darn downstairs neighbors!

[wendyloo]

As I was halfway through a combo of CTX 10-10-10 and AllStep, I suddenly heard an incredibly loud banging noise, similar to the sound my dumbells might make if I were to throw them forcefully to the ground (which I wouldn't!). Needless to say, it was my downstairs neighbors, evidently perturbed at the impact level of my workout! Arghh... So, I took advantage of the conflict by making myself control every movement, as if I were stepping on glass. I had to move very lightly, in a controlled way, so that my bouncing around wouldn't disturb anyone. (Like when Cathe tells you to be very quiet on that jump up onto the step in one of the new tapes.) Well, it was impossible, and not fun, and I was just feeling terrible that I was bothering them, so I had to quit after only 30 minutes of what was a planned 45 minute workout. Bummer. I feel bad that I was too loud, I wonder how long this has been bugging them, and I'm irritated that they just didn't come up and talk to me about it! It was only 7 pm, not after quiet hours or anything...luckily I am able to workout before 5 pm almost every day, I usually just put it off until later. I guess this will be motivation to get it done right after work ;-)
Wendy

 

[kristina]

I had that problem the last place I lived (I now live downstairs). You might try buying a nice card or something with a short note apologizing for the noise and/or a humorous note asking if they could be indulgent for that one hour a day and explaining you try to very hard to schedule your workouts whenever possible in the am. Maybe leave it on their doorstep with cookies or a coupon for something cool....
Sometimes just acknowledging neighbors nicely goes a long way, since in reality you really don't have to ask permission. I am sure there is nothing in your lease about working out before quiet time. You, like me, feel badly about it. I now have upstairs neighbors with 4 grandkids who run solid for 3 hours every night and sound like a Canadian hockey team, and they have never said a word to me. I bought them a card with a hockey team on the front and put a note inside asking them to try and keep it down to a dull roar after the first hour of brutality. They still haven't said anything about it to me, but the kids have been a lot quiter lately.....
THE JOY OF APARTMENT LIVING!!

 

[wendyloo]

cards!

Kristina--
Thank you for the terific idea! I feel awkward approaching them in person, but do want to acknowledge them in some way. I'm on my way out the door to get them a card and a treat of some sort.
Thanks so much, and I'm glad to hear the roar is becoming somewhat duller above you!
Wendy

 

[honey]

Another idea.

Ask your neighbors if there is a window of time that you could workout that wouldn't be a bother to them. For instance if you agree that you can workout from 6-8 pm. You can be noisy, but they know you will be quiet when they want to sleep.

I lived on the seventh floor of a high-rise. For neighbors several floors below, it sounded like the wrath of god was coming through the ceiling every time I worked out. We all agreed to a 2 hour window and it worked out great.

They felt better. I felt less self conscious. And if I missed a few workouts they teased me about it. How's that for motivation!

 

[Lex411]

RE: Another idea.

That's exactly what I was going to suggest. When my honey and I first moved into a new apartment in Evanston and I knew my treadmill would be noisy for my downstairs neighbors through the hardwood floors, I went down to talk to them about it. They were so appreciative and said anytime in the evening was fine, just no crack of dawn workouts (my treadmill could only really go in our bedroom, right over theirs). I said no problem, you couldn't beat me with a stick to get me to work out in the morning anyway, and we ended up all becoming good friends. We've moved twice since then but we still keep in touch and we even traveled to New York to see them (they're opera singers, so we also used to hear them practice downstairs and worked out times for that, too.)

Seems too late for the pre-emptive approach but never too late to just politely let them know you will be working out, it does get noisy (those are just things that are part of apartment living, I used to lease lofts and it's totally normal noise) and when is a better time for them. Hopefully, they'll appreciate your concern and willingness to compromise.

And if they're nasty about it just workout with ankle weights on and jump up and down harder! (Just kidding!!)

Lex