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A Perfect Fit: Pinkies out –– don't forget your gym etiquette
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Anonymous user Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:54:49 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Just because there aren’t tea parties or formal dinners at the gym doesn’t mean you should leave your manners at home.
I’m 53, and it may be “old guy” to be concerned with gym etiquette, but being the old-fashioned type that I am,  that’s exactly what we’re going to discuss.
Over the years people have shared with me many “You know what annoys me?” stories and complaints, some more common than others. My has wife encouraged me to write about this topic, as many times I shared those stories with her. So, being one who occasionally heeds the advice of his spouse, I have put this list together for your entertainment and, if necessary, your instruction.
1. Don’t leave weights on the floor or loaded on a machine. If you load a machine, unload the machine, it’s a simple thing. If you’re too weak to do it, ask a strong girl to help you. If you put your dumbbells on the floor, pick them up. (Note: You have to understand that people who do these things were not properly pottie trained. This is not their fault. It is the fault of the adult who raised them.)
2. Don’t camp out on the cardio equipment. Keep in mind it is a public gym. There are other “publics” waiting to use the equipment.  And, yes, they do have the right to stand there and  annoy you for taking more than your share of time. They paid for their membership just like you did. (However, these people need to read No. 3.)
3. Annoying item No. 3 has to do with people who stand right next to you while you are on the cardio equipment — especially when you have just started. If you do that, don’t. Just don’t. I agree that you have a right to do it and it may make you feel better, but don’t do it. It’s very annoying and it doesn’t solve anything.
4. If you sweat on the equipment, wipe it off. No one, I mean no one, wants to slide onto a bench that your slimy, tank top-covered back or bald(ing) head like mine has been on just seconds before.
5. Keep your loud conversations to yourself. This especially applies to you guys who talk about how blitzed you got over the weekend, thinking that the hottie next to you is interested. Well, according to my female sources, you would be wrong. Very wrong. They want you to leave and never again speak a word within hearing distance.
6.  What ARE you dressed up for, anyway? It’s a gym, not a social club or bar. Get to work or get out of the way. If you want to play dress-up that’s fine, but don’t hang around the gym floor getting in the way of those who are actually there to workout and sweat.
7. Don’t drop the weights — especially dumbbells. First, no one is impressed with the fact that you can drop something. That requires no exceptional ability at all.  And second, when the dumbbells break, you will be the loudest whiner in the gym and no one wants to listen to you then, either.
8. Don’t stand around and whine about the big, strong guys who make a lot of noise when they lift. Do that out in the parking lot with everyone else who came to socialize and not work out.
9. Ease up on the perfume and cologne. Yikes! Can we get some air in here?
10. Don’t offer training advice unless asked. I used to do this about 35 years ago when I thought I knew what I was doing and thought everyone wanted to powerlift. I mean who wouldn’t? So there I was making sure everyone knew the proper way to squat, bench, row, pushdown, curl, military press, whatever. I don’t remember why I quit interfering with other’s workouts, but thankfully it has not been a problem for many years now. If you know what you are doing, people will seek you out. If you force your knowledge (or lack thereof) on someone, you’re not helping, you’re just annoying.
11. Don’t bother those who you think don’t know what they are doing in the middle of their workout. Story time: There we were doing deadlifts back in the black hole at Strength and Health Barbell Club back in the day. About five of us were training for a meet, the music was blasting, chalk was in the air and it was my turn to lift. Right before I lift this guy walks up, “My trainer says you shouldn’t be lifting weights like that with your back.” The good news is that I pulled five reps instead of three.
12. Offer to spot when you see someone needs one. If you are in the free weight area and someone is benching, help them out if they need a spotter. Conversely, don’t help unless you know what you are doing. (Just because you lift doesn’t mean you know how, by the way.)
13. Loose the cell phone. The gym is NOT your private office! No one cares who you’re talking to, what car you’re going to buy, what job interview you just had, or what your house just got appraised for.
There they are. Thirteen of the top most annoying things that bother some folks in the gym.  If you have any that you would like to share, e-mail them my way and maybe I’ll do a revised list.
Thanks to those who shared their experiences. Stay the course, only those who quit will fail.

E-mail Ken at: ken@wheelersfitness.com

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