Top 5 Gym Annoyances

The new gym I joined seems to be pretty good with all the annoyances here.. especially the weight tossers. I was talking with the gym manager and he despises them... since he is one of the largest human beings I have met in my life enforcement is not an issue. I once watched my workout partner drop a 60lb dumbbell on his big toe. it popped like a grape and I make sure to tell that to anyone I see tossing the dumbbells carelessly.

My biggest complaint is the people who are really just there to hang out.. guys standing around BSing instead of actually working out. When I go to the gym I have a workout planned, and I get it done in the least amount of time possible. I aim for 60 seconds between sets.

Sorry ... tahkunkel working out with the free weights around a bunch of guys, they are checking you out. We try not to, but it is instinct. If someone is staring too much flip them the bird

I can live with the grunters when they're heavy lifting but what's just weird is the ones who grunt when they're in the Spa area - especially the steam room when you can only vaguely make people out but can hear some very strange sounds. And ladies, leaving clumps of hair in the showers is totally gross, and if you use the last of the shampoo or shower gel you brought with you - put the empties in the bin - don't just leave them lying around. But the worst has to be a story my husband told me of the naked guy in the changing rooms drying his head on his towel and the rest of his body (and I mean everywhere) with a hairdryer ..... eeeewwwww!

Love the post- some of my annoyances also. But my number 1 is kids. Our gym is "family friendly". I don't mind the kids who are there actually working out and acting like normal human beings. But there is a very annoying ex-Marine who brings in his two Grandsons who run around like banchees swinging on machines like they are jungle gyms. I just want to spank them and punch him.

Amen!!! That is my #1 as well. Not only is it incredibly distracting to have kids running around the gym, but then they play on the equipment (which they don't know how to use) and you're so afraid they're going to hurt themselves that you can't concentrate on your own workout! Last week I was doing the super sets my trainergave me for "homework", and I couldn't do the last set on the inner / outer thigh machine as a young teenage girl decided to sit on it and read her book!

Some admissions:

1. I've been known to grunt. I like to use free weights and work an upward pyramid. I don't grunt throughout all of my sets but if its a good workout I will usually have at least one set where I seriously test my limits. On those sets I've been known to grunt. I'll take that every day over the people who never seriously exerts themselves. In the end, I'm there for a workout...and that begins with the word "work"

2. I'm a starer. Now I know there isn't a dance floor here and I know they don't sell drinks. This is a gym. But in 1999 I tore my left rotator cuff Benching Dumbells on an inclined bench when I lost control of a weight. So when I see someone who doesn't have a partner to spot for them I'll often take a few moments to watch their form to see if their form is good, to see if they can handle their weight, and to step in and spot for them if they need it. For me, the mark of a good gym is when the regulars look out for each other to help avoid injuries and maximize workouts. So I've been known to chat up men and women alike and give them form tips, and advice to avoid injury. Some take it, and some don't. But gyms are full of people using too much weight, and in the wrong way.

3. I use the mirrors alot. I use them because they help me to concentrate on form. I'm not blowing kisses at myself in the mirror. They allow me to visually see which muscles I'm working. And if I also use them a little because I like seeing how my body is changing, I don't think anyone has the right to judge. You may dislike your own body..But I kinda like mine..

Love this! Don't forget the people who need to be seen. They walk around making sure everyone checks them out. Yes, you're ripped. I see you. Thanks for showing off the guns and abs. Oh and you, fake boob woman...yes we've all seen you. You're hot. Now can you both just get on with your workout. LOL.

HAHAHAHA...the gym can sometimes be like a circus, really. I love it, and ALL of these things annoy me. Oh and I'm a runner, a real runner who runs...so when the treadmills are all full and someone is walking on a treadmill on a sloooooow setting and talking on their cell phone, I almost LOSE it

Okay I don't know why this bothers me so much, but it does....the guys who lift enormous amounts of weight and have ginormous arms and chests but don't do a second of cardio and look as if they are 27 months pregnant. I don't understand the point of having HUGE muscles if you're going to have a HUGE belly to go with it. I'm not faulting anyone for carrying some extra weight...I think that's why we're all here...but why on earth would you obsess about having monstrous Arnold Schwarzenegger arms but not want to do something about your belly?

Anyway, not wiping off equipment and hogging equipment annoy me too.

Okay I don't know why this bothers me so much, but it does....the guys who lift enormous amounts of weight and have ginormous arms and chests but don't do a second of cardio and look as if they are 27 months pregnant. I don't understand the point of having HUGE muscles if you're going to have a HUGE belly to go with it. I'm not faulting anyone for carrying some extra weight...I think that's why we're all here...but why on earth would you obsess about having monstrous Arnold Schwarzenegger arms but not want to do something about your belly?

Anyway, not wiping off equipment and hogging equipment annoy me too.

It's a powerlifting thing. If they go in comps that is. They just want to keep getting bigger and bigger as you can generally lift more weight that one. Guys that really are that big (and muscley) wouldn't need much in the way of cardio to lose the fat but more of a diet adjustment. Not uncommon for massive guys to be intaking 6000cals a day on a bulking cycle (obviously differs person to person but you get the idea). Basically, they are happy to put on fat as long as they are putting on muscle as well.

I couldn't do it personally. Clean bulk all the way.

The gym I go to has a younger couple that works out around the same time I do and the boyfriend likes to do leg presses with his girlfriend as one of the weight.

Haha! Love it!

at the original poster on this thread-I AGREE...
I'm sure some other people mentioned some of these also, but for me it is:

5. Grunters-particularly those with bad form
4. the women (NO OFFENSE) that wear full make-up, matching everything-outfit, head phones, water bottle, shoes, towel...some how just drives me nuts...especially when they all give ME dirty looks in my cut off sweats lol, because I'm there to WORK OUT and the guys like that
3. Lurkers who wonder around and do a rep or two on a machine, wipe off their "sweat", walk around some more...
2.People in the locker room that take up every possible inch of space with their stuff
1. at the boxing club-I hate being underestimated/straight disrespected!

4. the women (NO OFFENSE) that wear full make-up, matching everything-outfit, head phones, water bottle, shoes, towel...some how just drives me nuts...especially when they all give ME dirty looks in my cut off sweats lol, because I'm there to WORK OUT and the guys like that

Oh goodness... I TOTALLY agree with you.

I just re-joined a local gym and they have co-ed and women's only locations. I only go to the women's one right now, probably will steer clear of the co-ed unless they have a class I really want. I like that I can go and NOT listen to the grunters (sorry guys).

I don't like the clangers. These women who drop the weights, didn't anyone teach you about proper form on the weight machines?

And of course....the ones who are in the mirror doing their makeup in the locker room...before they work out! Seriously? You're here to exercise, not primp!
Of course, this is also my pet peeve camping-you're in the wilderness, cooking over an open fire, sleeping in a tent (or camper), and you're in the bathroom curling your hair and putting on makeup? Pleeaaasse!

http://www.asicsamerica.com/blog/post/2010/11/04/SOCIAL-Gym-Etiquette.aspx

at the original poster on this thread-I AGREE...
I'm sure some other people mentioned some of these also, but for me it is:


4. the women (NO OFFENSE) that wear full make-up, matching everything-outfit, head phones, water bottle, shoes, towel...some how just drives me nuts...especially when they all give ME dirty looks in my cut off sweats lol, because I'm there to WORK OUT and the guys like that

I agree, I think it's funny to see women wearing full make up at the gym. Even if it's just eye makeup, I find it odd. Gobs of lip gloss seem to be the norm at my gym for some reason. However, I just recently started buying a certain brand of workout wear because I'm finally fit enough to wear it, so...I'ma going to wear it proudly, even if it does seem everything matches, when really I just like certain colors so that's what I buy and it ends up looking somewhat coordinated. LOL... it makes me feel good and want to get to the gym. But I don't really care what others are wearing unless there's over exposure involved!

My biggest pet peeve is people who hog cardio machines. If there are people waiting, than 30 minutes is the limit. Shouldn't be too hard to follow, but there a lots of people at my gym who stay on for hours. So I might be the one trying to see how much time you've been on, so I can plan to come back and get on the machine.

I grunt because I lift heavy and those last few reps are always the most intense.

The skinny-fat girls doing 50 reps with 2lbs Barbie weights don't grunt. In fact, they can probably sing while lifting.

I'd rather be the grunter.

^^^^^^^^^^ Yes! and thank you!.

My boyfriend works out around 3 hours each evening after work. I go to a class at the gym for an hour of that time. And ... he grunts. Loudly. And hisses. And makes all sorts of random noises that scare me. :laugh: But, he lifts some mega weightage ... THAT scares me, too! Pretty sure I'd be making some sort of sound if I was lifting that much!! :laugh:

... still annoying, though. Don't tell him I said that!

There's a couple guys in my class that smell like B.O. Thankfully one of them has the decency to realize he is kinda stinky when he works up a sweat and he chooses the bike farthest away from everyone. The other one? Not so much. And he also farts when we're down on the mat. A lot. :sick: But ... he's uber nice and I can't find it in my heart to not like the guy!