# Actual gym rants!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 17, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344 "2004-11-17T21:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/61 "2004-11-18T17:02:06Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > Treadmills are better on the joints, so someone who is overweight and has joint problems or a fit person with an injury are going to benefit from a treadmill, rather than a track. > [@HSHP](#): > > Cite? Cite, and cite? Um…my own personal experience. My hips and knees hurt walking on the road, but not on the treadmill. Good enough? I believe someone upthread said the same thing, too. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/62 "2004-11-18T17:23:51Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > Fine, you know his situation. You can judge that ONE individual. Does that mean that HSHP knows everyone’s situation? What it means is that if you’ve been working out long enough at the same place, you begin to recognize certain people. Sometimes you get to know these people because you recognize that they aren’t doing shit and are wasting the machine. Reasonably intelligent people can pick up on patterns. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/63 "2004-11-18T17:25:00Z")
Oh, and I’d like a cite as to when **HSHP** actually said that. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/64 "2004-11-18T17:34:43Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > What it means is that if you’ve been working out long enough at the same place, you begin to recognize certain people. Sometimes you get to know these people because you recognize that they aren’t doing shit and are wasting the machine. Reasonably intelligent people can pick up on patterns. No shit. But you must have missed it when I said this: > [@](#): > > You know, I would be a little perplexed as to why this guy was using up a treadmill, but it’s still none of my business since he paid his dues. As for this: > [@](#): > > Oh, and I’d like a cite as to when HSHP actually said that. Said what? Cite cite cite? It’s in post #55. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/65 "2004-11-18T18:12:53Z")
> [@Nutty Bunny](#): > > Does that mean that HSHP knows everyone’s situation? Show me where he said he “knows everyone’s situation”. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/66 "2004-11-18T18:40:47Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > Show me where he said he “knows everyone’s situation”. This is what I said: > [@](#): > > Does that mean that HSHP knows everyone’s situation? Is that what you’re referring to? If so, I don’t get your point. I never said he knows everyone’s situation. I was implying that he _doesn’t_. My point was, if someone doesn’t know what condition a person is in, they have no right to judge them for walking slowly on the treadmill. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/67 "2004-11-18T19:58:14Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Scrappy Hero Pup] While not buying into most of **Trunk’s** rant, I am going to go with him/her/it on the “What the fuck are you doing WALKING on the treadmill?” QUOTE]Is it okay with his highness if I generally speedwalk? That is 4mph or over? Otherwise, the answer to your question is because I have a 6 inch plate on my right tibia and two bolts in my talus and, due to the resultant pain, I can’t run for very long amounts of time. I do run for a little bit but most of my treadmill workouts consist of using the angle and walking speed to get my workout. According to the treadmills I usually manage a 300 or so calorie burn, AND to sweat and gasp and feel the burn and the whole 9 yards. What is the difference to YOU anyway? A person who has signed up for the treadmill and runs gets 30 minutes, the person who signs up and walks also gets 30 minutes. It’s not as if the runner’s time is somehow more convenient or shorter for his fellow treadmill users or something. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/68 "2004-11-18T20:02:44Z")
Agh. I guess there’s no way to rant about the gym without someone else throwing their issues on top. **NuttyBunny** : when you’re ready to debate my ACTUAL POINT, we’ll debate. Until then, find someone to hold your hand and tell you that you’re OK and everyone is OK. Because you went off the deep end when you started defending “suit boy,” who I could have sworn **Lord Ashtar** was making up. **plnnr,** I see your point, and I ask politely to work in if there’s a machine I need, like a chest-cross machine or a pull-up bar. I’ve never encountered anyone that had a problem with me working in, nor have I ever had a problem with someone else working in. When I finish my set, I put the pin back on his weight, and he does the same for me. Courtesy and reason dictate that two people trading off can say no to a third who asks, and a fourth should not ask, because of rest-time issues, but, in that case, I will either find (or suggest to the third man) another similar exercise that works the same area(s). As far as a treadmill goes (I’m actually a girlliptical user myself, for those of you flame warriors who were so interested), I have never had an issue with waiting since, when I need to use a machine like that, it’s at 5:15AM, when most are asleep. But normally, again for the flamethrowers, I row the ergometer at my rowing club’s training facility or run outside for my cardio work. But I feel the pain of those stuck behind the sedentary and the slow. > [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > Gah! So what? If I want to pay my gym fees, bring my Game Boy with me, and sit on the treadmill playing Super Mario Brothers for my allotted 20 minutes, why do you care? I don’t. Unless, of course, there are no treadmills available for the poeple who want/need/are going to use them. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/69 "2004-11-18T20:07:08Z")
Sweet God, **CanvasShoes,** debate my point. I suppose you only read until you got to the part that offended you, and then jumped in, waving the sword of righteousness. Debate my POINT. Since you’re obviously too lazy to read the whole thing, let me tell you: it’s summarized quite nicely in my 10:45 AM post. What I don’t get is why you’re so anxious to take offense at my rant, when you, **CanvasShoes,** are SPECIFICALLY NOT INCLUDED IN IT. Go feel bad about someone who’s actually ranting at _you._ ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/70 "2004-11-18T20:23:53Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > **NuttyBunny** : when you’re ready to debate my ACTUAL POINT, we’ll debate. Until then, find someone to hold your hand and tell you that you’re OK and everyone is OK. Because you went off the deep end when you started defending “suit boy,” who I could have sworn **Lord Ashtar** was making up. I wasn’t defending anyone. I was trying to make a point using “suit boy” as an example. And I only did that because you didn’t seem to understand my point (you still don’t). I don’t give a fuck about whether or not “suit boy” is fit or unfit. You want to know why? _Because it’s none of my goddamn business!_ And for Christ’s sake! I know what your point is. You don’t think people should walk on the treadmill because they’re not really “working” and it wastes _your_ precious time. Because someone doesn’t walk as fast enough pace for you, they shouldn’t use a treadmill. Do I have it right now? You still aren’t answering my question. My point (since you seem to have missed it several times) is that you don’t know from looking at someone whether walking is enough work for them. Until you go up to them and check their heart rate, you don’t have a right to bitch. Shut your fucking pie hole and wait 20 minutes like everyone else! ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/71 "2004-11-18T20:24:05Z")
Hm. Back on topic…sheesh people seem to get disturbingly attached to their cardio machines around here… People who are going to go to hell: [ul] [li]People who don’t rack their damn weights. No matter what they have on the bar. If it’s more than I lift, it irritates me to have to put it back. Yeah, buddy. Your balls are huge. If it’s less than I lift, it’s irritating to remove your wussy weight and put on my normal amount. Considerate people put their toys back and clean up after themselves.[/li][li]People who misuse equipment. Do **not** curl in the damn squat rack. That’s not what it’s for. If you can curl it, you can pick it up off the floor, you lazy bastard.[/li][li]People who do exercises with poor form. If you’re not sure how to do something, ask someone else. Get a library book. Check the internet–the information’s out there. Don’t just make stuff up, people. You’ll hurt yourself. Related to the following:[/li][li]Trainers who give bad/incorrect advice. F’ing maggots.[/li][li]Guys who scream and slam their weights around or otherwise go out of their way to draw attention to themselves. Yeah, real impressive. You scare me with your overloaded 1/4 range of motion power curtsy, you sexy beast, you. Why don’t you load up the bench with way too much weight while you’re at it and do those way cool 2" power lockouts while calling them bench presses while you’re at it?[/li][/ul] Only two other beefs I can think of–irritating stuff, but only in a fairly silly way. Mostly these are things that don’t affect me when I exercise–I generally just go in, do my stuff and leave, but it still makes me smile when I see it: [ul] [li]Guys who only work on “beach muscles.” This is the male equivalent of the mall-crawler satellite dish hair do. Sure, they look good **from the front** and while wearing baggy sweatpants…turn 90 degrees, though…y’know, there are other parts of your body besides chest and arms. You should look into it…[/li][li]Macho gym gear. You may think you look great in that tight/ripped muscle shirt and those lifting gloves, but that actually says to me “I have bad fashion sense **and** I’m such a pussy I’m afraid my tender widdle hands will get hurt”. Admittedly, I see this more in kids, who don’t know any better, but it’s very silly in grown men.[/li][/ul] Ah, well. That’s all I can think of right now. Honestly, my current gym is pretty good as far as idiot quotient goes. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/72 "2004-11-18T21:07:10Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > You still aren’t answering my question. My point (since you seem to have missed it several times) is that you don’t know from looking at someone whether walking is enough work for them. Until you go up to them and check their heart rate, you don’t have a right to bitch. Shut your fucking pie hole and wait 20 minutes like everyone else! Am I answering your question or addressing your point? If your question is, “Do you know WHY each individual person is using the treadmill?” then the answer is “No, I do not.” But, for the purposes of my rant, I don’t NEED to. Because I’m bitching about people for whom the treadmill/track distinction makes no difference (that is to say, the zero-impact strolling crowd) and insist on clogging the treadmill queue anyway. I don’t like that they do this and I think they should use the track. And don’t you get it, **CanvasShoes**? The distinction between impact and heart rate has been made a good number of times! If you’re hitting targetHR on zero-impact work, then you’re just as well-served by the track! If your point is that I don’t have a right to bitch: what do you mean I don’t have a right to bitch? I have a PERFECT right to bitch. Check your map, we’re in the Pit. I certainly DO NOT have the right to pull them off the treadmill (that’s battery and a prosecutable offense) or to heckle them (that’s likely against gym policy and a suspendable offense). But I certainly do have the right to BITCH. So I’m bitching. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/73 "2004-11-18T21:45:05Z")
That was me, not **Canvas Shoes**. 😛 > [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Am I answering your question or addressing your point? Both Bolding mine: > [@](#): > > If your question is, “Do you know WHY each individual person is using the treadmill?” then the answer is “No, I do not.” But, for the purposes of my rant, I don’t NEED to. **Because I’m bitching about people for whom the treadmill/track distinction makes no difference (that is to say, the zero-impact strolling crowd) and insist on clogging the treadmill queue anyway.** I don’t like that they do this and I think they should use the track. Fine. I agree that this would be annoying. However, you said: > [@](#): > > If you’re equally served by both treadmill and track, be a little considerate to your fellow goers and use the track. and > [@](#): > > But all your reactionary attitude has earned you is my waiting right behind you practicing my Godzilla imitation, pantomiming a scientist taking seismic readings, and calling the World Wildlife Fund or Greenpeace to send a team to pull you back into the water. And if that pops your gastric bypass stitches, baby, well, you can kiss your own STILL-wide ass. Fat people generally _not_ “equally served by both treadmill and track”. A lot of them (formerly us) have joint problems and would like a lesser-impact surface like a treadmill. So you can’t make fun of them as you describe above. Fit people with injuries also are not “equally served by both treadmill and track”. You still don’t see that you can’t judge someone based on looking at them whether or not they are “equally served by both treadmill and track”. > [@](#): > > And don’t you get it, **CanvasShoes**? The distinction between impact and heart rate has been made a good number of times! If you’re hitting targetHR on zero-impact work, then you’re just as well-served by the track! Fine. I see what you’re getting at. My position on desiring a low-impact treadmill over a harder surface still stands though. > [@](#): > > If your point is that I don’t have a right to bitch: what do you mean I don’t have a right to bitch? I have a PERFECT right to bitch. Check your map, we’re in the Pit. Okay, bitch then…in The Pit. Or, fuck it, bitch anywhere else for that matter. But know what you’re bitching about before you do so. If you bitch about me (at 120 pounds) for choosing a treadmill because my joints hurt from being formerly fat, then you’re just being a fucking dick. But bitch away! > [@](#): > > I certainly DO NOT have the right to pull them off the treadmill (that’s battery and a prosecutable offense) or to heckle them (that’s likely against gym policy and a suspendable offense). Oh really? I wonder what gave me the impression that you would heckle someone. Hmmm… > [@](#): > > But all your reactionary attitude has earned you is my waiting right behind you practicing my Godzilla imitation, pantomiming a scientist taking seismic readings, and calling the World Wildlife Fund or Greenpeace to send a team to pull you back into the water. And if that pops your gastric bypass stitches, baby, well, you can kiss your own STILL-wide ass. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/74 "2004-11-18T21:57:11Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > I don’t. Unless, of course, there are no treadmills available for the poeple who want/need/are going to use them. No treadmills IN THE WORLD?! The horror, that those laggardly supervillains have destroyed them all! Smite them! Oh, wait. You mean that **your gym** doesn’t have any extra ones, possibly because they’ve signed up too many members, or have purchased too few treadmills. Other gyms, probably more expensive gyms, have plenty of free treadmills available for use. When you sign up for the gym, you’re signing up for access to the treadmills. When someone else signs up, they’re signing up for access to the treadmills. It’s none of their goddamn business what you do on the treadmills when it’s your turn to use them, and likewise. If you want more access, sign up at a less crowded gym. Don’t you have some beeswax to mind? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/75 "2004-11-19T00:43:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Faruiza,\*\* where did I say that I believe that the gym is for my own personal use? > > As to your own situation: I get it. Huge tits. Can’t run. Black eyes. Need the treadmill. So what you’re saying is, _you are not equally served by both._ Do I have that right?) NO. What a LOT of us are saying is that many people are not "equally served by the track’ and that there is no way for YOU to tell which is which just by looking at them and their speed, or lack thereof, on the treadmill. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/76 "2004-11-19T01:13:51Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Nuttybunny, you went to the trouble of putting “go back and read” in your quote box, yet you did NOT go back and read. > > “Work,” as I am ranting about re: idiot treadmillers, isn’t relative to “what you can do.” > > “Work” is determined by impact and speed. If you’re walking as hard as you can FOR YOU, and still not striking with any force, you’re still doing low-impact work. It makes no difference where your heart rate is. Say what? Well, I’m a fitness instructor. At the university level and I’m here to disagree STRENUOUSLY with you. Impact is not necessary for success in obtaining fitness and fat loss. It is not necessary to be hitting the ground with each stride at the force of Godzilla’s biggest boychild (errr boylizard?) in order to be accomplishing calorie and fat burning and increasing your cardio vascular health. Your trainer should be shot then horsewhipped with a wet noodle if THAT’S what he/she taught you. Otherwise elliptical trainers, stairsteppers, aqua aerobics (zero impact), pilates, ballet and on and on (in which one never lifts their feet and makes an impact at all) wouldn’t be the successful pieces of equipment and classes that they are. Nor is sweating a sign that they’re working hard. I sweat and get red very easily, LONG before I’m even warmed up body wise. Likewise, I’ve had students who never even broke a sweat or seemed to be breathing hard, and who in fact looked ready to fall asleep who told me that I’d just about killed them. You can NOT tell just by looking at a person whether they are, or are not working our to YOUR satisfaction. The guy who’s all red and sweating may not be working nearly as hard as the person right next to him who merely APPEARS to be “slow and sedentary”. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/77 "2004-11-19T01:27:02Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > Sweet God, **CanvasShoes,** debate my point. I suppose you only read until you got to the part that offended you, and then jumped in, waving the sword of righteousness. Nope, I’m debating this, where you said in total: > [@](#): > > While not buying into most of Trunk’s rant, I am going to go with him/her/it on the “What the fuck are you doing WALKING on the treadmill?” > > If there’s a track in the gym, you are just as well served walking on that as you are on the treadmill. Any difference in resistance isn’t going to make that much of a difference, as you are not striking the surface with that much force. > > People who run on treadmills are generally running there because it’s too cold outside or too dangerous where they live, or because of some other circumstance or combination of circumstances that make it impossible to get up to speed outdoors. Even running at a good clip on an indoor track is next-to-impossible because of the multitude of slower people. If you’re already moving slowly, it’s not too big a hassle to go around others movuing at a different degree of slowness. But someone who’s moving quickly and has to speed up/slow/down/change direction is getting an inconsistent workout becuase of this. > > Treadmills are, for the most part, there for the use of people who need an isolated/secure space to get up to and maintain significant speed for a decent amount of time. So I understand someone’s frustration at wanting to get 45 minutes of hard cardio work in and being stuck behind the all-but-sedentary lump who’s moving at three strides per minute with his copy of “House and Garden.” > > And yes, I am well aware of the fact that your money is as good as mine and your fee entitles you to use whatever equipment you like, same as me. But the common-sense knowledge that you are wasting limited resources and copping a 'tude about it entitle me to disrespect you. > [@](#): > > Debate my POINT. Since you’re obviously too lazy to read the whole thing, let me tell you: it’s summarized quite nicely in my 10:45 AM post. From the above, which is from your OP, you take issue with people _walking_ on the treadmill, and with people who don’t use the track instead because in your opinion the two are equivalent if done at the same level of speed, so why don’t they just use the track instead and leave the treadmill to the runners, or those going a “significant” speed. At the same exact pace the treadmill and track are NOT in fact equal. The bed of the treadmill is designed with give, so that as the user’s foot hits the bed, it gives away from the impact somewhat, which feels much, much easier on the knees, ankles and other joints than hitting the unyeilding surface of the track. Further, those using the treadmill at even a reduced pace can still up the intensity and caloric burn by increasing the incline. > [@](#): > > What I don’t get is why you’re so anxious to take offense at my rant, when you, **CanvasShoes,** are SPECIFICALLY NOT INCLUDED IN IT. > Go feel bad about someone who’s actually ranting at _you._ Not true, anyone not using a treadmill to your exacting specifications, as you state in your OP and as I recopied above, are included in it. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/78 "2004-11-19T01:31:52Z")
Quote: Originally Posted by CanvasShoes You still aren’t answering my question. My point (since you seem to have missed it several times) is that you don’t know from looking at someone whether walking is enough work for them. Until you go up to them and check their heart rate, you don’t have a right to bitch. Shut your fucking pie hole and wait 20 minutes like everyone else! [quote[HSHPAm I answering your question or addressing your point?[/quote] Ummm, huh??? I didn’t post that, someone else did. > [@](#): > > And don’t you get it, CanvasShoes? The distinction between impact and heart rate has been made a good number of times! If you’re hitting targetHR on zero-impact work, then you’re just as well-served by the track! Well, this was aimed at whoever you misquoted above, but I’ll answer it again anyway. No, not true, the treadmill has several other options and features asI mentioned above, like the give of the bed, and as others have mentioned like the number of calories burned, heartrate, miles, progress etc that the track doesn’t have. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/79 "2004-11-19T01:39:23Z")
My one and only gripe is the Circuit Trainers. They will tie up 4 machines in a row and then are pissed when you take one of them. Fuck off buddy, I pay to use the machines too. Yes I am one of those that stare off lost in my own world while I wait for my next set. For the duration of my workout I own that machine. If you want to use it while I wait, absolutely hop in. Weight slammers don’t piss me off as much as make me feel sad for them. One rep includes both the up and the down there buddy. But it’s ok, you’re a pussy, let it slam so everyone knows you are the big man. ---
**Author:** ![TonyF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@TonyF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonyF)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344/80 "2004-11-19T05:08:31Z")
Banish my ignorance: do a bunch of sloppy reps at low, low weight do _anything_? If they don’t, please don’t bother coming. You may as well flail about at home and save the equipment for people who actually use it with some purpose in mind. Also, I have little respect for well-dressed people in the gym. If you don’t know how to find a workout shirt outside of buying something, you’re missing something. Imitating bodybuilders doesn’t make you big, guys. For example, hauling around a gallon of water in a plastic jug is only useful if you actually consume it, or do enough work to merit drinking that much water. Pat yourself on the back all you want about your routine and your new supplement, but if you’re not working out - properly, _and_ eating well - you’re wasting your time. Women, don’t be dumb and avoid weights because you think you’ll get huge from a little weightlifting. Sticking to light weights out of fear of bulking up is absolutely stupid. Put a little weight on, ok? Everything I’ve read and everything I’ve been told says that you _can’t lose weight in a specific area by working out that area_. So please don’t waste everyone’s time by doing a billion sets on this or that machine because you want to tone up. Lastly, you don’t have to work out unless you’re unhealthy or you really want to. I’m sick to death of seeing average, healthy people pursuing the perfect body like everyone else. Guess what! You can get laid, you can be loved, and you don’t need a treadmill for it to happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actual-gym-rants/275344.md?page=5)