Gyms are an odd kind of ecosystem, as you have the confident regulars next to the confused newcomers, who are next to those who act like they’re in a fitness documentary. Most people mind their business. But then there are those who do things that get on everyone else’s nerves, and it’s time to look at thirteen of these things. Have you ever noticed people doing these?
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Walking slowly through the free weights area
It doesn’t matter that you’re just trying to get to the dumbbells because there’ll always be someone walking through that area way too slowly. They’re not lifting or spotting, but merely just wandering slowly, with their eyes glazed over. There are no words to describe how annoying it is.
Spreading across multiple equipment
A gym isn’t a buffet, but some people treat it like one. They’ll have a cable machine & a bench, along with a yoga mat & resistance band, maybe a foam roller, too. Of course, they never use any of it at the same time. They merely hover around it & will tell you that they’re “still using that” whenever you try to approach.
Staring at themselves
Anyone who goes to the gym knows what it’s like to see someone who’s in love with their own reflection. They look at themselves in the mirror & refuse to look away, deep breathing & all. Perhaps even a lip bite. Either way, you could be trying to look at your own form, but the other person is doing a kind of performance art instead.
Giving themselves loud pep talks
You’ll hear people cutting through the silence at every given moment as they tell themselves to “PUSH THROUGH” or “YOU’RE A MACHINE.” It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for every set. While it may not be yelling, it’s far too loud, and it’s not something that anyone wants to hear. Keep the motivation to yourself.
Scrolling on the stretching mats
Yes, stretching mats are great, great for cooldowns, great for yoga, and so much more. But there’s always someone lying on them & refusing to move, even though they’re just scrolling through TikTok. They’ll do a single quad stretch and then go back to texting. How on earth is that exercising?
Playing their own music out loud
The gym already has music. Sure, it might not be your music, but it’s there, yet some people decide they’re going to bring along a Bluetooth speaker & share their favorite tunes with everyone else. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t ask for it. Now, you’re mid-set & being forced to work out to whatever they feel like hearing.
Using a tripod to film themselves
Filming for progress is completely fine, but giving yourself a full production setup is another thing. You don’t need a tripod or a ring light to film your bicep curls. Doing that stops anyone else from exercising how they want to, and it’s one of the most selfish things you can do. They should really think about other people, for once.
Talking on speakerphone
Talking out loud on speakerphone is never a good idea in public. The gym is no exception. When you do this, the whole gym hears about your weekend plans, even though you could use headphones. Or, y’know, text. But let’s just go full speaker mode so that everyone else knows what’s happening. That’s a good idea.
Spraying too much cologne
Putting on cologne starts with a spritz, and then another. Before you know it, someone’s filled up the locker room with a cloud of cologne & there’s nothing else you can do about it. Whatever the scent, it’s always strong, and it leaves everyone else smelling like they were inside a perfume store.
Socializing in the sauna
It’s okay to socialize sometimes. Yet when you open the sauna door for a quiet ten minutes, there are always two people in there, catching up on work drama or arguing with each other. There’s a time & place, guys, and neither one of them is here. The sauna is most definitely not a social club.
Overspraying equipment
Of course, cleaning off machines is great, and nobody’s mad at that. But then you have some people who feel it’s okay to hose down every bench, then leave all that moisture for the next person. Do you wipe that all up or do you leave it there? Whatever you decide, it’s gross & there’s no need for it.
Slamming weights between reps
Some people feel like they have to end each rep with a bang by dropping the weights. It’s guaranteed to scare at least one person in the gym. But by far the worst part is that they never seem to notice, they just continue whacking them down for the whole place to hear. Put a sock in it.
Eating food
The gym isn’t a place for eating your dinner, far from it, yet some people walk in with theirs. They’ll bring a fork & napkin, along with their food that always seems to stink. Then, they’ll sit on a bench & start eating. It’s enough to make the entire gym smell exactly what they’re eating. That’s whether they want to or not.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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