Gym Etiquette

I don't know where I learned about "gym etiquette" but there are certain things you do and don't do in a gym. For starters, I don't go looking like I'm on a date. I wash off my makeup, add extra deoderant and dress appropriately. All the important bits and pieces are covered. If I want to wear a sleeveless top (important when training my arms), I place a towel over any equipment that touches my bare skin. This is for my protection as well as the longevity of the equipment. Sweat wreaks havoc on the vinyl covers of most benches and it only makes sense that there might be germs lurking around a gym, so better to try to be as sterile as possible.

I also return teh weights to the rack or stack, I try not to block anyone's access to another piece of equipment, I don't tie up more than one piece of equipment at a time, unless I am supersetting, and I don't socialize, much. I'm there to work. I'm not there to get picked up. I'm friendly, polite, ask if I can work in when necessary and generally just do my thing and leave. Tonight, I ran into a real jackass at the gym.

You know the type -- a young, brash, slightly overweight male with something to prove (although benching 105 pounds didn't impress me much!). In order to lift this miniscule amount (I can bench 65 pounds without training for a couple of weeks), he occupied a flat bench and had covered it with a towel. Fine. Then he wandered over to the receptionist desk to chat with her for five minutes. When I asked if he was done with the bench, the answer was a resounding "no". Next I saw him using the lat pulldown machine. Another five minute chat with the receptionist had me wondering what kind of program he was using. Then he proceeded to do arm curls with a lot of loud grunting and groaning, slamming the bar down when he was done.

I'm not exactly quiet when I train. I can grunt and groan with the best of them but mostly, I just exhale slightly louder than I normally would. But this guy was making his presence known in the gym. As in: "I'm here and I'm making a lot of noise so you'll notice I'm here." *sigh* Anyway, after waiting through a set of bench presses (loud huffing and puffing) and a set of lat pulldowns (loud moaning and groaning), intermixed with long, intense conversation jags with the front desk, I removed the weights from the curl bar and started working my biceps.

By the time he even noticed, I was finished my first set and was loading on small plates for my second set.

"Why did you remove my weights?" he asked, belligerently.

I replied, "I saw you on the pulldown machine so I figured you were finished."

"Well, I wasn't. Sorry if that inconveniences you." he intoned sarcastically.

I sweetly rejoindered, "I didn't realize you were using three pieces of equipment at one time."

Anyway, I finished my set and he spent another five minutes bemoaning his plight to the receptionist. In fact, as I write this, one hour later, he's probably still at the gym. I bet he brags to everyone how much time he spends there "training". LMAO