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The 5: Don't be THAT person at the gym

Posted on May 12th 2008 3:28PM by Chris Sparling

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

I typically don't pay much attention to the cleanliness of a gym, whether or not their music selection sucks, or even if they have TVs in the cardio room. One thing I do notice -- usually not on purpose, but because it's so hard not to notice -- are the people around me. As dialed into my workout as I usually am, I still can't help but be distracted sometimes when I see, hear, or smell something that's just plain wrong.

I've written about gym etiquette in the past, but some of the things I mentioned certainly bear repeating. Plus, there are a few other tidbits of information that I feel are worth adding to the list, chief among them being the five listed below.

1. Unless you're lifting bar-bending amounts of weight, keep your grunting and screaming under control. There's nothing wrong with showing a little effort, but there's no need to showcase the fact that you're lifting 35-pound dumbbells, either.

2. Don't fart. Plain and simple. Sure, one may sneak out of you once and a while, which is perfectly normal and, depending upon your company, no big deal at all. But, if you keep blasting them out over and over again, you're going to make a bunch of people upset and grossed out.

3. Keep your eyes to yourself. Don't ogle people while they're working out, regardless of how attractive you -- or they -- think they are. Not only is it a bit creepy, but it can make people feel self-conscious. Gyms are great places to meet like-minded people, but the same general manners of everyday life still apply (as in, it's not polite to stare).

4. Wear appropriate clothing. For guys, maybe think twice about wearing those loose-fitting basketball shorts if you plan on doing overhead leg lifts; chances are they'll slide down your legs and let everyone see ... more of you than they would care to. For ladies, well, I really don't have any suggestions. I'm a guy, so what do I really know about appropriate clothing for women? I'll leave this open to comments by the female readers.

5. Wear deodorant. Nothing can disrupt a workout faster than the constant smell of B.O. Keep in mind, when people are working out, they're usually breathing heavier than they normally do. So, if you stink, everyone else can't help but to vigorously suck in your stench. If you even question whether you're a little ripe or not, err on the side of caution and give yourself a couple swipes of the IL' Right Guard.

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Tags: Chris Sparling, ChrisSparling, dumbbells, gym etiquette, GymEtiquette, the 5, The5

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

rachel.smith 5-12-2008 @ 5:08PM

One that wasnt mensioned...if you go in the morning, BRUSH YOUR TEETH! Ugh, I get soooo grossed out when someone on the treadmill next to me is breathing heavy stinky air in my direction. Morning breath is bad enough as it is but to be forced to inhale it in gulps while running is a whole different thing!

As for women's clothing...I personally think the loose pant leg thing applies here as well. As does not coming to the gym nearly naked. It isnt in anyones best intrest to perform various activities will all your "wobbly bits" (as Kate Winslow would say) hanging out for all to see.

kjh 5-12-2008 @ 6:43PM

As for the clothing, women, please invest in a good sports bra. I think it is okay to want to look cute, fashionable, even a bit sexy at the gym. I know that for me, if I look good, I am more motivated to push myself harder in order to keep/improve upon the body I have. Just as long as your motives are for self inspiration and not to turn your gym into a meat market, special on you, aisle five.

As for the deodorant comment: if you have really bad B.O. no matter how strong a brand you use, PLEASE, for the love of all fit people, do not "cover it up" with perfume or cologne. There is a man in my spin class who does this and the whole room finds themselves wanting to vomit. As wretched as your odor may be, it gets even worse when it becomes Eau De Bee-Ohh.

Nova11 5-12-2008 @ 7:01PM

Here's one....PLEASE leave your cell phones in your gym locker or in your car. Its terribly distracting to be on a treadmill or some cardio equipment having to listen to a cell phone going off every few minutes right next to you. Then you have to listen to them talk loudly because they are trying to do it over the sounds of the machines...etc. Not cool! I like my gym time to be a time to get into my "zone" of concentration. I'm there to work...not to play. An hour in the gym away from your phones isnt going to hurt you.

Nova11 5-12-2008 @ 7:06PM

Also....saving a cardio machine for a friend when there are people waiting to use the machines isnt cool!! I hate to walk all the way up the stairs to the cardio area because i see a machine is free to find it being "saved" for someone. I'm sorry, but your friend is going to have to wait for a machine like the rest of us.

Also...(I seem to have a bunch of these today!) on busy days, our gym has a 20 minute limit to the cardio equipment. Yet...i can walk down the line of people and see 30-45 minutes(or more even!) being logged on the machines! Have some heart people and let someone else have a turn. Thanks!

erinw1683 5-13-2008 @ 4:01PM

Also, when you are finished with a machine, please wipe it down with a towl!

Raina 5-19-2008 @ 2:09PM

I have to second the motion to not ogle people. I used to lift weights once or twice a week with one of my friends. There was this one guy who would spend the entire time staring at her. It made both of us uncomfortable. Flirting is one thing, if both people are on board. Boring a hole into someone's skull with your eyes is something else entirely.