GYM
Reddit is cringing after a gym buddy gave training advice to a person who had an invisible illness without asking for it.
Nobody enjoys having a complete stranger approach them at the gym, especially if they are offering unasked-for tips on how to improve their exercise. Take it from this disabled Redditor, whose sweat session was severely ruined by an entitled gym dude.
User Dani21002 sought advice on a recent gym experience that gave her the creeps on the /AmITheAsshole SubReddit. The Reddit member has POTS, a persistent blood circulation problem that severely restricts the sorts of activities she can perform safely. POTS is a chronic condition. She added, "The entire reason I started exercising in the first place wasn't to lose weight or increase muscle, but to perhaps manage my illness better." Sadly, many "gym rats" don't seem to understand it.
Continued from SheKnows
During a recent session, one of these gym rats signaled Dani21002 to stop. Although she had seen him several times at the gym, this was her first encounter with him. He approached her as she was about to leave and began to criticize her workout, saying, "You need to add more cardio and weight training, you're not going to get any benefits from simply doing that every time."
She remembered, "I just basically gazed at him for a bit before saying to him that I appreciated his concern, but I wasn't interested in his counsel." "He basically increased the pressure and began questioning me about my food and offering me more routines to include in order to lose weight more quickly. I instantly became irritated and yelled at him, "What makes you think I want to lose weight? "
The gym rat was taken aback, but the Redditor carried on, furious at his arrogance. She claimed that her ailment "prevents me from conducting most types of exercise and substantially damages my quality of life," making her a "disabled" person. Her team of medical experts advised her to continue with her allegedly useless regimen to assist her in managing her chronic disease. She continued, calling him some "colorful terms" before storming out, "So think about that next time you offer someone your terrible 'advice'."
There are others, too, on Reddit: Over 90% of Americans with severe disabilities are invisible to the unaided eye, making up an estimated 42 percent of the population. In addition, each person has a distinct fitness objective. You can never truly tell what someone is striving toward by their exercise routine or physical appearance.
Dani21002 said that she still felt bad for reprimanding a complete stranger. She phoned her sister, who advised her to be more cordial with the well-intentioned gym dude. Commenters, though, were solidly on her side.
Absolutely NTA, said one commenter. He approached you and offered you unwelcome, harmful advice. To be left alone, you shouldn't have to disclose your health status.
Another commenter said, "Fellow 'invisibly handicapped' person here, and just, NTA." The fact is, whether you were physically capable or not would have made a difference. He interrupted your routine to provide unwanted counsel and persisted when you initially declined his advances. You shouldn't have had to tell him for the first time that you weren't interested.
Before you leave, have a look at our top picks for at-home exercise equipment (guaranteed not to include unwanted advice from randos unless you invite them inside):
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Launch Gallery: Try These Equipment-Free Full Bodyweight Exercises for a Workout
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