25 Gym Pet Peeves That Drive Me Up A Wall! (Am I The Only One Whose Bothered By These?)

Are we THAT desperate for attention? Not everyone appreciates a striptease at the gym and if you do this, you look like a tool. Don’t do it!

I see this happen all the time. Someone is using a machine improperly when suddenly a kind, compassionate, muscle-bound, 275 lb mammoth takes it upon himself to correct the error. A nice gesture? Maybe. But the fact is, most people don’t like being told that they are wrong. No matter if they are indeed wrong. So keep the advice to yourself…unless of course it’s solicited.

This one completely blows my mind. Why on earth would someone insist on using an apparatus that is clearly made for legs as a device to work out arms? Sorry but if you do this, you get not points for creativity from me. There are benches, dumbbells, and curl machines all designed to get those wimpy arms of yours into shape. USE THOSE!

It’s bad enough that I have to smell you, now you want me to sit on a bench drenched with your sweat? Not happening! It takes you less than 20 seconds to clean up after yourself. Do it!

I usually try to stay hydrated in between sets by using the water fountain. So when I approach the water fountain only to find a gelatinous, off-white yellowish, quarter inch blob of a monster patiently waiting for my arrival, let’s just say I’m not particularly thrilled. Goodness gracious there are toilets in the bathroom you can spit that stuff in!

To be honest, I rarely see this happening, but it has happened. It seems like people forget that at one time or another, they were in a similar position; trying to learn how to workout using light weights or even worse, no weights at all. Don’t make fun of people who are working hard at correcting a problem.

I honestly don’t know where this comes from but there seems to be a growing popularity of people not wanting to wear shoes at the gym (or shirts…I digress). Not only is this particularly hazardous for the shoe rebel, but, it’s kind of gross! (Kind of nothing, it IS gross).

True, you are going to sweat and be musty at the gym (accept it, is going to happen…unless you go to the gym to engage in one hour conversations). However, it’s one thing to be musty, and an entirely different thing to smell like you cut the biggest ball of Onion and used it as your loufa pad. If you don’t believe in deodorant, soap, or other forms of odor suppressors, may I suggest you workout during hours when it’s slow at the gym.

You could argue that the gym is a social place, where friends can bond and relationships blossom…but you would be wrong. A room full of weights and cardio machines can only mean one thing and one thing only! If you impede my workout flow, I may just impede your lack of workout flow.

10 times out of 10, it’s better to ask for help if you are not familiar with a particular gym equipment than to try and figure it out by yourself. (Trust me on this one)

Sometimes, there are policies in a gym that are uncomfortable (food policies, guest policies..etc). But does throwing a fit in front of 20 spectators and voicing your opinion on how the gym sucks (only to come back and use the same gym the next day) help change them? If you really are that distraught about the policy, then be mature about it and speak to people who can do something about it in a civilized fashion…fits, are not civilized.

It is no ones job to deal with rubbish. If you get a kick out of being one of those difficult people who complain about anything and everything under the sun just because you feel like that’s what the gym attendants are paid to do (listen to you whine), well, im sorry but you are wrong. Be more considerate to workers of whatever gym you go to. They work really hard to make sure that you have a pleasurable experience at the gym, the least you can do is make sure that they have a pleasurable experience at their jobs. Don’t get me wrong, there are issues that you should always approach the attendant about (broken machines, injuries, questions and concerns) However, one thing is legitimate concern and the other is whining (not bright enough, not dark enough, member’s B.O., disagreements concerning policies). And this goes for other customer service related fields as well.

THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND YOU! If you need to use three or more machines for circuit training, here are a few tips.
A. Come at a time when it’s not busy.
B. Let someone work in with you if.
C. Let someone work in with you if.
D. Let someone work in with you if.
E. Let someone work in with you if.
(I think you get the point).

Please be considerate of the fact that people do have eyes and when you pass by them, they are going to look at you, and when you wear clothes that practically shout LOOK AT MY BODY! LOOK AT MY…WHATEVER! They are going to look even more. “Well they should not look” you say. True, but the question really is, if you don’t want them looking, why wear it? Be modest in the gym, it helps everyone’s concentration.

I know that we are creatures of habits. Therefore, it is only natural that we feel more comfortable with certain machines as opposed to others….HOWEVER! Is it really worth ruining the focus of someone else, just to let them know that you are impatiently waiting for them to finish so that you can use the machine (because its all about you anyways right?). Not only that, but seeing that there is usually more than one way to work out a specific muscle group, is it that important for you to use this one machine I am on right now!!!!

Working out with friends is awesome because it pushes you farther than you thought you could go…well it depends on the friends…some just want to talk….don’t know why. Anyways. Whatever the case maybe, I don’t think talking in the gym with your friends is a bad thing per se, just don’t do it right next to me when I have 90lb dumbbells on top of me and I’m about to put them on the floor after a set……I could really hurt myself trying to avoid placing these really heavy things on your foot because you want to talk to your friend right next to me.

I understand that most of us think the world revolves around us (yes I am in that camp as well…sadly). However, try to be more polite in the gym. One thing is to be in your zone but it’s completely different to be in your zone and forget to wipe after you use a machine, or block the mirror for someone behind you just so that you can talk to your friends, or have a one hour conversation with your friend near someone who is lifting heavy weights!. Please people be considerate of people who are actually working out.

…all I have to say about this one is that someone owes me a new pair of pants, and when I find you…

Is it necessary to tell the whole world that you don’t have good aim by displaying the after math of your restroom escapade on the toilet seat? The least you can do is grab some toilet paper and wipe the seat or something. “Eeewww”, you say? Just imagine what the guy that came behind you said.

Now I understand, some of you can bench 500lbs (probably even more). However, is it really necessary to let the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD KNOW? Just a thought.

Now I understand that people are grown ups and bad language (which is just that, BAD) is normal in our society. However, like everything in life, there is a place and time for such vocabulary. Is it really necessary for someone to go off ranting about [email protected]$#&R F*$!R, and F**K, S^@T, and whatever else is vulgar under the sun? Especially when every other word that comes out is one of the words implied above. That’s not necessary and it does not help you work out any harder. If you really feel like cursing and just can’t control yourself, step outside, have a cursing fit and then come back and delight us with your grunting 🙂

It always amazes me how people seem to think they have servants following them everywhere they go, and if they don’t think like that, they surely act like it. Seriously, is it that hard for someone to re-rack their own weights? Oh I get it. They are soooo tired that they cant do it themselves. Some of these guys can curl 50 pound dumbbells (easily) and yet can’t put a 25 pound dumbbell back where it belongs.

The other day, I was doing dumbbell presses with 80lbs dumbbells (don’t judge), I took them from the slot that had the number 80 CLEARLY printed on it. I did my exercise, I went to re-rack my weights (like everyone should) and when I got to the same spot that I had originally take my 80lbs dumbbells from (which are pretty darn heavy) guess what I found. 75lbs DUMBBELLS!!!!! I am sure that they have taught us how to count by now, or at least to recognize numbers. SO how is it that people can confuse numbers so easily? If you grab 75lbs weight, put it back where it says 75lbs, not 80 or 90 or 45 for that matter! (yes, that has happened and it sucks)

Ok. Before you start pointing fingers, let me say that it is true, most of the people I see doing this at the gym are ladies. HOWEVER, I have seen men doing it too! So both sexes are guilty of this horrible habit. JUST DON”T DO IT! I mean really. Do I really want to hear what Sarah said to Stacy about Erika! C’MON! Normally I try to stay far away from people who’re on the phone while at the gym but when its jammed packed and there’s only one machine open and its right next to the girl or guy quacking away about God knows what, sometimes I just rather skip cardio. SO unless its an emergency, leave the phone in your locker.

The gym is a scary place and not everyone is at the same fitness level. Some have “mastered” the discipline of exercising while others are try to figure out how to even say the word. But the funny thing is that we were all in the same spot one time in our exercise history. We were all scared and insecure while trying to lift bars with no weights on, only to see big shots piling on plates after plates of 45lbs each. Let’s not forget our humble beginnings and let’s treat people kindly and patiently (unless they consistently do the things mentioned on this post…if they do, make sure to “accidentally” drop a dumbbell on their foot…just kidding, don’t do that. That’s just mean).