Confessions of a Fitness Club Member

It’s confession time! Have you ever found yourself doing things at the gym that feel a little bit “naughty” … and wondered if you are the only one? You do things at a fitness club that you don’t do anywhere else … and act in ways that are uncharacteristic of what happens at work or in your own home.

NOT TO WORRY! You’re not the only one.

In fact, you’re most likely guilty of some (if not all) of the following fitness club “worst practices”:

Planning your cardio workout around the shows playing on screens

“I love cardio!” … said no-one EVER! Most of us need to find some way to distract ourselves from the monotonous drone of the treadmill belt or the timer staring back at us at a snail’s pace. The smartest thing fitness clubs ever did was bring in large LCD screens and add individualized screens on pieces of cardio equipment. So, whether you’re a fan of “Parks & Recreation”, “Mad Men”, “Breaking Bad” or “Scandal”, if it’s on that screen when you’re sweating away it makes the time go by sooner. That’s why we actually plan our trip to the gym based on what’s on the television lineup that night. I certainly dread my cardio workout less when I’m watching “True Detective”!

Getting annoyed when someone picks up the weights you were just about to use

We know we have to share things at the gym but we can’t help but feel protective of the things that we like to use. It’s especially annoying when someone takes it from right underneath your nose. Breathe, stay calm and remember to play nice with the other kids.

Looking at the cardio display on the machine(s) beside you

Competitive or not … you can’t help but look over at the cardio display screen of the member sweating beside you. You look at the time they’ve completed, how fast they’re going, how many calories they’ve burned and other statistics. You then have the urge to match what they’re doing … or at the very least be the last one to stop going!

“Borrowing” towels from the gym

Your monthly membership does NOT come cheap … and that cost “should” come with some perks. Most fitness clubs offer services within the club (i.e., towel service, shampoo, soap and lotions) and sometimes these items just happen to find their way into our gym bags on the way home. They come included in the cost of the membership, right?!?!

Correcting other people’s form (but not saying it to them directly)

When you see someone doing an exercise “wrong” you can’t help but want to tell them how to do it right … safely. First, you can’t help but watch (like watching a car crash on the side of the road). As much as you may want to, going up to someone and giving them workout advice isn’t necessarily the best option.

Using the mirrors to check out other people

BUSTED! You’re human and there are a million mirrors in a fitness club … it’s virtually impossible (unless you are blind) to avoid sneaking a peek at yourself in the middle of your workout.

Reusing gym clothes (i.e., socks, shorts, tank tops or sports bras)

You know you’ve done it … forgotten to pack clothes for your workout but found old gym clothes at the bottom of your gym bag from the day before. The last thing you want is to be the “stinky kid” at the gym. Thank goodness this is also Axe in the gym bag, too!

Wanting to call someone when you reach a new personal best

As much as it’s not in our nature to “gloat” or “brag” … we can’t help but want to tell everyone when we do something GREAT! Celebrate your achievements. You earned it!

NOT cleaning off your (sweaty) equipment after you use it

If you see someone sweating all over the equipment you can’t help but get at least a little bit grossed out. Meanwhile, there may be a few times where you just don’t have the energy or the supplies to clean off your own equipment. It happens … but it’s still gross.

Skipping a workout (or cutting it short) because your phone was dead

For most of us “no music = crappy workout”. As advanced as our society has become we are limited by the battery life on our smartphones and our music!

So … the next time you go to the gym you can rest assured you’re not the only one who may do some “uncharacteristic” things when you are at the gym. Although, now you just might change your behaviors now that you’ve been called out!

Have a GREAT workout!!

Written by TodaysFitnessTrainer (trainer@todaysfitnesstrainer.com).