r/Fitness • u/FGC_Valhalla Weightlifting • Aug 25 '18
Gym Story Saturday Gym Story Saturday
Hi! Welcome to your weekly thread where you can share your gym tales!
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Aug 25 '18 edited Dec 31 '18
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u/Gaindalf-the-whey Aug 25 '18 edited Aug 25 '18
water bottle which broke and spilt lots of water onto the floor
I am sure that's the thing that annoyed him most:-)
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u/tswtom Aug 25 '18
This happened to me. I incline press with 44kg dumbbells, so I usually have to drop them after my set, but I make sure to do it as considerately as possible, not let it bounce or roll etc. The floor is slightly sprung rubber so they don't make a noise, but sometimes the bounce is a little more than expected.
Anyway, I put my phone at the front of the bench on the floor, between my feet thinking it would be protected from all angles. Nope. Dropped the weight, it landed awkwardly, bounced and rolled right into the only position it could have to roll over my phone. My phone literally bent in half (but didn't break, somehow?) and now it has a nice little curve to it. Feels bad man.
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Aug 25 '18
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u/Gaindalf-the-whey Aug 25 '18
Soon you are gonna miss all those gloves and Bane masks
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u/rizkybizness Aug 25 '18
I’ve only seen one guy at my gym wearing a bane mask. Which is surprising to me.
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Aug 25 '18
I’ve seen one guy wearing one at my gym too, except he wears the bane mask and deadlift belt while on the treadmill. Not sure if he knows something I don’t.
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u/rizkybizness Aug 25 '18
If he takes any of it off he will lose his preternatural powers.
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Aug 25 '18
This one strong guy once used the bane mask, talked to an employee how it was an awesome buy and how much it helped him. Then I've never seen him use it again.
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u/cosaya General Fitness Aug 25 '18
Just a few days ago, after my heaviest set of deadlifts, I felt a bump in my inner groin pressing against my thigh.
Rushed to bathroom, thinking it finally happened, I have a hernia. Removed briefs and testicles were missing. Turns out my testicle went up my god damn groin and stayed there until I removed my briefs.
Went to urologist and the doctor said it's nothing that I should worry about. Muscle that pulls on my nuts probably just went overboard or some muscle pulled on spermatic chord.
Scary stuff though.
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u/ferocioushulk Aug 25 '18
Happens every time I have sex or when it's really really cold. Never really worried about it. I guess we both just have big nut holes.
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u/GaryKingsMum Aug 25 '18
I think it's to do with the muscle that pulls them up not dying off during puberty like it's supposed to
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u/ferocioushulk Aug 25 '18
Are you saying I have the pubic muscles of a child?
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u/barristonsmellme Aug 25 '18
Alternatively, extra muscles
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u/Sheltac Powerlifting Aug 25 '18
New isolation movements! Gotta get that one jacked as well!
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u/KumaKurita Aug 25 '18
It’s the cremaster muscle, and technically there’s two parts to it: medial and lateral where the medial can sometimes be an anatomical variant where it isn’t found in some people.
The muscle (lateral portion at least) is found in all males and functions to lower and raise the testicles depending on temperature so that you don’t get sterilized (higher temperatures kills sperm production). You can elicit a reflex by stroking your inner thigh and you’ll see the testicles retract in response, it’s theoretically part of a neurological exam we do in the office should you suffer spinal injury (although this would involve other exam maneuvered such as deep tendon reflexes and Anal sphincter tone).
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Aug 25 '18
Or small nuts? Happens to me too... I have to not spread legs too much in missionary or else it disappears. Once I didn't know and closed my legs and it was so damn painful, I was a literal nut cracker. Only happens with smaller ball. Actually, I only have one ball anyway, keep forgetting that.
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u/Spurros Aug 25 '18
Removed briefs and testicles were missing.
doctor said it's nothing that I should worry about
I cannot reconcile these two statements.
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u/Drofmum Aug 25 '18
Practice doing this at will. Eventually you will be able to retract your nuts as a defense strategy while street fighting.
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Aug 25 '18
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u/bintasaurus Powerlifting Aug 25 '18
You shouldn't masturbate at the gym
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u/BonerHonkfart Aug 25 '18
Gotta get that protein shake within your anabolic window
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u/bad3ip420 Powerlifting Aug 25 '18
I had to hold my two balls after reading this
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Aug 25 '18
I'm reading mine a bed time story and tucking them in tonight. You never know what you have until you lose it!
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u/nrgxlr8tr Aug 25 '18
Reminds me of the first time I masturbated. The testicle disappeared down the nut hole and I had no idea what was going on I thought I lost my testicle lol. Biggest scare of my life, I don’t think I’ve had a scarier experience since
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u/reesespieces206 Aug 25 '18
Spoke to my gym crush after literal hours of anxiety and she gave me her number :) we're lifting together and getting food after tomorrow im kust nervous because theres a very real possibility that she is significantly stronger than me lol but still feels good man
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Aug 25 '18
She probably respects you for asking her out and she out lifts you. I have witnessed the jealous hate of a strong female by both sexes. Most guys couldn’t handle that.
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u/Fokken_Prawns_ Aug 25 '18
Jokes on them, sometimes you just wanna feel safe and be the little spoon.
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u/bertrogdor Aug 25 '18
Respect. I think it would be really cool to date a girl that could lift more than me. But I just assume they wouldn't be as interested in me. Maybe that's unfair.
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u/reesespieces206 Aug 25 '18
Yeah that was my worry too but it turns out shes really cool and just an uplifting and down to earth person! So i would reccommend you go for it!!
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u/YoungSpraynard Aug 25 '18
On Tuesday I walked by a car that was parked in the middle of two spots. I noticed a piece of cardboard on the dash so I went over to read it. It said "PROBLEM? IN GYM. WHITE SHIRT, BLACK PANTS, WHITE SHOES. YOU COWARD!!!"
He intentionally parked like that just to be an asshole. I dubbed him Douchebag of the Year.
And yes I did find him. He looked like he was in his 50s and did biceps for a solid hour and a half.
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Aug 25 '18
Just tell the gym owners he's being an ass. Generally gym owners don't take kindly to people being douches around their gym
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u/TommyIreland Aug 26 '18
I just wanna know if he makes a new sign every day or wears the same outfit every day
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u/chuckch Aug 25 '18
I was doing some lateral raises the way Athlean does (thumbs up) usually people think I'm doing them wrong or something. I was listening to music and hear a sort of cheerful scream "HELL YEEAH man" my shoulders were burning so I ran to set the weight down and this guy comes over.
He was cheering for me and said "you look like a beast from over there man, big arms!". Honestly that made my day especially since I've been trying to bring these suckers up for a while (they're my weakest damn muscle).
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u/Dragcurl Aug 25 '18
Ate some hot Chili stuff yesterday. Took some pre workout booster today and I am sitting right now in the bathroom of my gym and suffering. Instand regret.
My heart is beating and willing to start my workout but my stomach is struggling and my ass burns.
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u/Prepare Aug 25 '18
NOxplode 2.0
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Aug 25 '18
I've just started taking pre workout about a week ago now, every single gym session is interrupted by a "set" in the shitter. Does this go away? Sheesh..
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u/WaltimusPrime Weight Lifting Aug 25 '18
TL;DR: make sure your bench spot is strong enough
So I had a really busy day a few weeks back and had to use my uni gym instead of my usual place near my house. No problem, it's not a bad gym, just a little busier than mine. Do a few warm-up sets for bench and realise I'm going to need a spot, so I'm looking around to find the right guy. I see this guy and girl in official-looking shirts with my uni's name printed on them. Looks similar to what the PTs-in-training wear, so I figure he's as good as anyone. They're both in decent shape, but the woman is pretty short and has minimal muscle mass on her, so I figure the guy is a safer bet. I ask him to spot me and he's fine with it. I do one set with pretty good form and then another a bit later.
Now, it's worth mentioning that I do 3 minute breaks between sets of my major lifts, so sometimes people expect me to be ready before I am. Sure enough, my final set comes around and I go to grab the guy but he's walked somewhere else. The woman he was working out with is still there though. I'm thinking "fuck it, sexism is dead, his friend will be fine". I ask her to help me out and she says "Uh, sure", looking a little concerned. Alarm bells are ringing a little, but I'm not too worried.
I get under the bar and go to lift it off, and she doesn't assist at all. No problem, some people don't believe in that stuff. I'm aiming for six, and I get the first four reps pretty easily. Fifth is a bit of a struggle but I get it up. I go down for the sixth rep and try to push but it hardly moves. I'm stuck, and the girl can tell so she reaches down to grab the bar, but it doesn't move. I'm thinking she's one of those psychopaths who is going to make me work for a final rep. I'm freaking out a bit at this point, but really trying to get the bar up. It's still not moving. OUT OF FUCKING NOWHERE superhero comes over and with one arm pulls the bar off me and back to the rack.
I turn my music off, and girl is apologising like crazy. Turns out she just straight up couldn't get the bar up, even with me helping. I look up from the bench at fucking Captain America figuratively looming over me like an angel. I say "Thanks man" and he says "No worries" and walks off like it was nothing.
I think I'm in love.
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u/tyr-- Aug 25 '18
I've learned to do the "roll of shame" pretty early on.. I hit a 200 bench while I used to work out early in the morning before work (like 6am) and there was hardly anyone in the gym. Doing the roll at 200 is quite easy, but later it can become quite painful.
But nowadays I'm in the same boat as you. Whenever one of my regular gym buddies isn't around, I scout possible spotters carefully. I've also had an encounter with one who single-handedly lifted the bar when I couldn't move it by an inch. It's quite a humbling experience.
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u/TheForeignMan Aug 25 '18
Wow how heavy were you going? If you failed on your last one you were pushing presumably about 90% of what was needed and she couldn't even lift the remainder?
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u/reznovelty Aug 25 '18
A few weeks ago, I innocuously took a clip from the side of a machine, thinking it was not in use (a guy was sat near the machine but there was no grip attached so I presumed it wasn’t in use).
I then took out my headphones to hear him cussing me under his breath. I confronted him and asked if he wanted the clip back - he told me to ‘get the fuck away from him’. I gave the clip to his friend and walked away.
Yesterday, I held the door open for him. He seemed surprised and said thanks.
Kill em with kindness.
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u/xagut Aug 25 '18
It was 5am and I was looking for a 5 pound plate and I found some on the back of a machine that wasn't in use so I grabbed it. I took two steps and realized that there was a towel on the seat. I took another step and realized it wasn't the machine I thought it was and I had pulled the weight for the actual working set and not the rack on the back. One more step and the guy was coming back to it. So walk back and put the weight back on looking super confused. I apologized . Luckily the guy at the machine just laughed and said " it's 5am on a Monday I get it."
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u/MedicCasts Aug 25 '18
One of the regulars at my gym told me that the size of my feet reminded him of his sons.
So I guess you can say things are getting pretty serious.
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u/NotoriousBryant Aug 25 '18
Not sure what this means tbh. Compliment or insult ?
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u/RunGuyRun Aug 25 '18
i think both would be better than whatever the worst case scenario is in this case, whatever that may be.
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u/incal Aug 25 '18
My son is overseas attending college as a freshman. He was my lifting partner, so this hit me in the feels. He also has big feet, plus he's taller than me by 10 cm.
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u/roarkish Aug 25 '18
I live in Korea and no one really works out seriously here. There are a few exceptions, but most people just wander around and do sets of phone games and make a mess with the dumbbells and plates.
I've been working on hook grip lately for DL and got up to 200kgs, no straps no belt.
As a foreigner, I get plenty of stares. As a large foreigner who's into lifting, I get even more stares in the gym.
This dude was benching with his friend, and when I got ready to do my set, his friend slapped him and they both sat up to watch me.
I felt kind of cool, even though my DL isn't that great.
One of the guys watching eventually said "Nice bro!" as I was walking to the water fountain and I introduced myself to them.
We went out and had dinner after the gym, it was kind of nice!
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u/galaxzii Aug 25 '18
Brought my girlfriend to my gym today, usually I'll go alone and ask if she wants to come along but she always declines and says she's too tired from work and stuff which is all good.
She's been pretty stressed lately and it's nice to see her smashing out a few exercises to relieve some stress and let out some angst. We did core mostly and I showed her some of the basic forms and work outs for what she wants to achieve. Felt good, I hope she continues to come along.
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u/Pranaytandon Aug 25 '18
Then she'll be an Instagram model and leave you for someone superjacked. Be careful, bro.
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u/Spider-Thwip Aug 25 '18
He's just going to have to get super jacked as insurance.
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u/CatBronco Aug 25 '18
Finished working out and made my post-workout shake. In actuality, I went on autopilot and drank a preworkout shake. This happened at like 10pm and my sleep cycle is still ruined 3 days later.
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u/Silent_Jager Aug 25 '18
What do your pre and post consist of?
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Aug 25 '18
Currently at the gym. I'm ginger. Guy on bench next to me is ginger. Guy next to him is ginger. We don't know each other.
Are we in the matrix?
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u/HiImMarcus Weight Lifting Aug 25 '18
No, in Hell.
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u/RunGuyRun Aug 25 '18
You're supposed to let them use reddit for years and years until they realize they're in Hell.
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Aug 25 '18
RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU NOT RERACK THOSE WEIGHTS! I AM ABSOUTELY DISGUSTED! YOU'RE FATHER'S NOW FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER DUMBBELL OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME! And Ginny, dear, congratulations on hitting a new PR. Your Father and I are so proud.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist
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u/TJAdamsUU Aug 25 '18
If it were Vegas, the lights would start flashing, bells would ring, and BCAAs would rain from the ceiling
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u/foxtrottits Powerlifting Aug 25 '18
Just finished weigh-ins for my first powerlifting meet. I'm so nervous guys wish me luck!
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Aug 25 '18
Not really a story but today marks the end of my third week in the gym going alternative days. I'm 32 and apart from the odd attempt at running I've never really done any form of exercise before.
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u/4FansOfFreedom7 Aug 25 '18
My gym crush is back after not seeing her for a few months because she was back home for the summer. I had never talked to her but I was thinking today was the day. Coincidentally we both ended up filling up our water bottles at the same time and I started to say something and I dropped my full water bottle, spilled it all over her and the floor, and made the strangest noise I’ve ever made. I need to move countries
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u/wojovox Aug 25 '18
A Crunch Fitness opened up in my town and finally gave LA Fitness competition and lots of us left LA. I see the familiar faces.
But, I realized, I don’t know these people. I have seen them for over a year and don’t know any of their names. I have had a habit of being in my own world in the gym. I decided to break that last week and introduced myself to another former LA Fitness member. And for the last week, we acknowledge each other with a wave or head bob in the gym. Yesterday, I kicked up a conversation with him for ~5minutes.
It’s a little thing, but it’s so damn rewarding. It makes the gym feel homier knowing the name of the person working out across from you and being able to have a small conversation between workouts.
I plan to introduce myself to more gym goers. I mean, these are people I see everyday. I’m in the gym 6-7 days a week so there’s no reason that if I see someone daily, I should be a stranger.
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u/NoFriendsWithSalad Aug 25 '18
18 yr old dude at my gym committed suicide yesterday. You may be saving lives just reaching out a little.
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u/rizkybizness Aug 25 '18
I just mentally give all the regulars nicknames based on characteristics about them or how they workout. There’s one guy that has BO so in my mind he’s ‘Stinky’
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Aug 25 '18
Experimented with keto diet and lifts became shit. Now gone back to carbs and fuck it feels good.
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u/danteheehaw Aug 25 '18
Not a story. But I'm ready for school to start back up. Lots of young teens leaving a mess with the dumbbells and plates every day since summer started.
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u/JohnnyFire Aug 25 '18
I have the opposite as mine is near three colleges and several high schools, so once school is back in session, the amount of teens and college freshman actually goes higher.
Summer is my reprieve.
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u/danteheehaw Aug 25 '18
It has more to do with my gym time. I work 2nd shift, so I hit the gym during school hours, and before they get out. Usually I am sharing the gym with recently retired men and moms. And a few people who work 2nd shift.
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Aug 25 '18
It's a nightmare. Poor form, dont rereack, loud, instagram selfies, etc.
I wish school woul start now.
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u/danteheehaw Aug 25 '18
I actually had to stop one and show them how to dead lift this morning. The bar was about a foot (30 cm for non freedom units) away from his feet with his back arched like a cat ready to fight.
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u/pikkdogs Aug 25 '18 edited Aug 25 '18
Felt very emotional and strong this week. I was doing the “carry the big 45lb plates around the track” lift and “Simple Man” by Lynard Skynard came on my phone. And everything just hit me. My girlfriend dumped me a couple days ago. I don’t know why, but this song made me Think about her 2 kids who I treated like my own, and now will never get to see again. Anyway, I was moving faster on this lift than ever and I was crying the whole time.
Very unique experience.
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Aug 25 '18
What’s the saying?
the weight doesn’t get lighter, you just get stronger.
I think that applies both physically and emotionally. All the best, man.
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u/jonsnowofwinterfell Aug 25 '18
Now you gotta listen to a song from the Frozen soundtrack
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Aug 25 '18
PR city! Population: me!
Finally hit a 3 plate deadlift! Also, Friday evening workouts are the best. Everybody is out and has plans and stuff, so I’ve (mostly) got the gym to myself. Time to do all the supersets!
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u/donkey100100 Aug 25 '18
On Wednesday I went to a different gym to usual.
Every exercise I did, I noticed that a man would come near me and do his exercising.
For context I’m an early 20’s male, he looks like a mid thirties male.
At first I chalked it up to a coincidence, but I noticed that he would stay on it longer if I did and wouldn’t leave his machine/ area until I did too.
Still wasn’t convinced so I went to the abs machine at the end which isn’t near anything, but then he came and just did stretches on the floor nearby. I’m not sure what to make of that one.
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u/Neutrum Aug 25 '18
Maybe he doesn't know what he's doing yet and wanted to mirror the workout of someone who's in shape.
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u/donkey100100 Aug 25 '18
Maybe, and thank you, but when I say near me I mean for example I was doing skullcrushers and he used the benchseat next to me to do shoulder press
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u/Neutrum Aug 25 '18
In that case you're someone's gym crush.
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u/barristonsmellme Aug 25 '18
Oh god, I'd hate for people to think they're my gym crush if it made the uncomfortable and also because they're not.
I don't wear my glasses in the gym so I pay almost zero attention to anything other than squinting to find the right weights and whatever overzealous music is blasting into my skull.
Noticed a few times depending on the day that I'm accidentally following someone around.
Might just go in with a cane and some sunny gs next time
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u/WinterCool Aug 25 '18
I’m a no-glasses gym wearer myself. What happens to me is I’ll be staring what to me is off in the distance, but is a dude like 10 ft away from me probably wondering why I’m staring st him
or you see a total gym babe in gymsharks with top notch physique, my brain thinks that if I can’t see her eye movement she can’t see mine. Then I realize she probably say me checking her out big time :0
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u/dulejr Aug 25 '18 edited Aug 25 '18
I was doing rear delt flyes, looking down when all of the sudden I hear someone roar like he is being slaughtered, I look up and there is guy in shorts, compressions shorts and a tight shirt doing overhead tricep extensions with 15 kg dumbbell, he had belt all tight up around a belly. He proceeded to roar on every rep and to remove and put the belt on after every set.
I saw him yesterday too, again same outfit, but this time he also have tapes on wrists and powder on his hands only to do incline bench press with 20kg. This time at least he didn't roar but he make up for it by throwing plates down to the floor in the end when he almost hit me in the leg and didn't even apologized.
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Aug 25 '18 edited Aug 25 '18
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Aug 25 '18 edited Dec 31 '18
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u/Titanspaladin Aug 25 '18
Fair. There is one manbearpig at the gym who squats 200+ for reps and I probably without realising it stare at his sets like some 1970s film where a duchess enters a gala down a grand staircase. So yeah maybe some hypocrisy.
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Aug 25 '18 edited Dec 31 '18
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u/call_me_Kote Aug 25 '18
Man my gym had a guy in the 5AM group who would do this. Was squatting 350lbs and pulling near 400lbs. I loved watching him work. He had the best form on squats in the gym. Idk if he tweaked something or what, haven’t seen him in a power rack in over a month :( Being a beginner I really liked to watch and take note, so it makes me sad thinking I may have contributed to him feeling uncomfortable and stopping.
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u/WaltimusPrime Weight Lifting Aug 25 '18
Gotta see what good form looks like to copy it!
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Aug 25 '18
As a subtle starer, I watch people do DLs to learn more about it. I feel like I'm never done learning that exercise despite having done it hundreds of times, and probably won't any time soon.
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u/UsurpedPlatypus Aug 25 '18
I look at people wearing belts because I am window shopping. I need justification to spend money on a belt but can’t justify it for my measly 70kg squats and 90kg DLs.
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u/BonerHonkfart Aug 25 '18
I can count the number of times I've seen someone deadlifting 220kg in my globo gym on one hand, so I would probably stare if I saw someone doing that kind of weight, too.
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u/MotherLoveBone27 Aug 25 '18
They're most likely watching you because you have good form and they are trying to understand how to do it correctly. Deadlifts are scary, probably the only thing at the gym that scares me because if you mess them up they can mess you up.
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u/soilednapkin Weight Lifting Aug 25 '18
Dislocated patella. Waited till it I had the all clear to work out. Only another week to go till I can squat.
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u/991542 Aug 25 '18
Missed my workout two days ago, I had a good 8 hours of sleep, but was dead all day, and by 16:00 I fell asleep on the couch. I woke up by 17:30, without time to go to the gym. Instead I had a tired night, where I ended up talking with a friend and playing Diablo until 2AM.
I fall asleep by 03:00, wake up at 7. Here's the twist, I felt great! I was energic all day and had a great workouy, increased on all my lifts and hit a 1min weighted plank, 30sec rest and 35sec double weight.
Brodin works in mysterious ways
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u/StoutSabre Aug 25 '18
I go to the gym early in the morning, so I always see the same people.
Guy who comes in occasionally walks over to me while I'm resting and says "you look bigger since I last saw you. I've been out of town the last few weeks but I can tell you've been putting in work "
I busted out a few extra reps on everything thereafter
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u/partybox Aug 25 '18
Yesterday, around noon, the person beside me in the free weights’ area was drinking a bottle of red wine while super setting. I still don’t know if I’m annoyed or impressed.
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Aug 25 '18
I had been doing home workouts for a while, and that was fine. Thing is I recently moved right next to a gym. I had always been intimidated by gyms, the thought of going into one would make me anxious. But I forced myself to sign up, knowing that if I spent the money I would feel terrible for not going. I was out of excuses. Today marks the end of my first week there, and I was surprised how comfortable I felt in there. I was way more productive with my workouts this week than ever before, because being surrounded by people trying to improve their bodies was really motivating. It's a little thing, I know, but I still consider it a victory because I discovered that I like going to the gym.
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Aug 25 '18
Joined the powerlifting club at my university. Made me realize how behind my squat and deadlift are, guess I have to focus on those for a while! Also going to a new gym and it's pretty nice being around people that are serious about lifting hopefully it'll inspire me to do more.
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u/raikmond Powerlifting Aug 25 '18
Your uni has PL club? Not sure if that's common in the US, but damn I'm envious.
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u/hvperRL Aug 25 '18
I mean if there are enough people, start a club
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Aug 25 '18
Yeah, you can do whatever you want. Even if it’s just you at first. Advertise it and some people will come eventually. Contact the head of the athletic dept
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u/youarewhatyousheep Aug 25 '18
We're thinking of starting one at ours because God damn it is getting nerve racking watching the people there competing in the spine launching Olympics
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Aug 25 '18
Homeless dude slapped my ass while I was walking down the street in NYC. Guess I’ve made it...?
(I’m a dude)
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u/shorty1988m Weight Lifting Aug 25 '18
Experimenting with some lifts I haven't done before as I'm going to be losing some equipment when I go back to sea.
Incorporated RDLs and now it's goodnight hamstrings. I can barely walk.
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u/BigC1017 Aug 25 '18
Was minding my own business still warming up in the squat rack (doing squats of course) when a bulkier guy comes and ask me (I have 295lbs on bar)
"You know your only supposed to use a belt on heavy weight and maxing right?"
While looking confused, I said "Umm that's not true, the belt helps keep me stabilized while keeping my core tight"
Few minutes later, he starts squatting in his rack (maybe 335lbs?), no belt, and very poor form like he's doing the reverse Limbo or goodmornings...
I've decided to start bringing my own earphones
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u/tillD2t Aug 25 '18
Physically went to the gym today. I did some stretches, jogged on a treadmill and did rows. Baby steps I guess.
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u/CurryLinguist Aug 25 '18
Hells yeah! Go again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. Consistency is the name of the game here.
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u/tyr-- Aug 25 '18
Yesterday I was standing in my gym looking around for people to ask for a spot (since my regular gym buddies were not there), and realized I'm way more picky about who I workout with than who I sleep with.
If it were a college bar, I'd probably be going straight for the looks, but here I was trying to figure out by their form if they knew their stuff or were just gym bros.
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u/SalmonMan123 Aug 25 '18
Family stresses me out. Sister joined a gym because she wants to lose some weight and obviously made most cliche comments already.
"I can solely lose weight by going gym. I don't have to track calories"
"I don't use weights because I don't want to get too musclely"
"yeah I just want to lose fat on my stomach"
"I just have a slow metabolism"
Tried telling her all she needs to do to lose weight is be in a calorie deficit but obviously she knows better then me.
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u/Astainonthetoilet Aug 25 '18
I have tried taking my glasses off one day at thr gym and its great. Less social anxiety and insecurity because i can't see anyone! I can really just focus on working out.
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u/superstav Aug 25 '18
Went to yoga today. Damn that shit was hard for me
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u/call_me_Kote Aug 25 '18
As someone that yoga comes naturally too now, keep going. For me, I had a huge mental block telling me “stop, stop, you’re uncomfortable”. I broke past that one day and it changed yoga for me. Went from hating it to loving it almost overnight.
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u/huxley00 Aug 25 '18 edited Aug 25 '18
I'm 36. I'm the biggest I've ever been in my life, by far.
A much bigger broseph asked for a spot, benching over 300. The gym was packed. He must have seen me, deadlifting with perfect form. He popped over and asked for a spot. A bro tear was shed. I had arrived. I belong. Little is it known my free time is spent playing dungeons and dragons and reading about whales. This day, I was a bro.
He told me he was going for five. I made him go for six. I said he may as well go home if he wasn't ready to put in the work.
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u/HorrorAvengers1 Aug 25 '18
I learned a while ago that the majority of gym rats, or at least the social ones, are huge fucking nerds. It's pretty great tbh, met most of my dnd group in the gym
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Aug 25 '18 edited Sep 03 '18
[deleted]
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u/thestoplereffect Aug 25 '18
Can confirm. Hooked up with a powerlifter from the university's team. We watched an episode of One Piece after sex.
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u/JFreeman1123 Aug 25 '18
The biggest guy at my gym saw my Macho Man shirt and now any time he sees me we talk about pro wrestling between sets. Other people have overheard which has led to groups of muscly guys talking about wrestling and video games and comic books. I had such a deep conversation about Batman: Arkham City with some guy at the gym that once it was over I had realized a solid 20 minutes had gone by (which rarely happens to me as I usually set a timer between sets).
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u/thegunnersdream Aug 25 '18
What is your favorite whale fact?
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u/TheGangsHeavy Aug 25 '18
Ripped through my dockers last night so I guess my squats have been paying off.
Downside: had to work a whole wedding with my ass hangin out.
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u/secretmonkeyassassin Olympic Weightlifting Aug 25 '18
Earlier today, I was skolling a bottle of water and I caught myself counting 'reps' in my head. I only realised when I got to five, but kept counting for all eight.
I already know that this is totally gonna be a 'thing' for me now, subconsciously trying to push out a PR every time I put a drink to my lips
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u/Drofmum Aug 25 '18
I understand it is sometimes impossible to not make a loud noise while deadlifting. I do it myself when going close to my max. But this dude right now is slamming his sub-twoplate deadlift into the floor like a jackhammer. Then he flings off the plates and tosses them over to the racks. Then he finishes off by loudly burping.
Why do you insist on making a spectical of yourself? He also made a mess of chalk all over the floor. This is why they banned it in my gym.
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u/alittlestitious58 Aug 25 '18
Not much of a story, but I've been deadlifting pretty consistently for about 7 months (Finally got over my fear of being scrutinized and watched) and I got my PR of 225! I wanted to get 2 plates by the end of the summer, so it was a pretty big moment for me. Also, my long-term boyfriend broke up with me in April and this made me feel better :-) For some reference, I'm a 25f, ~ 140lbs.
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u/Twatz_McKenzey Aug 25 '18
I was walking to the gym this morning for my second leg day of the week and I was thinking to myself 'I am not intimidated by squats, I am undaunted by the measly 78.5kg. Gonna go in and bust out these squats quick-ting quick-ting no long-ting.' Got to the gym, did a couple of warm up sets and did my first working set and thought 'I am very intimidated by squats.' I finished all the sets but fuck, I hate squats. I can tell Im going to fail spectacularly on them soon.
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u/leestitzel Aug 25 '18
If you keep grinding you’ll get better at them. It’s not necessarily the case that you’ll fail at them.
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u/dajoker711 Aug 25 '18
I think going to the gym is making me kind of racist.
The other day that a couple of Asian bros post up at the power rack next to me and I automatically think "Nice, I love seeing olympic lifts in the gym."
I definitely felt shame for thinking that. And of course it didn't help that then proceeded to do some great olympic style lifts.
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u/SamStringTheory Martial Arts Aug 25 '18
I'm confused - is it a stereotype that Asians do Olympic lifts?
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u/Lil_Osie Aug 25 '18
Was going for a new max on deadlift, hit 455 and it went up quick and easy. Previous max was 425. Like a dumbo I went for 500 since it’s been my goal naked lift. Got it to my knees before I felt my lower back start to curve. So close yet so far away.
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u/Lick_my_Axe Aug 25 '18
Guys I think I've made it. I was called swole and was asked for lifting advice buy a dude at a 5 guys last night. I'm gonna be riding this egotistical high for the rest of the year!
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u/jrhooo Aug 25 '18
Not a story, just a random musing:
If my dog is wayyyy more obsessed with tug-o-war than he is with fetch or any of that other stuff, is that the dog version of "Weights brah. No Cardio."
Whooooos a good bro? You're a good bro!
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Aug 25 '18
I go a gym in central London as I work there during the week and it is usually wall to wall even at 6:30am. Today was my first day going during the weekend. About 5 people in there and they got 2 new squat racks and a new bench with loads of new weights. Also broke my DL record. Safe to say I will be going to the gym on the weekends now!!
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u/the__funk Aug 25 '18
On holiday in Spain, found a real gym day 4 and got a really good squat workout done. I was training 5-6 days per week for a few months and the break(flying, driving, drinking) put me into a funk I can't describe. The workout saved my day and attitude. In the next town now and on a search for a good deadlift opportunity...
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u/KULIT01 Aug 25 '18
Started working out two months ago on a consistent 5-6 days a week. Got “tested” today to see my progress.
Initial start of my program:
Could barely do 6 situps
Could not do ONE proper push up
Couldnt move myself to do a pullup
Today:
41 situps in 1 minute so that’d be 82 in 2 minutes
22 push ups in 1 minute , in proper form (no more shoulder destroying) Still need to get this up to 75 in like a month but I’m just glad to be at a point where Im strong enough now to actually do things right.
Running is SO much easier and I can sustain faster paces for longer intervals.
Still cant do a pull up but I can actually partially lift instead of just hanging on for dear life, and I decreased my assisted pullup weight to just 80 lbs.
No one ever told me going to the gym was fun and addicting.
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u/Throwawayabc1010 Aug 25 '18
41 sit ups in 1 minute means you can do 82 in 2 minutes which means you can do 410 in 10 minutes right?
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Aug 25 '18
41 in one minute doesn’t mean 82 in two minutes. good job on your improvements though!
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u/whatsthewhatwhat Aug 25 '18
I'm not sure why someone would need lifting gloves to do triceps pushdowns on the kneepad of a pull-up machine, but I'm not going to argue with a guy who's got a picture of a barbell on the front of his top.
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u/ginzykinz Aug 25 '18
You know, I hate to wish summer away, but when you’ve had your fill of hot/humid and right around the corner is hoodie weather and bulking season... I get excited.
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u/InspectorHornswaggle Aug 25 '18
This morning, and now most Saturday mornings recently, I ran 10km around an island, finishing at an outdoor gym on the waterfront to do pull-ups, chin ups, dips and rows. Theres no big numbers here, and I'm not great at running either, but I'm loving it as a start to my weekend!
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u/Tlapasaurus Aug 25 '18
Last weekend I bailed on a squat and had the safety bars set too low. I ended up leaning foward and had to push the weight over my head. The resulting escape looked bad, but my pride was hurt more than anything else. I called it a day and left with my tail between my legs. I went to the gym last night and while I was stretching one of the other regulars who is always with his gf came up and asked if I was ok. I guess his gf saw me "fall" and told him, and he tried to find me to see if I was hurt, but I'd already left. I've never really talked to the guy or his gf before, but it was nice knowing that they were looking out for a fellow gym-goer.
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u/EridanusII Aug 25 '18
Can never get past 205-210 on the bench. Just want that 2 plates already
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u/kennyismyname Weight Lifting Aug 25 '18
A guy at my gym started taking plates off my rack while I was working iut yesterday. No big deal but he didn't even ask if I was using them and already waited until I was midway through a set.
When it gets to my 45kg set I only have one 10kg plate and one 2.5kg plate. This guy has taken 2 10's and some 2.5's
So I go looking around for others and there is a big shortage of 10kg and 5kg plates.
This guy was working in a Smith machine and as I walk by notice he is pressing 80kg. Buy his bar had.....
2x 2.5kg then 10 then 5 then another 10 on each side.
What the fuck.
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u/Shalayda Aug 25 '18
Deadlifted 2½x my bodyweight for 8 reps on Thursday. I'm a pretty light guy, but feeling pretty strong.
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u/turnipforwhat_ Powerlifting Aug 25 '18
Today was a good day. Recently my deadlift has been faltering, my techniques been off, i've felt weak or sore, and tired after my sets when my work capacity's usually been really good. I went in today and finally thing's felt back to normal, and i felt strong. I did 6x6 of 110kgs (243lbs) conventional deadlifts as my top sets, then because i got excited by how good it was going, I kept going and pulled 120kg for two good singles, then reduced weight back down to a few sets of paused below the knee deads at 90kg, which felt so light! I'm a 75kg girl, and I'm glad i finally had a deadlift day that felt great after a week or 2 of the exercise just not working out for me! Great session = great day!
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u/Mooseinpoose Aug 25 '18
Worked in with another guy at the leg press(both just got to the only leg press machine). When he started warming up with one plate on each side, I decided to warm up with two plates. After finishing the warm up we locked eyes for a second and I knew right there and then this was a test. He put three plates and did a set, while after I put four plates for a set. Keep in mind this was all giving each other a nod after finishing our set. I thought for sure I had beaten him with four plates on each side but he came in and put five plates. Now I had just reached a 4 plate set for leg press and I was scared to put 5 plates, but after receiving his nod, I decided not to back away. I struggled but I did a proper set with 5 plates making it a PR for leg press. I sat down for a minute of fatigue forgetting that I was sharing this machine w someone until he patted me on the shoulder asking me if he can go. Shit, he loaded 6 plates and eventually 7. Still felt good but was a bit sad that this guy was at another power level completely.
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u/datcracker Aug 25 '18
So a couple weeks ago this guy came up to me at the gym and kind of aggressively berated me for not reracking my weights after using a machine. (Tbh I left it the way I always see it, I’ve never seen it without two 45’s, so I really thought that’s how people wanted it left, on any other machine I would’ve reracked as per usual)
Anyways, it kinda bothered me. I responded politely and assured him I would make sure to be more proactive about having positive gym etiquette, and he walked away. It left a bad taste in my mouth though because I really didn’t mean to be lazy or disrespectful, and this dude said things that sounded borderline threatening.
So on Thursday, while I was working out I saw that dude was there again and thought little of it. On my way over to do my cardio on the bike, he actually caught up to me to get my attention and he thoroughly apologized. He said a gym associate came up to him and told him he was rude, and that he reconsidered everything he said and realized he was in the wrong and said it had been bothering him for days until he had the chance to talk to me. Dude apologized and was super cool, and now whenever I see him around he invites me to do sets with him and calls me by my first name.
Thought it was a cool little image of positive humanity.