The Forgotten Art of Gym Etiquette

[Zipsfb]

Hello all,

Although I have a lot of work ahead of me and am relatively young, I do have over six years of experience in a gym. The first two years I was taken under the wing of a natural bodybuilder and Marine Corps sniper (we lived on a military base overseas), where much of my time was learning good form, good work ethic, and, of course, good gym etiquette.

Gym etiquette goes a long way in winning the respect of other gym goers, but also adding to the efficiency that everyone else can work out at. Below are a few guidelines that may help some newer members when they first walk into the gym. Also feel free to comment if you disagree and/or add guidelines I may have forgotten.

1) Use a towel, or wipe down the machine you're using (or both). No one likes hoping on a machine or rack dripping with sweat, or crusty sweaty chalk.
2) ALWAYS re-rack your weights. Even if the barbell had weights on it when you "got there", when you're finished using it put the weights back
3) Grunting is OK, consistent screaming is not. I'm happy you're pumped up, but it breaks my concentration if I can hear you over my music.
4) If it's crowded let others "work in" with you. This can be hard if someone of dramatically different size, and presumably stregnth, is waiting... but for the most part try to share.
5) Avoid walking in-between the mirror and someone who is in the middle of a set. It breaks their concentration.
6) If people are waiting for you to finish an exercise, try to keep the chitchat to a minimum.
7) If they can't work in, take the time you need to finish the exercise properly, but no more than that.
8) Clean up after yourself. Goes back to #2, but make sure to put towels away, don't trash the locker room, etc...

OK, that's all I can think of for now. Again, comments or additions are welcome!

[MedicineMan81]

9) Don't do curls in the squat rack!

[Zipsfb]

Oh good one!

[Ozisaxon]

4.5) Do maximise floor space by all means, but dont start working out in front of the previous persons mirror space, it ruins their rythm,

[230plus]

Originally Posted by MedicineMan81

9) Don't do curls in the squat rack!

F- that. I do curls in the squat rack. I think everyone just chimes in on this because other people say it. In 50% of the gyms the squat rack goes un-touched and stays dusty because of no use (people are afraid to work legs).
If it is available....and noone wants to use it, I will do curls. If someone wants to use it, then ask how many sets I have left....95% of the time I will stop my set and say "sure, it is all yours" and go somewhere else. All you gotta do is ask for it politely (gym ettiqette). Bottom line is....it is not that serious, but we all complain about it....just ask can you get it when someone is done.

[ccl]

**** that crap, glad i have a home gym then.

[230plus]

Yup....that is why once I retire out the military and relocate I'm getting a bigger house w/ an extra room to turn into a bomb ass home gym. That way I can do what the **** I want in my squat rack...LOL

[JustBlaze08]

i put weights away after other people lazy asses!!!

[xcelxp]

I was doing some lying t-bar rows yesterday and I couldnt believe the weights this guy left on it


about 4 10 lb weights and 4 5lb weights.. It wasn't hard to take off but I still wanted to kick the guy in the head!

[Tyrbolift]

"5) Avoid walking in-between the mirror and someone who is in the middle of a set. It breaks their concentration."

There's no other way to get at the db's I want to use, since they are lined up along the main mirrors.

And what's with people having to standing half an inch back from the db rack, anyway? They need glasses, or it's just too far to carry them all the way back 4 feet or something?

[superman331]

10) Don't say you are using the equipment when all you are doing is resting on it.

Reason behind this rule: I was working out and wanted to do incline dumbell presses. I saw a guy standing in front of the bench doing standing shoulder presses. I go over and was going to move the chair and he stopped told me he was using it. No big deal except this fuker was using it to sit on when he got done with a set and this was at prime time.

[Cape1]

Originally Posted by 230plus

Yup....that is why once I retire out the military and relocate I'm getting a bigger house w/ an extra room to turn into a bomb ass home gym. That way I can do what the **** I want in my squat rack...LOL

Amen to that bro! If I had it my way I would never step foot in another public gym. You can play your own music at any volume you like. You can invite only peope who you like to your gym. It opens and closes when you tell it to. There are no candy asses, wannabe tough guys, people who sink, pretty boys wearing too much underarmor or any of the other mutants who frequent most gyms. I'm doing the same F"ing thing as soon as I have the $ to do it right!

[proteinpump]

Don't use the hair dryer in the locker room to dry your nuts.

[Tyrbolift]

Originally Posted by proteinpump

Don't use the hair dryer in the locker room to dry your nuts.

Where should we use the hair dryer to dry our nuts, then? The main lobby?

[chumbucket_]

dont start a conversation with someone while he/she is lifting...some guy always comes up to me during a heavy lift and starts talking to me, really annoying

[HiLite]

11) After showering, your underwear and/or pants should be put on BEFORE your socks, shirt, hat deodorant, before talking on the phone, chatting with your buddies, setting your watch etc. Cover up your sack before going about your business.

12) Give people their space. I don't want to be lying down doing DB Bench Press and have you creep up right next to me and start curling.

[Cape1]

Originally Posted by proteinpump

Don't use the hair dryer in the locker room to dry your nuts.

Why not? There is nothing like leaving the gym with a nice clean, AND DRY, undercarriage!

[swimmer32]

Originally Posted by Zipsfb

Hello all,


3) Grunting is OK, consistent screaming is not. I'm happy you're pumped up, but it breaks my concentration if I can hear you over my music.

I agree with this, but in the gym I go to they've put up signs that say "No Grunting Allowed". You also can't "clang" weights, and if you do, it "means the weight is too heavy for you". What is this world coming too?

[conadrisca]

Id like to say that getting butt ass naked in the locker room bothers me, especially when they choose to put their socks on before underwear.

Also, wear deoderant PLEASE

[Ray9]

elspecially old hairy men who use machines, they NEVER wipe the machines down and it's sooo disgusting

[BOLDERNECK]

Everyone Here Makes Alot Of Sense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steelghost]

Originally Posted by proteinpump

Don't use the hair dryer in the locker room to dry your nuts.

At my gym we have those wall mounted hand dryers in our locker room. Creepy naked old men use them to dry off their whole bodies and then at the end the turn the nozzle down to blow their weiner off..........yes...its disturbing.

[Armson Swole]

There is this ******* at my gym that leaves all his poundages on all the machines he uses. Pisses me the **** off. When he's there, half my workout consists of putting his weights away so I can use the equipment. I was at the gym this morning for 2 hrs. 1.5hr training 40 min cardio. This guy was there when I got there and was still there when I left. He mingles with people then works out, chills for 5 minutes here and there then goes back to his workout. Who the **** stays at the gym for 5 hrs???? Does he have a life or a job? I hate it when people are at the gym and all they do is mingle and **** around.
ahhh I feel better now.
[/rant]

[devildogbr]

Originally Posted by Steelghost

At my gym we have those wall mounted hand dryers in our locker room. Creepy naked old men use them to dry off their whole bodies and then at the end the turn the nozzle down to blow their weiner off..........yes...its disturbing.

wow i think id have to find a gym with less creppy old guys haha ... or you could make a sign that says not for weiner drying... that might work

[Casagal]

Another rule- Don't sing to yourself or make any other strange noises when you're on the cardio equipment. At my gym there is this strange old guy (We call him the Squeaky Sneaker Guy) who uses the treadmill which isn't a problem except he doesn't pick up his feet when he's walking at an incline. So everyone has to be subjected to a constant squeaking which even headphones does not drown out. Quite distracting and annoying!

[Tyrbolift]

Originally Posted by Casagal

Another rule- Don't sing to yourself or make any other strange noises when you're on the cardio equipment. At my gym there is this strange old guy (We call him the Squeaky Sneaker Guy) who uses the treadmill which isn't a problem except he doesn't pick up his feet when he's walking at an incline. So everyone has to be subjected to a constant squeaking which even headphones does not drown out. Quite distracting and annoying!

Try putting vaseline on the treadmill he likes to use.

[Accutron]

I learnt this the hard way so I will share my experience...

Unless you want to get asked to leave dont yell out:

"I DOMINATE THE IRON!" with each bench press

[Armson Swole]

Originally Posted by Accutron

I learnt this the hard way so I will share my experience...

Unless you want to get asked to leave dont yell out:

"I DOMINATE THE IRON!" with each bench press

OMFG! Bwahahahahahahahahaha!

[Violence Jackof]

Originally Posted by jas69

dont start a conversation with someone while he/she is lifting...some guy always comes up to me during a heavy lift and starts talking to me, really annoying

i remember this happened to me only once in my entire experience as a gym goer. i was doing arnold presses and some guy comes up to and asks me some stupid question and i look at him in between reps with the most pissed off looking face spit flying out of my mouth "I'M LIFTING."

and he goes "oh, sorry."

seriously.... it's surprising how unaware people can be.

[413]

Originally Posted by Steelghost

At my gym we have those wall mounted hand dryers in our locker room. Creepy naked old men use them to dry off their whole bodies and then at the end the turn the nozzle down to blow their weiner off..........yes...its disturbing.

I can't help but grow to respect those guys even as they kind of, uh, gross me the crap out. It's obvious that they feel they've lived long enough that they've earned the right to parade their scrotes around like a Rembrandt on a museum tour, and they simply just don't care anymore.

One day I hope to get to that point of self-satisfaction--when I'm in my 60s you bet your ass I'll be hanging around the locker room blissfully bareass, balls banging against my knees, freaking out college kids.