Gym Ettiquette

Hopefully this will not turn into a rant, but no guarantees folks. With the opening of the new gym at the preston center and more folks coming in to see what all the excitement is about, I feel like the issue of gym ettiquete needs to be addressed. So, I am going to lay out a few scenarios and then discuss the correct way to handle them.

Scenario #1 - An acquaintance, but not a friend approaches you and wants to chat, now I understand the gym is a place make friends to an extent, but its purpose primarily, and almost soley, for me is to get down to business. I don't like to be real chatty while im gettin swoll and if your serious about lifting, you shouldn't either. So when someone comes up and starts talkin your ear off about the weather, or about the nice smell the gym has since it's new, what should you do? The answer is simple, act like your falling asleep. If they are telling you a story, stare them right in the eye like your doing your best to pay attention, then just "doze off" right where you stand. It's safe, effective, (which is more than we can say about supplements these days) and it sends the message that now is not a good time. A more orthodox way of getting someone to leave you alone is to say, "Hey buddy, can I talk to you about this some other time because I am trying to focus" This way is a little more direct but will also convey your message effectively.

Scenario #2 - (True Story) Your standing between sets and at the power rack and the guy in the power rack right next do you is doing deadlift on the floor. You are minding your own business and happen to be somewhat in his area, but not really affecting his movement, after all gyms do get a little crowded, then he grunts at you as if he is Ronnie himself, "Get out of the way." Then proceeds to deadlift with 3 plates on each side and then gloatswith pride afterwards like he just lifted the house or something. What do you do? My first instinct was to punch him in the face, but that would be socially unaccaptable, messy, and waayyyyy over the top, but i'm not gonna lie, it crossed my mind. I was shocked at his boasting and how rude he was acting. Then my next idea was genius. Knock him off his "high" horse. Thankfully his horse is not THAT high that a mere lifter such as myself, just trying to get by, could not do the job by myself. So, I put a bar on the ground put on 3 plates and a 25 on each side (5o more lbs than him) and cranked out a few reps. After that, the gloating was quiet....actions speak louder than words, but i'm still not convinced about punches...

Scenario #3- We all know that ONE GUY that always works out, and bless his heart he pours himself into his workout, but also pours sweat too and for some reason does not think that his shirts smell like a pile of horse crap after repeated sweat and use. Well it seems that they always workout about by me and at one gym there was this guy that was so awful smelling, I almost gagged. So what does one do in such a situation? The first option is to start doing it yourself and see if he will be grossed out enough to go away. However creating a problem to fix a problem is never the best solution. A better option would probably be to exclaim boisterously to your workout partner or to anyone for that matter, "Alright...WHO CRAPPED THEIR PANTS?!?!" and hopefully the message will make its way down the ear canal, past the ear drum, through the anvil then the stirrup, the circle its way arrounnndd the cochlea and then down the auditory nerve and into the ol' noodle. Yeah.....that should probably do it.

Keep these important life lessons in mind when dealing with a sticky gym situation next time...
To be continued..

p.s. Hey Madalena