Workout Do's and Don'ts

Now that I'm spending more time in the gym I feel compelled to share some basic do's and don'ts.  These recommendations are purely based on observation and not to suggest that I am an athlete or fitness guru.  It's really just common sense.

1. Do wear proper attire.  In the Mothership facility and even once in a while at CFF there is some guy wearing his street clothes while working out.  It's always men doing this because women just inherently know better.  For one thing, if you are seriously going to do any exertion whatsoever, do you really want to sweat in the clothes that you're going to be wearing the rest of the day?  No, not unless you like to smell bad.  That said, why the hell bother going to the gym if you intend to not exert yourself at least a little.  Come on people.  Plus, it just looks out of place.  Maybe that's OK to some, but everybody knows your not serious if your sitting at a weight machine with your polo shirt tucked into your jeans, complete with belt and loafers.  Get the appropriate clothes.
2. Do pay attention to hygiene, even while working out.  Just because you are at the gym, working out hard and sweating, you should still be aware of your body smell.  Deodorant while your working out is as important as after.  Again, this seems to only apply to men.  I'll occasionally be doing cardio or something and some guy will be next to me, stinking up the joint.  B.O. is not cool, ever, no matter what.  Get deodorant. 
3. Don't yelp or grunt.  Once again, men are at fault here.  Guys, you should really try to keep a lid on it when your doing all your superhuman power-lifting.  Sure, your going to make a little noise when your working out and straining, particularly when your lifting to failure.  But some guys are just ridiculous with their grunting.  Hardcore's would say I'm being uptight and don't understand what it's like in the "zone" and to that I say, no, I don't understand.
4. Don't drop your free weights on the floor.  We all know your lifting hundreds of pounds and are super strong.  Set the weights on the floor like everybody else.  Dropping them so that they make a crashing sound on the floor does not make you any more a tough guy, stronger, bigger, etc.  Again, only guys are guilty of this.  Is there a pattern here?  Can you imagine some woman screeching and dropping heavy weights on the floor, dressed in her slacks and blouse?  No, you can't.
5. Don't stick your ass in my face.  My wife calls these people "butt in your face type".  We are all confined to a room full of workout equipment.  There is PLENTY OF ROOM to move around without sticking your ass two inches from my nose when I'm resting comfortably between reps. 
6. Don't walk around the locker room totally naked for no reason.  This may just be me but I don't get the guys that remain completely naked after their shower while they proceed to groom themselves in the mirror, blow-dry their hair, brush their teeth, etc.  It's fine to be naked in the dressing room but is it necessary to make putting some shorts on the very last thing you do while getting ready?  Do you need to be naked to brush your teeth and blow-dry your hair?  No, you don't.
7. Don't spit in the pool.  Come on.  Swimming will inevitably result in some water going in and out of body parts and that's just the way it goes.  But we've seen people spitting and that's disgusting.
8. Do wipe your sweat off stuff when you're done using it.  This, like many of these, are gym rules.  It's mandatory to bring a small towel for this reason.  People are mostly good about it as well.  However, some still leave their splotch of sweat on machines.  Gross.  Sweat is not gross but I don't want to lay in someone else's and I don't want to use my towel to clean it up either because I use it to wipe off my face.  I don't someone's butt-crack sweat on my face.  I know, I'm picky. 
9. Do bring your own music and headphones.  The music in whatever gym you work out at sucks.  I can almost guarantee it sucks unless you have crappy taste in music.  Also, you can avoid some annoyances if you wear headphones.  Good music really helps me workout and makes for a better experience overall.
10. Don't bring your f*#cking phone to the gym floor.  You don't need to talk to anyone for the small amount of time you devote to working out.  And you're not a doctor so you're not THAT important.  Fortunately their is a rule against mobile phones at CFF so I don't see it much these days.  Back when phones were taking off and everyone was getting one, I'd see it a lot at 24 Hour Fitness.  Someone would be on a cardio machine and they would be flapping their gums and yet again everyone else has to listen to them run their mouth unless they leave the area and cut their workout short.  This is another reason to bring headphones.  Leave the damn phone in the car or in your locker.

That about covers it.  Fortunately you can often expect to not see or experience some of these during any given workout.  Most people are good about these things.  Guys though, are clearly the biggest offenders on most these.  I hope this helps.

Comments

[Matt]

Loved your post and agree on almost every point.

I'm okay with the grunting and groaning.

Although I will laugh if I look over and see the grunt came from some guy benching 50 lbs.

Good to hear you're back in the gym...