Basic Gym Etiquette. Do You Observe?

[fab]

Theres a few guys who hog two stations with two towels.

[Guest Guest]

I think condo gyms are the worst. no need manner.

 

no need towel

 

no need clean yr sweat

 

throw weights/bars around

 

someone even went in the gym with soiled shoes!!

[Guest Guest]

I think condo gyms are the worst. no need manner.

no need towel

no need clean yr sweat

throw weights/bars around

someone even went in the gym with soiled shoes!!

Do not understand why locals love to stay in condos here , it is so badly managed that you are paying for very basic services that is worst off than HDB ! No life guards , no individual tower security guards ,no cleaners for common areas daily , damaged areas takes forever to get repaired , the gyms are like a dinning room with

equipments . You can call me a sour grape till you live in those many newer condos in Hong Kong and judge for yourself . Perhaps only those who have visited friends staying in Hk condos or ever lived there would understand .....

[alien]

Theres a few guys who hog two stations with two towels.

Hog two station with towels if the person is still using not so bad. But often i see pple hogging one equipment or machine with towel, but never see the person appear and use it!

Then some pple think tht they own the gym, either they take their own time to do their reps, or when they want to use a particular machine or equipment, they come up to u and ask how many sets do u have, sometimes obviously tht the person just started using the equipment not long, and tis pple have no impatient to wait.

[Guest Guest]

Do not understand why locals love to stay in condos here , it is so badly managed that you are paying for very basic services that is worst off than HDB ! No life guards , no individual tower security guards ,no cleaners for common areas daily , damaged areas takes forever to get repaired , the gyms are like a dinning room with

equipments . You can call me a sour grape till you live in those many newer condos in Hong Kong and judge for yourself . Perhaps only those who have visited friends staying in Hk condos or ever lived there would understand .....

 

dunno which condo u went to to give u such a generalisation.

 

 

[bluerunner]

Do not understand why locals love to stay in condos here , it is so badly managed that you are paying for very basic services that is worst off than HDB ! You can call me a sour grape..

Sour grape!

Machine hogging, talking loudly in gym, throwing weights around are some of the worst manners found in gym.

[ChiSquare]

Annoyed with one who take a few pairs of dumbbells from the rack at the same time and lay them all around the bench which he is using.

As a result, the rack is practically emptied.

Hello! Are you an octopus? Can you use so many pairs at the same time?

 

Animals who grunt loudly in the gym is also undesirable.

 

Barbarians who drop weights loudly are also quite sickening.

[Guest Sport-coholic]

Something that I saw today: guy wiping the cardio machine with the disinfectant before he used it (machine was dry) and just left the machine covered with his sweat after he used it.

[alien]

Something that I saw today: guy wiping the cardio machine with the disinfectant before he used it (machine was dry) and just left the machine covered with his sweat after he used it.

Tis is funny, seems like he dun like to get 'infested' with other pple sweat or germs, but he dun care other pple touching his smelly sweat! Just wonder how come there are so many selfish pple in the gym?

The common sight in gym, when a guy is using the free weights, he dun put back the steel plates and just leave it on the bar. He thought got maid put back the plates for them eh?!

[SeannyShortcake]

I grunt and drop the weights with a bang.

 

Maybe cause I actually lift heavy?

 

Meh.

[qsefthu78]

If one has the strength to lift heavy, then he has the strength to place, not bang weights down. And one need not let everyone know that he is lifting heavy. Leave the grunting in the bedroom.

[Guest Sport-coholic]

I grunt and drop the weights with a bang.

Maybe cause I actually lift heavy?

Meh.

That means the weights are too heavy for you.

[Guest Guest]

People who stink even before they start working out, and carry their stench all over the gym, especially the gym at Cali Orchard which will turn off their air conditioning at 10pm.

 

People who claims to want to share the equipment and hog it for the rest of their sets.

 

[ash12]

I grunt and drop the weights with a bang.

Maybe cause I actually lift heavy?

Meh.

Lol. That's so true. So what if there's some grunting and dropping the weights with a bang. Dropping the weights with a bang is different from throwing the weights onto the floor. Try deadlifting more than 200kg and put the bar down as 'quietly' as possible without a single sound. I'll keep my mouth shut if u could. Till then, leave me to my grunts and heavy lifting. Lol.

[SeannyShortcake]

Lol. That's so true. So what if there's some grunting and dropping the weights with a bang. Dropping the weights with a bang is different from throwing the weights onto the floor. Try deadlifting more than 200kg and put the bar down as 'quietly' as possible without a single sound. I'll keep my mouth shut if u could. Till then, leave me to my grunts and heavy lifting. Lol.

 

Even if my plates were replaced by 200kg worth of marshmellows and teddy bears and they'll still sound like demolition rather than the soft tings of the bell.

[Wilbur]

I actually do get very annoyed with people leaving the weights around (ESPECIALLY barbells with the weighted plates still attached) after they're done using them.

 

Extremely irritating

[navyblue]

People who stink even before they start working out, and carry their stench all over the gym, especially the gym at Cali Orchard which will turn off their air conditioning at 10pm.

Some people think that since they are going to sweat it out in the gym, so it is not neccessary to "freshen" themselves before gym.

And some of them even think that it is more manly to stink.

This is so wrong lor!!!

[navyblue]

If one has the strength to lift heavy, then he has the strength to place, not bang weights down. And one need not let everyone know that he is lifting heavy. Leave the grunting in the bedroom.

I noticed that most hotties gym very quietly.

[bluerunner]

I noticed that most hotties gym very quietly.

Either that or you have a few muscle guys (muscled but not necessary hot) cluster to get her.

[alien]

I actually do get very annoyed with people leaving the weights around (ESPECIALLY barbells with the weighted plates still attached) after they're done using them.

 

Extremely irritating

They do a gd deed by leaving the plates on the barbells, so tht the next user no need to put on any weights?! Haha.

[Guest 79]

They do a gd deed by leaving the plates on the barbells, so tht the next user no need to put on any weights?! Haha.

actually i am the culprit that sometime did that. like for bench press, usually i will do up to max 30-35kg, i will just clear 20kg and leave 10kg for next user.

 

so that consider annoying? maybe i should clear all off next time. 

[snowball]

many gymmer like to complain about other users this and that ,

but when their turn , they are not much better .

[alien]

actually i am the culprit that sometime did that. like for bench press, usually i will do up to max 30-35kg, i will just clear 20kg and leave 10kg for next user.

 

so that consider annoying? maybe i should clear all off next time.

Any reason of leaving 10kg on the bar?

[alien]

Haha, extremely puzzled when the gym is rather empty and yet some guys like to come over and 'fight' the equipment with u, asking how many more sets to go? Esp when u have just started ur sets less than 10 mins ago? Wonder how come these pple cannot just go n do other weight first?

[ash12]

Haha, extremely puzzled when the gym is rather empty and yet some guys like to come over and 'fight' the equipment with u, asking how many more sets to go? Esp when u have just started ur sets less than 10 mins ago? Wonder how come these pple cannot just go n do other weight first?

Hmm. If you're talking about equipment such as power racks, then it's no wonder. Most would rather post exhaust their muscles then pre. Personally, if I'm doing a back or legs day, the power rack would be my first go to equipment even if the gym is empty. U can't deadlift/rack pull/squats with other gym equipment. If you're talking about machines that's easily replaceable with other forms of exercises then I understand your annoyance. Besides, there's nothing wrong in asking is there?

[Guest ps]

Haha, extremely puzzled when the gym is rather empty and yet some guys like to come over and 'fight' the equipment with u, asking how many more sets to go? Esp when u have just started ur sets less than 10 mins ago? Wonder how come these pple cannot just go n do other weight first?

 

Bench press is in great demand. Just because the gym is not crowded does not mean the bench is yours and that people won't queue up to use it.

[PaterTenebrarum]

Pet peeves:

 

- People who dont return their weights from the free weight bars after using them. I will chase after the previous user, smile and ask them if they are done with them. And when they say : "Yes". I willl say: "Can you please help me replace them? Thank you so much". And they will help. Never fails.

 

- Loud grunters and guys who slam their weights down. I find them very annoying. They spoil one's concentration especially when one does heavy stuff. The louds sounds are very distracting. I do heavy too and I always put my weights down with a shoft "clink". It can be done.

 

- Guys who smell like unwashed armpits. Enough said. There's this one particular dude in my gym who reeks really bad. Smells like something crawled into his clothes and died. People will pulls faces whenever he is ard and discreetely scamper away.

Edited July 13, 2014 by PaterTenebrarum

[alien]

I mean nothing wrong in asking but if a person just started doing his exercise barely 5-10 mins, and tis guy just come over and ask, it means to me tht tis person thinks tht the gym belong to him and when he wants to do a particular weights or machine, the other party have to "give way" to him?! Unless the guy noticed tht another person is "hogging" the weight or machine for very long, surely he shld go over n ask.

[PaterTenebrarum]

Imho, all the gym equipment are meant for sharing. So if you are between sets, just move aside and let da other dude use. I share the equipment with others all the time.

[ash12]

I mean nothing wrong in asking but if a person just started doing his exercise barely 5-10 mins, and tis guy just come over and ask, it means to me tht tis person thinks tht the gym belong to him and when he wants to do a particular weights or machine, the other party have to "give way" to him?! Unless the guy noticed tht another person is "hogging" the weight or machine for very long, surely he shld go over n ask.

Well, I do that but it doesn't mean that I want him to 'give way' to me. Guys who refuse to share yet prolonging their rest time unnecessarily with their phones or chatting with their friends are worse. Isn't it better to ask instead of standing there creepily staring at you and waiting for you to finish your sets? If someone had asked me and if it so happens that I'm doing the same exercise as him I would invite him to share. I understand the feeling of having your workout plan disrupted because of unavailability of equipment.

[bodybuildMLY]

I mean nothing wrong in asking but if a person just started doing his exercise barely 5-10 mins, and tis guy just come over and ask, it means to me tht tis person thinks tht the gym belong to him and when he wants to do a particular weights or machine, the other party have to "give way" to him?! Unless the guy noticed tht another person is "hogging" the weight or machine for very long, surely he shld go over n ask.

 

5-10 minutes for an exercise machine is TOO LONG. Out of courtesy, we should always rotate with another user if (s)he wishes to share the machine with us. A good rule of the thumb is: in-between rest period should be 1 minute. Anything more than that it will be useless.

[bodybuildMLY]

Haha, extremely puzzled when the gym is rather empty and yet some guys like to come over and 'fight' the equipment with u, asking how many more sets to go? Esp when u have just started ur sets less than 10 mins ago? Wonder how come these pple cannot just go n do other weight first?

 

Well, some equipment have only one set. So gotta share, man regardless time of the day. As I mentioned, 10 minutes is pretty long already.

[alien]

Haha, seems like there are many guys in the gym uses the weights and machine more than 10 mins leh. But wht abt those equipment like bench press and bicep curl? Wht shld be the reasonable duration?

[bluerunner]

Guy to sits at the machine and spending time texting instead of working out. I dun mean short message texting. He is like browsing and surfing the net.

[bodybuildMLY]

Haha, seems like there are many guys in the gym uses the weights and machine more than 10 mins leh. But wht abt those equipment like bench press and bicep curl? Wht shld be the reasonable duration?

 

 

A good rule of thumb: each set will last around 1 minute or less. Then rest one minute. A good exercise consist of 3-4 sets. You do the math.

[alien]

A good rule of thumb: each set will last around 1 minute or less. Then rest one minute. A good exercise consist of 3-4 sets. You do the math.

Looks like many guys in the gym doesnt follow ur thumb of rule. Usually i noticed guys at the bench press for at least 30mins to an hr! Wonder how come they need to take so long at the bench press?

[Guest PS]

Haha, seems like there are many guys in the gym uses the weights and machine more than 10 mins leh. But wht abt those equipment like bench press and bicep curl? Wht shld be the reasonable duration?

 

They use but they don't just sit down there during their rest time especially for machines. Bench press is different; people will sit there unless anybody asks to share. Also, there is nothing wrong asking someone even if he just started on the bench press because he will simply take note you're queuing after him and inform you when he's done.

 

 

Looks like many guys in the gym doesnt follow ur thumb of rule. Usually i noticed guys at the bench press for at least 30mins to an hr! Wonder how come they need to take so long at the bench press?

 

I will take my time unless anybody is queuing. Usually if they ask and we are doing the same exercise (flat or incline) I will offer to share. Otherwise 20-30 mins is fine. The general rule of thumb is (just my experience only) is that good looking people tend to be more civil while the cmi ones are more rude and take your weights without asking as well as get frustrated by normal things they don't understand (*hint).

[Guest Sport-coholic]

I notice that a lot of FF members at Market Street branch like to leave their used towels, shirts and shorts at the benches, floor and shower stalls instead of returning them to the counter.

[snowball]

some pt like to put their file on the machie even they are not using it (cali )

[Guest Guest]

Guy to sits at the machine and spending time texting instead of working out. I dun mean short message texting. He is like browsing and surfing the net.

 

For someone who got so much to say on this forum, I am surprised you don't know how to just  ask the texter if you can use the machine.

[Guest Guest]

I notice that a lot of FF members at Market Street branch like to leave their used towels, shirts and shorts at the benches, floor and shower stalls instead of returning them to the counter.

 

yup my so called FB also did that. I placed the towel into the bin but he dont bother even when i told him why not

 

he also like to carry his HP along when gymming and text when resting...i find it annoying.

 

ever since, not going gym w him anymore.

[bluerunner]

For someone who got so much to say on this forum, I am surprised you don't know how to just ask the texter if you can use the machine.

And u know I did not ask? Stop acting smart.

Someone mentioned about users leaving towels in the changing room, that happens in all gyms. Although there's a basket there for used towel, there will be some people who stubbornly refuse to use it. Sigh.

Edited July 14, 2014 by bluerunner

[Steve5380]

When I am working out, I will have hand signal if the waiting person like to share. If I see a towel at the machine for a while, I would not hesitate to take the towel and put it aside and take over the machine. Done that many times.

 

Good for you!  The 'possession' and the 'ownership'  of the machine is something quite different.  Ownership belongs to the gym, who gives equal rights to its customers to use the machine.  Possession is a temporary right that has its limitations.  This right should extend to the time the machine is actively used plus some reasonable rest time inbetween sets, plus allowances for going to take a sip of water which is part of a workout.  But as soon as a person starts using a different machine,  the possession of the previous one should end.  Same if the person changes to another activity like chatting with buddies or goes to the locker room to piss or starts a long conversation on the cellular.

 

Possession of the gym equipment should be assigned to persons, not to objects.  So the equipment should not be considered possessed by a towel, a bag, or whatever other stuff.  As you say, if a machine is not being used by a person for a reasonable time,  no object has a right to reserve the machine for any person.  

 

Nobody should fight at the gym.  Everything can be resolved with a smile, and if this does not work, the attendants should be qualified to resolve disputes.  I also don't let an object keep me away from using a machine that does not have an individual using it.  Most people when they return understand, and pick up the left-behind object.  Those who don't,  I explain very politely that I took possession of a machine that was not being used,  and I could not have taken possession in the first place if the machine was being used.

 

To do interval training alternating between various pieces of equipment is fine and good.  As long as there are not other people interested in the equipment.  But if there are, the solution is to work in.  This is also a good opportunity to be sociable.   Some few strange individuals at gyms are so fucked up that they object of this working-in.   Although they cannot physically avoid someone else to use a machine while they are using another one.  If they become belligerent,  the gym attendant should always rule in favor of the working-in.  If they become violent,  one can always press assault charges.

 

Again, it should never come to a fight in a gym.  In several decades I have been a frequent gym user,  I once filed an assault charge against a big fat muscle-guy who thought that he could bully me.  First we had an discussion where he called me names,  then I brought in the attendant whom he also called names,  then security was called and I filed charges of verbal assault.  Our IDs were recorded, the guy had to leave the gym and didn't show up there for over a month.  When he came back he was careful and soft spoken, and never gave a problem again.   

[Guest Ll]

Good for you! The 'possession' and the 'ownership' of the machine is something quite different. Ownership belongs to the gym, who gives equal rights to its customers to use the machine. Possession is a temporary right that has its limitations. This right should extend to the time the machine is actively used plus some reasonable rest time inbetween sets, plus allowances for going to take a sip of water which is part of a workout. But as soon as a person starts using a different machine, the possession of the previous one should end. Same if the person changes to another activity like chatting with buddies or goes to the locker room to piss or starts a long conversation on the cellular.

Possession of the gym equipment should be assigned to persons, not to objects. So the equipment should not be considered possessed by a towel, a bag, or whatever other stuff. As you say, if a machine is not being used by a person for a reasonable time, no object has a right to reserve the machine for any person.

Nobody should fight at the gym. Everything can be resolved with a smile, and if this does not work, the attendants should be qualified to resolve disputes. I also don't let an object keep me away from using a machine that does not have an individual using it. Most people when they return understand, and pick up the left-behind object. Those who don't, I explain very politely that I took possession of a machine that was not being used, and I could not have taken possession in the first place if the machine was being used.

To do interval training alternating between various pieces of equipment is fine and good. As long as there are not other people interested in the equipment. But if there are, the solution is to work in. This is also a good opportunity to be sociable. Some few strange individuals at gyms are so fucked up that they object of this working-in. Although they cannot physically avoid someone else to use a machine while they are using another one. If they become belligerent, the gym attendant should always rule in favor of the working-in. If they become violent, one can always press assault charges.

Again, it should never come to a fight in a gym. In several decades I have been a frequent gym user, I once filed an assault charge against a big fat muscle-guy who thought that he could bully me. First we had an discussion where he called me names, then I brought in the attendant whom he also called names, then security was called and I filed charges of verbal assault. Our IDs were recorded, the guy had to leave the gym and didn't show up there for over a month. When he came back he was careful and soft spoken, and never gave a problem again.

Idk but it is weird for all this to be said by someone who doesn't really know much about gym etiquette. Also i think all the talk about fighting just makes one wonder if this person isn't the one whose short temper and self-entitled attitude warrants unpleasant reactions. I've been using e public gym for so long and never have I encountered or even seen sth remotely resembling whatever incidents mentioned.

[Steve5380]

Idk but it is weird for all this to be said by someone who doesn't really know much about gym etiquette. Also i think all the talk about fighting just makes one wonder if this person isn't the one whose short temper and self-entitled attitude warrants unpleasant reactions. I've been using e public gym for so long and never have I encountered or even seen sth remotely resembling whatever incidents mentioned.

 

It is not clear if you know anything about gym etiquette, but you definitely know nothing about forum etiquette.   Your smearing is totally unjustified and it reveals that its is YOU who lacks experience in gyms.   Maybe people are more relaxed in places with beginners or casual participants and those who go there with more sex than heavy workout in mind.  But in gyms that cater to the more professional or more serious exercisers, tempers do occasionally flare up.  I am talking also about the US and not Singapore.   Fortunately the gym I go to for the past 10 years has a good mixture of all.  There are many beginners and a good staff of personal trainers.  There are many seniors, since exercising is becoming more popular among this group.  It is also a very large gym with many machines and free weights,  although at times there is a high demand for specific equipment.   And it is then that gym etiquette (or better said, consideration) is important.

[Steve5380]

I actually do get very annoyed with people leaving the weights around (ESPECIALLY barbells with the weighted plates still attached) after they're done using them.

 

Extremely irritating

 

This is another item of gym etiquette that so many people ignore.  Some even seem to make a statement of their strength leaving the machines loaded at their personal heaviest weight, like "see what I can lift".   I often am waiting for a machine, and when I realize the person is finished and hasn't unloaded it I ask with a smile "are you done?  will you help me unload your weights"?  Most are agreeable, but some move away very fast and deaf leaving their mess behind.   

 

To avoid frustration it is good to think that unloading a machine used by a previous person is also good exercise, and not waste any negative thought.

Edited July 16, 2014 by Steve5380

[Steve5380]

I grunt and drop the weights with a bang.

 

Maybe cause I actually lift heavy?

 

Meh.

 

It is not useful to grunt while lifting weights.  It is part of good technique not to restrict the air flow when exerting the heaviest effort (expiring the air) but to keep the lungs operating normally like "nothing is happening".  Progress is made when one can make a conscious effort to feel the weights lighter.  This offers the possibility to increase the weight (after a while) and then work a long time with the new weight while slowly returning to the best form possible for the exercise,  without any grunting or holding the air in the lungs.

[Guest Guest]

It is really irritating to have some foreign trash superimposing what they see elsewhere over what we have here.

[Steve5380]

Imho, all the gym equipment are meant for sharing. So if you are between sets, just move aside and let da other dude use. I share the equipment with others all the time.

 

You have the right etiquette, consideration.    One can write so much about gym attitudes....

 

I mostly work out with my friend, who has a disability and  needs the highest safety with weights.  This is why we do squats and bench, shoulder presses with a Smith rack  (olympic bar restricted to be horizontal and only move up and down) even if this is not the ideal way,  and there is only one at the gym we use.  So we often wait patiently to get the machine freed up.  I know that it is not pleasant to have someone waiting for the equipment one is using, and I don't like it either.  But sometimes we have to.   We are used to people's attitudes and ways to work out.  It is amazing how many people use this Smith rack unnecessarily when they could use other equipment much better.  For example, to do calf raises, to lay on the floor and do leg presses, shrugs, etc. etc.   We go to the gym nearly every day, so people know us and are friendly.  We take turns on the machine and don't keep it much idle.  After we are done we unload all weights (my friend ask me why, since other people leave their weights on, but I make this a matter of principle. This machine is also used by women and seniors who need very little or nothing of weight).  And if others are in need to use it and they do the same kind of exercise we do,  we gladly share it.

[Steve5380]

It is really irritating to have some foreign trash superimposing what they see elsewhere over what we have here.

 

"Guest",  you sound like you are such foreign trash. Am I right?  And if you are Singaporean,  you are foreign trash everywhere else in this big world but your tiny island.

Only TRASH  will troll around all the time posting anonymously as "Guest".