Discussion
Hope this is the right place PHers, apologies if not.
I have recently joined the gym down my local Rugby Club and even though I know the majority of the people down there, I dont know them all, and having never set foot in a gym before (I'm no 911motorsport..) I have no idea what gym etiquette is and I dont want to appear as a cock in front of people I don't know.
So I was wondering what are the dos and don'ts of the gym?
Cheers all,
43034
I have recently joined the gym down my local Rugby Club and even though I know the majority of the people down there, I dont know them all, and having never set foot in a gym before (I'm no 911motorsport..) I have no idea what gym etiquette is and I dont want to appear as a cock in front of people I don't know.
So I was wondering what are the dos and don'ts of the gym?
Cheers all,
43034
DO:
Make sure you know what you're doing - there's no point in putting 100% effort into doing something wrong. It'll still be wrong.
Ask for help if you need it. There's nothing worse than hurting yourself because you're not sure what you're doing or worse - you get stuck under a heavy weight!
Put the weights away when you're finished.
DON'T:
Fart
Use your mobile
Be afraid to ask for help as above. However, don't try and talk to someone when they're in the middle of a set. Guaranteed to lose you friends...
Grow a goatee - it's so passé.
Make sure you know what you're doing - there's no point in putting 100% effort into doing something wrong. It'll still be wrong.
Ask for help if you need it. There's nothing worse than hurting yourself because you're not sure what you're doing or worse - you get stuck under a heavy weight!
Put the weights away when you're finished.
DON'T:
Fart
Use your mobile
Be afraid to ask for help as above. However, don't try and talk to someone when they're in the middle of a set. Guaranteed to lose you friends...
Grow a goatee - it's so passé.
Most of all.. don't turn up with your mate, walk on a treadmill chatting for 20 minutes, then do the same on the bikes and any other bit of low-intensity cardio kit you can find, just so you can tell your partner you've been to the gym. It really pisses off the people who are there for a proper workout, rather than treating the gym as a social occasion.
A few things I would advise you not to do:
1. Turn up in any form of spandex garment or gold gym tank top complete with bum bag
2. Excessive grunting and groaning whilst partaking in isolation exercises
3. Asking advice from someone whilst they're in the middle of either squatting, benching or dead lifting
4. Hitting 'most muscular'/double bicep poses in between sets
If you can avoid doing all these, I am sure your gym visits will be enjoyable and productive.
1. Turn up in any form of spandex garment or gold gym tank top complete with bum bag
2. Excessive grunting and groaning whilst partaking in isolation exercises
3. Asking advice from someone whilst they're in the middle of either squatting, benching or dead lifting
4. Hitting 'most muscular'/double bicep poses in between sets
If you can avoid doing all these, I am sure your gym visits will be enjoyable and productive.
mcelliott said:
A few things I would advise you not to do:
1. Turn up in any form of spandex garment or gold gym tank top complete with bum bag
Lol there's skinny guy that does this in my gym - full spandex. Don't think he's even gay either. If he is, judging by his lunchbox, he's definitely only a taker...1. Turn up in any form of spandex garment or gold gym tank top complete with bum bag
Seriously,
- Don't hog equipment doing mutiple types of set.
- Don't use a whole cable machine only to use one side to do some pulldowns when there are other single or narrow cables to use for that.
- Don't leave your sweat on benches. Wipe it down FFS! My all time no.1 pet hate.
- Don't claim a exercise machine, then stand next to it having a private conversation.
- Don't throw weights down like u thinks u is ard.
- Grunt while lifting if you like. It gives me the chance to quip at passing women that "I bet he's like that in bed".
Thanks for the replies all (serious and non serious!). Having never set foot in a gym before I'll ask one of the lads down there for an induction type thing.
It's usually quite empty down there I've been told. With it being open 24/7 (no reception Doris or such like) so you can be down there on your own most of the time. I just don't want to annoy people who use it after me.
It's usually quite empty down there I've been told. With it being open 24/7 (no reception Doris or such like) so you can be down there on your own most of the time. I just don't want to annoy people who use it after me.
43034 said:
Thanks for the replies all (serious and non serious!). Having never set foot in a gym before I'll ask one of the lads down there for an induction type thing.
It's usually quite empty down there I've been told. With it being open 24/7 (no reception Doris or such like) so you can be down there on your own most of the time. I just don't want to annoy people who use it after me.
I'd be very wary of somewhere completely unattended.It's usually quite empty down there I've been told. With it being open 24/7 (no reception Doris or such like) so you can be down there on your own most of the time. I just don't want to annoy people who use it after me.
OK, so it's very long odds.. but if you suffered something like a sudden heart attack (and it can happen - happened to me, but not whilst I was at the gym), you really don't want to be stuck in an unattended gym where you may not be found for hours.
1. Dont fanny about on an exercise, (you really dont need to be resting 5 minutes between sets) if your hearts not in it on a particular workout day then take a shower and go home - This is my second biggest gripe in the gym
2. If you must use your mobile, walk away to a corner and be quiet and descreet and even then only when necessery.
3. Dont enter into 'The zone' of someones workout, i.e. when someone is training they have this area around them where there is this exclusion zone where upon entering you are invading someones 'zone' Gym goers will know what I mean by this.
4. Dont shout and scream in the gym like a pillock just so you get everyones attention, unless of course a barbell that is too heavy falls on your chest and you need help, a bit of noise is fine - screaming the place down makes you look like a berk and definetely dont scream 'light weight baby, light weight.
5. If your a pretty boy (or unless your a proffesional bodybuilder) and spend most of your workout looking at yourself in the mirror then bugger off to the local gay sauna where your good looks will be appreciated more.
6. Dont spit or snot in the showers.
7. Dont leave used syringes lying about in the bogs.
8. if you drip sweat all over the equipment give it a wipe down
9. Above all else, dont be an overly aggressive a
hole in the gym, yes some of the spit and sawdust gyms are full of big blokes and testosterone but there is no nead to be overly aggressive to other gym users.
Maybe I'm going over the top with some of my answers but i have seen every single one of my gripes above over the years including used syringes, but basically go through your workout without fannying about and dont be an arse, You'll get the odd pillock in every gym but most are really sound sorted blokes even in the most hardcore gyms out there.
Just go and enjoy it.
2. If you must use your mobile, walk away to a corner and be quiet and descreet and even then only when necessery.
3. Dont enter into 'The zone' of someones workout, i.e. when someone is training they have this area around them where there is this exclusion zone where upon entering you are invading someones 'zone' Gym goers will know what I mean by this.
4. Dont shout and scream in the gym like a pillock just so you get everyones attention, unless of course a barbell that is too heavy falls on your chest and you need help, a bit of noise is fine - screaming the place down makes you look like a berk and definetely dont scream 'light weight baby, light weight.
5. If your a pretty boy (or unless your a proffesional bodybuilder) and spend most of your workout looking at yourself in the mirror then bugger off to the local gay sauna where your good looks will be appreciated more.
6. Dont spit or snot in the showers.
7. Dont leave used syringes lying about in the bogs.
8. if you drip sweat all over the equipment give it a wipe down
9. Above all else, dont be an overly aggressive a
hole in the gym, yes some of the spit and sawdust gyms are full of big blokes and testosterone but there is no nead to be overly aggressive to other gym users.Maybe I'm going over the top with some of my answers but i have seen every single one of my gripes above over the years including used syringes, but basically go through your workout without fannying about and dont be an arse, You'll get the odd pillock in every gym but most are really sound sorted blokes even in the most hardcore gyms out there.
Just go and enjoy it.
Don't try and lift too heavy for yourself. Good form is better than heavy weights.
If you see someone doing something you don't understand/are interested in trying, ask them about it (after they have finished their set!)
If you start going regularly, you will find people start talking to you , even if it's just an "alright mate?" when you/they arrive.
I recommend the book "The anatomy of strength training", has most of the excercises you could need for at least the first 12 months of training.
Try and set up a regular 3/4/5/whatever day split, depending on how much time you have spare.
(for example, Back and Bi's, Chest and Tri's, Leg's and Shoulders, with a day off in between each)
Don't just tip up, do every excercise you can think of, claim you're doing an "all body workout" , you'll just look like you don't have a clue.
If you see someone doing something you don't understand/are interested in trying, ask them about it (after they have finished their set!)
If you start going regularly, you will find people start talking to you , even if it's just an "alright mate?" when you/they arrive.
I recommend the book "The anatomy of strength training", has most of the excercises you could need for at least the first 12 months of training.
Try and set up a regular 3/4/5/whatever day split, depending on how much time you have spare.
(for example, Back and Bi's, Chest and Tri's, Leg's and Shoulders, with a day off in between each)
Don't just tip up, do every excercise you can think of, claim you're doing an "all body workout" , you'll just look like you don't have a clue.
One to add the the list that gets me is if you're using a mirror to check squat/deadlift form and someone comes and does bicep curls infront of you. PITA!
I know mirrors aren't necessary but all the gym I've trainer at there has always been a mirror infront of the squat rack. On the odd occasionwhen this is obstructed, or I've trained elsewhere for whatever reason I always feel much less secure about the squat that If I can see myself doing it.
I know mirrors aren't necessary but all the gym I've trainer at there has always been a mirror infront of the squat rack. On the odd occasionwhen this is obstructed, or I've trained elsewhere for whatever reason I always feel much less secure about the squat that If I can see myself doing it.
Doing free weights in a deserted gym is quite dangerous, particularly when you don't know your limits, or the correct technique.
Using machine, they normally "fail safe" so your risks are reduced.
Other than that, don't partake in any behaviour that would annoy you if someone else did it.
Using machine, they normally "fail safe" so your risks are reduced.
Other than that, don't partake in any behaviour that would annoy you if someone else did it.
Don't wear silly vests. No-one wants to see your sweaty arm pits. As mentioned previously, wipe down any equipment after you use it, do not interrupt people mid exercise, politely decline if someone asks you to spot them and you don't know how to, and get some training on how to do the exercises properly (starting with very light weights).
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