I Should Have Told Him To **** Off!

I was at work in the gym the other day coaching a client on her squat technique when a guy comes over and says:

Can I ask you a question?

I’ve seen him around before and silly me thought it would be a question about squat technique.

I say ‘Okaaaaay’ without taking my eyes off my client to let him know I’m actually working right now.

He says:

Why do you always wear black? Do you like it?

Excuuuuuse me?!

First of all, who are you random gym guy and why does what I wear to work have anything to do with you?

Second of all, I’m a professional working, at work, why on earth do you think it’s OK to come and interrupt my work to ask about my wardrobe?

Third of all, $@&%€*¥?!!!!!!

I bit my tongue, very politely explained it was a uniform and not a personal choice and gave him my sweetest ‘now run along’ smile and carried on wth my client.

Unfortunately if you’re a female gym goer you will more than likely have experienced one or more of these annoying things (and even more so if you’re a female weight lifter):

Comments on appearance

Now don’t get me wrong I often tell men and women they look good when I can see their training is paying off. So I agree this COULD be taken as a compliment IF they made the same comments about their male counterparts, but I have never heard a guy say ‘nice leggings’ to another guy so….

Unwanted advice on technique

80% of the men in my gym are squatting incorrectly. They are either doing half squats, which achieve nothing apart from being able to lift a lot more weight and therefore feed their ego. Or they have the bar placed in such a way that puts all of the emphasis on their quads and none on their hamstrings or glutes, leading to big thighs and small bums (no thanks) but this doesn’t stop them giving unsolicited (and incorrect) advice on how you should be doing your squats.

Unwanted bar touching

There is nothing worse than when you’re working hard in the gym and a man takes this to mean you need help and comes and ruins your last rep by ‘helping’ you get the bar up. Cheers mate you just ruined my whole set now I have to do it all again next week.

So how can you make sure these things never happen to you?

Move in packs.

Because while a lone female might look like an open invitation to annoy the hell out of, there is nothing more intimidating to the lone man than a group of strong, confident women who know what they’re doing.

I have a ready made pack of said women ready to welcome you into the fold.

You can learn more about my ladies only group sessions here: http://luciawilliams.co.uk/work-with-me/