How do you deal with unsolicited advice at the gym?

[Anonymous]

I'm a certified personal trainer and my fiancé is a physiotherapist, so I know what good form is, and what exercises work for me personally. Yet every time I go to the gym, random guys (with terrible form) come up to me to give me "advice". Even if they were right, and I was things wrong, why do they think it's okay to correct people who didn't ask them for their opinion? I don't know how to deal with these people anymore. I tried to be nice, but it doesn't work. I tried putting my headphones back and ignore them, it didn't work either. So how do you deal with unsolicited advice at the gym?

[emerald_17]

I'm a female, and a fighter. Been boxing since I was 6, I took time off from the boxing gym and was lifting with big time guys at the gym.
I constantly have people trying to tell me what I'm doing wrong or how to do things especially in the gym.
Personally , there's a few options here. I've tried all 3 lol number 1. The freak out (bro are you serious? Can't you see I'm working out?)

2. sorry bro I don't swing that way (like your no interested and you think they might be hitting on you...)

3. oh yeah? Ok cool. Why don't you show me? Hmm ok well I'll see what I can do. I'm open to opinions but please do me this solid. Can you tell me after my workout?

4. I'm really not in the mood today... Is like my last go to. Let me know what u think? And also even if it's your job your a personal trainer. And boundaries need to be set.
So as your job they can't get mad at you.
You can just always tell yo! Boundaries man... C'mon... And make them feel embarrassed?

[bbbrat]

Not going to lie I’m kind of known as a b*tch at the gym. But honestly these are strangers who we probably will never see outside of the space and frankly they’re creepy, objectifying and continuously mansplain. Thus I can’t say I care about their opinion.

Usually I just make remarks before they even start. Such as “Did you need help with your form?”, “Can I help you with something?”

If they continue to go on, I will occasionally interrupt them through their tangent. Stuff like “Great, sounds like you know how to do the [lift/whatever it is], did you need my help with something?”, “Did you want to workout or just tell me how to?”. I don’t know, usually they get the hint after one conversation or two. It might take a couple of weeks for the reputation to sink in, but over time they’ll steadily stop approaching.

[normalice]

They are trying to flirt. I can't really think of how to best deal with it as I am never flirted with at the gym and can't really think of any circumstances that would inspire me to try flirting. Perhaps wear a "professional gym trainer" tshirt? Theyll still find excuses to talk to you but at least it probably won't be giving you advice anymore.

[MrHopper]

Sometimes i guess its people being helpful and other times its people who are trying to chat you up! ... you could do the Ron Swanson approach (I been working as a computer programmer for 15 years so when i go to computer shops i get similar)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFWeoxrhbE8

[Smoke-n-Growls]

All unsolicited advice I've gotten at the gym has come from fat old men who do more coffee cup curls than actual exercise.

I ignore it, and simply don't respond. Sometimes I pretend I can't hear them thanks to headphones, other times I just glare.

On one rare occasion, I just legitimately laughed until he walked away.

Those dudes are honestly probably just trying to hit on you, and can't think of any other way to try to converse. Plus form correction gives them a plausible excuse to feel you up - not that you'd want that, but they probably aren't the types to care anyways.

[Quackthulu]

Tell me about it, nothing is worse than a dude with skinny arms and a gun in a sleeveless shirt trying to give me advice after I just finished my third set of pull-ups. Fortunately I don’t mind calling them out on their bullshit and making a scene as most of the regulars in my gym know me.

[RiJox]

You just made me laugh 😂 omg I’m so sorry that people keep coming though with their shit advice.
Just say “ok, thanks” and go back to doing what you were doing.
I know it’s annoying but done even bother getting mad. Or sounding like a dick because of it. Just say “thanks, I think I got it though” and keep going.


Good luck 👌🏾

[AdithyaR]

I've had this too. I would always do martial art based workout that I learn at my dojo. I'd aleays have dude come up to telling me I should quit this "fancy stuff" and start doing curls and etc.

In your case, I'm pretty sure they are just trying to hit on you. Just tell them off quickly. No point trying to be nice.

[Thatsamazing]

You simply persist in the way you already have been. I'm sure that's annoying. But you must realize that it's unlikely that the guys are actually interested in correcting your form. They just want to talk to you, most likely. Whether you "asked for their opinion" or not is irrelevant.

[coffeewithcream]

There's not much you can say, over and over, and it just gets into unwanted discussions.
One trick is handing the person a business card that shows you know what you're doing. A phrase can be embroidered on a hat.
I'd say most aren't correcting form. They're coming up with an opening line to say hi.
Or you can say, "Thanks. I got this."
Or, "My boyfriend taught me this way. Maybe you can talk to him."

[jennifer_bloom]

They might just want to hit on you or be your friend and have no interest in improving your form - if your that eager to get rid of them - go to the gym with a guy like your husband or brother so people will think your taken and leave you alone

[sensible27]

Change gym? I don't know... If you tell them it's alright you can deal with it maybe they will leave you alone... maybe they are just trying to help someone... it shouldn't be taken so aggressively or think/thought of so aggressively? Maybe...

[Levin]

Don't go the gym.

It's full of idiots.

Pullup bar.
Gymnastic rings.
lots of weights.
Paralettes.

Don't need anything else.

[G3tAClue]

It makes them feel manly about themselves to tell women how to work out. I would just say something like “thanks for the advice but I’m a personal trainer and can workout just fine.”

[InkRat]

I think if there advice is really good its wise to listen in them. But for most part change club. Its weird how you say people go to talk, most talk I have seen is asking how many sets are left or asking advice on form. And a bit chat if spliting rack.

[DrippingHoney]

You realize they aren't really giving you advice on your form or fitness routine, right? They're hitting on you. Take it for what it is and stop getting twisted up over it.

[JPrez]

Tell them "I'm trying to see things from your point of view, but I can't get my head that far up my ass".

[_SOARER]

They want to use that as an ice-breaker...
You think they give a shit about your form haha

this is why gyms should have male and female sections. Or just separate gyms...

[ChefPapiChulo]

I kinda know what you mean. But I doubt you know what you’re talking about just because you’re a personal trainer. I’ve come across a lot of trainers that don’t know how to build strength or size properly.

[Anonymous]

Even when you’re doing something wrong and they’re right, you complain? They’re literally just trying to be nice. It’s stuff like this that makes society go to shit... can’t even just be nice people anymore, wtf.

[Anonymous]

I had few of men like n my gym and yes they tried to give advice to me men, so it is not just trick to get women...

In my case I just point out his bad part, like they usually have 'chicken legs',... That takes them of teaching mood fast...

[leonidas69]

Instead of trying to deal with them try to understand why this is a common occurrence. 😂

[Iron_Man]

That’s because you’re a female and most likely they are using that excuse to talk to you. Or maybe it’s true you’re not doing it right

[Gedaria]

True , there is always some guy who thinks he knows better.
I usually say go away if they are not employed by the gym..