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Heading to the gym to blow off some steam? Good idea, as long as you don’t take out your stress on everyone around you.
It’s likely that anyone who’s spent time at a health club has seen some bad behavior, including the equipment hogs, the slobs who leave cardio machines dripping with sweat and the muscle men who grunt loudly as they lift oh-so-heavy weights that they have no intention of putting away.
But these are just a few of the ways that exercisers can be rude and obnoxious at the gym, fitness instructors say. Sometimes, things get downright nasty.
“I had to break up a cat fight,” says Peggy Gregor, group exercise director at Healthtrax Fitness and Wellness in Bethel Park, Pa.
It happened after a woman new to an ongoing fitness class took the spot on the floor that another attendee regularly claimed. A verbal argument ensued and quickly turned physical.
A yoga instructor in New York says a participant in her class let loose on the whole group — after she took a call on her cell phone.
'I can do whatever I want'
She “rummaged for a good two minutes in her bag in the middle of class for her techno-blaring phone, then screamed into her cell phone at her boyfriend not to call her during yoga class, while we were all staring at her from our down dogs,” says Sadie Nardini, owner of the new Fierce Club yoga studio in Manhattan. When she got off the phone, the woman snarkily shouted back to the astonished group, “Sorry, I had to tell him not to call me during class!”
Nardini says that when she took her aside after class to talk about the diva behavior, the woman was offended, saying, “Well, I paid for this class. I can do whatever I want.”
The stress of the times could be one factor fueling this type of bad behavior, says Nancy Lerner, a psychologist in northern New Jersey. “What underlies anger is anxiety and fear,” she says. “There are a lot of angry people out there. The gym is another place for them to be pushy.” While exercise can be a great stress-reliever and mood-booster, some people’s behavior might be worse if sports or other forms of physical activity bring out aggressive tendencies, she says.
Lerner herself is currently involved in a dispute with another woman at her co-op gym who refuses to turn down the volume on the TV. The woman blasts “Frasier” reruns — refusing to let go of the remote control — while Lerner is trying to read on the treadmill.
“I asked her to lower the sound and she told me that I would have to get some noise-canceling earphones,” says Lerner. “I plan to attend the next board meeting and strongly suggest closed captioning on the TVs when others are working out.”
While stress may underlie some bad gym behavior, it’s a poor excuse nonetheless, says Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and the owner of the Protocol School of Texas in San Antonio, which specializes in corporate etiquette training. “Just because you’re more stressed doesn’t give you a free pass to be rude. We’re all stressed.”
Oftentimes, the way people behave at the gym is similar to their behavior outside of the gym, says Gottsman. So the person who’s rude at the gym is likely to be one of the people cutting in line at the coffee shop or screaming at a kid’s soccer coach.
As Nardini, the yoga instructor, puts it, many of the rude participants she sees seem to lack an “etiquette gene.” Others just want to be noticed. “They want the audience,” she says. “They don’t want to be a participant. They want to be the star.”
One bad apple …
Overall, most gym-goers don’t bother other exercisers too much. But even one bad apple can ruin everyone else’s workouts, says Gregor. The trouble-makers are enough of a problem that she recently wrote an advice article for fitness instructors on how to deal with them.
In the article, titled “Pruning the Prima Donna Participant” and published in a trade magazine called the IDEA Fitness Journal, Gregor lists some of the more common diva types in group fitness classes. Among them: “Chatty Cathies,” those who show up late and make a grand — and disruptive — entrance; “spotters,” the ones who insist on having the same place in class each week (so they can look at themselves in the mirror); and “soloists,” those who choose to do their own routine rather than following the program (usually, Gregor says, because they want the attention).
Elsewhere in the gym, Gregor and other fitness professionals note, problems also can include hygiene-challenged people who skip deodorant or wear smelly workout clothes; those who douse themselves in perfume or cologne and strut around trying to make a love connection; and those who don’t just grunt when they lift weights but scream.
If they aren’t causing an all-out ruckus, all of these behaviors can be, at the very least, highly annoying.
Lethal hands, hazardous heels
Nicholus Odem, 43, of Chandler, Ariz., couldn’t believe what he saw another gym member do in the locker room. “He left a stall in the men's room and headed straight for the gym without washing his hands,” says Odem, noting that this man also tends to wear the same old gym clothes day after day.
“He completed his full workout going from machine to machine,” says Odem. “Since then I have an industrial size bottle of hand sanitizer in my car … I bathe my hands in sanitizer after I leave the gym.”
Jay Averill, 32, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is still troubled by something he witnessed at his gym a couple years ago.
“The inappropriate behavior was actually a part of a workout routine of a middle-aged, skinny fellow who used to frequent the gym I go to,” says Averill. “His routine focused on pelvic thrusts. He would do them standing up, lying on his back, on his side, and yes … he'd lie on his stomach and do pelvic thrusts. He'd do them with weights, on benches and on the sit-up mats, all the while not even showing any sign that what he was doing may look a little odd. To top it all off, he would always wear tights.”
The man’s actions were so extreme that Averill just couldn’t focus on his workout. “It's really hard to do the military press while a grown man is making love to a bench beside you, although I wouldn't describe it as love so much,” he says. “It's really hard not to look, and it's even harder not to laugh out loud.”
Also in the absurd-and-annoying category, Nardini had one participant who came to yoga class in 8-inch stilettos, a skimpy leotard, fishnet stockings, legwarmers and a white fur coat. “She’d come in dressed like an exotic dancer, which I later found out she was.”
Nardini warned her against doing yoga in heels, but the woman insisted on it, saying it was practice for her work. “She poked so many holes in the mat that we had to charge her for it,” says Nardini. “It looked like Swiss cheese when she was done.”
Among other disruptions Nardini has seen in her class, there’s the man who would “breathe like Darth Vader” rather than practicing typical yoga breaths and another guy who plopped himself down in the middle of the room and did headstands and other moves of his own choosing, regardless of what she was teaching.
Dealing with divas, dolts
So how should you deal with these divas and dolts at the gym? If someone is hogging the triceps press, you could politely ask if you could take turns. Or if they’ve left huge weight plates on the leg machine, you could ask the person to please remove them.
But Gregor and other instructors generally recommend speaking to a gym employee about bigger complaints. Taking matters into your own hands can breed animosity among members, sometimes even causing brawls.
They say good fitness professionals stay on top of bad behavior and nip it in the bud when it starts. They talk to the offender, which usually goes a long way. In some cases, they may need to give warnings and even revoke memberships if the behavior doesn’t improve.
One instructor has some unconventional ways of reprimanding naughty exercisers. In what he’s dubbed “flipping the bird,” he throws a stuffed bird at offenders, a sign that they have to go to the corner and do the day’s punishment — such as 30 push-ups or 20 mountain climbers.
“When someone talks too much, slacks off, drops a weight or anything I or the group may deem undesirable, I flip them the bird,” says Bobby Kelly, owner of the Results Only gym in Phoenix.
“The person must immediately perform the bird punishment or I flip them the bird again,” he says. “It makes people laugh and it gets my point across.”
When members are particularly obnoxious, Kelly has another form of punishment: the undesirable T-shirt, which reads “I am the problem child.”
“If they’re really bugging me, they have to wear it for the rest of class,” he says.
Kelly insists it’s all in good humor and “there’s absolutely nothing mean-spirited about it.”
Sometimes he even pokes fun at himself, wearing a T-shirt that reads “EOA” — Equal Opportunity A******.
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{"commentId":5168766,"authorDomain":"janeweaver"}
A friend of mine couldn't get into a popular spinning class because some women would show up early and drape towels over bikes to "save" them for their friends. As many as 4 bikes would be taken by these towels. She complained to the instructor and now everyone has to sign up for a bike. If it had been me, I probably would have sat on the bikes anyway. What's the best thing to do in a case like that?
What bad gym behavior irks you most? Are people getting more rude or are gyms trying to enforce better manners?
Jane
{"commentId":5168766,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"janeweaver"}
#1 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 9:37 AM EST{"commentId":5169350,"authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
It's incredibly rude when people take their cell phones to the gym and have the nerve to have an entire conversation while on the cardio equipment. It's not like we can walk away from their conversaton. People who are serious about going to the gym and working out should have enough self control to leave the phone in the car, at home or in their gym bag. What makes anyone think that we want to listen to their conversation?
Also, people need to dress appropriately. Anyone who is there to just show off their body is not there for the right reasons. I'm not a prude but for heaven's sake.....some of the outfits that I see on some women are ridiculous and they don't realize how stupid they look. Guys too for that matter!
{"commentId":5169350,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
- 1 vote
#2 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 10:06 AM EST{"commentId":5174095,"authorDomain":"sbellman"}
My latest encounter was with one guy in the sauna who was engaged in a loud animated cell-phone conversation. Most of us use the sauna as a place of quiet meditation or conversation. Finally, I said, "Do you mind taking that call outside?" He loudly shouted into his cell that there was some guy here that is having a problem with the call. He then hung and, in a loud voice asked, "I didn't see any no cell-phone sign here." He asked me again if there were any signs. I finally gave up and said that he should do whatever he wants. He than grabbed a newspaper, rattled it loudly and said, "Well I hope my reading is not too loud for you."
It takes all types, I guess.
{"commentId":5174095,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"sbellman"}
{"commentId":5178612,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
I'd have told him, "Buddy. You're being rude. Just because there's no sign doesn't mean it's not rude. Now how about those Mets?"
It's kind of like when I was overseas and this guy from Iowa was wearing a jacket with an American flag on it. This German guy was being really nasty to him, so I finally went up behind him, tapped him on the shoulder and asked, "Excuse me. Do you have a problem?" You should have seen the guy's face. Then I asked him and his buddy to lunch on me. We had a nice conversation, and I found out that "Herr Schneck" had owned some property in Kosovo that had been turned into a big crater by American bombs. He had no insurance on it, and it had ruined him financially. We agreed that taking it out on farm boys from Iowa wasn't helpful.
There's a technique - confront strongly, and in that moment when they pull back, before they feel the reaction where they have to attack back to save face, give them a smile and an invitation to engage something else. It generally works.
{"commentId":5178612,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5195113,"authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
I don't get bothered by cell phone users at the gym. How is that any different than having a conversation with the person on the next bicycle from you? I don't care as long as they're not screaming into their phones. I'm more bothered by televisions at the gym, now that's distracting.
But John, really, if you had interjected into my conversation I would have responded that it was an "A and B conversation, so C (see) your way out of it". If there was an issue, you should have let the gym personnel deal with it.
{"commentId":5195113,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
{"commentId":5196186,"authorDomain":"mcquade-denise"}
Worse yet are those who sit and text message while sitting on the weight machines.
{"commentId":5196186,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"mcquade-denise"}
{"commentId":5310998,"authorDomain":"michael311"}
I've got one for ya...SINGING OUT LOUD to your iPod! There is this queen I see at the gym almost everyday walking around like it's 24 Hour American Idol Fitness! His last two God awful music choices? Katy Perry's "I kissed a girl" and "In da club" by 50 cent. I kid you not.
{"commentId":5310998,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"michael311"}
{"commentId":5169710,"authorDomain":"steph-diaz"}
I agree with many of the rules of etiquette, but adding grunting to the list? Really? If you have ever seriously lifted weights, grunting can be an involuntary sound that you made as you perform the movement. Read a book called "Starting Strength", or visit crossfit.com and read some of the forums. You'll find out that many people no longer are members of a commercial gym for the very reason that grunting is somehow seen as a faux paus while working out.
{"commentId":5169710,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"steph-diaz"}
#3 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 10:23 AM EST{"commentId":5177854,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
And sweating? Really? In a gym. Sweating is not ok.
Add screaming. Who cares? It's a way of getting into the lift, and if little miss prissy-pants would try it she might scream too.
{"commentId":5177854,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5178515,"authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
Wouldn't you agree that there is a big difference between grunting and making ridiculous noises that can be heard clear across the gym?
{"commentId":5178515,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
{"commentId":5178651,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Nah. It's a gym. Like I said, go over and try what they are doing. To psyche yourself up to do the lift, you do that. It's like in karate, doing the yell as you hit. It helps. Really.
{"commentId":5178651,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5179736,"authorDomain":"bevhaut"}
No kidding, John ~ great suggestion! Asking somebody about their workout gives me new ideas all the time. Maybe I've been lucky; we don't have any hollerin' fools at our club. And I have no problems with people grunting; heck, I grunt, too, when I'm doing those foam rollers on my legs. It's the plate banging that drives me nuts.
{"commentId":5179736,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"bevhaut"}
{"commentId":5183650,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Put more on the stack, Bev. Then let's see if your plates bang a little. :-)
{"commentId":5183650,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5195160,"authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
In this case I agree with you John. Strenuous activities provoke noises from our bodies. Come on folks, we're grown ups, deal with it.
{"commentId":5195160,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
{"commentId":5169937,"authorDomain":"proc7169"}
I have considered the idea of either wearing noise cancelling earphones or actual earplugs at the gym due to both cell phones and what the gym staff consideres "great" workout music. I'm not looking for complete silence, but the noise level does get on my nerves when I am trying to read or even watching the TV with closed captioning. There are very clear signs posted in the lobby of our gym that cell phones are not to be used on the gym floor, however as with just about everywhere else in today's world the people who ignore or flaunt this rule are the same ones who can't do anything at all without the aide of a cellphone buddy to keep them company - can't drive out of their driveway, can't pick up 4 items at the grocery store without having someone to talk to. The Gym is just another place they don't want to be "alone". The bigger issue is what is wrong with these people that they aren't able to do a simple task or chore or workout with the need to be talking to someone at the same time?
{"commentId":5169937,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"proc7169"}
- 1 vote
#4 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 10:34 AM EST{"commentId":5195239,"authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
You should get the headphones. You are going to a busy public area. If you want quiet, stay home. Life is noisy.
{"commentId":5195239,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
{"commentId":5170362,"authorDomain":"ras110"}
There's this guy that goes to my gym in the winter during the off-season from soccer. I go there every evening for a run to keep up my endurance when I'm not practicing. This guy is, like, 200 pounds and he always gets on the treadmill right next to mine and immediately cranks it to 6.5 and starts running away. Any idiot knows you can't just start a workout at 6.5. So then after about 2 minutes he starts to get so winded that all you can hear (even over an iPod) is this wheezing I-am-going-to-die breathing. Inevitably, he craps out by 2 minutes 30 seconds and pushes it all teh way down to .7. Then, he gets off the treadmill as I'm holding steady around 5.5 for the last 15 minutes and goes, "Man, tough workout today" and then sits his sweaty butt down on one of the bikes and rests, breathing like he's been running a marathon. Then he leaves. UGH.
{"commentId":5170362,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"ras110"}
#5 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 10:55 AM EST{"commentId":5170609,"authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
This woman did the same thing the other day on the treadmill and lasted about the same amount of time. It was so ridiculous and several of us just looked at each other just waiting for her to fly off and back into the poor guy on the eliptical behind her. The guy behind her had this look of fear on his face :)
{"commentId":5170609,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
{"commentId":5177916,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Well, miss prissy-pants, if you would go over, smile and say, "Hi. You know, I'm not a trainer, but there's not many people that can start at that level, and you're courting a heart attack. What you want is moderate cardio for an extended period of time."- maybe he might get a clue. Many people are unfamiliar with exercise and they don't understand what's wrong.
{"commentId":5177916,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5195419,"authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
Its not her business to tell the guy how to exercise, even if he might be putting himself at risk. He goes to a gym, so he must know a little about what he's doing. He may have already warmed up, or is doing intervals.
You should just be grateful you only have to tolerate it for 2 and half minutes. There's a woman at my gym who gets on an eliptical trainer and moves like a pole-dancer for a good 30 minutes. Talk about ugh!
{"commentId":5195419,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"dianeknight"}
{"commentId":5170623,"authorDomain":"nine-yards"}
My biggest pet peeve are people who go to the gym to socialize vs work out. Unfortunately this is usually other women. They take up mat space or equipment and sit there talking to someone. I have a period of time every day to work out and I want to get in and get my work out done. Its very annoying to have to come back to an exercise or stand there waiting for a conversation to end before you can use a machine.
I understand running into someone and wanting to chat for a minute. If you're going to socialize, there is plenty of space off to the sides where you are not occupying equipment others may want to use. Its just common sense and courtesy!
Amy
{"commentId":5170623,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"nine-yards"}
- 2 votes
#6 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:07 AM EST{"commentId":5170787,"authorDomain":"nana-vaughn"}
On the other side of the coin, I just got a new YMCA membership. On my first time using the Cybex machines, I realized about halfway through my workout that I forgot to pick up a towel before getting on the machine. When I was done with my workout, I stepped off the machine and started to walk over to the towel shelf so I could use one to wipe off the machine. This was absolutely my intent. A woman, who was apparently a self appointed member of the Clean Your Cybex Police Force, shouted, "You are supposed to wipe the machines down when you are done using them! Get a towel!" I was so stunned I was speechless, but she was already wiping it down herself, so I just left.
So I agree that there are people who don't bother with wiping down their machines and know proper etiquette. But on the other hand, proper etiquette goes the other way too!
{"commentId":5170787,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"nana-vaughn"}
#7 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:14 AM EST{"commentId":5178700,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Do what any good husband would do. Smile and say, "Hey. I was just coming back with this towel. See? Want me to wipe it down for you now?"
{"commentId":5178700,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5179826,"authorDomain":"bevhaut"}
John's right. The best way to approach idiots is to use what I call ZAP ~ the Zen Avoidance Program. Instead of saying what I really want to say ("You're a freaking idiot!"), I just go completely Zen. I would've been startled by her lack of manners, too, but my response would've been more like, "Thank you so much for reminding me." It messes 'em up completely ;-)
{"commentId":5179826,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"bevhaut"}
{"commentId":5181031,"authorDomain":"owenr1"}
No one with a mental age over 11 writes or says "freaking".
{"commentId":5181031,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"owenr1"}
{"commentId":5181998,"authorDomain":"marinervii"}
Thank you for reminding us...
{"commentId":5181998,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"marinervii"}
{"commentId":5186748,"authorDomain":"angel92eyes"}
Seriously, what does that have to do with anything?
{"commentId":5186748,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"angel92eyes"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":5170931,"authorDomain":"tmilliken"}
There is the smelly individuals -- found out why -- same workout clothes and apparently not washed. Phew -- almost gag when I walk by. Trust me I am no rose during and after workout, but at least I wash my clothes! Also, the individual that leave the heavy weights on the machines -- hey, if you are strong enough to put them on, then take them off and re-rack them. One more -- those individuals who turn off the fans -- no offense, but in the South it is rather hot in the summer, even in the gym with air conditioning -- just want the air to move. It would be nice to ask before just pulling the plug.
Ok - I am done venting. :)
{"commentId":5170931,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"tmilliken"}
#8 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:20 AM EST{"commentId":5178759,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Yeah. Some people, particularly men over 35, lose their sense of smell. You just have tell them, nicely, "Hey. You know, your clothes just reek, man. Seriously. See that squirrel over there?" (Guy will look, won't see it.) "Yeah. Well the reason you don't see it is 'cuz it up and died after you walked by and they just carted it away."
{"commentId":5178759,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5170988,"authorDomain":"tnilles"}
my pet peeve is people who are obsessing about gym "etiquette". I grunt, sweat and smell when I am working out--that is the idea. If you do not like it get over it or join a book club.
{"commentId":5170988,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"tnilles"}
#9 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:22 AM EST{"commentId":5171165,"authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
maybe you should just work out in your garage and keep your grunting, sweating and stinking to yourself then.
{"commentId":5171165,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":5178115,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Well, maybe you should work out instead of using the gym as a place to show off your clothes. A garden club is where you belong.
{"commentId":5178115,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5178665,"authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
Well, maybe you should work out instead of using the gym as a place to show off your clothes.
Being part of a civilized society is recognizingthat it's not all about YOU. The point MB was making is that some people apparently feel entitled to be obnoxious to those around them.
{"commentId":5178665,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
{"commentId":5178845,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
And the point I was making is that it's a gym. A gym is whee people sweat, grunt and even scream as they lift weights. And sweaty people stink.
You know what I find hilarious? Quite a few times I have been near some lycra'd up hottie doing her lightweight workout. And then she farts, quietly. But it's a stench that would put down a horse, a sulfurous, awful monstrosity. And she continues, while guys around clear their throats, pretending that it wasn't really her. :-)
{"commentId":5178845,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":5179696,"authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
wow, since I've now done 5 triathalon's, I think that I do a little more at the gym than show off my clothes, but even I have the courtesy to make sure that I don't grunt or scream while I am working out. it's disgusting. I also make sure that I contain my sweat to myself and wipe down machines when I am done. BTW....who really screams at the gym?
{"commentId":5179696,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
{"commentId":5171064,"authorDomain":"ginnyfinn"}
My peeve is in the locker room, where a single person will hog an entire bench. These are 4 or 5 foot benches, each set in front of maybe two dozen lockers. A woman will set out her gym bag, clothes, towels, hair products, makeup, etc. from one end of the bench to the other, never mind the other 23 people who are using that space. They won't put anything on the floor--not even their shoes! And then they walk away to use the shower. More than once, I've come back to the locker room to find not only this, but the person's clothes hanging on hangers from my locker door--which is obviously in use, it has a lock on it! It's unbelievable to me how many women exhibit this behavior. Never once has anyone moved her stuff to make room, apologized, or even seemed to notice that anyone else exists.
{"commentId":5171064,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"ginnyfinn"}
#10 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:25 AM EST{"commentId":5178152,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Yeah. Think about what being married to that would be like.
And they wonder why we divorce them or don't call them after a few dates?
{"commentId":5178152,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":5179903,"authorDomain":"bevhaut"}
cmf, you are SO right! Good grief, it's like they own the place. HEY! I pay dues, too, girlfriend. Move over or get outta my way, I got things to do!
{"commentId":5179903,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"bevhaut"}
{"commentId":5181461,"authorDomain":"AlbertaBoundd"}
.. the ladies aren't the only ones who spread themselves across the whole bench. At my gym, plenty of guys do it too. One time in particular, this one guy claimed the whole bench, then took issue with me when I moved a newspaper - that wasn't even his - from one corner of the bench, so that I could set down my shaving kit. Too many steriods, for a rude reaction like his?
{"commentId":5181461,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"AlbertaBoundd"}
{"commentId":5182224,"authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
Yeah John, you sound like a great catch yourself. OMG, I can't imagine whey they are not standing in line for you.
{"commentId":5182224,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"russmegbenson"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":5190731,"authorDomain":"hmw82"}
MB, it's like you read my mind! After reading through the comments so far, I have come to the conclusion that John is a complete jerk.
{"commentId":5190731,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"hmw82"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":5171103,"authorDomain":"btchgrrrlpsu"}
In the morning there are a large number of elderly people that go to my gym. There are a few of the men who go to socialize. They sit on some of the machines for an hour talking. I run for 20 mins and do the machines around them waiting for them to move. They dont even work out they just sit there. The other problem is that people will claim cardio machines by leaving their stuff on them while they go to lift weights.
{"commentId":5171103,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"btchgrrrlpsu"}
#11 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:27 AM EST{"commentId":5171372,"authorDomain":"scottutley"}
My pet peeve is walking into the men’s bathroom only to see some 60 year old guy’s stretched out dangling nut sack the second I walk in. If you are going to hang around naked or are in the middle of changing, try to do it off to the side and not in front of the door. Sorry, but it just dang disturbing. . . . . . . I respect the guy for exercising regularly but, I managed to catch his sack three days straight. I am thinking of changing my schedule just to avoid him.
{"commentId":5171372,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"scottutley"}
#12 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 11:37 AM EST{"commentId":5171917,"authorDomain":"factcheckme"}
omg. funny! i could have done without that mental image though. its always the fugly people who are comfortable enough with their bodies to show them off. same concept applies to nudist resorts, btw. the nudists' "no erection" rule is, presumably, not a problem.
{"commentId":5171917,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"factcheckme"}
{"commentId":5178203,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
You two are from Gen W aren't you?
That's W for "weird". You guys will send porn photos of yourselves from your cell phone, but you won't take of your little panties in the locker room.
Get a grip. This is how people look.
{"commentId":5178203,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5181593,"authorDomain":"AlbertaBoundd"}
I've seen this too. There's one guy, in his 50's or 60's . . .. he will be absolutely inconsiderate on the treadmill . . . sweat dripping onto people and machines beside him . . . .gasping for breath . . . feet up on the crossbars to re-tie his shoes (almost right in your face if you're on a treadmill beside him). It continues once he's in the locker room. In the shower, he literally his his finger right up his (donkey) as he showers. The whole time he's in the shower, he's got his personal care items spread across half of the sink counter, leaving only 2 of the 4 sinks available for others to use . . in addition to leaving his sneakers sitting beside the sink too. Disgusts me . . . and has caused me to try and avoid hitting the locker room near the same time as him. I can well imagine why he's a single / divorced man -- no tact and only 'about himself'.
{"commentId":5181593,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"AlbertaBoundd"}
{"commentId":5297610,"authorDomain":"kholmstedt"}
OH MY GOSH!!! Someone owes me a new keyboard because I just spit my pop all over it!!!! This is wild! This is way too funny! My gym is so orderly compared to these stories..............I also go at 5:00 in the morning.
Every gym I have ever been to has a group that has totally chiseled upper bodies all standing around with their fake tans wearing off. Then, you look at their legs and they are these little scrawny bird legs..............but they don't bother anybody. Well, maybe my daughter.
Hey~ Thanks for the laugh!
{"commentId":5297610,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"kholmstedt"}
{"commentId":5172134,"authorDomain":"factcheckme"}
there are people at the gym, just as there are in real life, that are just plain rude, and irritating. for some reason though, they seem way more out of line when they are being rude at the gym. why is that? the other day i wanted to kill this bozo on the treadmill next to me, he was having a LOUD conversation with a woman 2 treadmills over, and screaming "hey! how you doin?" at all his "buddies" across the room. seriously, i wanted him to drop his water bottle, trip over it, and go flying into the eliptical machines behind us. i would have LMAO and not even lifted a finger to help him. does that make me a bad person?
as for the most disgusting thing at my gym....has to be the swim diapers. GOD. i guess thats what i get for going to the Y instead of a ballys or something like that, but they have family swim RIGHT BEFORE adult lap swim where the kids wear @!$%#ing diapers in the pool. of course, they close the pool pursuant to health dept regs if they spy an actual turd floating in the pool, but what do they suspect is inside all those swim diapers? and dont even get me started on the ADULT swim diapers. i will just end up sounding like a boor for reacting negatively to disabled adults who have the "audacity" to swim in "my" pool. but seriously. UGH. why doesnt the health dept have a problem with this, is my question.
{"commentId":5172134,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"factcheckme"}
#13 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 12:07 PM EST{"commentId":5178022,"authorDomain":null}
Never ever swim in a public pool. Haven't you seen those snot balls floating under the surface?
{"commentId":5178022,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756"}
{"commentId":5178273,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Because the pool water has enough chlorine and copper sulfate in it to sterilize an Ebola corpse is why the health department doesn't care.
The world is covered by a blanket of fecal matter. This is proven by the fact that norovirus infections are found everywhere, from Beverly Hills to Bombay. And 500,000 kids a year die of it.
{"commentId":5178273,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5178764,"authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
and irritating. for some reason though, they seem way more out of line when they are being rude at the gym. why is that?
LOL Or maybe it's just that the gym attracts people with those types of personalities?
{"commentId":5178764,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
{"commentId":5181875,"authorDomain":"factcheckme"}
Because the pool water has enough chlorine and copper sulfate in it to sterilize an Ebola corpse is why the health department doesn't care.
then whats a floating baby turd going to hurt? they close down the entire pool if one gets loose. as long as they stay in the diaper, i am free to swim through their sewage water as long as i like.
{"commentId":5181875,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"factcheckme"}
{"commentId":5183754,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Actually, it wouldn't hurt if a turd got loose, floating around. It would gross out the customers though. Bring a melted tootsie roll in sometime and set it loose in the pool. :-)
{"commentId":5183754,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5430838,"authorDomain":"suzyactiondoll"}
We have a separate lap pool--no kids, no floaters, no screwing around--just swimming. My pet peeve is the guy who has to come in while I'm halfway through my 1500m and tells me that HE's going to be practicing his butterfly so I have to get out of HIS lane. And if you say you'll swim split lane (as policy and politeness dictates) he makes sure that he splashes you every time you pass him. I've watched him swim. He is not a splasher. You ain't Michael Phelps. Get over it.
As far as grunting at the gym--ever been to a martial arts workout people? Grunting, shouting, screaming etc. does give you more power & helps focus your energy. If you're lifting, shout away as far as I'm concerned...shouting might be a bit over the top if you're on the treadmill doing 5.5.
{"commentId":5430838,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"suzyactiondoll"}
{"commentId":5172455,"authorDomain":"luckyarmpit"}
LOL!!! Good ones! My main beef is the idiots who bring cell phones in the gym. And BS whilst they are working out or running on the treadmills/ellipticals. My cell is kept in the truck. I don't want to be disturbed while I'm at the gym. Now as far as clothing goes, some of the females at my gym can wear those tight outfits because being male, I sure as h3ll don't mind lookin!!!! One particular woman, late 20's, long legs and is built really well...hard to concentrate on the military press when your looking at a very well contoured rear-end!!!
{"commentId":5172455,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"luckyarmpit"}
#14 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 12:20 PM EST{"commentId":5172572,"authorDomain":"minmich2312"}
My pet peeve in Wilmette IL is two ladies, with huge butts, who talk to each other from the momment they walk in, on the treadmill, on the track, on the machines. Never stop. And on the machines, each rep has a LLLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGG pause while they talk and talk and talk. If they spent 10% of the energy on working out that they did on non-stop loud talking they might not be so fat.
{"commentId":5172572,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"minmich2312"}
#15 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 12:26 PM EST{"commentId":5173138,"authorDomain":"zachshaw"}
As a pretty avid gym goer, here are the things that will get me going every time. First, use the equipment for what it's supposed to be used for. The next idiot that I see doing curls in the squat rack is getting a dumbbell thrown at them. Unless you are curling for reps over 130 lbs (which is usually what the barbells intended for curling go to, stay away from the squat rack. Next, pick a different month than January to decide to get in shape. Since 95% of you will never return to the gym after your first go, yet continue to pay your memberships, try a different month when it's not so packed. And lastly, DO NOT BRING EVERY SINGLE PERSON YOU KNOW TO THE GYM WITH YOU!!! I am so tired of seeing groups of people show up to the gym together and stand around one section while no one is getting a good workout because it takes so long for everyone to get a turn. Plus, in case you hadn't noticed, the gym is kinda crowded right now, there is just not enough room for all of your friends to show up and crowd around you. I feel like going up to all of the new people at the gym doing everything wrong and saying, "you know, you tried, but this just isn't the year you get in shape, better luck next year".
{"commentId":5173138,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"zachshaw"}
#16 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 12:48 PM EST{"commentId":5173833,"authorDomain":"SALeary"}
My old gym only had 3 showers. There would be ond girl who would bring her razor & shave every day. Do that at home. When you're rushing through a workout & trying to clean up to get to work, it's so frustrating waiting with at least 2 other woman just for a quick shower. We finally got to the point where we'd have to speak up & say "move it along ladies, there are others out here waiting".
{"commentId":5173833,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"SALeary"}
#17 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 1:14 PM EST{"commentId":5181685,"authorDomain":"AlbertaBoundd"}
I was shocked one day to see a younger guy, well-muscled, in the shower - shaving his own personal 'landing strip'. Come on, do that kinda thing at home, will ya' please!?!
{"commentId":5181685,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"AlbertaBoundd"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":5174281,"authorDomain":"weeble1216"}
Men who grunt and shout (I'm waiting for an ambulance to show up one day), smelly people who smell even worse when they sweat (and always seem to get on the elliptical machine next to me!) men who insist on working out on machines on the "women's" side of the gym even though they have the same machines mixed in with the free weights and the ever present "workout couple"; the guy and girl who use one machine at a time rest, talk, laugh and give no thought to who they're holding up (ME!!!)
{"commentId":5174281,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"weeble1216"}
#18 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 1:31 PM EST{"commentId":5178893,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Donna. Have a beer. Chill.
{"commentId":5178893,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5174456,"authorDomain":"kelvin724"}
My pet peeve is when I take a bodyfit class and there is a gaggle of women who talk nonstop from the time the class begins. They are so obnoxious, I can't hear part of what the instructor is saying. If they are able to talk that much, maybe they are working out hard enough. Shut up and work out!
{"commentId":5174456,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"kelvin724"}
#19 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 1:37 PM EST{"commentId":5174519,"authorDomain":"carobertson"}
My pet peeve is definitely women who just want to look good while pretending to work out. It's annoying to have to wait for a machine while the woman with perfect hair (long, middle-of-the-back hair, perfectly done, no ponytail), who's not breaking a sweat as she walks non-chalantly on the treadmill, constantly looks around the fitness room to see who's looking at her. Then I have to race her to the weight machines because she'll do 4 or 5 reps and then sit there gabbing with the other non-perspiring woman she came with. ANNOYING.
{"commentId":5174519,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"carobertson"}
#20 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 1:40 PM EST{"commentId":5178343,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
And then she gets on here and dishes about how people "actually grunt!" and how "there are disgusting sweaty people there!"
{"commentId":5178343,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5178874,"authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
"there are disgusting sweaty people there!"
I'm pretty sure that no one complains that people sweat, but that people leave puddles of their sweat for others to experience first hand. If you don't care about sliding around on someone else's bodily excretions, more power to you! But don't expect everyone else to enjoy rolling around in yours...
{"commentId":5178874,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"lakeworthguy"}
{"commentId":5178955,"authorDomain":"Toradze"}
Ahem. This very article complained about sweating people.
Know what I do? If the chinup bar is slick with sweat, I use a towel and wipe it down.
If I come to a machine that has sweat on it, I wipe it down. If I see someone leaving a machine sweaty, I just say something like, "Dude. The sweat. You should wipe it up."
{"commentId":5178955,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Toradze"}
{"commentId":5174990,"authorDomain":"rocquoone"}
Two things, neither original.
People who hold looong cell phone chats while on the cardio equipment at such volumes that I can't hear what's on my headphones. C'mon. You could work harder if you have enough air left to hold a conversation.
People who hang out on equipment that I'm waiting for, but aren't actually using it. I'm glad you have so much free time. Me, I'm trying to get done and go to work.
{"commentId":5174990,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"rocquoone"}
#21 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 2:00 PM EST{"commentId":5175485,"authorDomain":"conisue"}
My pet peeve: Guys: It's a gym not a runway. Other people want to use the machines and you taking the time to look at your "Momma's Boy Self" in the mirror takes too much time. I know you want to socialize, but call your friend from home. Other people come to work out and may not have that much time. If someone is on a machine and you either want to do chin-ups on the bars directly behind them, wait until that person is finished so they can keep their concentration. You wouldn't want them to interupt you. If someone is in the middle of a rep, don't say "How much longer you gonna be?" If you walk away, make sure you leave a towel or some indication of not being finished. Wipe of the machines. Your sweat is not something I want to sit on.
Girls & Guys: Cell phones are a no-no. Talk at home. If you come with BF or BFF, don't hog a machine. Most gyms give a "circuit" priority to one person doing 3-6 sets on a machine.
Also, If you need to do steriods, take an anger management class or leave the anger at home. I pay my dues just like you to have to hear you yell and scream during workouts at either your friends or yourself.
{"commentId":5175485,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"conisue"}
#22 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 2:22 PM EST{"commentId":5175897,"authorDomain":"Adpacqueen"}
I don't think anyone should be allowed to use a cell phone while they're in the gym. Cell phones should be banned while you're working out all together.
Another thing that bugs me is when someone occupies two pieces of equipment. They're alternating machines and even though they're on a different machine they'll tell you that they are using that one which is not being used. Use one piece of equipment at a time please. Escpecially when there is only one piece of a certain type of machine.
{"commentId":5175897,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"Adpacqueen"}
#23 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 2:38 PM EST{"commentId":5181948,"authorDomain":"ricoswank"}
Sharon,
That is my biggest pet peeve. As a big guy, I generally don't have to deal with the confrontation that accompanies someone alternating machines. But what I do get is a certain look on their face as they walk to my machine to gather their car keys, towels, etc as if I interrupted their god-like workout.
Another pet peeve of mine. Women who wear tight, revealing gym clothing that get mad when men are "googling" them. Uh... yeah! Thats what men do to women who show their goodies! Even Married men do it, but they are more subtle as they look out of the corners of their eyes!
{"commentId":5181948,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"ricoswank"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":5176459,"authorDomain":"a-locke"}
I am married and unfortunately have been "pursued" by various male members of the gym I attend. I want to wear a shirt that says, "I'm here for results". Lately I've taken to a stony facial expression, which seems to help.
Unfortunately, this gym is also marred by people who do not wipe their sweat off the equipment and those who ignore the "no cell phone" signs. I do not like it either when people are passing by and you are trying to complete a motion or range of motion, and you have to abbreviate it because they get in your path, when they could've walked elsewhere.
{"commentId":5176459,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"a-locke"}
#24 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 3:01 PM EST{"commentId":5176688,"authorDomain":"rslov19"}
I hate it when, at my club, I'm walking back from the shower/getting dressed, etc, and some numbskull walks into the mens locker/shower room with his 4-6 year old daughter to let her use the bathroom, when there is a designated family bathroom available. Get a clue!
{"commentId":5176688,"threadId":"490582","contentId":"2393756","authorDomain":"rslov19"}
#25 - Wed Feb 4, 2009 3:10 PM EST{"canLink":false,"threadId":"490582","isPrivate":false}
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