Exercise Ettiquette (mini rant)

Freidon

It might be that they never learned. I had never gone to a gym before I went to my campus one, and there's no information anywhere about where to get spray bottles or towels, or where to put them when you were done. In fact, I went several weeks before I actually saw anyone using it, and realized that I probably needed to be doing the same.

My gym is still irritating, in that aspect. I want to clean up after myself, but I have no idea where to find any bottles or towels. I try to nab whatever someone else left. Which they probably only left because, like me, they didn't know what to do with it when they were done.

smantha32

Why are people so paranoid about sweat on the machines? Germaphob much?

because it's gross!

missjanetleigh

I use a small women only gym. Everyone seems to clean up after themselves, thank god.

Me too, and so far been pretty lucky most are considerate. One thing when I joined I wasn't told about where the wipes are, towels to be used or where I put the dirty ones.

I think a huge responsibility is on the gym when they sign you up to let you know about these things. I did already know it is pretty common sense but they have to have it accessible.

Another reason to is what others have said, the gym can hold many nasty germs. ecckkk

RhineDHP

Why are people so paranoid about sweat on the machines? Germaphob much?

Paranoid? Hardly. I would think it common courtesy to clean up the bodily fluids you spill on things many people use.

RhineDHP

I use a small women only gym. Everyone seems to clean up after themselves, thank god.

Me too, and so far been pretty lucky most are considerate. One thing when I joined I wasn't told about where the wipes are, towels to be used or where I put the dirty ones.

I think a huge responsibility is on the gym when they sign you up to let you know about these things. I did already know it is pretty common sense but they have to have it accessible.

Another reason to is what others have said, the gym can hold many nasty germs. ecckkk

You know what, now that you mention it when I first started at the gym I wasn't told about the disinfectant wipes, or heck, even how to properly adjust the weight machines. I figured it out on my own rather quickly though. I guess a run-through of gym etiquette would probably be rather helpful when people sign up to this particular gym.

pkw58

You could apply this rant to any publially shared place. Last sunday, the ushers had to clean up a pew where a family let their young children eat and spew dry cheerios all over the pew,left used kleenex's and employ juice packs in the pew. Seriously? I don't even leave trash in a movie theater...

Chrissy180

So I'm just getting into the groove on the treadmill and a really nice older lady gets onto the treadmill beside me. Just as she kicks her treadmill into high gear I'm confronted by the overpowering smell of her very sweet perfume!!! I mean it gave me a instant headache it was so strong. People drive me crazy!! I know that it was not intentional, but you are at the gym where people are running, panting and sweating. Come on!!

Lupercalia

The sweat and used paper towels everywhere is just disgusting. I would either speak to management or find a cleaner gym.

As for people dropping weights, if they are dropping the weights on the little machines, that's not cool. I'm assuming you're not talking about Hammer Strength type "machines" that use free weights.

If you're talking about people dropping weights in the free weights area, all gyms should have some sort of rubber flooring or mats to both absorb sound and keep the weights from being damaged. You might want to look out for that at whatever gym you go to next.

I see people complain about this all the time, so I think it's worth pointing out that there are indeed certain lifts that do include dropping the barbell, and others that require dropping the barbell or dumbbells, especially when training at or near your max. Of course there are also those situations where people need to "bail" on a max lift and will drop it so they don't kill themselves.

Grunting and exhaling loudly is also part of lifting heavy stuff, like it or not. People grunt and breathe hard when they're exerting themselves...as unpleasant as that may be, it's just how it is. If the lifters are screaming out naughty words, I think you'd be right to complain. That's a bit beyond acceptable gym behaviour. But merely grunting, exhaling loudly....no, not really.

I wear headphones constantly when I'm at the gym, with my music turned up pretty loud. It works--I don't hear anything!

I've read that Planet Fitness doesn't allow grunting or the lifting of heavy weights--maybe try that place.

sarahrbraun

Another vote for finding a new gym. The staff at my gym are constantly going around cleaning up machines by removing trash, wiping down cardio machines, wiping down weight machines, etc. And I don't go to an expensive or fancy gym, or even the upper levels of the gym franchise I do belong to.

This is my experience too! I belong to the local YMCA. It is only just over a year old, and it is super clean. The trainer and fitness monitor in the fitness area clean when they are not helping members with fitness stuff. They are constantly pushing a broom, re-racking weights, wiping machines down, etc. There is also a local sheriff's department program that puts local teens in volunteer positions instead of sitting home during suspension from school...so it is not unusual to see a couple of younger teens escorted around collecting dirty towels or wiping machines too

SanteMulberry

So I'm just getting into the groove on the treadmill and a really nice older lady gets onto the treadmill beside me. Just as she kicks her treadmill into high gear I'm confronted by the overpowering smell of her very sweet perfume!!! I mean it gave me a instant headache it was so strong. People drive me crazy!! I know that it was not intentional, but you are at the gym where people are running, panting and sweating. Come on!!

Yes--many people will have migraines triggered by perfume and asthmatics will often have an asthma attack triggered by perfume. To spare those people misery, it would be good to use the "1 foot rule" of perfumery (my grandmother taught it to me). You have a non-perfume person take a whiff and if they can smell your perfume more than one foot away from you, you are wearing too much. Perfume not only creates problems for the migrainous and asthmatics, it can be unhealthy for the person wearing the perfume. There are neurotoxins in most perfumes (you can google this "neurotoxins in perfume"). I'd much rather smell someone's natural stink. :laugh:

j99li

There are a couple of girls at my gym that work out with makeup on. I dont mind that but sometimes they would wipe their brow and get makeup on their hands and then they wipe it on the equipment bars and dont clean it after....its really gross

fbmandy55

Remember people, bad stuff (ie staph infections) can be transfered via gym & shower equipment. If the gym doesnt provide it carry a spray bottle of disinfectant & a spare towel only for that purpose.

Yeah. Google MRSA (a staph infection that is going around in some gyms). You won't ever not use the disinfectant before you get on a piece of equipment after that.

My bf is highly prone to MRSA and has been hospitalized with it 3 times in the last 5 years. my gym has sanitizer bottles and paper towel about every 10 feet and they are awesome about enforcing it.

Now if they would just enforce the 13 year old guest rule. I am sick of the 8, 9 and 10 years old coming in with mom and dad and playing on the equipment.

kelly101386

This is the reason why I won't go to gyms or pools anymore.

Last time I went swimming someone had crapped in the changing rooms, it was smeared all over the floor. Appalling.

chevy88grl

The first gym I joined was pretty good. People were considerate, cleaned up after themselves, wiped down the machines. Second gym I went to? Ugh. There was so much ICK on everything and honestly? I never saw anyone wiping ANYTHING down. I spent more time wiping than I did working out.

Blech.

chevy88grl

So I'm just getting into the groove on the treadmill and a really nice older lady gets onto the treadmill beside me. Just as she kicks her treadmill into high gear I'm confronted by the overpowering smell of her very sweet perfume!!! I mean it gave me a instant headache it was so strong. People drive me crazy!! I know that it was not intentional, but you are at the gym where people are running, panting and sweating. Come on!!

Ugh. Yes. Perfume at the gym makes me gag. I'm asthmatic and ALL perfume makes me wheeze (which is why I don't wear it! lol) and while I don't mind if others DO wear it, don't bathe in it. Spritz and go!

kpnive

Have you said anything to the gym? Sometimes if you don't say anything, nothing will ever get done. Sometimes you have to call people out on the spot. I commute via train into the city every day and I once sat across a lady who had one of those very extra large starbucks cold drinks she was sitting there slurping away....she was done and conveniently put it down next to her and got up....I said, oh hey you forgot your drink!, it was clearly empty...she grabbed it and took it with her. If your gym isn't into being clean, definitely find a new one!

SydneyBristowe

It always astounds me that there's only a handful of us who wipe the bikes down after spin class

The rest of my gym is mostly clean and tidy though

SydneyBristowe

This is the reason why I won't go to gyms or pools anymore.

Last time I went swimming someone had crapped in the changing rooms, it was smeared all over the floor. Appalling.

Urrrgh! what?!? I have no words!

SanteMulberry

Remember people, bad stuff (ie staph infections) can be transfered via gym & shower equipment. If the gym doesnt provide it carry a spray bottle of disinfectant & a spare towel only for that purpose.

Yeah. Google MRSA (a staph infection that is going around in some gyms). You won't ever not use the disinfectant before you get on a piece of equipment after that.

My bf is highly prone to MRSA and has been hospitalized with it 3 times in the last 5 years. my gym has sanitizer bottles and paper towel about every 10 feet and they are awesome about enforcing it.

As a preventive, you might get him to try a vitamin C infused moisturizer. I know someone who has had repeated infections and he swears by it. Don't know if there is any research backing it up but you could google it.

chelsifina

I agree with many other posters: you have a terrible gym!!!! This never happens at my gym, and if you crash the weights staff comes over and asks you to not do that. What an awful exercise environment you have!!!

xTattooedDollx

My gym would never allow this to go on.

Gallowmere1984

I agree with many other posters: you have a terrible gym!!!! This never happens at my gym, and if you crash the weights staff comes over and asks you to not do that. What an awful exercise environment you have!!!

While I concur with the fact that filthy gyms are intolerable, what exactly do you mean by 'crash the weights'?

atrebor18

My boyfriend used to clean a rather high-end health club and people there were so nasty. The locker rooms were gross and people stole towels like every day and never re racked weights. He spent almost an hour a day putting weights away and then people would just mess them up all over again. My lovely cheap gym is usually quite clean and people are considerate. I have noticed the staff aren't cleaning the locker room as much as they used to...maybe since its winter? I don't really think thats an excuse though...

BrainsOnGains

Toughen up people. anyone who is offended by "loud weights" aren't usually in the free weight area as it is, so stay in the cardio room with your quiet swiss ball and yoga mat, Do you even lift bro?

smantha32

bump