17 Annoying Gym Pet Peeves

The gym can be a fun place, an exhilarating place, and a challenging place. But, it can also sometimes be an annoying place. No one needs to be perfect at the gym (and I’m far from it), but there are some issues of common courtesy, gym etiquette, and just simple good choices that should be practiced. There seems to be some pretty serious gym crimes taking place these days. You know, those things you see people doing in the gym that just make you either cringe or go “huh??”. So here’s my list of the top annoying gym pet peeves, meant to give ya’ll a laugh today (but seriously, these are all real life scenarios!)…

Using the elliptical while simultaneously drinking a Dunkin light and sweet iced coffee and talking loudly on your cell phone for a half hour.
Completing all of 4 sets in an hour, while sitting around on that machine and watching the TV for 10-15 minutes in between.
Swinging in an unnatural motion to create momentum to lift weights. If you can’t keep your form without doing this, there’s too much weight on there.
Not wiping down your equipment. If you’re walking on the treadmill, I can forgive you. But if you just marinated that bench in sweat, and I’m about to use it next…please, please just wipe it down.
A man making an assumption that just because a gym-goer is female, she must not know how to use any piece of equipment or free weight and must be given a lesson in bro-science.
Bringing your two year old child into the gym and having them sit on a bench and watch television while you work out. If the place was empty, maybe – but when space is limited? Come on… Not to mention this seems like a safety hazard.
Ladies refusing to strength train or only using 3 pound dumbbells because they “don’t want to bulk up.” Genetically and hormonally, we will not bulk up the same way as men without extreme changes to diet and exercise. Along the same lines, you will not get stronger doing 10 reps with a 3 pound dumbbell if you can actually do the same number of reps with a 20 pounder.
Lifting your shirt 17 times over the course of your workout in order to look at your abs in the mirror.
Not racking your weights. It’s common courtesy. It takes 5 seconds. Just do it.
Wearing anything in the gym that would be more appropriate in a nightclub. Heavy cologne/perfume, gold chains, heels…
Setting up 5 treadmills at different speeds, and alternating between them…rather than just adjusting your speed on your one treadmill. (Yes, actual real life scenario).
Excessive loud grunting that sounds sexual. Little grunts or noises are fine – and scientifically, they might help some people push harder. But load moaning (especially if you’re creepily looking at other people)? No.
Driving around the parking lot for 15 minutes to look for a space closest to the door of the gym. Unless you have a disability (in which case, this is understandable) just park further away and spend an extra few minutes walking in.
Hoarding machines or dumbbells. You don’t need 6 different machines or 6 different sets of dumbbells to use all at once.
Sneezing or coughing on machines or weights – and again, subsequently not cleaning them.
Sitting on a machine or bench while not working out, so you can talk to your friend on the next one, during a busy gym time. Just stand if you want to chat while not working out. Someone else may need that piece of equipment.
Attempting to do a crossfit style workout, without any actual experience in crossfit, and thus looking like you may severely injure yourself in the process. It’s scary.

Here are three more that have come up in conversation with others, so I know they drive some people crazy – but these three I think are actually ok….

Gym selfies. As a blogger & fitness instructor, I do this a lot because I like sharing workout photos on the blog or on my social media pages. As long as it’s not excessive, it doesn’t bother me. And if you hate seeing me snap a photo, oh well.
Naked people in the locker room. It’s a locker room, people need to change, and everyone has a naked body under those clothes. Get over it. [However, when you start publicly blow drying your nether regions, that does cross a line….]
New Years Resolution-ers. I know a lot of people get annoyed about this, but everyone has the right to try to get into a fitness routine. Yes, it’s crowded the first few weeks of the new year, but I like that people want to improve their health and support them for trying.

Share with me: What are your most biggest gym pet peeves? Share in the comments or share on twitter using #gymcrimes!

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Chrissy Carroll

Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian, RRCA Running Coach, and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing training tips, sports nutrition information, and healthy recipes for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.

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