22 Problems Only Gym Goers Will Understand

18. People Not Unracking The Bar

So you've decided you want to have a go at squatting. You've heard all the talk and read all the articles about how beneficial it can be and how it's a 'key exercise'. Of course, as part of that you'll have read how important it is to learn proper technique, starting with low weight and even lower expectations. You approach the rack, ready, except some Behemoth who was probably benching 70kg straight out of the womb, has left a bar fully loaded after a 'maxing' session. This results in you having to spend the best part of 10 minutes heaving the weights from the bar to the rack. Except you have to do it in order - so as not to send the bar catapulting across the room - turning a quick tidy up into an exercise of its own. By the time you've racked them all away, what energy you did have has been depleted during 'the worlds strongest man farmers walk' when putting the 8th 20kg disk away. Dripping in sweat before you've even attempted a rep, you decide squatting isn't for you and give up the dream that was 'big legs'. Never mind, Rover will never leave you...

17. Chatting

For many the gym is a solace, a place free from the worries and stresses of day to day life. A place where "HI DAN HOWS IT GOING?" all that matters is the exercise, the focusing "AYE NOT BAD STEVE, HOWS THE MISSUS?" of the mind and body on a single solitary "AH SHE'S OK." Urgh, annoying isn't it? Chatting is more than just an annoyance, it detracts from the very reason one attends a gym by sapping your time and concentration. It's even worse when you consider 'passive chatting' where by a third party is afflicted by your discussion of how awesome Man of Steel is. It's not and get the hell off the bench if you're not using it!

16. Terrible Gym Partners

Many of life's activities are better when done as a pair - dancing, wrestling, making love, making love whilst wrestling - the gym is one such activity. With a partner you can keep track of each others progress and perform more vigorous and dangerous exercises, such as a heavy squat or the Cincinnati shuffle press (those poor, brave fools). Simply put, you can achieve your goals and enjoy your time a lot better when you exercise with a partner. This is of course unless your partner is a resident of lazy town, and not the psychedelic pink haired kids show, the 'I can't be bothered to' ilk. The kind of partner who leaves you wandering around like a lost lamb, mewing for its mother to come and spot her on bench press. To all the terrible gym partners who think it's OK to leave you straining with an exercise whilst they tie their shoe laces, have a water break or stare off into the distance, a plague on your houses!