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Gym Etiquette

jzsor12
jzsor12 Posts: 69
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
never been to a gym before so can you give me some tips? I'm wondering what things are really a no-no I don't want to get on the wrong side of anybody first visit!

:happy:

Replies

  • Cameo530
    Cameo530 Posts: 155 Member
    #1 - Wipe down the equipment after you use it. No-one else wants to grab handles, etc covered in your sweat.

    #2 - Try not to let the weights bang and clang too much. It can be irritating/distracting to those around you and if everyone were doing it, the noise would be phenomenal.

    Sorry, that's all I got.
  • itsuki
    itsuki Posts: 520 Member
    Wipe down your machines, re-rack your weights, be polite, and you'll be fine.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Asking questions before you hurt yourself is good....

    Talking on a cell phone is bad - even in the locker room. Those things have cameras. Very disconcerting in a locker room..

    Wiping off the handles and / or seat after you use the machine is required.

    Sitting on a bench of a machine you aren't using is keeping someone else from using it.

    Those are really the only things that bugged me.But I'm sure there are much more sensitive folks than I am.
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    curling in the squat rack
    leaving sweat
    complaining about noise being made by people seriously trying to get bigger and stronger
    not racking weights when you're done
    standing directly in front of the dumbell rack to do whatever
    sitting an exerball down 2 feet behind and 6 inches to the right of the end of my loaded barbell that i am doing deadlifts with and sitting on it with your back to where i would stand and making a phone call (true story)
    Having your kid do barbell rows 4 feet behind this same loaded bar after the exerball dude moves (uh huh)
    Being an employee and talking to another employee directly under the pull up bar and only moving 2.5 feet behind my back when i ask you to move, especially on the same day as the above
  • fairc3jam
    fairc3jam Posts: 136 Member
    Wipe equip before and after! Don't talk to people who are huffing and puffing - you may ruin thier concentration :mad: :mad:
  • kristi5224
    kristi5224 Posts: 98 Member
    Do- Wipe machines before and after. Wash your hands when you get there and when you leave
    Don't- Cell phone, perfume, sitting on machines/benches chatting.
    I go to a small gym, it is customary to smile and say hello if you have seen the person more than a few times, but no long conversations, most of us are there with a goal and a time line.
    If you sing to your music be aware others may not appreciate your talent.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    - not unracking the weights when done
    - people not paying attention to where they are walking in the weight room. i'm a big girl so i'm hard to miss, i really hate it when i'm doing stuff like barbell complexes and people walk too close to me. i dint understand how it's impossible to see my big *kitten* doing hang cleans or push presses?!?!
    - dawdling to close to the sides of the squat rack when someone is waiting for you move so they can do their next set.
    - the new thing at my gym is people trying to do handstands in the middle of an already cramped weight room. no problem unless you can't do a handstand and end up cartwheeling and practically kicking someone next to you.
  • Mountainbiker2015
    Mountainbiker2015 Posts: 129 Member
    Wipe off the equipment after you use it. I think you should before too but I forget to do that myself. I never forget to wipe is off after I use it though. Don't hog the equipment, especially if you work out in a small gym. Obey any rules that are posted. That is all I have.
  • gogonunubean
    gogonunubean Posts: 160 Member
    Ask the gym owner or trainer for an orientation - most gyms will even help you set up a basic fitness plan for no charge (or they do in my area).

    - Wipe down equipment
    - Don't hog the equipment if is busy
    - Don't be afraid to ask for help, but not if people look busy - I hate talking at gym personally, but I never mind helping out.
    - Don't play your music too loud - it comes through the headphones.
    - Try not to make sex sounds when you are lifting - it is just off putting!
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Wipe down your machines, re-rack your weights, be polite, and you'll be fine.

    That right there is the entire list. Curl where you wanna curl, sit where you need to sit, do want you wanna do. Get your workout on and you'll be just fine. Some people are going to try to convince you that there is this laundry list of rules but there's not. Be a decent human being and you'll have all of my respect. Don't worry about us. Get. Your. Workout. On.
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    Just do what you do and respect others....................and yes wiping down the machine everytime you are finished.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    There's a rack with an olympic bar. its got several pins to put it at different heights. This is the appropriate place to curl.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    There's a rack with an olympic bar. its got several pins to put it at different heights. This is the appropriate place to curl.

    I can't curl there because the stupid squatters keep using it. So inconsiderate!
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    - not unracking the weights when done
    - people not paying attention to where they are walking in the weight room. i'm a big girl so i'm hard to miss, i really hate it when i'm doing stuff like barbell complexes and people walk too close to me. i dint understand how it's impossible to see my big *kitten* doing hang cleans or push presses?!?!
    - dawdling to close to the sides of the squat rack when someone is waiting for you move so they can do their next set.
    - the new thing at my gym is people trying to do handstands in the middle of an already cramped weight room. no problem unless you can't do a handstand and end up cartwheeling and practically kicking someone next to you.
    Weird! I've never seen people do handstands in the middle of the gym. Must be the hot bods of the Olympic Gymnasts have them jealous/inspired.
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Don't count your reps loudly lol:bigsmile:
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    There's a rack with an olympic bar. its got several pins to put it at different heights. This is the appropriate place to curl.

    I can't curl there because the stupid squatters keep using it. So inconsiderate!

    Yeah well, once those squats wreck their back and knees they'll be gone and we'll be free to use it.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Weird! I've never seen people do handstands in the middle of the gym. Must be the hot bods of the Olympic Gymnasts have them jealous/inspired.
    Maybe it's just in those gyms that have "lunk alerts". Nobody will hit the "lunk alert" for handstands or somersaults like they would if you were doing something "lunky" like picking up heavy weights or something.

    As far as the OP, people have pretty well covered it. Wipe your equipment down, don't hog things you aren't actively using, have some common courtesy and you'll be just fine. Most people are so wrapped up in their own workouts that they hardly notice what you're doing unless it's something notably stupid or inconsiderate.
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