Back.the.EFF.up.dude

That's what I wanted to say to a personal trainer at the gym yesterday who was waaay too much in my face. In.my.FACE. Ugh, so I know times are tough right now (trust me, I know), but there's a way to do your job without totally invading someone's personal space and making them feel utterly uncomfortable.

So, yesterday morning I took my favorite spinning class, and then I did the Stair Master for a bit, and then some glute work. And then, just for the hell of it, I decided to do a few reps on a machine to work my arms and lats. That's when the trainer POUNCED. Lord only knows how long he had been scoping me out, waiting for that opportunity.

He walks up to me and corrects my form. That's nice of him, I thought. But he doesn't leave, he just stands there (way too closely I might add) for what feels like eternity just staring at me. And then, he busts out with, "So, have you ever done personal training at the gym before?" I said, "Yeah, just for a week one time." Annoying trainer dude: "How'd you like it?" Me: "Um, it was fine." Ok, so everyone knows what the word FINE means. What I really wanted to say was, "Yes I have had a personal trainer at this gym before. He didn't listen to me, touched me way too much and exclaimed, "You don't have too much to lose, maybe seven or eight pounds!" upon grabbing my tummy. And he smooched 60-something year-old gym goers on the lips during our sessions. Ew.

Not letting me throw him off course, he asks, "So you want me to go through all the machines with you now?" Ok, let's use some common sense here buddy. People who wake up at 6am to work out usually have somewhere to be or something to do later on in the morning. "Umm, no I don't have time, but thanks. Thanks for all your help." Did he follow my exit cue? Of course not.

To make a long story short, he continued to coach me through my reps, instructing me on how to breathe, until I finally just hopped off the machine and said I was done. I cannot stand pushy people. If you work in any type of sales, you have to be able to read people. If a girl looks uncomfortable and is rolling her eyes as you try to help her, it might be time to back.the.EFF.up.dude.

I could go on about this forever, but you tell me: Have you ever had to deal with a pushy trainer at the gym? How did you handle it?