Dumbest article I have ever seen: Germs at the Gym

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Cre8veLifeR
Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
In Fitness Magazine. Germs at the Gym - what to watch out for so you don't get cooties, I mean germs.

'Your fitness club's dirty little secret: Bugs that cause colds and flu, athlete's foot, and skin infections are everywhere. Here's how to protect yourself.

1. Barbells, Dumbbells, and weight machines are germy: Wipe equipment with disinfectant before and after you use it. No spray at your gym? Carry antibacterial gel and rub it on your hands before and after your workout.

2. The locker room is a petri dish: Always wear flip-flops in the locker room and shower; avoid sitting on the bench unclothed. (damn!)

3. Floor mats are germy: Bring your own mat and don't share it. After each use, clean the mat with a bleach-based wipe or a 60 percent alcohol disinfectant spray and let it air-dry.

In other words, THE GYM will make you sick. :laugh:

How about just wash your hands after your workout, and try not to put your fingers in your mouth or pick your nose before then?

:laugh: Carry on. ((and now someone who got sick from the gym can tell me off and inform me that gyms ARE dirty and that his is NOT funny....)

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Replies

  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
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    The gym is a really dirty place to go most of the time.. but its more people that have no manners or common sense that make it that way.. you would think you don't need a sign that says "Wipe off your sweat after use" but yet you do.. Or cover your mouth when sneezing/coughing but less people do that nowadays..
    and the Locker rooms around prime time are the biggest disasters... flush the damn toilet when your done and don't piss all over the floor.
  • Derpes
    Derpes Posts: 2,033 Member
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  • goodnamegone
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    They have disinfectant gel that I use every time I leave and I always am careful not to touch my eyes or my nose or my mouth. I move away if someone has clearly got a cold and wants to work out near me. I can't afford to get a cold since it means I can't work. But this is the same for supermarkets too! Traveling as well.. Plus most of us are extra healthy right now so we are in a good place.
  • asimmons221
    asimmons221 Posts: 294 Member
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    go get infected and come back to your post.
  • LeanButNotMean44
    LeanButNotMean44 Posts: 852 Member
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    I had MRSA in my arm that I am certain I contracted at the gym. It really IS a germy place, but it just means I take special care to wash my hands and not put them near my face before doing so. It's really just common sense, IMHO.
  • Rage_Phish
    Rage_Phish Posts: 1,508 Member
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    The statements in the article all seem factual to me, and it states the germs CAN cause illness, infection etc, which also is true. Not sure why you consider it dumb. Because it's all obvious info?
  • mortuseon
    mortuseon Posts: 579 Member
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    To be honest, I agree with the article somewhat. It's just polite to spray down the equipment and wipe it after you've sweated all over it, and I'd expect someone to do the same for me.
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
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    In all seriousness I did get a staph infection from a stationary bike and it was not fun. Wipe down your equipment before and after you use it!
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
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    The boxing club I go to...

    Sweaty people hit each other and the sweat sprays everywhere
    Sweaty people throw sweat covered medicine balls at each other
    Sweaty people sweat on a mat covered floor, and then other sweaty people drop and plank or crunch on it

    Sweaty people wrestle with each other
    Sweaty people share machines in fast switches without *gasp* wiping the machines down


    Sweaty people are everywhere, and sweat is everywhere.

    And yet...


    I haven't died... yet.
    mind_blown.gif
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
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    I hate this rampant germ-phobia garbage. So far my immune system has taken pretty good care of me, and I'd rather be sick once in a while from regular strains of illness, than from anti-biotic resistant superbugs. Thanks.
  • Cre8veLifeR
    Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
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    The statements in the article all seem factual to me, and it states the germs CAN cause illness, infection etc, which also is true. Not sure why you consider it dumb. Because it's all obvious info?

    Exactly!! Because it's common sense! Of course the gym is a filthy cess pool on infectious germs! People sweat and have their hands, which have been God knows where, on everything! Do we need to be told this?

    I forget that people have no common sense, and as someone else mentioned, are totally rude when it comes to sneezing, wiping off your sweat, not wiping your snotty nose with your hand and then touching that barbell....

    I wear weight gloves, and like I said, wash my hands right when I am done working out.
  • kobiemom
    kobiemom Posts: 218 Member
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    I'm a nurse and I agree with the article. I've seen several cases of MRSA in high school kids from the gym. We see several cases of ringworm a week in gym rats - especially people who use gym mats. Take a hot, soapy shower after you work out.
  • DesireeNL
    DesireeNL Posts: 220 Member
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    Well, according to dr. Oz you should also open doors with your elbows, put plastic bags around a hotel room remote control, and be aware of all the dangers that you encounter in the (dum-dum!) supermarket! :noway: Who knew there are germs on vegetables and bread and basically everything other humans touch! *gasp*

    But yes, common sense: wipe off the equipment, wash your hands and take a shower after exercising :wink:
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
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    Not sure if it's a dumb article, but it's an obvious article. Humans are festering germ factories you combine that with flaking skin cells, sweat, saliva, and other body fluids and you have a nice medium for growing bacteria.

    Hence the lesson of the day...

    WASH YOUR HANDS!


    oh and dont sit your naked genitals on a random bench...that was a good lesson too
  • Cre8veLifeR
    Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
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    Well, according to dr. Oz you should also open doors with your elbows, put plastic bags around a hotel room remote control, and be aware of all the dangers that you encounter in the (dum-dum!) supermarket! :noway: Who knew there are germs on vegetables and bread and basically everything other humans touch! *gasp*

    I need to move into a bubble.
  • eric_sg61
    eric_sg61 Posts: 2,925 Member
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    How did all the old-time bodybuilders training in dungeon style gyms survive.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
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    I'm a nurse and I agree with the article. I've seen several cases of MRSA in high school kids from the gym. We see several cases of ringworm a week in gym rats - especially people who use gym mats. Take a hot, soapy shower after you work out.

    EEEEK!! ring worm and MRSA????? Are you seeing any fungal infections?
  • Cre8veLifeR
    Cre8veLifeR Posts: 1,062 Member
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    Hence the lesson of the day...

    WASH YOUR HANDS!


    oh and dont sit your naked genitals on a random bench...that was a good lesson too

    We ladies need to carry those little liners they put in bathing suit bottoms when you are trying those on - which, by the way, are really gross if you think about it.
  • Mslmesq
    Mslmesq Posts: 1,001 Member
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    Hmmm, didn't seem that dumb to me. Having got athletes foot from the gym, I strongly concur with the advice of flip flops even in the shower. Athletes foot is disgusting to look at, smells, and takes forever to get rid of. Really pissed me off that I got it from a high-end gym I pay a fortune to be a member at too. :-/

    I know you didn't like the article, but thanks for re-posting anyways. Some will get some good advice from it. And btw, that is also good advice on washing your hands. ;-)
  • Some_Watery_Tart
    Some_Watery_Tart Posts: 2,250 Member
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    Hmmm, didn't seem that dumb to me. Having got athletes foot from the gym, I strongly concur with the advice of flip flops even in the shower. Athletes foot is disgusting to look at, smells, and takes forever to get rid of. Really pissed me off that I got it from a high-end gym I pay a fortune to be a member at too. :-/

    I know you didn't like the article, but thanks for re-posting anyways. Some will get some good advice from it. And btw, that is also good advice on washing your hands. ;-)
    Too bad no one told the germs that it was a high-end gym. Stupid uneducated germs. Sheesh.