Fed up of fellow patrons acting like dumbbells and interrupting her workouts, Lori Pines has written The Little Book of Gym Etiquette: A Handbook for Dealing with Annoying People at the Gym.
A few weeks ago, I asked you to submit your horror stories regarding poor gym etiquette.
Thank you for all the submissions. I have to say that some were just downright disgusting. But here’s hoping the offending gym jerks will recognize their selfish ways and work at being a little more courteous and respectful of others.
And the winner is …
Wayde Marriott of Nepean, Ont.
Congratulations, Wayde. Your book is in the mail.
Thanks again to everyone who entered the contest.
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Here are some of the entries (names have been removed, but submissions are otherwise unedited):
Hi Cary
I am a member of World Health at Sunridge Mall there is a HUGE problem with people leaving their smelly, dirty, sweaty shoes, clothes, gear etc in the lockers for weeks and months at a time. Lockers are for DAY USE only but it is rarely enforced so it just continues to smell and there are fewer & fewer lockers to use daily. Management doesn’t seem to care they have a million excuses on why locks are not cut off.
So my rule of Etiquette is follow the rules and Stop being a locker hog!
On a side note of nasty etiquette some one a Tampax plunger & wrapper behind the door in the small private change room. Now there is some bad behavior.
Your article on Etiquette 101 will be posted in the change room and I swear someday I am going to follow people around and hand them a copy of the number one rule ”Don’t be a Slob”
Happy work out!!
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(Courtesy Lori Pines)
I belong to a gym in NW Calgary and attend 6 days a week.
The most annoying behavior in the gym is in the men’s change room. Many people while in the shower are both seen and heard to blow their nose and/or spitting while showering.
Another is people talking loudly on their cell phones, plus people that hang various pieces of clothing or other personal items on equipment they are not using.
Enjoyed the article in the Calgary Sun, Sunday Jan 6 2013
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How about “Put Things Back Where You Found Them”? Nothing worse than having to remove and put away the 10- and 25-pound plates some nitwit thought looked good over the 45-pound plates. Didn’t we all play “One of These Things is not Like the Other” on Sesame Street? 45s go with 45s, 35s go with 35s, etc.
Thanks. Keep up the good work!!
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This is really bad locker room behavior that I see all the time from one person. After her workout, she uses the steam room. Then, on one of the benches closest to the steam room, shower, towel area she puts a towel down and lays totally naked with bottoms of her feet together and knees spread wide. She does have the sense to cover that area with a towel but I keep waiting for the ob/gyn to show up for the exam. There are always other members trying to change at their own lockers near her chosen bench so she makes it uncomfortable not just for those walking past, but for those that are trying to change right there. We all roll our eyes and laugh at her but it would be so much better if she would just stop.
Thanks for letting me share our pain!!
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How about this. I always thought hair dryers were for drying your hair. At my gym, a few women, right in front of everyone, stand nude in front of the mirror and use the hair dryer to dry their crotch, then they stick behind to dry their bum. And I mean they stick it right up their crack! They don’t care who is looking, it doesn’t bother them.Another time I walked to my locker to find a woman with a large brush exfoliating her body, feet etc. Her dead skin was flying all over the floor, bench, There was no towel anywhere and when she saw me, she just kept on exfoliating.
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(Courtesy Lori Pines)
Hello Cary
I’m an avid Gym junkie who hopelessly fights the physical symptoms of approaching 60. I like many others of my generation now know the benefits of a solid exercise & diet program…the things we never thought of when we’re 30. I enjoy your column & value your tips & insight.
I am currently a member of a city wide private Gym. Prior to joining I was a regular at a North End City of Edmonton Fitness Facility where my story originates.
My gym horror story occurred when I stopped & watched an elderly gentleman washing his underwear in a dressing room sink…!!. He must have had 2-3 pairs along with his workout clothes. After staring at him Incredulously I sarcastically commented..” Must be laundry Day”. He replied unabashedly with a big smile..” Yes it is” & busily went about his task, oblivious to the motivation of my question.
YOGI
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My horror story happened at a local gym. I was in the change room getting dressed when this complete stranger, who had just finished working, came up to me and started chatting. This man was heavilly tatooed and gave me the impression that he had spent some time in jail. Both from his physical appearance and his demeanor. I am a very social person, except, in this instance, he was completely naked, and not that far away. The lack of personal space made me feel very uneasy and was quite disconcerting,to say the least. I have shared this experience with several friends, as I was able to look back and laugh about it.
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Here are my top 3 true horror stories that occur repeatedly at my gym:
#3: Stinky Man: I can smell his stench as soon as I enter the fitness centre, even if he is at the far end and out of sight I know he’s there. His body odor permeates the centre. It’s so bad that I’ve had to ask the centre manager to talk to him a few times but after a brief clean up he reverts to his stinky ways. I am embarrassed when I am with a client and his odor is wafting in our area. It’s as if onions are oozing out of his pores. I pity his wife.
#2: the Naked Man: of course this is second-hand info that my husband shared with me after he witnessed it a few times in the men’s locker room. The obese man shaves after his shower. He doesn’t wear a towel. He leans up against the counter and presses his naughty bits against the counter and uses the countertop as a shelf for his huge beer belly. How gross, not to mention unsanitary!
#1: Butt in my face: Again, nudity is involved. Sometimes when I am sitting on a bench in the locker room to tie my shoes, I find myself surrounded by a few senior women changing after their aquafitness class. In a synchronized fashion, they all pull down their bathing suits and expose their wrinkled and/or overweight bums practically in my face. It’s like a bad dream and I just close my eyes and pray it’ll soon be over.
(Courtesy Lori Pines)
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