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Gym Etiquette
Replies
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What's with all the resting, playing on iPhone and socializing between sets? You're supposed to be working out - you don't need more than a minute between sets. C'mon people!
I take up to 5 minutes or so sometimes, particularly after a heavy lift or particularly challenging exercises like heavy farmer's walks. I've even been known to lay on the ground and catch my breath, lift barefoot, use chalk, use gloves, wear the wrong knee sleeves, use lifting straps, play music too loud, play no music at all, wear the wrong shoes, and workout without a shirt. I also enter my lifts into my iPhone, surf MFP, and chat with lifting partners between sets. I guess I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. Story of my life.4 -
What's with all the resting, playing on iPhone and socializing between sets? You're supposed to be working out - you don't need more than a minute between sets. C'mon people!
You certainly could. Recovery from a true heavy set takes longer than a minute. And lots of people log sets in an app or write them down on their phone.1 -
I don't like the machine hogs! There was one on leg press on Friday for 30 minutes. He was using the weight I needed for my warm up set. He was watching me do squat and using two machines at the same time until I was ready to move to the press.
I welcome people sharing, and it gives me extra cardio loading and unloading the 45 lb weights.0 -
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lemurcat12 wrote: »What's with all the resting, playing on iPhone and socializing between sets? You're supposed to be working out - you don't need more than a minute between sets. C'mon people!
You certainly could. Recovery from a true heavy set takes longer than a minute. And lots of people log sets in an app or write them down on their phone.
There are some, but where I'm at seems like many more are playing on the phone while sitting on the bicep curl or good girl/bad girl machine as opposed to a squat rack or the lifting platform doing heavy work.0 -
All well and good asking to take turns between sets but that knock me off my rhythm
Having to cooperate with other people often means readjusting the equipment, and might knock you off your rhythm, and it's still the socially skilled thing to do, much better than being annoyed and waiting 15 minutes for a machine, if you can't find something else to do.
I avoid the whole issue by using free weights. There are plenty of those.1 -
What's with all the resting, playing on iPhone and socializing between sets? You're supposed to be working out - you don't need more than a minute between sets. C'mon people!
Heavy squats and deadlifts take a lot longer than a minute to recover from. Should I just stare at the wall, or other gym patrons as creepily as possible while resting between sets?7 -
Alright, alright, you guys made your point. I am nowhere near that level of lifting.0
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Shawshankcan wrote: »What's with all the resting, playing on iPhone and socializing between sets? You're supposed to be working out - you don't need more than a minute between sets. C'mon people!
Heavy squats and deadlifts take a lot longer than a minute to recover from. Should I just stare at the wall, or other gym patrons as creepily as possible while resting between sets?
I think we are talking about the people who are casual lifters......they are texting...laughing.....go pose with their friends....even talk on the phone. I have no problem with the people who are doing a serious workout.0 -
chonji4ever wrote: »I don't like the machine hogs! There was one on leg press on Friday for 30 minutes. He was using the weight I needed for my warm up set. He was watching me do squat and using two machines at the same time until I was ready to move to the press.
I welcome people sharing, and it gives me extra cardio loading and unloading the 45 lb weights.
I must be missing something. It sounds like the guy was using some machines and no one asked to work in or when he'd be done. When someone (you) actually wanted to use one of the machines he was done.
What exactly was the problem?0 -
Stealthhealth I totally agree, people respond to politeness. I shorten my rest period if someone is polite about it0
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What's with all the resting, playing on iPhone and socializing between sets? You're supposed to be working out - you don't need more than a minute between sets. C'mon people!
ATP requires time, and you can't speed up biochemistry. Ten minutes is about the most you should need if you're pushing multi-set singles.0 -
I mean..for the most effective workout, breaks between sets is the best. Personally, I simply go on to another machine I plan to use if all of the same machines I want are taken. I'll admit - I'm one of those people who are on their phones between sets, but I am on here.0
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CipherZero wrote: »What's with all the resting, playing on iPhone and socializing between sets? You're supposed to be working out - you don't need more than a minute between sets. C'mon people!
ATP requires time, and you can't speed up biochemistry. Ten minutes is about the most you should need if you're pushing multi-set singles.
How about the jack *kitten* that is doing multiple sets of 15-20 rep bicep curls in the squat rack?0 -
I responded to all the many gym annoyances by building a home gym. Bonus: There's no excuses not to work out anymore.3
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Packerjohn wrote: »CipherZero wrote: »ATP requires time, and you can't speed up biochemistry. Ten minutes is about the most you should need if you're pushing multi-set singles.
How about the jack *kitten* that is doing multiple sets of 15-20 rep bicep curls in the squat rack?
That's just someone being stupid.0 -
Ugh the person the curls AT the free weights rack...dude...move!
The other day I went to use the free weights and a group of friends had removed ALL the benches to have their own personal little studio area. No. Just...no.4 -
distinctlybeautiful wrote: »
Now to actually address the question, I always just ask how many sets the person has left so I can decide whether to wait or go on to something else. I prefer not to work in with other people. I'll do it, but usually I've got something else I can do.
This. I will move on or wait. Quietly, patiently, with out complaint.
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Seems I'm the same as most, ask to work in, let folk know how long you'll be and shift yer sweat.
I'll be on my phone after my last set to log it, using the 5x5 SL app.
And, I hate plates all over the shop. Use them as extra work out. I go for a merry jaunt around the gym carrying the plates back to their home, farmers walk style.0 -
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Most times I will just modify my work out, if I'm doing legs and the squat rack is occupied, I'll move to leg extensions, then come back. If I was waiting for the cable Lat pull down station, I might just use the stack weight pull down machine instead.0
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I always wipe down the machines. Always. Ew.
But I do wait a couple minutes between each set. My body just gets better results that way rather than waiting 30 seconds and doing it again. No one's ever asked me if they could use it in between. If they would, I'd let them. If I'm on my phone, I'm usually looking for my next song to play. And yes, I have playlists, but I am not always in the mood for certain songs.
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I don't like overly arrogant people. I once overheard someone say "Your workout is just my warm up!" to someone, a stranger/acquaintance to them, and that just pissed me off. We were all beginners once (I believe I still am!), and we each have our own routine. Why belittle someone for what they do in the gym? If it's a form of encouragement... Then nope. I would rather applaud someone for achieving goals, not treat someone that way, especially if we aren't close.
Oh, and wiping the equipment.1 -
I don't like overly arrogant people. I once overheard someone say "Your workout is just my warm up!" to someone, a stranger/acquaintance to them, and that just pissed me off. We were all beginners once (I believe I still am!), and we each have our own routine. Why belittle someone for what they do in the gym? If it's a form of encouragement... Then nope. I would rather applaud someone for achieving goals, not treat someone that way, especially if we aren't close.
Oh, and wiping the equipment.
^^Agree completely.
Something that I've learnt from my time in gyms is that you cannot judge a person on the basis of what you see during one (or even a few workouts). I'm a case in point - currently nursing an injury and so working on very light weights (I was snatching an empty bar of most of last week's workouts). Other times I may be concentrating on technique or mobility. To a casual observer I'm the guy that only lifts empty bars. but in reality my current work outs are part of a larger plan.0 -
I completely agree. I'd say I was a relative newbie to the gym myself. Spent a shed load of time researching lifting properly and such. I stopped lifting after surgery until the physio told me I could go back to the gym. Now I'm back I started from square one on every lift. I just need to get into a routine of going every couple of days.0
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It is common courtesy to wipe down the machines. I don't want to sit in someone's sweat whether I am at risk for a staph infection or not.
It's a rule, for heaven's sake and takes about two minutes to follow.1 -
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Don't be the *kitten* that stands a foot away from the dumbbell rack doing lateral raises.1
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It is common courtesy to wipe down the machines. I don't want to sit in someone's sweat whether I am at risk for a staph infection or not.
It's a rule, for heaven's sake and takes about two minutes to follow.
It is important to me to sit on clean machines. So I clean the machines before I use them. I am a rule follower, so I also clean them after.
The rule makes more sense if people clean the machines before using, so that people for whom cleanliness and sanitation are important know that they are using clean machines and the people who don't want to clean can sit in someone else's sweat.2 -
It is common courtesy to wipe down the machines. I don't want to sit in someone's sweat whether I am at risk for a staph infection or not.
It's a rule, for heaven's sake and takes about two minutes to follow.
It is important to me to sit on clean machines. So I clean the machines before I use them. I am a rule follower, so I also clean them after.
The rule makes more sense if people clean the machines before using, so that people for whom cleanliness and sanitation are important know that they are using clean machines and the people who don't want to clean can sit in someone else's sweat.
O.M.G! Germs!!!!!
I'd love it if someone did a swab test on gym benches. My guess is that they're cleaner than the average kitchen counter.0
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