Working out at the Gym / how to tell someone they smell

There used to be a woman at my gym named Onion Vagina. Okay. Maybe that wasn't her real name, but that's what we called her, because she smelled like she washed her vagina with an onion.

I seriously LOL'd at this! :laugh:

In beauty school we were taught that if someone smelled that was sitting in our chair we were to take a cotton ball and put a little seabreeze on it and clip it to their cape on their back. It has a nice smell and blocks out any nasty smell that may be coming from the person.. Perhaps you could do this and clip it on your own sleeve on the side of the smelly person.

Uh isn't it that an hour on the elliptical machine is way too much? You should have moved out of that machine instead.

Dear OP. There are many times in our lives that we may accidentally smell bad. For example, as a fellow woman, I am going to assume that at some point in your life, you have experienced The Dreaded Unexpected Early Time of the Month Panic (more commonly of course known by its abbreviation TDUETMP). TDUETMP notoriously occurs during inescapable meetings, exams, presentations, and other socially awkward situations. TDUETMP is known to cause a spreading sensation of fear that everyone surrounding you has noticed, is judging you, and is soon to shun you from all future interactions.

I appreciate that the woman you were describing was not suffering from TDUETMP, but from a different embarrassing smell related problem. However, it seems to me that this is the only time you've ever encountered this woman smelling bad, so I think you should give her the benefit of the doubt. I'd like you to imagine a time when you yourself has smelled less than pleasant, such as the example I have given before, and then imagine how you might react if a person near you covered their nose unsubtly in front of you.

If the problem persists, and you still feel so strongly about it, then please at least have the balls to approach her yourself. You do not need to humiliate this woman further by dragging a member of staff in to it.

Uh isn't it that an hour on the elliptical machine is way too much? You should have moved out of that machine instead.

I'm curious as to why an hour on the elliptical is too much? (and I agree with what you say about moving from that machine, that's what I would do) I'm sure some gyms have time limits on the equipment, but I've never been to one that has, so it isn't hard to imagine the OP's gym is the same way... spending an hour on one machine doesn't seem outrageous to me.

If you want to exercise in the gym where people don't smell you could take your weights and do your squats in the showers.

Uh isn't it that an hour on the elliptical machine is way too much? You should have moved out of that machine instead.

I'm curious as to why an hour on the elliptical is too much? (and I agree with what you say about moving from that machine, that's what I would do) I'm sure some gyms have time limits on the equipment, but I've never been to one that has, so it isn't hard to imagine the OP's gym is the same way... spending an hour on one machine doesn't seem outrageous to me.

Unless you're training for an endurance sport, cardio should be limited up to 45 minutes only. Too much cardio will put your body in a catabolic state (muscle burning) which isn't good. Also the elliptical machine doesn't really give much of a calorie burn contrary to what people believe. The problem is that many people overrate it very much. It is all about intensity & according to the law of physics, it takes more energy to move a heavier object but elliptical is a low impact workout because you don't use a lot of gravity with it as compared to running so how can that machine burns calories much the same as running or doing circuits?

Do you really think you're getting the same workout groove when you do 30 minutes of elliptical vs 30 minutes of running or circuit training? I don't think so.

I workout out at very high intensity, gyms are made to sweat, otherwise stay home. When I start to go past an hour I can smell my sweat from my drenched shirt and if someone comes up next to me I might move to another machine if I'm smelling myself. I usually do 30 bike, 30 versaclimber, then 30 on the treadmill, the versaclimber drenches me bad but its all good, keeps me fit.

I could never get away with using the same clothes for two days, I can't even throw mine in the laundry, I wash everything in the sink before it goes to the laundry because sweat bacteria starts to smell real bad after a few hours or less.

Bottom line, fellow gym go'ers need to recognize and acknowledge their body odor and move to allow others a decent environment just as they expect a decent environment.

Here's what I'd like you to do. This is guaranteed to solve the problem.

Next time you're on your machine and stinkypants comes in and gets on the elliptical next door, act like everything is normal. Then, when she's not looking, you need to remove a $5 spot from your bra. Keep them tucked in your bra cause that's hot btw.

Drop the 5 spot so that it lands right underneath her feet. Temporarily remove your home-made gas mask long enough to gesture to this stank of a lady.

"Excuse me miss? I think you dropped that five dollar bill down there".

Now when she bends down to pick up the five spot, you need to quick get off of your machine, and pull your pants down. Slide your butt crack all up and down her back, sort of like how a dog wipes his butt on a carpet.

When she gets up, slightly irritated, stare intently at the 5 dollar bill and then rip it out of her hands.

"OH SNAP! I guess this was MY five. My bad"

Then slap her across the face, pull your pants up, and head over to the squat cage for some barbell curls.

Hahahahaha! :laugh: Thank you for that.

Seriously, it's a gym. People sweat and at times people smell bad. If it was bothering you that much you should have moved to another machine. I'm certain that after an hour on the elliptical you weren't smelling like a bag of roses either...