Pet Peeves of People in the Gym

By Gym Staff | July 15, 2017

When you’re in the gym, you will likely find little things that get your goat. You’re not alone because there will be a couple of people who have such poor gym etiquette, whether done deliberately or unconsciously or out of ignorance, in your favorite gym. You will find them whether you’re in a YMCA gym or a Gold’s Gym.

You may even be guilty of a few of the gym etiquette faux pas! Take a look at the following pet peeves of gym-goers and you may be surprised that you’ve been doing one or two every time. But don’t despair since now that you know about it, you can make deliberate decisions to stop being the person in the gym who gets under the skin of others.

Hogging the Exercise Equipment

Many gym-goers will monopolize the exercise equipment, whether it’s the treadmill or the barbells, without thinking about the others. Many will even sit on the bench while chatting with others or texting and calling on their phones, thus, hogging the equipment. These people are known as intensity buzz-killers in gym slang because they kill the momentum, so to speak.

The lesson: Be mindful of the people who will be using whatever exercise machine you’re on, especially when there’s a limited number in the gym. Stop carrying on conversations with others, as well as using your electronic gadgets while in the gym area itself – go to the lounge, if you’re planning to engage in social activities. Try to finish your sets and reps within a reasonable period to give others a chance to use the exercise equipment.

Texting and calling, taking photos including selfies, and updating on social media while in the exercise equipment area are also disrespectful actions. You’re becoming a distraction to others that in itself may well be your own pet peeve.

Leaving Sweat on the Equipment

Of course, we understand that working out means plenty of sweating. But sweat isn’t such a great thing when you come in contact with them on the exercise equipment for two reasons – first, it can make handling the equipment more dangerous due to slipping; and second, it can harbor bacteria, viruses and germs that can cause diseases. In fact, you can catch staph infections, E. coli, and candida infections from sweat left on exercise equipment!

The lesson: Always wipe down the sweat on the exercise equipment after using it. Better yet, wipe it before using it even when there doesn’t seem to be sweat on it.

Leaving the Weights Out of the Racks

Think of the gym as a fitness sanctuary where people like to give and receive respect from their fellow gym-goers. When you have this mindset, you will always re-rack the weights after using them. You will also appreciate people who also do the same since it will mean more convenience for your workout.

The lesson: Re-rack the weights after using them out of courtesy for others. Besides, it contributes to a clutter-free gym, a must in maintaining a safe exercise environment. There’s also the fact that you’re getting an extra workout when putting the weights back into their racks.

Making Unnecessary Noises When Lifting

The gym will have a certain underlying hum to it because of the people working out, the background music, and the electric exercise equipment being used. But when you hear gym-goers competing for loudest voice in the gym, then your workout experience becomes less enjoyable. Screaming when lifting weights, yelling out to somebody across the room, and singing along in a loud voice to the music in your headphones, even dropping weights with a loud thud, are all big no-nos in a gym.

The lesson: You can give out a little grunt when lifting weights but be respectful of others who want to concentrate on their own workouts. Being the source of distraction – or worse, doing things to get the attention of others – isn’t respectful behavior.

Training While Sick

Many gym rats are so inconsiderate as to actually show up at the gym even when sick with the common cold or flu, among other contagious diseases. This is a popular pet peeve because nobody wants to pick up diseases in a gym, especially when they’re exercising to reduce their risks for illnesses (i.e., improve their immune system). Gyms are communal spaces and, as such, these are places where diseases can easily be passed on from one person to the next, whether it’s via sneezing or via the tainted surfaces on exercise equipment.

The lesson: Stay home when you’re feeling sick. There’s a difference between sweating out a fever and infecting others.

Before going to the gym, you may want to make a list of your own pet peeves. You can then make the necessary adjustments in your own actions inside the gym, which may be pet peeves of others.  You will find that by being a gym-goer with good manners, you can set the ball rolling.