I live in an apartment complex, and I love the fitness center here. It's got several ellipticals, several treadmills, bikes, weights, and all kinds of other things. What I didn't realize until I moved here is that it's adjacent to the city's ballet. All the ballerinas live in my complex because it's so convenient for them to walk to work. Now, we all know how, um, small ballerinas are. They have LOTS of pressure to be tiny and thus, they work out all the time. Here lies my problem. Any time of day, when I go to the fitness center, theres 4-5 ballet gals in there, working their little hearts out. None of them could possibly weigh more than 90 pounds but they layer on tons of clothes and just kill themselves on the cardio machines for hours at a time. If I'm on the elliptical and in walks in several ballet girls, they will glare at me and ask how long I'll be. Now, I'm a normal weight and I always feel super fat around them, but I also feel bullied when they basically try to kick me off a machine. I've labeled them the "ballerina mafia" because of their bully tactics and intimidation. What do y'all think I should do to handle this situation better? I never let them kick me off a machine but I'm sick of the negative and intimidating atmosphere. Ideas, anyone? Thanks for listening to the rant.
The Ballerina Mafia, that is too funny! I wouldn't let it get to you too much and just enjoy your gym experience! Good luck!
Stick to your guns is what I have to say, as well as two other points...
1) Most gyms have policies about using the equipment for certain time if the gym is crowed. So just them that you will be on for X amount of time you have left of workout and then ignore them!
2) I find that my iPod can really help me block out a lot of activity around me. To deal with the negative attitude of the ballet mafia, make yourself a kick a** play list and just hammer your workout home. If they are staring close you eyes for a very challenging workout!
I'd say "2 more hours, thanks!" Smile, put your headphones back in and enjoy your workout. As long as you're being respectful with the time - and not LITERALLY hogging the machines for 2
hours, they are just being petty. Unless there is a sign in sheet for the machines, it's an open market. First come, first serve. If they want a machine, they should get there earlier or buy
their own! 
I had a similar experience but in a totally different way... I once was member of a gym that I thought was a regular gym and it was, but they also had that special program for overweight people. At certain time of the day (usually after their nutrition course in the second floor) a bunch of them would hit the gym and litterally act like they owned the place and made me really feel like I was in the way. They wanted to do their exercise program together at the same time so if there was 6 of them and 6 treadmills, one of them occupied by me, they would look at me all the time with "god are you soon finished?" on their face, even if I was not exceeding the allowed time at rush hours... At the beginning I was trying to ignore them but I ended checking on which time they were having those courses and trying to schedule my workouts away from it... That worked pretty well for me.
omg this is so funny, I love it! This sounds like the beginning scene of a pilot ready to be a great hit! But seriously, these girls can be annoying. I had a similar experience. I am not sure if they were ballerina girls, actually I'm pretty sure they weren't, but they were majorly anorexic. I mean severely emaciated, so it was even worse. Don't let them cut your work outs short!!! You totally deserve to stay on the machine as long as you want (or is allowed). I know how weird that can feel though, but just bring a magazine and an ipod and don't even focus on them. If they come up to you to ask, act like you don't see/hear them! I hope it gets better! I know how annoying it can be to have someone or something ruin your gym experience! Best of luck, stand up to those little ballerinas! = )