Unsolicited exercise advice

[vicky]

When people offer you unsolicited exercise advice how do you react?

I tend to bristle. Working out is already a sensitive area for me, and the fact that I'm doing it and motivated right now is enough. I don't want people telling me what I should do instead. I know I do a lot of cardio, I enjoy cardio. I do not like strength training or lifting. Eventually, I'll get there. Right now, I'm doing what I like in hopes of me making this a habit, not just a whim.

[MWOS]

I like to tell people that I have an incurable genetic disorder and their advice will likely send me to the operating room


Sometimes it's true, sometimes not, but it's fun to watch the look on their face when I say that

[spitforspat]

Drop kick or sucker punch.

[mskitkat]

I don't mind if someone's offering me advice on how I could do what I'm doing better. If they are telling me to run on the treadmill instead of do the elliptical, I point at my ankle brace and ask if they want to pay for the surgery I'd need after.

[kaybee85]

I usually smile and nod while noting to hate the person forever, but I'm a wimp, so I would never tell them to back off.

[daisybuchannan]

Yeah, I think this might be me sometimes

I am used to being in "instructor" mode so often that I think the mentality spills into my everyday life.

I take it a trainer told you to back off straight cardio and incorporate some strength training?

[lime]

I say very firmly with a set jaw and unfriendly look, "I've got it. Thanks."

Most people back the fuck off after that.

[vicky]

One of my old professors from college on Facebook. I love her dearly, and she's really really fit - a black belt in karate, works out every day at 4:45am, suncycles, yoga, the whole gamut. She's trying to be helpful, but it always rubs me the wrong way. And I know it's all because of my esteem problems.

[vicky]

I'm even worse when H says something, I think. He told me the other day I resent him when we exercise together. It might be true.

[angelaa73]

wait a minute. you're working out and some person comes up and tells you to do something different. HAA HHAAA ha whatta loser. I'd look around like "you talkin to me?" and then do a little waive off

[lime]

It sounds like it's time to block or defriend her.

[vicky]

No, it was on facebook! I've been taking a picture a day after I work out on Instagram*, and accidentally posted it to facebook today. And she commented on it.


(*for vanity reasons, I want to "see" the weight-loss eventually.)

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I am friends with a guy who does those muscle building competitions. He and his SO and all their friends are constantly making comments on this guy's FB page about people at the gym. Things about their form. Or what fatasses shouldn't be doing. Or the January people. It makes me never want to go to the gym. Ever. And I don't care if you are a trainer, if I don't ask for your help, back the fuck off and MYOB. I'll seek you out if I need you. It would be like a doctor coming up and telling me what I have in my grocery cart is wrong at the grocery store.

[daisybuchannan]

Anyone (trainer or not) that would comment on a random person's form or what they are doing at the gym has boundary issues!

I meant if a friend or someone in a class is talking to me about working out, I'll add my 2 cents.

[BieberMyBalls]

I don't mind advice, but it pisses me off when people tell me what I'm doing won't work. Like, don't do cardio, it doesn't do anything, or do more because you're not doing enough. Don't lift x weight, its not heavy enough. Hey asshole, I'm doing SOMETHING, which is more than I was doing a month ago. When I need help, I'll ask for it.

Do what works for you, eff the debbie downers.

[angelaa73]

oh! in that case, follow her advice and then post on fb that although you think her advice was beneficial, it was really boring. but thanks! hahah

[Deleted]

Ugh. A few years ago I tried doing p90x with my h. Big mistake. "jump higher! Common, you can do more than 2 pull ups". Yeah, you know what h? If Tony Horton says I can go at my own pace, I'M GOING TO GO AT MY OWN PACE. That lasted all of 2 weeks before I decided to join the old lady gym. Old ladies don't care.

[pantsparty]

My H has tried to correct my form before. He's just trying to be helpful, but it took everything in me to not say, "Fuck you."

[fuckyourcouch]

Uh, annoying.

[glassofsyrah]

Apr 3, 2013 21:05:22 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

My ex used to. He was a personal trainer and always offering me advice like "You know, work outs are more effective when you get off the couch." and "Lifting a beer bottle to your face doesn't count as an arm curl."

Ass.

[midnightrae]

Apr 3, 2013 21:05:22 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

My ex used to. He was a personal trainer and always offering me advice like "You know, work outs are more effective when you get off the couch." and "Lifting a beer bottle to your face doesn't count as an arm curl."

Sure it does. And shopping counts as strength and maybe cardio. (Strength for carrying all of those bags around and walking around the mall and shops carrying weights[read:bags full of stuff])

[sonrisa]

It's a hazard of her profession. She is used to people caring about what she thinks, especially her pupils. Which you were. This just isn't an area where her opinion matters. Roll your eyes and move on.