Some thoughts and discussions from me.
10 Mistakes Not to Make in the Weight Room
Good morning 
I’ve been fighting a bit of a funk this week. I’ve felt off for the past few days, and hoping it goes away with good sleep, nutrition, and water. Got the sleep part of that checked off last night! I got in 8.5 glorious hours of slumber, since Tuesdays are my one week day that I don’t have to wake up to an alarm.
Perhaps I can attribute my good night’s sleep to a carb coma?
I had good intentions of making sole and sweet potatoes for dinner, but I had salmon for lunch, and just didn’t want fish again. I had nothing else thawed out, so it was pizza night over here (frozen.) I had my usual GF pepperoni pizza. The whole pie, since GF pizzas are always tiny.
So today’s post is a rather silly one. Having worked (and currently working) in several gyms as a personal trainer, gym manager, and group fitness instructor for the past 4.5 years (wow!) I’ve both come to appreciate and be completely turned off by certain behaviors in the gym. Today I want to specifically talk about the weight room
Now, let it be known that I’m not talking about gym newbies here. It’s when there’s a seasoned gym goer with no sense of self-awareness or consideration for others perform the below behaviors.
Disclaimer: this is meant to be a satirical post – sense of humor is required. Also, please consult your physician before beginning any new diet or exercise program.
1. Don’t curl in the squat rack.
The squat rack is for just that – squatting. Take curling the bar + two 5-lb. plates somewhere else. You’re using it incorrectly when there’s likely someone else needing it for squats.
2. Please wipe down your bench after sweating all over it.
After doing your bench press, or whatever you’re doing, wipe down the bench. I don’t want to use the bench that has a bunch of beads of your sweat on it.
3. Step away from the dumbbell rack to lift after you grab your dumbbells. It’s really awkward to have to manuever around someone who’s doing dumbbell curls 6 inches away from the dumbbells you need to grab on the rack. Grab your dumbbells, and step away at least a few feet – away from that high traffic area.
4. Re-rack your weights. Always.
I am not your mother. Pick up after yourself!
5. Wear appropriate gym attire. All I’m saying is to take a peek in the mirror and make sure what you’re wearing isn’t distracting or offensive. Whenever I try on crops at a store, I always do the bend-over test to make sure the material is quality (non-see through.)
6. Please don’t forget to wear deodorant, but please don’t wear cologne/perfume. Forget cell phones and inappropriate gym attire; nothing is more offensive than wearing too much cologne or perfume to the gym.
7. Leave your gym bag in the locker room. Don’t bring it with you in the weight room while you work out.
8. Don’t bark.
I totally understand a grunt here and there. Heck, I do it myself. But don’t be obnoxious about it. When you bark loudly like a dog, it’s distracting.
9. Unless you’re working with bumper plates, don’t drop your weights on the floor. It’s not only horrible for the weights, but it’s distracting.
10. Don’t take up 6 pieces of equipment at one time. I get it – you’re doing a circuit. But equipment is limited, and just because you’re going to come back to the seated row machine after you complete your pull ups, dead lifts, sit ups, and curls, doesn’t mean you get to reserve it by putting your water bottle and towel on it to hold your spot on it.
What bothers you in the weight room? Anything I left off the list?
I used to go to a gym that was by a college. I got so tired of a group talking while sitting on the equipment. If you’re not going to use it …..move it. I got pretty good at asking if they’re finished with their set and getting the whole group to move on.
Now the gym I go to isn’t as close to a college and I haven’t had the problem
Gina, book dragon recently posted…ARC August Challenge
AMEN to all of the above, especially curling in the squat rack! I haaate when I am going to use it for squats and someone is in there working biceps. No. hahah great post!
Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile recently posted…Green Smoothie and Personal Training
Love this! Thank you for listing all of this. These were always my major pet peeves at my gym too!
The not re-racking of weights drives me crazy. It is really, really bad at my gym. And people always put them in the wrong place. The spot that says 10 is not for the 50 lb weight!! Argh. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil!
Lee recently posted…The Secret is Out
ha!!! I feel like there’s got to be something in here about the high schoolers who come in packs, huddle around EVERY bench, take EVERY free weight and then don’t rack any of them. it’s really awful. 😉
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted…LA in a Flash
hahaha. The standing 2-inches away from the barbell rack kills me. Absolutely kills me. There was a guy at my gym the other day that set up his bench to do chest presses literally 5 inches away from the EZ bar rack. So basically, no one could get an EZ bar until he was done with his 20 pound chest presses. Face palm.
Sarah @ Blonde Bostonian recently posted…Sweaty Bands Review & Giveaway
How about not using the benches as a table? I hate it when someone is doing push ups or other exercise but uses the bench to store their water bottle and towel. Someone else might want to use them.
Pamela Hernandez recently posted…Monthly Workout Playlist August 2013
Hahha loved this post! One of my biggest pet peeves is the loud guys. I totally get it if you’re deadlifting over 300 pounds, but when you’re doing the same weight I just did, no need for it.
Ashley @ Life and Fitness recently posted…Swimming Cardio Workout
Oh goodness. All of this really. Especially the people that leave their sweaty equipment sweaty and don’t do a wipe down after they use it. People seem to look surprised that I wipe down my equipment…. I wish it was more of a norm!
You know… before going to the gym regularly I used to think doing curls in the squat rack was a big joke… until I kept seeing it happen in real life!
MeShell recently posted…Back from Las Vegas!
haha love this, especially the no barking! Biggest pet peeve!
Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots recently posted…The White Dress By The Shore
Love this! Especially the deodorant one. Ugh, so horrible working out next to someone who stinks! I had to switch spin bikes 10 minutes into class the other day since the guy next to me stunk so bad! I have to admit I’m guilty of taking my gym bag with me. I lost my lock and haven’t purchased a new one yet. It’s on my list of things to do 🙂
Giselle@myhealthyhappyhome recently posted…Keeping a toddler entertained on hot summer days
I’ve been working on a similar post! Some behaviours in the gym are just annoying and unnecessary. I hate it when people take multiple pieces of equipment at once…I’m sorry, but you don’t get to take the squat rack and 4 sets of dumbbells at once. Just no.
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles recently posted…Wonderful Weekend Wedding.
OMG! I can’t stand when people seriously have 4 different sets of dumbbells. Take one, then re-rack, and then grab the next! Gr.
I know you meant this post to be funny, but I definitely think everyone needs to read this and sign an agreement before joining a gym! lol
I have had a membership for less than a month and I have seen #s 1,2,3,4,9, and 10!
Khaleef @ Fat Guy, Skinny Wallet recently posted…Taking Our Debt Battle Public
I meant it to be funny….but honest 🙂
they do have to sign something like this at my gym! Also proper workout clothes but I still see people on the treadmill in flip flops!
Gina, book dragon recently posted…ARC August Challenge
Ugh people who don’t wipe down benches are the worst! As if I don’t have enough cleaning to do in my daily life now I have to clean up after you?! No thanks! I totally agree with your top 10. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Samantha @ 10000 Squats recently posted…Week 2: Junk in the Trunk
Totally agree with every single one- can you make a sign that lists all of these and hang it up at my gym?? 🙂
I’d like to add- don’t talk on your cell phone AND don’t just hang around a piece of equipment and chat with your friend- USE IT and move on (especially if it’s the only squat rack in the whole gym!).
People no re-racking weights is probably my biggest annoyance- I also never know if they’re actually done or just went to go get a drink or something.
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted…Currently: August
hehe – I totally had the cell phone one on there – but then it made it 11…and I cut it out :-p But YES, I agree.
So funny! I work out in a small gym that’s part of my housing tract, and just yesterday I came home and told my bf I’m considering placing a sign on the mirror: GRUNTING AND/OR DROPPING WEIGHTS DOES NOT MAKE YOU A BADASS—JUST AN ASS.
love this!
Males – do not hoard all of the heavy weights! Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean I can’t lift as heavy (or even heavier) than you 🙂
T.
Tenecia recently posted…How It All Went Down – Part 1
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN! So good… I also hate when men grunt excessively. We have a grunting joke with our friends here because it is so excessively bad at my gym!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…Homemade Salad Dressings
I have to add two more: Someone working out next to you who has the music blaring out of their earbuds so loudly I have to move to another machine and/or someone next to you in spin who constantly (like every two minutes) clears their throat. In spin, you cannot move because the bikes are usually all filled, so that’s even more annoying.
This is priceless!! I am constantly saying this to my boyfriend!! My boyfriend will COMPLETELY re-arrange EACH bench/rack so they 5’s/10’s/25’s are all in the right spot.
Along with proper gym attire it drives me crazy when people are lifting in JEANS & COWBOY BOOTS!! ugh throw some gym shorts and sneakers on its not that hard!