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Friday, February 22. 2019

Gym Rules

There are many unspoken rules in gyms. One is that you do not look at other people whether in the locker rooms or in the gym.  Except furtively. Minimize eye contact mostly.


Another is that you do not talk to people you don't know. The exceptions are with people you see all the time in a class or using the weights, etc.  Over the years, I have several friendly acquaintances from the gym, and one new pal.


Another is that you should not hog equipment or space. Do some pushups  or leg press and let another person use the pullup machine for five minutes. Politeness and consideration.


What is on your list of unspoken gym rules?  

Posted by Bird Dog at 17:22 | Comments (28) | Trackbacks (0)

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"Comment? Who would dare comment, or go to any gym and relax?
#1 Richard Torre on 2019-02-22 19:48 (Reply)
You never comment on how little weight someone is lifting or how out of shape they appear. The mere fact that they are in the gym and trying to improve is the only thing that is important.
#2 Noel on 2019-02-22 20:38 (Reply)
Wipe off the equipment after you are finished - especially if you are like me and sweat a lot
#3 Lin E on 2019-02-22 21:21 (Reply)
Do not sit on a machine if you are not actually using it.

Don't just shoot the breeze with your friends in the weight room. Take your discussions outside. People are there to work out, not to listen to a little social club about the latest gossip.

Put your weights back. In the right place.

Do not do your warmups/stretches in the middle of a walkway or too close to a machine that someone might want to use.

Don't talk or text on your cellphone. Cellphones don't belong in the gym.

Don't leave your locker door hanging open so that it makes it hard for people to get through.

And I don't like people grunting or making noises or making a show of dropping or banging the weights. Shows you have no class. If a gym is serious, it (or the regulars) will warn you and then throw you out if you continue such behavior.
#4 Jim on 2019-02-22 21:44 (Reply)
Don't be a douchebag.

Don't give unsolicited advice.

Put. Your. Weights. Back.
#5 Adam (Link) on 2019-02-23 02:30 (Reply)
Except for #3, those rules apply to all of life.
#5.1 Galway Boy on 2019-02-23 09:22 (Reply)
I'd like a rule that females not wear overly-revealing workout clothing. Distracting.
#6 BD on 2019-02-23 09:15 (Reply)
Yea. OK, Leviticus. We’ll get right on that.
#6.1 Galway Boy on 2019-02-23 09:19 (Reply)
SCORCH!!!
#6.1.1 Groganimal on 2019-02-23 20:02 (Reply)
I never thought of you as a spoilsport before.
#6.2 oolioo on 2019-02-23 09:45 (Reply)
Might of been some tongue in cheek going on there.
#6.2.1 XRay on 2019-02-23 09:54 (Reply)
IMHO as a man, if a woman looks good in her clothing choices regardless of if they are revealing, I say good for her. I will notice, be happy for her good luck and effort to achieve that and do my best not to stare or act a fool. Enjoy your youth. Enjoy your good looks, Don't let it go to your head but enjoy life and be happy.
#6.3 Anon on 2019-02-23 11:17 (Reply)
I do my best not to get caught staring and acting the fool. That's enough. Women wear that stuff so you will stare at them, discreetly of course
#6.3.1 citizen49a on 2019-02-24 16:57 (Reply)
I was around when we still had sex-segregated gyms. One side for the men and another side for women with smaller lighter machines, with a big wall in between. I don't know when or who ended that. 24 Hour Fitness?
#6.4 Jim Mee on 2019-02-23 14:38 (Reply)
1. Don't do arm curls in the squat rack, especially when people want to use it to squat.

2. Don't sit on a piece of equipment if you aren't using it. It's not a chair.

3. Don't text or e mail while working out, especially if you are sitting on a piece of equipment someone is waiting to use.

4. Don't ask to work in on the bench if I am lifting in the 300's and you are benching with just the bar and a 10 or 25 ib plate on each side. Use the other bench or wait.

5. No I don't want your advice, if I did I would ask.

6. Van Halen is not the oldies! That's what we listened to when I was in college. Wait a minute that was 30 years ago...maybe it is the oldies now...shut up and lift kid.
#7 Fred on 2019-02-23 09:54 (Reply)
1. Don't ever, ever, for any reason, enter a gym.
2. If someone suggests you join or go to a gym, hit them with the flat side of a shovel.
#8 nemo paradise (Link) on 2019-02-23 10:33 (Reply)
Don’t fall asleep while using one of the machines. Yes, I’ve seen this.
#9 Juan Paxety (Link) on 2019-02-23 11:54 (Reply)
My favorite now is the guy who is reading a book while sitting on the machines. He does one round of repetitions and then reads his book for 15 minutes.

Yes, where I work out now is pathetic.
#9.1 Jim on 2019-02-23 14:28 (Reply)
My unspoken gym rule is to not go.
#10 RebeccaH on 2019-02-23 11:57 (Reply)
Good! More room for us serious lifters,e.g. those who want to maintain their functional strength, mental acuity, graceful aging and general good health!

Those of you who wish to employ a walker by age 65 , STAY HOME and glome on to those reality TV shows !
#10.1 Old Codger on 2019-02-23 14:18 (Reply)
Don’t be a half-repper.
#11 RJP on 2019-02-23 14:17 (Reply)
A woman I used to work with called the machine in the picture the "Yes/No machine."
#12 Randy on 2019-02-23 14:47 (Reply)
Don't be a slob in the locker room. Pick up after yourself for heaven's sake!
#13 Beany on 2019-02-23 18:29 (Reply)
Cell phones don't belong in a gym? TVs at every corner, level, banks of TVs with every channel known to man? I hate them.
#14 annieoakley on 2019-02-23 20:04 (Reply)
1. Moms, keep your 10 year old sons out of the women's changing room.

2. Don't talk to or argue with the people on tv. Related--don't talk on your cell phone while on the treadmill/elliptical/stationary bike.

3. Wipe off every piece of equipment your sweaty body has touched.
#15 KYBuckeye on 2019-02-23 23:50 (Reply)
1. Figure out when there aren't many people in the gym.

2. Go at that time.

3. Do whatever the hell you want.
#16 citizen49a on 2019-02-24 16:49 (Reply)
Who knew that working out in the friggin' gym was so complicated?
#17 feeblemind on 2019-02-24 20:09 (Reply)
What Fred said, plus:

Put your stinking weights away. If you can pick them up, you can put them away. ALL OF THEM. Remove those wheels from the leg press, as someone else may not be able to. (I know this as I am still recovering from lymphoma and have limited strength at this time.)

Before the Big C, I lifted heavy and was a regular in the weight room. Whenever some new woman would come in, I always made eye contact and smiled, as it can be pretty intimidating to look at all that iron and not know where to start. Another woman being friendly can break the ice and maybe spark a new lifter.

Act friendly, not intimidating. Never intimidating.

TheCaptain

(Female lifter for.... let's see... 1950+18-2019. yeah. 51 years. Every man I know that lifts, outlifts me by a big margin. So much for 'women are equal to men'. BS.)
#18 TheCaptain on 2019-02-25 18:18 (Reply)

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