WaitLift's Story
From Gym Frustration to Game-Changing Solution
I've been active my whole life - soccer from age 5 through college,
distance running, snowboarding, hiking, wakeboarding... you name it, I did it or at least tried it! But I didn't discover weight lifting until 2020 when I started CrossFit.
I was absolutely obsessed for years until I found myself pushing the limits too much and needed to make a change. In March 2024, I transitioned to bodybuilding and discovered something shocking...
"From structured CrossFit classes to the wild west of commercial gyms"
The "Aha!" Moment
Commercial gyms are NOT like CrossFit gyms.
I was used to scheduled classes and structure. Commercial gyms? They're like the wild west - a free-for-all that can be incredibly frustrating.
The Breaking Point
I can't tell you how many times I was using equipment, turned around for 2 seconds, and someone swiped it right out from under me. Oh my lord, the frustration!
I'm also a big fan of supersets, which are THE WORST in commercial gyms. I'd have my water bottle on this machine, my keys on that one. Most gyms don't even let you bring in a gym bag!
The final straw: I had my phone on a leg extension machine seat and came back to find a man SITTING on my phone, using the machine!
"I needed something visible. I needed people to know: THIS IS MY MACHINE."
From Problem to Prototype
So I started experimenting. I took a flag, printed on it, and grabbed a chip clip from the dollar store. Honestly? It worked! But it didn't have the right angles to hold the flag properly.
Time to dust off my CAD skills from college (over 15 years ago!) and create my own solution.
The WaitLift Solution is Born
I designed a 3D model with vertical, 45°, and horizontal flag positions. Printed it on my 3D printer. Took it to the gym and...
IT WORKED! 🎉
The Validation I Needed
I even had women at the gym tell me it was such a fantastic idea. That was the motivation I needed!
I thought: "Why not share this with others? There's no way I'm the only one experiencing this frustration."
Here We Are!
I'm so happy with my WaitLift flag, and I know you will be too. Let's bring some order to the gym chaos together!