Gym Etiquette - Let's set a good example!

JDMPWR

I work out at about 9-10pm. I have been pushing hard to get some real growth lately so I have been working out with some heavy weights. I have been known to drop the weights when I am done but only from say my knee to the ground. One night as I am training with my trainer/manager and the other manager they get a call from the landlord three times saying we are too loud. Do note that the gym is on the first floor of a 6 story apartment building with drop ceilings and absolutely no sound deadening.

Fast forward a month. I go to get on the elliptical, grab the bars and proceed to grip the sweatiest grips from top to bottom. Luckily I happened to be there as the previous user was getting off, I followed his *kitten* down the isle and shouted to get his attention then asked him semi loudly if he could clean the machine.....he and I got looks from both staff and members.

As I was leaving I found out why the staff was staring at me. He is the landlord of the building the gym resides in PLUS he is notorious for it. Last week I was pleasantly notified that they are moving, and they froze his account.

JDMPWR

- The squirrel that leaves their favorite piece of equipment hiding in a dark corner. Gyms are for sharing, and no one is going to ruin your favorite medicine ball (which is apparently 12#)
- The goon that loads up X machine with a TON of weight and doesn't remove it. I had to remove TWO 45# plates from the seated calf machine. I was admittedly curious to see who needed 90# to work their soleus.
- The all male cheer squad who always work out together. At my gym it's 3 guys who take turns spotting each other for every single exercise, cheering each other on. Preacher curls need a spot? Better yet, they require encouragement along the lines of "yeah boy you got this one. Push through it! Push it! YEAAHHHHHH".
- Bent over rows on the barbell rack. Dude, you're effectively blocking every weight between 50-90#. Get yourself a bench and go to town.

Preacher curls surely do need a spotter if you are pushing to grow.....guess some peoples use of the gym is different then others.

HeidiMightyRawr

The person who uses several equipment at once, ie: you see them stop using one and start using something else for a while. You go to use previous equipment and you get told they're still using it Luckily I haven't come across this much but my bf has.

More recently; the new guys who come to the gym, do a couple sets, pop out the back door (right near where people workout) as a group for a cigarette with the smoke wafting in, then come back in to do another few sets. That's happened once and if they're doing it again while I'm there I'm complaining! I don't want my lungs filled with smoke really.

JDMPWR

The person who uses several equipment at once, ie: you see them stop using one and start using something else for a while. You go to use previous equipment and you get told they're still using it Luckily I haven't come across this much but my bf has.

More recently; the new guys who come to the gym, do a couple sets, pop out the back door (right near where people workout) as a group for a cigarette with the smoke wafting in, then come back in to do another few sets. That's happened once and if they're doing it again while I'm there I'm complaining! I don't want my lungs filled with smoke really.

I go between 2 machines. It's called compound workouts. I hate when people dont pay attention or ask, they see you using a machine, you finish your rep and walk away and they assume you are done. How about ask? I don't just jump on any machine if I just saw someone on it. I ask first

omgsayalathieo

girls that show up wearing a ton of makeup and then just walk on the treadmill... you're at the gym, get sweaty!

OMG YES!!! Those girls are so annoying!

CommandaPanda

I agree and disagree with some of the things that have been said.

I read one lady's response about how she's forced to go on the treadmill and steer away from the weights under doctors orders. I do, however, agree with leaving the makeup back in the locker room and not wearing perfume/cologne. It messes heavily with breathing techniques on the treadmill.

Dropping weights, I'm in the middle. If you do it for the attention then I would say that's unbelievable and gain control of yourself. On the other hand, dropping weights acts as more of a safety mechanism. At the heavier weights you leave yourself prone to significant injury so you have to be really careful with nicely setting them down.

Those who don't rack weights after using them are foolish. That's inconsiderate, especially if the person who would like to use the machine afterwards cannot physically rack 45 lbs plates.

As for the other stuff, I can say that I haven't encountered too many people who leave dumbbells lying around or hide equipment..

HOWEVER, there was this one lady at the gym the other day.. actually side-note.. I can NEVER go to the gym after work because between the hours of 4 PM and 9 PM the gym is just a madhouse. SO instead of lifting I jumped on the treadmill and ran for an hour. In that time I got to observe the gym that was packed as heavy as the streets of NYC. Needless to say, the treadmill and my creepy skills have formed quite the intimate relationship in the past 7 days.. I noticed this lady, mid-40's or so, plugged into her iPod dancing around the gym almost running into people everywhere she went because she was too busy in a passionate daze of singing to pay any attention to her navigational abilities. Once she got to a machine, she would continue flailing around and swinging her hair around. Before and after each set she would, again, flip her hair. I almost felt stupid because I was laughing hysterically at the ridiculousness of the circumstances for her to be dancing around like that..
/abruptly ending my story...

Moral of the story: don't dance around in the gym please =]

HeidiMightyRawr

The person who uses several equipment at once, ie: you see them stop using one and start using something else for a while. You go to use previous equipment and you get told they're still using it Luckily I haven't come across this much but my bf has.

More recently; the new guys who come to the gym, do a couple sets, pop out the back door (right near where people workout) as a group for a cigarette with the smoke wafting in, then come back in to do another few sets. That's happened once and if they're doing it again while I'm there I'm complaining! I don't want my lungs filled with smoke really.

I go between 2 machines. It's called compound workouts. I hate when people dont pay attention or ask, they see you using a machine, you finish your rep and walk away and they assume you are done. How about ask? I don't just jump on any machine if I just saw someone on it. I ask first

I understand the compound workouts, but I mean the people who spend so long on other equipment, anyone would think they're done. Surely you would let another person take sets in between if you're going to spend that long away, especially if it was busy.
I take quite long breaks between sets sometimes, and occasionally use 2 different ones, but if it was peak time and lots of people were about going to use I would ask if they want to do sets in between, instead of just taking up both for myself.

Jdismybug1

girls that show up wearing a ton of makeup and then just walk on the treadmill... you're at the gym, get sweaty!

On the same note... I can't stand it when either dudes or chicks wear a ton of cologne/perfume.... I'd like to be able to breath during my workout thanks... go step outside and air out a little!

Dude I so agree with this. I wear makeup every day, like a normal person, no pancake makeup here, I go after work, I don't bother touching up anything because I'm going to sweat. I carry a towel because I know how sweaty I am.

I've had a few run ins with cologne, one time it was a trainer that was standing by me while training someone else, I had to ask him to move.

I've been around a chick that would make grunty nasty noises on eliptiacl equipment. (Glad Ive changed gyms since then).
The other day there was some chick that I saw plop down on some equipment I wanted to use just to sit next to her friend and text. I asked her if she was using it so I could and she said "Yes" I said well you're not doing anything, she said it wasnt my business, and kept on texting. so I told the front desk, that's BS.

The one that really annoys me is that there is this girl that will sort of wander around eating m&m's at the gym looking like she's confused, use equipment for a few seconds, then get back up and go back to wandering and munching, and she will stop and stand over people and watch what they are doing like she's lookin at an animal at the zoo, then wander around again.

I always give her a good stare down and she seems to leave, but damn. Who cares what I am doing, go eat you m&m's somewhere else.

valeriebpdx

The person who uses several equipment at once, ie: you see them stop using one and start using something else for a while. You go to use previous equipment and you get told they're still using it

I go between 2 machines. It's called compound workouts. I hate when people dont pay attention or ask, they see you using a machine, you finish your rep and walk away and they assume you are done. How about ask? I don't just jump on any machine if I just saw someone on it. I ask first

I understand the compound workouts, but I mean the people who spend so long on other equipment, anyone would think they're done. Surely you would let another person take sets in between if you're going to spend that long away, especially if it was busy.
I take quite long breaks between sets sometimes, and occasionally use 2 different ones, but if it was peak time and lots of people were about going to use I would ask if they want to do sets in between, instead of just taking up both for myself.

I concur with the gal--I also do compound workouts, as I don't have the time to waste just sitting there between sets, but I am sure not going to get mad if someone tries to jump on a machine when I am not using it. Move on to some other exercise and come back and finish your set when they're off it. It's probably not going to cost us the Mr./Mrs. Universe title to take 2 or 3 min between sets once in a while. "I was saving that" is not valid at the gym.

lclarkjr

I hate when I'm waiting for a certain weight machine and the person on it just sits there and talks to their friends without actually using it. Seriously, you have the rest of the gym to talk to your friends, don't just sit on the machine if you aren't using it. And "I'm going to use it eventually" is not a valid excuse!

On a side note, I went to the gym at 4am on Sunday and had the entire weight room to myself. Nice!

Curvy1taliana

The person talking on the CELL phone, NEXT to you, speaking LOUDLY, in SPANISH....the ENTIRE time you are next to them..
and for some reason, this same person always ends up next to me...and I am in the middle of working out so I don't want to get off the machine (I like doing 45 min on the elliptical).

ok, rant over.

supermom1114

The person who uses several equipment at once, ie: you see them stop using one and start using something else for a while. You go to use previous equipment and you get told they're still using it Luckily I haven't come across this much but my bf has.

More recently; the new guys who come to the gym, do a couple sets, pop out the back door (right near where people workout) as a group for a cigarette with the smoke wafting in, then come back in to do another few sets. That's happened once and if they're doing it again while I'm there I'm complaining! I don't want my lungs filled with smoke really.

I go between 2 machines. It's called compound workouts. I hate when people dont pay attention or ask, they see you using a machine, you finish your rep and walk away and they assume you are done. How about ask? I don't just jump on any machine if I just saw someone on it. I ask first

I seriously don't understand this logic? Why would I need to ask to use a machine thats empty??? Yes you just got done with it and walked away... all clear signs that you are no longer using it. If you're not using it then why couldn't someone else jump on and do their sets while you're doing your other exercises. I think it's a little much to assume that just because your sweat is still on the machine and you didn't wipe it off means that it's still yours, I could just assume you're one of the none-sweat wipers lol. I think the people doing more advanced workouts should be a little courteous to those who are just starting out and are focused on only doing one exercise at a time. Don't want to discourage those who are just starting out ya know?

Sarabeth5

How about those people who subscribe to the "I don't know" method of weight training. It goes something like this:

Random dude sitting on/standing near a piece of equipment I want to use. I politely ask how many more sets he has and random dude says "I don't know". I mean, really? You have no freaking clue how long you're going to be using that? Really?

I hate that guy!!

lil_missfit

1. People who sit on the weight machines and talk to their friends or play with their music while I am waiting to use that particular machine. I only have an hour to workout because I have to leave so I try to make the best of it. They are just hogging the machine.

2. People who stop and want to talk to me while I am working out. I try not to make eye contact so they will keep walking but it doesnt work. I have had a man stop and talk to me for 15 minutes while I was trying to go hard on the eliptical. I kept trying to make hints like..."well it was good talkin to ya"....and he will go on and on....ahhhhh!!!

3. Men who try and hook up while I am focusing on working out....dude....do I LOOK like I am thinkin about you!!! Gosh!!

lil_missfit

How about those people who subscribe to the "I don't know" method of weight training. It goes something like this:

Random dude sitting on/standing near a piece of equipment I want to use. I politely ask how many more sets he has and random dude says "I don't know". I mean, really? You have no freaking clue how long you're going to be using that? Really?

I hate that guy!!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Too Funny!!!

supermom1114

3. Men who try and hook up while I am focusing on working out....dude....do I LOOK like I am thinkin about you!!! Gosh!!

AhHahahahaha! That cracked me up!

PMWiggi

Pet peeve #1! I go to a gym that is large enough to not need to put time limits on machines so that's not a problem (at least not when I go). I usually go during the middle of the day when everyone else is at work. It's good to be Queen! LOL

But, I LOVE spin classes. I go 5-7 days/week. I always ride the same bike (if it's available) and I ride hard no matter what the instructor is saying! I'm well known for riding like the wind at high resistance. So tell me, why on earth is Barbie and Stephie talking for 45-60 minutes non-stop! Even when the instructor loudly annouces, "if you can talk, you're not working hard enough." Even when the instructor got off her bike and went to stand between the two talkers, they continued to yap!

Now this takes talent, spin rooms are loud because the music is blasting. The instructors use microphones to talk on top of the music so I SHOULD NOT hear your conversation about the hot boy you sat next to in math class this morning. If you needed to talk, you should have stayed in the locker room where nobody cares too much! This isn't a Sunday ride in the park, this is SPIN people! We sweat and breathe hard in here!

Oooooooh, I just hate that!

thelandofwin

OMG I was so bugged at the gym today too.

PLEASE guys, do NOT stare at the ladies - especially when they are doing squats, it's creepy and YES we know you're gawking.

hush7hush

The people that don't clean off their machines are definitely the worst.

I always wipe mine down BEFORE and AFTER, just to make sure.

Another thing that irks me at my gym, is when I go into a tanning bed, and it clearly has NOT been cleaned. GROSS.
Everyone knows to wipe them before and after you use them, but still, be courteous and wipe it after you sweat all over the damn glass.

Barneystinson

The people that don't clean off their machines are definitely the worst.

I always wipe mine down BEFORE and AFTER, just to make sure.

Another thing that irks me at my gym, is when I go into a tanning bed, and it clearly has NOT been cleaned. GROSS.
Everyone knows to wipe them before and after you use them, but still, be courteous and wipe it after you sweat all over the damn glass.

Dirty tanning beds just scream MRSA infection risk to me :ohwell:

Glamour60Xtreme

I extremely dislike the people that don't clean up after themselfs, oh and the people who just sit/stand there for 30 minutes when they know you are waiting to use what they are. If they are going to use it, USE IT, if not, then move on!