I entered the gym this evening and hopped onto my “usual” elliptical trainer. There was only one other woman using the elliptical and she was at the opposite end of me. From the looks of it, I am going to have an awesome workout. So there I was- peddling my ass off when suddenly a strong, overpowering, terrible stench took over my senses. The disgusting smell woman climbed onto the machine directly next to mine.
Great. Just friggin’ great.
Typically, I am able to adjust to new aromas. You know- you smell something you don’t like but if you’re around it long enough you forget it’s even there. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. It’s like the longer we were there, the more pungent the smell became. She also felt inclined to make a phone call to what seemed like a long lost friend because they had so much to catch up on. Hello?! This is not your home gym! If that’s not bad enough- this particular woman kept eyeballing the stats on MY machine. Yes, I’m fat. And yes, if this were a competition, I would be winning.
I’m a pretty easy going type of gal and it really takes a lot to annoy me. But when I spend all day taking care of a toddler, the last thing I want to do is go to the gym and take care of you too. So, this got me thinking… Although there are no written rules (at least not at my gym), there are definitely some unspoken rules we should all be familiar with.
Practice Good Hygiene
Going to the gym is not an excuse to be lazy. We don’t expect the gym to smell like Starbucks (though that would be nice), and we certainly don’t expect to be able to smell whatever it is you ate for lunch. So please brush your teeth before heading out and don’t forget the antiperspirant.
Don’t Marinade in Perfume
Coming from a person who suffers from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), I can understand why someone would feel the need to use perfume at the gym. But the gym is NOT the place for perfume. A good deodorant will suffice. If you sweat a lot, and feel like you need to wear something, use a light body spray/mist instead. It’s not as strong as a perfume and is less likely to irritate the senses of fellow gym-goers. Tip: Secret Deodorant has the strongest active ingredients. Plus, they have a line specifically designed for women who sweat excessively. Use their Clinical Strength at night and a stick/spray during the day. I love their aerosol pre-workout!
Clean Up After Yourself
You’d think this is common sense, but working out months in the gym proves otherwise. You wouldn’t like to stick your hand in a puddle of sweat, just like I don’t want to touch yours. Be considerate and wipe up your sweat before moving on to your next routine. Additionally, when your water bottle is empty, it is not okay to leave it in the cup holder- throw it in the trash.
Share
With the exception of sweat, it is nice to share. When you’re doing multiple sets, don’t rest for five minutes while people are waiting for that machine. Offer to let them have a turn while you rest. Don’t sit on the bench watching Jersey Shore while people are waiting to use it. And for the love of God, please stop texting between sets.
Also- many gyms have a time limit on cardio equipment during peek times. Please be mindful and respectful of this.
Limit Cell Phone Use
This one irritates me the most. Unless it’s an emergency, save it for after your workout. There is nothing more distracting the person next to you chatting away. Using your cell phone in the sauna is a huge no-no.
What’s the worst gym etiquette you’ve seen?
That had absolutely nothing to do with gym etiquette, but who wouldn’t want to see a picture of Ryan Reynolds shirtless?
