Exercise Ettiquette (mini rant)

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.

Yikes. Never, ever had a problem at my gym (or any gym I've been to)

Sounds like a crappy gym. As for those guys that drop weights hard, nothing you can do there. Don't let it bother you. There is always going to be people that do that at gyms.

Sounds like you need a new gym! People are considerate at my gym for the most part, and the staff is always cleaning, no matter what time I work out.

Mine too, for the most part. I think it also helps that there are cleaning stations throughout the gym and the staff is really good about stocking the stations. I wish more people would rerack the weights but the staff is also good about picking up after people so I've never encountered anything disgusting, which is great because this gym is in the perfect location and I am paying a ridiculously low corporate membership rate.

sounds like a gym management problem there.

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

because it's gross!

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...

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.

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: