the beast turns

from time to time i suppose i can be a little bit of a gym bully. according to the bloke last sunday was one of those times.

when i first joined the gym there were rules and they were enforced! one of the rules regarded the 'grunting' that some lifters feel is more a part of the culture than the exercise themselves. now while i can understand why it is hard to perform a 800 lb deadlift quietly. i similarly can't understand why a grown-ass man on the leg press with 3 plates aside, has to scream as though he is being violated by the lifers in cell block 8.

when the 'trainer to the stars' first started working out of the gym, he brought in a contingent of 'competitors' who basically got the grunting thing going. not to be outdone the wannabe's and general ass hats soon leapt into the fray.

turning up the volume on my mp3 player was not enough to drown out the braying. i eventually had to purchase a headphone adapter that had a separate volume control. now i could turn my music up to eleven* (high-five to all of you who got the spinal tap reference).

sometimes even with my music at ear-bleeding volumes i could still hear the ass hats. it was a very frustrating time. due to a situation beyond his control the 'trainer to the stars' left the gym and i had hoped his posse would leave as well. that wasn't the case and the wailing continues.

sunday one of the guys i know was working out at the cable station beside me. he was performing tricep pushdowns and even though he wasn't lifting all that heavy he began to drowned out my music. at the end of my set i walked over to where he was and we exchanged greetings. i pulled out my mp3 player and i asked him to do me a favour. i asked him to make "...that sound again." i believe it was with some pride he clarified, "you mean my grunt?" and long story short i had him grunt repeatedly while i kept turning up the volume on my player. when i finally couldn't hear him anymore i said "thank you" and returned to my workout.

when i told the bloke that story last night at the gym. he confirmed that i was indeed a gym bully. he also bust a gut laughing so clearly he is no angel either.

but as far as i am concerned it was the best possible solution buddy could continue to bellow like a stuck calf and i didn't have to listen to him. i just think it was important for him to realize that his behaviour is annoying... and if he stops all the better!

gym bullies unite!!