Some Simple Rules to Live By In the Gym

Everyone’s seen him: the towering, muscle-bound behemoth of legend. He swaggers about the weight room, boasting loudly about his latest exploits while dripping buckets of sweat onto every available surface. He snorts like a fighting bull when beginning his set, screams like a banshee with every repetition, and hurls the weights to the floor when he’s done, in a manner reminiscent of Zeus hurling thunderbolts from the top of Mount Olympus. He’s big, brawny, and beautiful.

He’s also one of the main reasons people avoid the gym.

Let’s face it, making it to the gym every day is tough enough as it is. People today have to juggle work, school, practice, recitals, and meetings, not to mention a host of other important things that have to be taken care of before the end of the day. The last thing anyone needs is to have his or her workout ruined by an inconsiderate oaf. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that can be done to control the loudmouth on the Smith machine, short of a stun gun or taser. You can, however, take charge of your own actions, and in so doing, make the gym a better place for everyone. So, how can you avoid becoming “that guy”? Here are a few simple rules to help you do just that.

Clean up after yourself.
This point simply cannot be stressed enough. Nothing is more disgusting than climbing onto a machine, gripping a dumbbell, or lying down on a bench, and finding oneself in a puddle of someone else’s sweat. It’s disgusting and unsanitary, and can result in the spread of various infections. To avoid making this mistake, carry a towel and wipe each piece of equipment when you finish using it. If you’re ill, stay home until you recover. You’re not only taking care of yourself; you’re protecting your fellow gym-goers

If you use weights, place them back on the appropriate racks. It is particularly annoying to both gym staff and fellow clients to have to clean up after someone else.