me, with his client and says, in a nice tone " I was going to use this as soon as the last guy was done". I said, "thats nice, im going on my third set now and it wont be long till im doin" he says. " if you were cool, you would let us use this" and I said, " whatever buddy, you mean im not cool, unless I just stop what Im doing and let you guys take over" I will be done soon.

 

[mature muscle]

I would smack the cunt in the face, just slap him like a bitch and the tell him to stick the gym up his ass and find a better place.

i know we all feel like that but in our country rite now they would arrest him have him tested for AAS and he would be the next story on the news which we don't need rite now sometimes its better to smile and walk away.

 

[anabolicfan]

At my gym we have nothing but the best online certified trainers...lol
the other day one of them came up to me(160lb guy with no build @ all) and said if you would let me train you i could make you twice your size.....i just shook my head and said thanx but i have no intention on beeing 560lbs..

 

[phreak]

it is getting out of hand. for me, it's not just the trainers, but the trainees as well. it seems that there is a concerted effort to run young males who don't need trainers out of the gym, especially if you are 240+. last night a trainer and his husband and wife trainees were working beside a loaded bar, and there were some clips on the ground. i asked the trainer if they were using the clips, and he actually politely said "no, they are all yours". but, the cunt wife trainee felt compelled to ask me (in a smartass cunty tone) "are you using this???" while pointing to the step thing she was standing on. wtf is the point bitch?

i hear them saying things like "i don't know who they think they are. im in here working out too and i have every right to be here..." MIND YOU THEY ARE SAYING THIS INTO THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE THEY SIT ON A BENCH!

there is absolutely no form of gym etiquette whatsoever with the exception of a few trainees, and these always happen to be the guys that everyone seems to hate- bodybuilders.

this happened at a powerhouse i trained at when it became "fitness plus", now it is happening at a former world gym that is now "access fitness".

choices for training in orange county:

fitness plus
access fitness
24 hour fitness
LA fitness
gold's

...all these places suck. what i wouldn't give for a dark, dirty, dungeon.

 

[m.montoya]

I work at one of these places-let's just say one of their locations used to be the "Mecca." I'm the night manager and a powerlifter.The staff is comprised of a bunch of kids running the desk,a handful of robots that sell memberships,and the trainers are all stick-men douchebags with no in the gym experience save one who is a competing bodybuilder.The gym is such a joke we don't even have a power rack but they are planning to expand to add a "Men's Preferred" area for those too ashamed to lift in the open.One member was squatting with 495 and god forbid let-out a few grunts and screams,so the manager walks up to him mid f'ing set and pokes him while he still has 495 on his back and tells him "don't you ever do that in here again!" The guy racked the weight and threw the idiot into the nearest wall.My last meet I was training for I was pulling on the floor and was told to lower the weight a little quiter-well 600 plus pounds doesn't sound too quiet however you put it down so needless to say I've switched to training at midnight while on shift after the fitness crowd leaves.I constantly let my fellow employees know the contempt I have for the way these new-school gyms are run and do my part while I'm there to make the place a little more hardcore.

 

[kjreid]

i hear them saying things like "i don't know who they think they are. im in here working out too and i have every right to be here..." MIND YOU THEY ARE SAYING THIS INTO THEIR CELL PHONES WHILE THEY SIT ON A BENCH!

there is absolutely no form of gym etiquette whatsoever with the exception of a few trainees, and these always happen to be the guys that everyone seems to hate- bodybuilders.

I know what you are saying. I have been out of competitive lifting since 1992 (three bouts with cancer in the 90's). I have just received my 5 year bill of health and finally feel like I can get back into lifting (BBing is not an option right now) I started back at a gym after a 14 year hiatus. When I go in I know who the serious lifters are and can easily tell what they are working on. Yesterday I was on the Smith machine finishing my third set and notices a guy patiently waiting for the machine, so I did a quick pause (10-15 secs) and knocked out my last set and helped him load the machine (mind you a hell of a lot more weight than I am at right now). a 20 year old trainer ( I could tell by his neat little T-shirt that said PERSONAL TRAINER) came over and busted this guys chops about rushing me. Even when I told the trainer that I was done and everything was fine this guy still went off and told the Bodybuilder that he was the reason the gym was losing members.
I was shocked and back in the day you always were cognicent and cooperative with everyone in. hell back in the day trainers were not a dime a dozen and took their craft seriously, some of these places are ridiculous.

 

[TooPowerful4u]

whoah whoah whoah big guy.......go back and read your advice to me in my old thread. it thought i was just being a jerkoff and they dont REALLY pick on bodybuilders huuhhh?????????

 

[Dusty Hanshaw]

I agree with all of these situations being shitty but the one thing that I have heard more than once in this thread is "this small guy" "this 150lb piece of shit" etc etc.. The size of the jackass that is bothering you has nothing to do with the issue. I think (and I could be wrong) that some of you guys need to realize that if you immediately notice that the trainer or staff member is 150lbs and you find yourself discounting what he says even more based on his size then you may want to change the way you carry yourself in the gym. When I hear statements like "this miniscule trainer says..." that you may believe that purely based on your size you know more than him and you may carry yourself in a way that leads people back to the stereotype that BBers are jackasses and rude. I find that as I have gotten bigger (weighed 294lbs today) I have to be nicer than ever before to help people realize that I am not a jackass and I understand that I am no better than anyone else in the gym. That being said some of these situations would piss me off too, but I have learned about BBing from guys that are bigger than me as well as guys who are half my size.

 

[TooPowerful4u]

I agree with all of these situations being shitty but the one thing that I have heard more than once in this thread is "this small guy" "this 150lb piece of shit" etc etc.. The size of the jackass that is bothering you has nothing to do with the issue. I think (and I could be wrong) that some of you guys need to realize that if you immediately notice that the trainer or staff member is 150lbs and you find yourself discounting what he says even more based on his size then you may want to change the way you carry yourself in the gym. When I hear statements like "this miniscule trainer says..." that you may believe that purely based on your size you know more than him and you may carry yourself in a way that leads people back to the stereotype that BBers are jackasses and rude. I find that as I have gotten bigger (weighed 294lbs today) I have to be nicer than ever before to help people realize that I am not a jackass and I understand that I am no better than anyone else in the gym. That being said some of these situations would piss me off too, but I have learned about BBing from guys that are bigger than me as well as guys who are half my size.

I dont think the issue is discounting rules and regulations. I think they are COMPLETELY warranted to judge his knowledge on training based on how he looks. You gonna take a diet from a fatass? You wanna take advice on how to grow and get jacked up from someone 100lbs lighter than you? Cmon...appearances count in some areas. I dont give a shit how many nutritional degrees and books hes read or how many training certs or college kinesiology degees he has...HE HAS NO REAL WORLD APPLICATION. Point made.... (not to be a dik Dust, i know the post sounds like it)

 

[gtj220]

I train at a small facility and do some competitions and I was actually turned away from a training job cause i wasn't a "good fit." Well, here I am at this company with 8 locations and I was #1 after 3 months of employment because I know what i'm doing, respect everyone, and have fun. I've asked some guy's to pick up after themselves and not crash a 100lb barbell after curling just because it's not necessary, but i'm never nasty and I ask politely, it's all about how you treat people. But I even go to another good "meathead" gym that the company owns to get a heavy back or leg session.

 

[Hiramabiff]

Al I have to say is ...B.B is on his Eddie Murphy shizzle.

This is classic: "this miniscule little itty-bitty trainer challenges my form while this fat horse on the elliptical looks like she's racing to the nearest Good Humor truck to purchase a chocolate covered eclair, nearly TILTING the fucking thing while sweating up a steam bath of putrid lard gas"


Funny stuff brother!!

 

[lynx]

I agree with all of these situations being shitty but the one thing that I have heard more than once in this thread is "this small guy" "this 150lb piece of shit" etc etc.. The size of the jackass that is bothering you has nothing to do with the issue. I think (and I could be wrong) that some of you guys need to realize that if you immediately notice that the trainer or staff member is 150lbs and you find yourself discounting what he says even more based on his size then you may want to change the way you carry yourself in the gym. When I hear statements like "this miniscule trainer says..." that you may believe that purely based on your size you know more than him and you may carry yourself in a way that leads people back to the stereotype that BBers are jackasses and rude. I find that as I have gotten bigger (weighed 294lbs today) I have to be nicer than ever before to help people realize that I am not a jackass and I understand that I am no better than anyone else in the gym. That being said some of these situations would piss me off too, but I have learned about BBing from guys that are bigger than me as well as guys who are half my size.

I totally agree with you Dusty. JT is constantly TOO nice to people. He does have instances like mentioned above but most people come up to me and tell me things like, "Wow, he's so much nicer than I thought he was going to be." (Then I tell them just wait until you get to know him. ) Once people talk to him they don't feel uncomfortable around him they actually feel too comfortable and end up trying to dominate his time in the gym. That's when I have to be the bad guy and run them off or insist that JT and I get done so we can leave for some reason or another.

I have notice that WOMEN trainers try to tell him how to do exercises and what not. Almost coming across like, "I know something you don't." Ooooo he loves that!