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We all know fellow gym members who have been labeled dumbasses by everyone at the gym. These are the people who don’t follow the gym rules, have terrible gym etiquette and who others steer clear of for fear of being lumped into the same class. If you want to stay out of this category, then you’d better avoid doing the following stupid things in the gym and learn good gym etiquette. Also, pay attention to the advice we give on how to look cool by following the unspoken gym rules!
Imagine yourself strolling through the gym like a total alpha male ripped from head to toe. You’re the envy of every guy in the gym, and you are also the guy that all of the fit babes on the treadmill are checking out too. After you finally get tired of parading around the gym, you stop at a bench and begin throwing 45-pound weight plates on the barbell like you’re going to break a world bench press record. CRASH!!!!!!
The loud thud of the barbell crashes to the ground along with all of the weight plates. You loaded too many plates on one side of the barbell without balancing them out like an idiot. Suddenly everyone in the gym is snickering and pointing at you. Let’s face it: you’re the new gym dumbass.
Of course, there are plenty of other scenarios besides this one that can make you look like the biggest fool in the gym. And if you want to avoid these scenarios and keep making friends, check out the top 10 things that will make you look like a dumbass as well as what you can do to look cool.
Gym Etiquette #1. Lifting too heavy and using poor form.
The number one thing that’s going to get you noticed for all the wrong reasons is using poor form. After all, it’s not hard to notice the guy who has somehow transformed barbell curls into a back workout. And using poor form usually arises from lifting more weight than you can handle. Unfortunately, this is a big problem in the gym since some people are in there to impress others just as much as they are to build a better body. Beginners often add too much weight because they’re embarrassed by the amount of weight they lift. In either case, you’ll look bad when using poor form.
Gym rule to follow instead: You should analyze every exercise you perform by looking in the mirror. If your form is off, work to correct it by changing your mechanics (if you can’t use proper mechanics, you’re lifting too much weight). Remember, poor form not only makes you look like a total newb, but it can also lead to injuries as well.
Gym Etiquette #2. Getting way too fired up/excessively yelling/dropping weights
Sometimes you need to let out a yell or make some kind of noise while you’re lifting in order to get that last rep. However, nobody needs to be yelling the whole time they’re in the gym and throwing weights down after every set. Anybody who does this is guaranteed to draw the ire of everyone else who is trying to get a workout. It’s especially annoying when the person doing the yelling is only military pressing 45 pounds!
Gym rule to follow instead: As mentioned before, getting fired up or yelling is alright once in a while – especially if it helps you get in an extra rep you never thought possible. Just keep the noise to the minimum and save your fiery moments for when you accomplish something truly great.
Gym Etiquette #3. Not having a spotter for tough lifts
Some people prefer not to have a workout partner. And this is fine if the workouts you’re doing aren’t totally strenuous. However, you should always have a spotter on the more difficult lifts so you don’t fall into the totally embarrassing category of being the guy who got pinned under his bench press. Sure your knight in shining armor will eventually come to pull the weight off of your chest, but all of the other people in the gym will be laughing pretty heavily when this happens.
Gym rule to follow instead: Even if you opt to go without a workout partner, you can find someone in the gym who will spot you. Of course, it can be a little intimidating to ask another person for help, but it’s a better option than having the same person have to rush over to help you when it’s too late.
Gym Etiquette #4. Having poor hygiene – i.e. having body odor, bad breath, etc.
I feel bad for those who can’t afford to keep good hygiene so I avoid making fun of them. With that being said, I highly doubt that anyone who can afford a gym membership can’t afford to buy personal hygiene products on a regular basis. It’s my opinion that bad breath and body odor at the gym are a result of sheer laziness. And trust me: if you’re the one who smells then it’s going to be pretty tough to find a workout partner, or just someone to spot you during those tough lifts. The same goes for anyone who rips farts in the gym too!
Gym rule to follow instead: Get to the store and buy a freaking stick of deodorant or brush your teeth before heading out the door. It’s rude to bring your bad hygiene into the gym, and this can even ruin other people’s workouts if it’s bad enough. Those of you who have a gas problem, avoid foods with high fiber before hitting the gym.
Gym Etiquette #5. Failing to re-rack weights.
While not having good hygiene is definitely lazy, failing to re-rack weights when you’re done is the ultimate sign of laziness. And we all know lazy jerks that don’t re-rack weights when they’re done with an exercise. There is no gym maid who runs around making sure every weight is placed back on racks after people are done with barbells so the only person left to deal with the weights is the next lifter who uses that equipment. Failing to re-rack weights is not only going to prevent you from making friends, but it is a sure way to make enemies too.
Gym rule to follow instead: Every time you complete all of your sets for a certain exercise, you should re-rack the weights used. It only takes 30 seconds or less to do this, and it will save you a lot of headaches by having to argue with fellow bodybuilders who aren’t happy with your lack of consideration.
Gym Etiquette #6. Monopolizing Workout Equipment.
Some gyms have tons of machines while others don’t have much at all. If your gym has few machines, you can look like a real ass if you monopolize a certain piece of equipment too long. This is a common problem of bench press freaks who act like there’s no other exercise in the world. And you can guarantee that others will be getting angry when they want to use something that you’ve been sitting on for the past 30 minutes.
Gym rule to follow instead: If you’re someone who likes a certain exercise or machine, you should go to the gym at time when few other bodybuilders are in there. Whether this is late at night or early in the morning is irrelevant…..just make sure that the gym isn’t super-crowded when you go.
Gym Etiquette #7. Talking to others far more than you lift
The majority of people who go to the gym do so because they want to work out. Sure you should try to meet friends while you’re in there, but the primary reason for being at the gym is be to work out. Even so, there are some people who treat gyms like they’re a social gathering place. These guy will bounce from person to person stopping to talk to anyone who gives them the time of day. And this is a good way to meet people, but it’s also surefire way to piss lifters off who are trying to complete their workout.
Gym rule to follow instead: It’s alright to talk to others while you’re in the gym. In fact, you should socialize with as many people as possible (when the time is right of course). But holding 15 minute-long conversations with fellow gym members is a bad idea. So if you really want to be friends with someone, talk to them about hanging out together outside of the gym; don’t make the gym your hangout spot.
Gym Etiquette #8. Leaving huge sweat puddles on the equipment.
If you’re somebody who’s in the gym for the dual purpose of working out and trying to pick up hotties, the best way to ruin your chances for the latter is by leaving giant sweat puddles on the equipment. This is not only inconsiderate, but it also gets everyone in the gym talking about you (more specifically what a jackass you are). And even if you don’t give a shit about what any of the guys in the gym say, eventually the hot females are going to hear of your sweaty sagas.
Gym rule to follow instead: If you’re truly a sweaty hoss, you should carry a towel around. Use the towel to wipe yourself and also wipe off the equipment; doing both of these things should ensure that the machines and benches stay dry in the wake of your workout.
Gym Etiquette #9. Staring at yourself in the mirror for too long.
Because of the fact that blood flows to your muscles and makes them bigger while you’re lifting, it’s pretty hard to resist looking at yourself. But you can definitely take this too far by sitting there and staring at yourself in the mirror forever. Even worse is if people see you flexing in the mirror when you’re not even practicing poses for a bodybuilding competition. In any case, don’t get caught checking yourself out in the mirror like a woman trying on a wedding dress or you’ll look like a major douchebag.
Gym rule to follow instead: If you’re training for a bodybuilding competition there’s certainly a time and place to practice poses. You can even do this at home as opposed to a crowded, mainstream gym. Also, keep in mind that your workout pump is going to go away in a little while so constantly checking yourself out in the mirror accomplishes nothing.
Gym Etiquette #10. Wearing one-piece spandex, zubaz, or any other tacky clothes
There was a time when wearing zubaz pants and one-piece spandex outfits in the gym was fashionable – and this time was the 80’s. But walk into a gym now wearing anything close to these kind of clothes and you’ll automatically draw negative attention. Those of you who wear kids-size t-shirts that are plastered to your body won’t be safe from ridicule either.
Gym rule to follow instead: There are plenty of other workout clothing options you can wear to help you fit in and make friends. You can never fail with a t-shirt that actually fits you along with a pair of shorts. You can also pull off tank tops, pants, sleeveless shirts, etc. as long as everything matches.
There are a ton of discussions on the EliteFitness.com Forums about Gym Etiquette and Gym Rules. Here are some great discussions:
Arnold Roidhead, Carly Cameltoe and other funny gym members
What I hate about weight room etiquette
How do you "players" approach some girl in your gym?
Gym Etiquette For High-Schoolers
gym sauna etiquette question for straight guys...
Gym Rules - Dropping Dumbbells
Gym Rules - Shirtless in the gym
Gym Etiquette - When to back off?
Gym Rules 101: A question about gym etiquette - weigh in with your opinion
Morons at the gym (the official thread)...
Another jackass-in-the-gym thread
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