10 Things to Never Do at the Gym

The following are my top 10 pet peeves that I see people doing at the gym. I have long since put them behind me now that I’ve built my own home gym, but for the rest of you, have a little gym etiquette and make sure you aren’t doing these things.

Talking and Socializing

This covers everything from talking on your cell phone, texting, chatting it up with other gym-goers, or hitting on people. The gym is not a social club. People don’t want to be hit on when they’re trying to catch their breath after a set of squats. Unless you plan on using your phone for your music, leave it in the locker room. Get in the gym, and then get out – stop wasting space and time chatting it up.

Leaving Your Weights on the Bar

If you’re going to use the gym, you need to learn to clean up after yourself. Part of that cleanup involves reracking your weights and putting them up. Don’t leave 45 pound plates on the bar so that the next person has to rerack the weights for you. We aren’t your maid. Take a couple minutes and put them up yourself, and consider it part of your workout.

Stare at Other People

So there’s a good looking guy or girl working out and you’re between sets. Try not to burn a hole in their ass with your eyes. Have a little respect for other people and let them work out in peace without having to worry about an audience. Sure, it’s a public gym, but how would you like everyone watching you work out?

Hog the Equipment

It’s one thing if the gym is empty, but especially during busy hours, don’t expect to do your supersets or trisets on multiple pieces of equipment. You don’t own the gym, so why not stick to one piece of equipment at a time. Nothing drives people more nuts than seeing an empty piece of workout equipment that you need to use, but somebody else is calling exclusive dibs because they need it for their circuit training.

Asking to Work In

Ever been in between sets trying to get psyched up for your next one, and someone comes up to you asking if they can work in? Nothing bothers me more than when people interrupt my work out flow. If someone is on a piece of equipment you need – wait until they are done, or do something else in the meantime. Unless you’re my workout partner, don’t talk to me until I’m done.

Lift Up Your Shirt to Check Out Your Abs

We get it – you have abs! Do you really need to lift up your shirt every five minutes in between sets to look at them in the mirror? Do they get better looking each time you check them out or something? Please, leave your clothes on. If you want to pose, do it in the locker room. Need help getting abs? This is how you get six pack abs.

Lift More Weight Than You Should

If you can’t squat 225 pounds, then why are you even trying? A quarter squat is not a squat. Don’t worry about how much weight is on the bar. Put enough on there so that you can at least do a single rep with proper form. If you can’t, then you’re working out your ego more than your muscles. Forget about what other people think, and work out within your zone.

Sound Like You Want to Murder Someone

I get it – you’re lifting a lot of weight, and you want everyone to notice. You think letting out a loud roar will get you that attention. It sure will, but aren’t you a little over the top? I’m not for silence in the weight room. We all make some noise while we’re under max loads, but please don’t go out of your way to make sure the entire gym hears you roar.

Be a Beach Bodybuilder

Are you one of those people who thinks the human body only has 2 muscles – chest and arms? I call you guys beach bodybuilders, because you only work out the muscles you see at the beach. If your gym routine starts off everyday with bench press, and then moves on to curls, you have some work to do. Get under the bar and start squatting. A big upper body with toothpick legs just looks funny. If you aren’t including these 3 best exercises to build muscle, your workout program is lacking.

Leave Your Mark on the Equipment

Nobody wants to walk up to a piece of workout equipment that looks like it got isolated rain showers. If you sweat a lot at the gym, that’s great, but at least bring a towel with you so that you can wipe up after yourself. The next person doesn’t want to lay in a pool of your sweat, nor do they want to use their own towel to clean up your perspiration.

Those are my pet peeves at the gym. Do you have any of your own to share?

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About Tony Schober

Healthy living curator, blogger, foodie, certified personal trainer, husband, & step-dad to 3. Founder of Coach Calorie. Hates scales.

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Mari

I hear ya. Nothing wrecks my positive energy like someone being so rude at the gym. Glad to know it’s not just me being bitchy. I would love to print those out and pin them up all around my gym. Some people do not have a clue…
- Coach Calorie
  
  It can be frustrating, especially with many new people joining the gym right about now. You can only educated and be patient. Some people will do what they want regardless, but others want to be respectful, but just don’t know proper gym etiquette. These are the people this article is written for.
  - Mari
    
    yes, but these are not newbies. I’ve been working out with the same random group of people for about 7 months now. they are mostly retired people that come while most people are at work and the teens are in school. I’m a 46 yr old school bus driver and I go in after the morning route 8:30 am – 10:00 a.m. before I need to clean up before my noon route at 11:00. anyway, surely they got the same orientation that I did when I joined. It’s frustrating because it seems more like geriatric social hour than working out. and when I go get the spray bottle of disinfectant that is requested to use to wipe down equipment after your use, and then I clean up someone else’s mess BEFORE I can even use the machine, I get the weird stare like I’m some crazy germ phobic maniac . Don’t worry I don’t get disrespectful with them. I deal by listening to KoRn on my MP3 and turning it way up and then sweating all the negative energy right out while the music rages for me. and like I said I’m glad that it isn’t just me. it’s good to know that a lot of us are all in the same boat. thanks for listening. love reading your tips and encouraging advice.
    - Coach Calorie
      
      We unfortunately can’t control other people. Only way to solve that problem is to build your own gym. That’s what I did, and I don’t regret it one bit. Hang in there.
  - Jessica Ward
    
    I agree that some people just don’t know proper etiquiette at gyms ..i am a pretty naive person and when I first visited a gym I didn’t know anything at all about cleaning up after myself, it didn’t even cross my mind but after I saw my friends doing it I saw I should and now, to think of not doing it is unimaginable…I recently brought my husband in with me for the first time in the gym and had to teach him as well…as long as you are nice about it I think people will appreciate you letting them know what they should (or should not) be doing in the gym.
    - Coach Calorie
      
      Lead by example, and if that person has a considerate personality, they will follow. Otherwise, there’s not much you can do. Gym etiquette is a learning process for sure. Thanks for the comment Jessica.
http://www.thejackb.com Jack

I understand what you are saying about not asking to work in with someone but sometimes you get stuck because of time constraints. Not to mention the guy who takes a five minute break between sets.

I try to be respectful but if you take a break like that there shouldn’t be any reason why I can’t step in for a moment.
- Coach Calorie
  
  Hey Jack, we discussed this exact thing on my Facebook Page. In your case, the problem is not that you want to work in, but that the guy has fallen asleep on the equipment while you’re waiting for it. In this case, I see no problem waking him up.
  - Matt
    
    “If someone is on a piece of equipment you need – wait until they are done, or do something else in the meantime. Unless you’re my workout partner, don’t talk to me until I’m done.” – Coach Calorie
    
    Allowing someone to work in with you between sets is just common courtesy. I can’t imagine anyone being so obnoxious and self-entitled that he wouldn’t let someone else work in.
    
    1. Let’s say I’m doing German Volume Training (ex. 10 x 10 of squat on the only power rack in the gym) with 2 minute rest intervals. Are you saying that someone should wait until my workout is over (40 minutes later)?
    
    2. How about if you’re doing cleans on the platform? Is it out of the question for someone work in and deadlift on the same platform during your rest periods?
    
    3. How about if I’m working antagonistic pairs? Is it ok for me to occupy two sets of equipment and not let anyone work in on either piece of equipment?
    
    4. What if I’m using the only pair of 45 pound dumbbells in the gym? Can’t let him work in on the dumbbells?
    
    You really need to clarify your situation. Are you supersetting on the same equipment? Are your rest intervals 15 seconds? I’m grasping for anything to see where you’re coming from on this.
    
    The only times that I wouldn’t let someone work in or won’t ask someone if I can work in is when racking and reracking the weight is time prohibitive (I’ve been on both sides of this situation and gladly gave up the equipment when someone is doing an exercise that I feel warrants the use of the equipment) or when someone is doing 100 reps at a snail’s pace (time for some constructive education for that person).
    
    If someone wants to work in, and he is putting in hard effort during his lifts and getting a good burn, then let him work in. When your set is done, then step off the equipment and rest so that someone else can use it.
http://www.el3mentsofwellness.com Carl Mason-Liebenberg

LOL…I Love this post. As the gym filled with”resolutioners” today, I found myself with renewed frustrations and noted every one of these 10 things in action! Weights slamming to the floor, shirts lifted in the mirror to show off 6 packs to the fledgling newcomers, scrawny teens with weights bigger than they, weights every where expect thier rightful location leaving me roaming around for a match set, equipment occupied during cell phone chats, and yes, I was even asked to work in at the cable station in the middle of an intense superset, holes were burned into every hard working member by those wishing to have attained the heights, So I think you read my mind today as I grumbled away wondering how many of these newbies would endure in this gym where most are serious fitness enthusiast and trainers. I hope some do! I’m even wiling to help them if they show authentic intention but if not, I’d rather they fall away sooner than later so I can focus!
- Coach Calorie
  
  I hear you Carl. I timed this post for this very reason. And I am more than happy to see these people in the gym trying to get healthy and fit, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t eager to see the quitters get out of there sooner than later. I really dislike the people that are there to work out their ego more than their bodies.
- Scotty Nelson
  
  Not specifically directed at you but sometimes the newbies will not stay simply because of bad attitudes on the part of the individuals who frequent the gym the most.
http://www.PersonalTrainerRachel.com Rachel

Great list, and I love your humor! I’ve seen/experienced them all! Another one that bugs me is when people drop, or even throw down, heavy dumbbells. There are ways to prevent the Earthquake Syndrome. Same goes for finishing a set on a weight machine by simply letting go and storming away, which ensures that everyone in the gym knows that you’ve not only conquered the stack, but you’re also an insecure egomaniac.
- Coach Calorie
  
  That’s definitely another one, and the more weight on the bar, the harder they want to slam them down
http://www.creativefitnesscoaching.com Dawn

Yes it is that time of year again when we have to go through the same education process again It is always possible to to the people who are really serious about what they are doing as they (without burning holes) watch the more experiences members of the gym and you see them copying what they are doing. These are the people that will be still be going in the next year with people watching them to learn how.

I guess all we can do is lead by example and if that doesn’t work know that most will have disappeared in a few months if not weeks.

Thanks for the article and the reminder that most of us were perhaps newbies at one point or another and to be a little patient….maybe
- Coach Calorie
  
  Yeah, I’m sure we’ve all made at least one of these mistakes in our lifetime. A little patience can go a long way. Thanks for the comment Dawn.
http://fullfat.ca Octavian

This is one of the reasons I joined CrossFit. Don’t have to worry about most of these peeves since everyone works out together. The punishment for not cleaning up after yourself is 15 burpees.
Wendi

I have to say that this “Leaving Your Weights on the Bar” is one of my biggest pet peeves at the gym. I am not that strong and it drives me nuts when someone leaves more weights on there than I can even get off.

and the sweat…I have seen that and I have even skipped a machine because of it..gross
- Coach Calorie
  
  I’ve been asked more than once to help someone take the weight off a bar because the person that used it left a 100lb plate on the leg press machine. I guess they assume everyone can lift that much. Some of those plates weight more than the people themselves! Thanks for stopping by Wendi.
anna pry

one big reason i’ve never been to a gym is #3, i dont want to work out with someone staring at me. i wont even work out at home with my hubby around, i need solitude to exercise!
- Coach Calorie
  
  I hear you Anna. My workout time is my solitary time. It’s like yoga to me, and I don’t want distractions! I don’t regret my home gym one bit.
Jaclyn

The socializing doesn’t bother me much, as long as you’re not trying to strike up a conversation with me. Chat with your workout buddy, just keep it down. The roaring/grunting, on the other hand, drives me nuts. It seems like it also tends to be accompanied by the slamming or dropping of weights–also a no-no! That’s not impressing anyone. You just sound like you’re lifting more than you can handle and begging for an injury.
- Coach Calorie
  
  The socializing doesn’t bother me either, as long as 5 people aren’t standing around the piece of workout equipment I need, and no one is doing anything. Keep things moving, and you can talk all you want!
Janene Scarborough

This whole thing made me crack up laughing more than once! The one about sounding like your murdering someone? Oh mu gosh now that is so true! and funny that you said it here, actually I can relate to all of it, I’ve seen it so many times, and the ones who lift their shirts? yes all the time, and walk up to a mirror and act like they are praising their muscles, actually makes it a big turn off to even go to the gym.
- Coach Calorie
  
  It’s as if they’ve never seen their reflection
Toshy

I love this!! Very true and funny. Thanks for sharing!
Jeannette Laframboise

I realize that the point of this point was not entirely humor but I did find myself giggling. Only because I too have seen those sort of people and they are so bold and ridiculous that you can help but role your eyes. Some people are just so self centered that they could care less about others. Even the staring and chatty ones drive me nuts because you can clearly tell who is serious about exercise and who is not. A few years back I had this guy at the gym that just would NOT give it up no matter what I said or did. I actually hired a trainer, a real no nonsense one that every one was a bit ‘scared’ of and that pain in the arse guy never bothered me again…
- Coach Calorie
  
  Sounds like borderline harassment. I probably wouldn’t have been so kind
http://maximumlifeblog.blogspot.com Daryl Bredenkamp

Well this is part of the reason you should choose your gym carefully. It needs to be a close fit to your personal preferences. The truth is that for some people it is a social thing too, but it can get annoying when any of the above is taken to the extreme.

I find the guys who get obviously upset about any of the above (when done in moderation) to be the most annoying people in the gym. Luckily they are few and far between. You know the type; get upset because you’re on a superset day and cannot wait for you to complete three sets, but also refuse to share equipment with you (which you are quite willing to do). So, they mutter under their breath and ask you after each set if you’re finished now before leaving to the other side of the gym in a huff.

Really though, is it any of my business if someone is training only their upper body or not doing sets properly because they overload? I do frown upon people who have to give unsolicited advice to everyone, but some people can be helpful and share information in a tactful way that does not make you feel like they’re a “know it all”. When a fat guy wants to tell me how to do a proper bench and he cannot lift half of what I do (I look respectable enough to have people ask me for advice at times and mostly do exercises the right way), that’s just stupid and embarrassing for him (though he’s probably so absorbed in his self importance that he cannot see everyone staring at him in disbelief).

Yes, put your weights away (PLEASE), but otherwise just let other people do their own thing, give them space and don’t be afraid to use what space you need either (you’ve paid for it). If you want to chat for a long time, do so while doing a set or free up the equipment you were busy with and stand to one side.

Realise that people are different, and have different goals; then get on with your own life in stead of getting annoyed at what everyone else is doing. I am quite flattered when I catch someone staring at me. Not what I came to gym for, but it is a bonus. If someone comes to gym looking absolutely fabulous and dressed in revealing gym high fashion, don’t ask me not to notice. I’m going to look, probably a few times. I try to be discreet, but really – is there a right or wrong place to meet and make friends or possible partners? I don’t think so. I don’t go to church, shopping malls, business meetings, etc. to meet people either, but if it so happens that I do, should I shun the opportunity because that was not the primary purpose?

Cleaning up after yourself is imperative though. Gym rules usually specify that members should use towels for this specific reason and staff should not be ashamed to remind members to do so if they don’t. Sweating is what you came for, if you cannot accept that members who work out seriously are going to sweat, stay away. Some grunting (and even farting) is acceptable, for heavens sake it’s called a WORK out, but I have on occasion noticed guys who scream or shout obscenities after a particularly taxing set – these should just take other people into account. As should those who walk around scowling, criticising everyone else and charging the atmosphere with their negativity.
qwerty

I have more! Mainly aimed at women as I see so many have been missed!

1. Stop looking/watching yourself in the mirror! The mirror is there for posture re-adjustment and seeing behind you. Its not meant for you to hog a treadmill/cross trainer and pose your head at all angles, every 10 seconds. (And to the blonde women at my gym who hogs a X-trainer to do this every time; you look more then daft pointing your jaw bone up as far as your ear, it looks disturbing…please stop!) It also means your not working out properly: watch people who do this, they slow right down and stop putting the effort in, if your working out fully you wont have anything else left for vanity.

2. STOP WITH THE MOBILE! If you want a conversation, get out of the gym! The music is on LOUD and for a reason, trying to shout over it is ignorant and stupid. (And why do all women seem to want to watch their faces in the mirror when doing this- the whole 2cm-away close-up deal when chatting on a mobile in the changing room- you do realise your in full view of everyone else?!)

3. Please don’t read magazines on the machines, its not what they are meant for and is irritating when the rest of the gym is over-filled, especially if your on a treadmill and walking rather then working up a sweat. Go to a park and read/walk if you can’t stop yourself, or exercise some self control and build up the muscles in your brain! If you find exercise boring, time to change your routine.

4. Don’t hold onto the treadmill bar and yank yourself along it just looks stupid and puts your joints under pressing. Running when doing this is also wrong and just stupid: if you can’t do the speed stop and slow down! And BTW you do realise by doing this your abs are going to pot? A big part of running is utilising the transverse abs, the things that draw you inwards. If you are using the bar for support your abs have no work to do and they just flop, watch others do this, you’ll see what I mean!

5.DEODERANT!! It should be a RULE! Somehow smells so much worse on a women then a man but be aware its mainly bacetria, sweat itself doesn’t smell its what’s on your skin that smells so shower and wash WITH SOAP! Both men and women need to obey the small-spaces-body-hygiene rule anyway but even more so in a hot sweaty gym, just because you can’t smell you doesn’t mean no one else can!
Sarah

I’ve had a trainer do this to me. I was in the middle of my set and she brought her client up and said “excuse me we just have one more set..” then stared blankly until I got up. Then chased me down to ask if I had changed the weight. When I said I had she replied “oh..well what weight was it set at before?”
Hm.
http://N/A David

What really gets to me more than anything are those that don’t stack the weights properly after using them. For example, I have seen people stack 45 lbs. plates next to 25 lbs. plates on the same rack.
Kaylee

There is something about seeing gym-goers in inappropriate clothing that really irritates me. Jeans, flip flops, cut-off shirts that are so destroyed they are barely even shirts, men wearing too short of shorts or women making it a point to show off cleavage. Ugh. Not for me. Especially at the gym.
Lorna

I disagree on the social side- I go to a twice a week gym group of largely older people (I’m only 31) who have been referred by their doctors. We all chat away- except on the treadmill in case we fall off… Some of them are there with heart or joint problems. I’m there to help my bad depression and its the only socialising I get all week. I find the tinny leak of head phones way more annoying.

Can I add to noisy exercisers, the guy who sets the weights too high and then makes obscene grunts (can’t hear himself due to ipod) while he struggles to lift them?

There’s a girl where I go who, instead of using the pause function on the treadmill, just jumps her legs either side of the belt while it carries on, has a breather, then jumps back on running.

And her mum didn’t change the weights of the lat pull down machine after a guy was using it and couldn’t even pull it down as far as her forehead…

The guy before is new to the gym and was pulling the lat pull down behind his neck rising an injury…

All this while I was stuck doing my rowing machine workout. I’m going to have to say something next time or I’ll pop!