Gym Etiquette

Throughout my gym going days I have always managed to avoid the weight training room (or as I always call it, the big boys room). I felt it was full of machines that were not suitable for females, weights that were way too difficult for me, and in all honestly I was intimidated by the looks and sounds that came from that room.
Recently I began a new routine that required me to enter the big boys room and try out some of these scary looking machines. Everything was going great until one day I came up to the smith machine and there were two 45lb plates on each side...Call me weak, but it took me about three minutes to maneuver them off of the bar. During this time I was being gawked at by a few guys that were taking a break from their routines (talk about feeling embarrassed). Only after I was struggling with my last plate, did a "gentleman" finally come up to me and offer to take off the plate. This situation got me thinking. If you can put the plates on to the bar, then what is so difficult about taking them off and putting them back to the plate rack (or the dumbbell rack for those of you that prefer to lift with them and then throw them in the middle of the gym floor)? Some of the high end gyms have staff that walk around and clean up for you, but if you do not belong to one of those gyms, you should learn to clean up after yourself. This may cause a chain reaction and make your gym time more pleasurable instead of frustrating.

For more great gym etiquette tips (some are funny), check out this article:

http://www.askmen.com/money/how_to_150/155_how_to.html

Share some of your pet peeves so that we can be conscious of them when working out and not commit them.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

Comments (4) add comment

fitnessjunkie said:

	the thing that pisses me off the most is when you're in the middle of an exercise and someone, who clearly sees you are using that particular machine, comes in, moves weights around, and adjusts the machine to his/her liking and does a set. he/she then leaves the machine and walks away. i have no issues sharing but be decent enough to ask if you may work in!
	report abuse vote down vote up

January 11, 2009
Votes: +0

fitnesschic said:

	Don't mean to veer off topic but I HATE when people loiter on equipment, oftentimes so they can talk to a member of the opposite sex who happens to be working out on an adjacent machine. The gym is not a meat market. I have no problem with guys ogling girls or vice versa, but Jesus Christ, if you're not using it for its intended purpose, GET UP!
	report abuse vote down vote up

January 12, 2009
Votes: +0

alex said:

fitnesschic..i feel you! yet, most people go to the gym to work out. they work hard. they sweat. i respect that. most have the courtesy and respect to take a towel to the gym.

other people choose not to encumber themselves with such trivialities. they use machines/benches, leave puddles behind, and move one!!! wtf people?!! if you are gonna drip like a cow at a slaughterhouse then do us all a favor..bring a towel!!

Work hard. Sweat hard. Bring a towel.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

January 12, 2009
Votes: +1

pinkdbs said:

i have to agree with alex! my biggest pet peeve is not wiping down the machines after you use it. ew! i don't need your germs!

fitfemme -- don't be intimidated by the machines.. and furthermore, if there's a 45lb plate, ask the biggest guy next to you to help you take it off.. most people won't feel comfortable offering help (for various reasons), but if you ask, they'll do it in a sec.. and don't feel bad asking for it (as long as the person isn't in the middle of a set or something) because you need to get your workout in, too! and you would do it for the next person if the shoes were on the other foot.