Some Gym Rules need to be set! When I get to the gym, I am there to train… Not chat, not gossip, not people-watch, just train. I want to lift heavy, and listen to angry music. However there is always that guy or gal that does something that will distract you or annoy you enough to ruin your focus. If you don’t know who or what I am talking about, then that person is most likely you!
I propose the Viking Muscle Gym Rules, so you don’t become “That Guy”:
- Don’t be a dick
- Re-Rack your Weights
- To take this further, put your weights where they belong. Don’t mix and match the plates because you are lazy
- Don’t make people have to search for the 2.5 lb plate that you buried under a stack of 45’s
- If you get the monster 120 lb dumbbells, put them where they go so some poor employee doesn’t have to blow their back out trying to put it away properly
- The racks are usually labeled – for a reason
- Wipe down the equipment when you finish
- This one has some grey area, if you sit down and pump out some curls, you can probably leave it
- If you are they sweaty dude… always wipe it down, don’t leave a wet bench for the next person
- Do not loiter
- Do not stand in front of the bench I want to use while you talk to your buddy doing his 40th rep of bicep curls
- Do not take up two racksat the same time
- I understand super-sets, but if the gym is busy, figure out an alternative so people can get work done without waiting on you
- Don’t stink
- I know you are in the gym to sweat and work hard, but if you smell like BO and vomit you are ruining everyone’s workout
- A little Deodorant goes a long way friend
- Don’t be gross
- Don’t blow dry your gross hairy balls in the middle of the locker room
- Don’t creepily rub coco-butter on your naked body in front of the mirror
- Don’t be the obnoxious grunter
- Breathing out is very important for proper weight control, not screaming
- Unless you are about to set an Olympic Dead-Lift record, you can probably get away with out the theatrics
- Don’t text/ talk on your phone
- If you are taking up a bench and are sending 20 texts out between sets, you are being a dick
- Don’t bring 4-5 of your buddies to the gym
- I’m sure there are exceptions to this, but usually the group of four guys with good intentions ends up just being a circle jerk at the gym
- Waiting on four people to finish on the bench rack could mean 30 minutes or more
- Find a serious partner, work hard, no grab-assing
- DO ask for help
- There is nothing wrong with asking someone who looks like they know what they are doing to help you out
- Get tips on form, do the movement right
- Work hard
- If you treat the gym like a gym and show up each time to better yourself, set a new PR, or just blow off some steam… you will see much better results for your time invested
These are just a few gym rules to live by, this list may grow as new breeds of meat-heads find better ways to screw around at the gym.
Not sure what to do when you are at the gym? Start here for some ideas.