Don't you just hate it when someone fails to wipe down the machine?Image from Mordant Orange
Dear Fellow Gym Members,
Since we all pay to share the same facility wouldn't it be lovely if everyone did his or her part to make working out a pleasant experience for their fellow gym members? Lately, some of us have been getting a little sloppy with our manners regarding gym use. Let's review some basic gym etiquette, shall we?
First up, let's talk proper gym attire. When selecting clothing for workouts in a public setting, please choose wisely, especially when it pertains to the lower half of the body. Lady in the itsy bitsy pink running shorts, please consider facing your back to the wall when bending at the waist. Not all gym patrons would take kindly to viewing what I saw this morning. To the gentleman sitting spread eagle on the bench in the free weight area last week, two words, boxer briefs. If we want to see that, we'll order the Spice Channel.
Full coverage is always appreciated.Image from Nike
Our next order of business is etiquette related to the use of the equipment. When you are through using a machine, please eliminate all remnants of your perspiration. Would you like to lie in a puddle of my sweat? You may have noticed the plentiful supply of paper towels and bottles of disinfectant strategically placed throughout the facility. Let's all do our part.
Another area that a few of us need to work on is respecting fellow members personal space. To the man on the elliptical machine next to me Saturday morning, please refrain from leaning over to see what resistance and incline levels I am using. (Yes, I noticed, I have excellent peripheral vision.) Remember, we all work at our own pace.
A good rule of thumb at the gym: Use your indoor voice. In reference to the woman riding the bike while talking on her cell phone, shhhhh! I'm sorry that your boyfriend is a (insert profanity), but the details of your relationship are not the concern of your fellow gym goers.
If we all make a concerted effort to respect one another, our gym can be a pleasant environment for all.
Regards,
A Fellow Gym Member
*How I wish I could send this letter to a select few. Do you have any pet peeves about your gym or it's members?
Love this. Love it. I haven't been to my gym for awhile but will be returning next week. I'd forgotten some of the violations to my sensibilities you described so well. Especially the ones related to attire!
ReplyDeleteSo great! I'll second the more modest attire. There's an 80-year-old woman at my gym who works out in spandex shorts and a sports bra. Yes, good for her that she's so self-confident. But please put on a tank top and some gym shorts.
ReplyDeletehaha...thank you for the morning chuckle. my major pet peeve are the group of women who are of the opinion that their conversation is more important than the group instructors instructions - library voice please! and those who have yet to realize that you no longer have to yell into a cell phone - why talk on your cell while working out any way (or while using the restroom) - I just don't get it and I really don't care to hear it.
ReplyDeleteTracey-Sometimes all we can do is avert our eyes.
ReplyDeleteAll too true. And people really can't be getting a good workout if they're talking on the phone.
ReplyDeleteYou've pretty much summed up all my pet peeves perfectly! One other things related to personal space is when there are 10 free treadmills in a row (for example) and a person takes the one right next to me! I usually use the "every other machine" rule unless there aren't enough machines to do so!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said and would like to add that while I'm all for sweating out the toxins, a little natural deodorant wouldn't be amiss, especially for those who choose to bare their armpits for everyone's enjoyment!
ReplyDeleteNotjustcelery-I just did a post about the guy who picks the machine next to mine when there is a whole empty row to choose from. What would possess someone to do that?
ReplyDeleteI think you've covered pretty much everything here Karen!
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteSee, I've never been a gym person; and that's probably why...I'd have ended up slapping someone if that happened to me...
I'm better off in the privacy of my own home where I only have my cat and kids to worry about *S*
Great rules! I would just like to add one. Yes, using your inside voice is a good one...but I want to add. TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE! I don't care to about stumble and fall off the treadmill because the cup holder next to me starts 'singing'...nor do I want to hear a one sided conversation while I'm in my 'zone'.
ReplyDeleteWell I don't go to a "gym" anymore, unless you count my apartment gym, which is really small. For me, the biggest pet peeve I have is when guys/girls SLAM the weights down each time they lift. You're supposed to be gentle, but some people just don't care. ALSO I can't stand it when people stink up the place. I mean I realize they can't help their sweat, but bring extra deodorant!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the girl on BL who was smitten with Curtis. I wish I would have noticed that! HE's a cutie, and single :)
so don't miss going to the gym, happy to have my own in the basement!!
ReplyDeleteThose rules totally rock! I've experienced every single one of those when I've been at the gym, especially the one girl on the treadmill next to me who's having a cell phone conversation about the guy she slept with the night before.
ReplyDeleteOh and funny story from when I was younger...I used to love to go to the gym with my dad and he was one of those men who wore those short gym shorts with the built in underwear. He was doing one of those leg machines where you open and close your legs. Several women kept walking by and giggling and I had no clue what they were laughing at. I thought maybe they just thought my dad was hot. But lo and behold when I walked in front of him to see what was causing the laughter, I noticed right away that everyone could see his "business" every time he opened his legs! That's definitely something a daughter should NEVER see on her father!!
stopping by from SITS!
lol! Great post! This had me laughing out loud in my office- looking like a crazy person.
ReplyDeleteHysterical. I have one of every one of those at my gym!!
ReplyDeleteAMEN!
ReplyDeleteHope
I thought there was rule about this a most gyms. Stopping by from SITS!
ReplyDeleteHi, Just found your post. Love it. That is why I workout at home!!!!:) Very happy to have my own workout room. Thanks to Hubby!! I use to go to the gym but could not stand it for all the reasons you listed above. Thanks for the funny post.
ReplyDeleteAMEN!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou must go to my gym cause it's the same thing here too!
Ahh...more reasons why I avoid the gym. Love the list! I may go back again one day, so yayy, something to look forward to (or away from!).
ReplyDeleteOMG this is sooooooooooo funny!!!! What is with people on their cell phones EVERYWHERE? I mean couldn't you have that conversation before or afterward? Good Lord!
ReplyDelete:)
omg the sweat monsters.
ReplyDeleteI nearly hurled the other day.
I was on Arnold, Dude is on the stairmaster next to me and just dripping..I mean rivulets down the machine puddles on the floor and my Goodness if he wouldn't pick up his shirt to wipe his face and his pasty white tummy would just let a cup or so go...ugh. By the end I was about this close to hurling.
then he wipes everything but the sides down, you could still see the drips of sweat where they hit the floor. Nasty.
And in the gym I go to, it's always the big girls that wear the innapropriate sports bra and too tight shorts.
As if every lump and bump needs to be on display...
I love it!!! That was awesome!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I just gave you an award. The details are on my blog! :-)
I love this and sooo agree! I will add to the pesonal space pet peeve... when people come late to a group class and ignore the remaining room at the front, instead trying to squeeze in where there is no space further back. And people who talk during class, drowning out the instructor. And people who get to cycle class a half hour ahead and save 3 bikes near the fans. Wow - I could go on and on. But I love the gym:)
ReplyDeleteGyms creep me out for reasons like this! OOH, and talking during a class, or on the cellphone is so annoying! I'll have to keep that in mind for myself :)
ReplyDeleteHa! This post really cracked me up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog yesterday. I definitely need to add yours to my own list, and I'm glad I have you on my radar now.
See you around and keep bringing the funny!
You hit it right on the money! I agree with all of those points, especially about wiping down the equipment after using it. Lately I've been noticing that some VERY sweaty people at the gym have no towel in sight. The gym provides towels--real and paper!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog!