Exercise Ettiquette (mini rant)

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:

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!!!

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'?

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?