Healthy Living
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Top 10 most annoying gym personalities
When you spend as much time huffing, puffing and perfecting the
power
squat as I do, you're bound to develop some
pet-peeves at the gym. For
the most part, the people who work out along side me are wonderful
people (I'm sure) who just want to live
stronger, healthier lives. But
there are always those locker-room rejects that make the gym a less
than awesome social-sphere. Here is my ode to the
nebbishes of the NordicTrak:
- Cellphone exercisers.
That half hour you're spending on the elliptical at level -1 shouldn't
come between you and your unlimited nighttime minutes. After all,
talking is a good toner for your jaw muscles.
- Group fitness gossips. I'm so glad that you had a great date with John, really, but do you honestly want a room of 20 strangers
to know that he's not the best kisser? Let's give John his dignity
back, and me, my ability to get through a spin class without images of Carrie running through my mind.
- Too cool to clean guy.
Loud shallow breathing and hot sweaty bodies can be incredibly sexy,
just not in this environment, so if you could mop of the puddle of
sweat you've left on the chest press machine that would be great.
Thanks!
- "Can I work in?" Guy. No you may not. This whole thing takes me like two minutes and there are a bajillion other big manly machines
in here. I'm not going to change back to my modest 45 lbs. of
resistance after you show off your big strong muscles by pulling down
more than I weigh after Thanksgiving dinner. Please wait your turn, or
work in with that guy over there, he likes in-working as well.
- Better than thou trainers.
Yes you're cool, you get to wear the polo shirt with the gym logo, now
can you please go do something besides crowd the water fountain?
Check out the rest of the most annoying gym personalities over at Elastic Waist!
MORE FROM ELASTIC WAIST AND SELF:
Related: trainers, gym, gossip, fitness, cellphones, annoying personalities
-
Posted by cass_e_chey Fri Aug 8, 2008 8:21am PDT
I worked in a gym for years and I must say, the too cool to clean guy was one of my least favorites, since it was me who had to clean up after him. But the worst. I mean WORST. Is the smelly guy. The guy who the second he starts to sweat, he starts to stink, and then asks for a spot. GROSS!!
Report Abuse
-
Posted by mike d Fri Aug 8, 2008 12:54pm PDT
How about Shower-In-Perfume lady?
Just as bad as Stinky-sweat-guy!!!
Report Abuse
-
Posted by The Straight Van De Moere Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:42pm PDT
Allow me to introduce myself - I'm "Can I Work In Guy". I become that guy when I meet up with the annoying gym personality that YOU must personify - "Likes to Rest on the Machine for 20 full minutes" girl.
Sorry - there are a finite number of machines in the gym . . . none of which belong to you. So go rest elsewhere - or hang out with "chat with everyone and never actually work out" guy - my other least favorite gym personality. You guys will be perfect together.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by rhobebout Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:47pm PDT
The loud groaner when lifting is the most annoying!
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Gord Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:53pm PDT
The "multi tasker" or person who works out on two machines simultaneously/alternatively should've also been mentioned.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by dtaa_2000 Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:56pm PDT
I don't know what gym you go to. But at Bally's there is almost never an open machine. There are not a "bajillion" other manly machines. There's often only two or three that work a given muscle group in a particular way.
I find the "Sit there and Rest for Five Minutes on the Machine" person far more annoying than the "May I Work In" individual. You mean I have to stand around like a dolt, or go skipping about the gym trying to find an open machine that would substitute for your rest spot? Talk about exasperating time-wasting. I often only have 45 minutes to make it through nine different exercises. On a bad day I can spend 10-15 minutes of that time just trying to find an open machine because everyone has forgotten the simple courtesy of letting someone use the equipment when you're resting/day-dreaming/on the cell phone.
I was taught that it was common courtesy to offer someone the option of working in, or to explain that you have only one or two sets left.
As long as the gentleman or lady is not trying to hit on you with a "work in" comment, you should reply courteously explaining, yes or no with a reasonable time line.
The person who is working in should of course use a towel, and remember to clear or reset the weight for the other individual. Everyone has things to finish, places to be. Don't hog the equipment.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Preston H Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:58pm PDT
okay im sorry but this article if ----- stupid. who gives a ----- if someone wants to work in with you its not that big of a deal. yeah there is alot of other machines but some people like certain machines and dont want to mess up whatever routine they have so ----- you to the person who wrote this you ignorant piece of -----
Report Abuse
-
Posted by matthew.boin Mon Aug 11, 2008 9:58pm PDT
Well said Slack Jawed Yokel. I think the "Likes to rest on the machine for 20 full minutes" girl (or guy) is by far the worst. There are better places to have a conversation with your friends.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Ronald Millsaps Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:04pm PDT
"slackjawed"--great post, unlike this shallow and annoying column!! Good observation. Everyone needs to let everyone else work in. If this concept is problematic for people, they need to work out at home and keep their selfishness there with them (it won't be missed), as opposed to being rude and then writing stupid columns trying to justify themselves.
"too cool to clean" should be in quotation marks or hyphenated.
I've seen women in a gym who would do well to clean also, lest we forget, ladies.
Again, terrible column. Terrible profile on author, too.
Report Abuse
-
Posted by Irish Fan Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:04pm PDT
When I'm at the gym, people ask others to work in all the time. I don't see what the big deal is honestly. Some of us have a workout "routine" and you may just be on the machine that happens to be a part of it. I do agree with you about the cellphone users. Save the gab fest for another time.
Report Abuse
