It’s the weekend and no one at your gym needs to know exactly how often you’ve been going, or how little perhaps.
There's no shame in being a weekend warrior, but there are a few things you should know about gym etiquette that could make or break your routine.
Since you’re not a regular, here are a few unwritten rules of gym orderly conduct. If you are a regular, there’s simply no excuse for doing these atrocities at the gym.
1) Don't drop your dumb bells
When someone keeps dropping the weights in the gym pic.twitter.com/C2CPdJzYeE
— Billy Jones (@BillyJones93) February 22, 2017
This isn’t a rap battle where a mic drop really emphasizes what you did.
EVERYONE around you is working out. Put your dumb bells down with care.
2) Don’t grunt or yell
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/F3LTCHY3xP
— Gym Memes (@GymTruth) January 10, 2015
Just because you picked a weight that’s too heavy for you, this isn’t the African Savanna.
The general rule at the gym is challenge by choice - meaning, there is no award for drawing attention to yourself with a battle cry and a heavy weight. Just breathe and it will be fine.
3) Don't wear short shorts
Short shorts aren’t good for anyone.
Whether you’re a guy or a girl trying to rock the short shorts that barely cover your items, well that’s how dumb bells get dropped and we’ve just been through that. Regardless of if you think it looks good or not, it’s distracting to others.
4) Don’t hog a machine
Don't take up a with your friends for social hour. Guys and girls do this around one particular area or machine. Congregating just to hang out, is a super no, no to the folks that are ready to use or jump on that machine. Social hour is at breakfast.
5) Don't leave dirty mats and benches
Dirty mats and benches aren't good for anyone's health.
If you’ve got an open wound or just a heavy sweat, don’t be the person that leaves all that fungi and bacteria for the next person. Spray that situation down. Every gym has sprays and wipes.
6) Don’t be 'Dr. Tips'
You may be one of those people that just can’t help offering unsolicited advice. A fellow gym user may be exercising poor technique during a work out. If you’re a natural know-it-all, harness that energy into your own work out and avoid giving advice. They have people who work at the gym. Even if it comes from a good place, a stranger will often be defensive to your criticism.
7) Don’t forget the weight collars
The weight collars are those things that keep your weight plates from sliding off the bar. This type of incident makes all heads turn your way. Collar up to avoid this disaster and potentially dangerous slip up.
8) Don’t hit on people
Sure, you can in theory meet your next best friend at the gym. But it’s not place to harass someone, stare at them or give them unsoliticited advice in an attempt to hit on them. Gyms are a small social world. Everyone’s watching and news travels fast.
9) Don’t spit into a water fountain
This should be a no-brainer but have you ever seen gum floating in a water fountain? Yes, that means someone is spitting. There are trash cans. Only use fountains for intake.
10) Don't be on your phone
Nobody wants to hear your conversation as you loudly try to talk over the music and machines. Texting and looking down means you could run into someone or worse, get hit by a dumb bell during mid-curl. Keep that phone time to a minimum or better yet - leave it in your locker.
Okay, you'll be fine.
Now, go break a sweat and have fun!
