weight room etiquette
AndreaWhite611
Posts: 54 Member
I bought NROLFW and I am excited to start but SO intimidated by the free weight room and all the people....mostly men.... who seem to have their *kitten* together. The first time I went I totally bailed and chickened out. Then I brought my hubby along to help me learn....even tho he has no clue it felt better to be clueless with someone. So I feel pretty confident now that I know what's where and what to do but I'm still nervous I'll get in other people's way or do something dumb. For instance I saw one guy ask another guy if he was finished using a bench thingie. Guy #2 was no where near the bench nor was any of his stuff and so I thought gosh....how will I know if someone is using something so I don't just walk in and but in some invisible line up. So....are their rules? Help me gain some confidence before I step in again. I'm sure I totally broke etiquette when I was staring... mesmerized... at a guy doing insane amount of pull ups....oops!
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Replies
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The New Rules is a great program. Best of luck
As far as what to do and not do:
Wipe up sweat after yourself
No curls in the squat rack
Don't do an exercise right in front of the dumbbell rack.
You might feel less intimidated if you could go during non-peak hours for a while until you get the feel for your routine and the gym itself.0 -
I did NROLFW last year and was intimidated to start, just like you, since I've never really done any weights in a gym before. But, you just do your thing and you'll notice that people don't really pay attention to you and are just focused on their own workout. And then you just get used to being there and eventually it's not intimidating at all.
If someone is not near a bench and doesn't have stuff on it I think it's fine to use it. If they are using it, they can politely ask you at that point if they can finish first.
You probably shouldn't stare at people doing their own workouts though, hah
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IME, most people are pretty friendly... wait until the person is done with their set (never interrupt someone mid-set) then ask if they are using the equipment or are almost done or whatever else.
Just use some common sense and be considerate of others. It's not rocket science.0 -
You'll be fine, always be polite, even if you feel you've accidently been 'that person'. There is nothing wrong with working in with people if that is the only set up for what you are doing or it is busy.
As mentioned before, wait till someone is done with a set then don't be afraid to ask. I actually find it annoying if I am using something and someone just hovers and gives me the stink eye. I'm perfectly ok with working in, just ask.
I have committed the sin of staring, especially if it is something insane. To cover it up, I've gone up to people with admiration, apologized for staring, and/or followed up with "how did you train for that/where did you start doing that" or something of that nature. You might actually learn from it.0 -
AndreaWhite611 wrote: »For instance I saw one guy ask another guy if he was finished using a bench thingie. Guy #2 was no where near the bench nor was any of his stuff and so I thought gosh....how will I know if someone is using something so I don't just walk in and but in some invisible line up.
Yeah, sometimes people walk around during their rest between sets, and if they don't leave a water bottle or something around the equipment they're using, it can be hard to tell. So while you're doing one exercise using equipment x, have a look at what's happening at the next place you need to go. If someone's just finished using that bench or whatever and is kind of ambling around, they might be on a break, so you could ask them.
Or you could just use it, because usually people do leave something around and it's fair enough to assume an empty bench is free.0 -
Thank you for the replies everyone. I honestly appreciate it. I am a polite person so didn't really need the suggestion of using common sense and It's not rocket science. I'm glad it came easy for you but maybe it isn't as easy for everyone.0
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My rule for bench / squat rack was, if they left the weights on and walked away, they're coming back to it. An hour later, you realize the *kitten* left the building and didn't rerack his weights. All of this uncertainty just led me to sack up and start talking to the enormous, shredded, intimidating guys. Btw, they're usually super nice and polite and will let you work in, in-between their sets.0
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Then you should be all set. The regulars in the weight room will be able to tell that you're new at what you're doing, and will "probably be willing to overlook any accidental breaches of weight room etiquette while you're learning the ropes. As long as you're not going going out of your way to be a nuisance to anyone else you won't have any problems.AndreaWhite611 wrote: »Thank you for the replies everyone. I honestly appreciate it. I am a polite person so didn't really need the suggestion of using common sense and It's not rocket science. I'm glad it came easy for you but maybe it isn't as easy for everyone.
The weight room always seems intimidating until you get in there, and then you realize that the people who are in there a lot are just regular people too.0 -
AndreaWhite611 wrote: »Thank you for the replies everyone. I honestly appreciate it. I am a polite person so didn't really need the suggestion of using common sense and It's not rocket science. I'm glad it came easy for you but maybe it isn't as easy for everyone.
But most of it simply is common sense. Most of the time, if someone does something wrong, it's so obvious that there is no question. Be polite all you want - if you don't use common sense, it doesn't matter.0 -
AndreaWhite611 wrote: »Thank you for the replies everyone. I honestly appreciate it. I am a polite person so didn't really need the suggestion of using common sense and It's not rocket science. I'm glad it came easy for you but maybe it isn't as easy for everyone.
Aw, it definitely takes a while to understand the unwritten rules of a new environment! It's a fair question.0 -
Aha ...crap.I left weights on the squat bar. I just walked away and didn't even think about taking them off. Maybe I am lacking common sense afterall.0
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AndreaWhite611 wrote: »Aha ...crap.I left weights on the squat bar. I just walked away and didn't even think about taking them off. Maybe I am lacking common sense afterall.
Maybe, maybe not... but certainly consideration for others.0 -
What JHC7324 said. I first walked into the free weight side of the gym ten months ago and was terrified. I was horribly self conscious and very aware that I was the only female there and using piddly weights while it seemed like everyone else was using massive weights. I focused hard on what I was doing, kept my earbuds in my ears and cleaned up after myself.
I'm incredibly shy and introverted but if you go consistently and at the same time, you'll begin to notice others who have the same schedule as you. Give them secret names. It will help you not be intimidated by them.
Realize that when you think people are looking at you, they probably are. But not in a bad way. They are just resting between sets and absently noting who's there and what they are doing. And you'll start looking at them too.
And then one day, ManWithAYellowHat or ManWhoMarchesToADifferentDrummer or maybe even Thor will ask you if you are done squatting or give you encouragement and then pretty soon, you won't even notice or care that you are still the only female in the area. You'll just be one of the lifters, trying to lift just a little more weight than you did the session before. Just like your buddies.0 -
AndreaWhite611 wrote: »Aha ...crap.I left weights on the squat bar. I just walked away and didn't even think about taking them off. Maybe I am lacking common sense afterall.
Maybe, maybe not... but certainly consideration for others.
Unless when she encountered it, she found it already loaded with someone else's plates and thought the rule was that it was up to the next person to set themselves up0 -
None of that kind of thing is necessarily obvious if you're new0
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AndreaWhite611 wrote: »Aha ...crap.I left weights on the squat bar. I just walked away and didn't even think about taking them off. Maybe I am lacking common sense afterall.
Maybe, maybe not... but certainly consideration for others.
Unless when she encountered it, she found it already loaded with someone else's plates and thought the rule was that it was up to the next person to set themselves up
Who assumes it's OK to not pick up after themselves?0 -
Don't squat in my curl rack bro.0
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Thank you thank you forrl. I will be reading and rereading your post. And always repacking my weights from now on. I do not lack consideration for others....once I know what's expected I have no problem being considerate. I think someone who had no conservation for others would have just barged in and certainly not created this post.0
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Errr...re-racking...whatever I it's called0
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I usually ask how many more sets someone has. If they just started they might offer to have me work in. Especially if this person uses around the same weight.
Also what is wrong with staring at a guy while he does push ups. I don't think he would be upset you were starring. If so then ask like wow how many did you do in a row or sets or whatever. People stare at the gym what else do you do during a rest period.0 -
Yep ask, re-rack, clean up sweat.
I like extend a little good will. I'll help re-rack someones plates if I am near and its inbetween my sets - even though you can't add it your total lifted.
My only fear is I'll make friends and they'll want to chat.0 -
nakedraygun wrote: »Yep ask, re-rack, clean up sweat.
I like extend a little good will. I'll help re-rack someones plates if I am near and its inbetween my sets - even though you can't add it your total lifted.
My only fear is I'll make friends and they'll want to chat.
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There are no rules. Walk in, find your stuff, act like a respectful human being (if you think someone is using something ask, put stuff back where you got it from) and you'll be perfectly fine. 99% of the people in the free weight section are extremely nice and helpful, MUCH MORE so than the people in the machine areas.
Don't worry bout nuthin, just go work out.0 -
Also if there is something you don't know how to do ask someone. I had guys say can you watch my deadlift form since you deadlift so much. Also had gals ask me if they are doing something correctly. These people must feel I know so much about lifting which I kind of do but sometimes my form breaks down too.
I do not thing any sensible person would be upset if you ask at there rest period something about lifting.0 -
AndreaWhite611 wrote: »Aha ...crap.I left weights on the squat bar. I just walked away and didn't even think about taking them off. Maybe I am lacking common sense afterall.
Maybe, maybe not... but certainly consideration for others.
Unless when she encountered it, she found it already loaded with someone else's plates and thought the rule was that it was up to the next person to set themselves up
Who assumes it's OK to not pick up after themselves?
Meh. No biggie. Probably wasn't enough weight to really inconvenience anyone. I couldn't care less if I take a couple 45s off a bar, but I'll bristle at unloading 1000 from a leg press.
Besides, I used to work out at a gym where it was considered rude to completely unload the bar and put the plates back. Next person needed those and retrieving the plates and reloading was a waste of time.0 -
I have been going to my gym daily for years (and I had no idea what NROLFW is), usually in the morning. That's definitely the best time if you're a newbie, since there's less pressure to have your s*** together when you hit the equipment. It's tough during peak hours.
As far as who is using the equipment, my rule is if its open (no body, no towel or bottle), its open- regardless of the weights on it or the dumbells on the floor around the bench. I have one hour a day to bust my butt and keep this corpse from falling apart and I'm not wasting it wondering why the jackoffs didn't re-rack their weights. In 20 years I've had two people, both a**holes, tell me "hey, I was using that".0 -
What JHC7324 said. I first walked into the free weight side of the gym ten months ago and was terrified. I was horribly self conscious and very aware that I was the only female there and using piddly weights while it seemed like everyone else was using massive weights. I focused hard on what I was doing, kept my earbuds in my ears and cleaned up after myself.
I'm incredibly shy and introverted but if you go consistently and at the same time, you'll begin to notice others who have the same schedule as you. Give them secret names. It will help you not be intimidated by them.
Realize that when you think people are looking at you, they probably are. But not in a bad way. They are just resting between sets and absently noting who's there and what they are doing. And you'll start looking at them too.
And then one day, ManWithAYellowHat or ManWhoMarchesToADifferentDrummer or maybe even Thor will ask you if you are done squatting or give you encouragement and then pretty soon, you won't even notice or care that you are still the only female in the area. You'll just be one of the lifters, trying to lift just a little more weight than you did the session before. Just like your buddies.
Oh can I play?
OldBro, Vic Tanny, iPod-Guy, Partial-Guy, BroMuscles, Mean Jean, HNB, & Badittude, are some of the guys/gals I see.
I can only imagine what nicknames that I have been given.0 -
1. Sometimes it's appropriate to leave weights on, sometimes it is slovenly and lazy. Depends on gym standard.
2. If you're using multiple barbells, be cool with working in, or losing one.
3. Wipe up sweat angels.
4. Don't assume that you're an important person there.
5. If you're doing something cool, you'll be watched, enjoy it.0 -
Besides, I used to work out at a gym where it was considered rude to completely unload the bar and put the plates back. Next person needed those and retrieving the plates and reloading was a waste of time.
Is that common? Even if the next person can lift the weight, chances are decent that they'll have to change bar position/height, right? At least that been my experience at both the gyms I've worked at at.
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Yeah, unless you're in some superman gym where everyone considers 225 the minimum warm-up weight for the bench (such places exist, not that I'll ever be in one), def re-rack the weights.
Hardest part for me is when something hasn't been re-racked, and there's no towel or water bottle holding the spot. If someone's nearby, I'll ask if they've seen anyone using the equipment...if negative, I'll go for it. If no one is around at all (rare), I figure it's mine. I've yet to have a problem using that method.
Oh, and if you need to get a plate from another piece of equipment, don't do it while someone's in the middle of a set :-D0
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