When I go to the gym, I feel like everyone is watching me. If I go to the gym at university there are LOTS of people, and I feel very out of place. I sometimes have to wait for equipment and I feel awkward while I'm waiting. I go from feeling like I'm being checked out one second, to feeling very unfit the next. I don't know what to do with myself. It'd be better if I went with a friend, but none of my friends have membership there during the summer.

There's a gym in the condo building that I live in, but it's so quiet (no music, or people), that I also feel out of place, almost like I shouldn't be there. When one or two other people do come to the gym in the building, I suddenly feel so self-conscious that I don't know whether to say hello, or ignore them and focus on what I'm doing.

What is proper gym etiquette? What do you do while waiting for equipment? Do you say hi and then keep quiet, carry on a conversation with strangers who are there, or keep to yourself entirely?

I just feel very out of place in both gyms. I need to learn the rules. Somebody please pass along your wisdom.

I generally only talk to people at the gym when I have to. People who want to use the machine I'm on will ask how many reps I have left, and, if it's a bunch, will ask if it's okay if we trade off. It always is fine with me.

When I wait for a machine (which is rare because I usually just find another one to work on while the other person finishes up), I stand close enough so that I can snag it when it's done, but behind it so the person doesn't know someone's waiting and therefore doesn't feel rushed. Others will just wait next to my machine. It's never bothered me.

I generally feel unfit at the gym -- which is good, I think, because it motivates me to work harder. :)

As far as a lack of music -- bring your own. I always work out with my ipod because I hate the music they play at my gym. Ugh. Bringing a friend is a good idea, too, but my friends tend to flake when it comes to exercise.

I tend to make conversation with people at my gym, but it all depends on who the person is next to me. I usually glance over at the person next to me and if they smile I might strike up a conversation about something gym related. I have met a some regulars over the years that I converse with. I always ask for help if I don't know how to use something and if it is really particularly busy, I will ask to work in between sets with someone (although if the machine is particularly sweaty I wont.) I always wipe down my machines with the spray that they provide us with to be polite. Some people will bring towels to drape over the machines to avoid that whole sweat thing... I don't think there really is set gym etiquette.. whatever you feel is comfortable to you. Sometimes I just go and space out in my own little world and look at noone and talk to noone. I think bringing music also helps with the awkwardness thing. If you have headphones on, you might not feel so obligated to talk to the other person in there. And as far as the self conscious thing goes, when I was 17 and in the best shape Ive ever been in playing waterpolo, lifting weights and running, I still nit picked at myself. I do sometimes think people are looking at me, but then again I think most people are too self conscious themselves to pay attention to others.

I find it helps for me to just have my MP3 player blaring in my ears. The music keeps me motivated, and gives me an excuse not to talk to anyone! They probably figure I can't hear them if they happen to say something to me, and they're right!!

I do sometimes think people are looking at me, but then again I think most people are too self conscious themselves to pay attention to others.

That's definitely true. The only people I've noticed at the gym are the ones who look like what I want to look like, and that's only because it helps me with my self-depreciation. :)

It's like dance classes... no one actually cares what you're doing because we're all too busy looking at ourselves in the mirror. A whole lot of narcissists, we exercising folks.

Occasionally I'll watch someone get into a machine that I don't know how to use and see if I can figure it out by watching, but usually if I need help I just ask.

If I notice or watch someone at the gym it is ususally because they are doing something that I want to try. Example - there is this girl that runs on the treadmill next to me for 45 minutes and sometimes I'll watch her to check her stride, speed because I want to run again. The gym with my apartment complex has tvs on the machines to provide some noise, but I have brought my walkman too. If I am waiting, I'll do some streching or marching in place just to get warmed up or keep my blood flowing.

In a gym setting, that whole concept of not being worried about what people are thinking about you when they look at you, because they're too busy wondering what YOU are thinking when you look at them...is so true.

I work out at 24-Hour Fitness...and I'm not a big fan of huge crowds, etc. but it's unavoidable (unless I go at like 2 A.M. :eek: ) ... but at the same time you should feel good about yourself, because you're there to get healthy, etc...not impress those around you. I've accepted the fact that there will ALWAYS be someone in better shape, thinner, more tone than me (in the gym and ANYWHERE, really)...but at the same time there is someone there who is probably just starting out or are where I was several years ago...

It's accepted etiquette, if you need to use a machine or bench, to ask how many reps someone has left. Or, if they get up and don't leave anything but you're not sure, it's better to ask with a friendly smile if they're through, rather than just assume, hop on, and tick them off.

And like the other have said, I definately enjoy the luxury of headphones...for various reasons...but because it does reduce the akwardness of standing there.

That's my $0.02 :) Have fun!

:nigel: Cheers!

i go to a bigger gym, and i always run into people i know or people i see a lot. i usually smile and say hi, throw on the ipod and do my thing.

i wouldnt let it bother you. everyone else thats there probably thinks everyone is staring at them as well. just do what you have to do, and be about your day.

as far as waitng for equipment, either just wait, go do something else, a=or let them know that youre waiting and see if they can let you know when theyre done.

if things are that uncomfortable for you, i would suggest joining a class, and go for a couple of weeks and chat it up with people. or ask someone to help you out the first time around. (most people will be nice.)

thats just my thoughts.

just a note...

I've never met a rude or mean person at the gym. They're all happy because they're excercising or something, so as long as you're nice, they'll be nice back.

:)

it's likely that people aren't looking at you, so dealing with your self consciousness will have to be done on your own.

but, as for the rest of it, whenever there's a line for a machine (usually cardio equipment in our area) women will line up and read a magazine or book while waiting for a given machine after asking the persons on those machines how much longer they have and whether it's worth the wait. otherwise, it's like what mskedi said for weight training machines (trading off sets, etc).

and, i fully admit that exercising people are vain. we're spending more time comparing ourselves to others (ooh! i want her abs!) and also looking at ourselves (ooh, check out how great my shoulders are looking!) than we do actually judging people who are fit/unfit and all that. It's mostly like 'appreciation' stuff.

even when i teach yoga, i look at myself as i teach. it's madness, i know. It's why i prefer yoga rooms without mirrors! lol i get side tracked.

just a note...

I've never met a rude or mean person at the gym. They're all happy because they're excercising or something, so as long as you're nice, they'll be nice back.

:)

Its the endorphines :D

I go with a friend about half the time, but I went by myself for about 9 mos before she joined. I just don't care what other people think, but I did feel a little awkward at first. I think its something you just need to get used to. If someone is using a piece of equipment I need, I go do something else and then come back to it. If I end up not using that machine that day, I'll be back another day, no big deal.

The thing that bugs me about the gym are the people who get drippy sweat all over the machines and don't wipe them down.

I met Shannon Sharpe at a gym once, I believe I stared.

A few weeks ago (right before I crapped out my workouts, I need to go back monday) this guy was on the leg press machine for at least 45 minutes. He had, like, 8 food containers in his bag and would stop and eat between sets. He was obviously nuts so I didn't really want to even ask to switch in with him. I did the rest of my workout (18 sets) and still had to wait 5 minutes. So yeah, don't do that.

Someone else suggested going to classes and I think thats a great suggestion. For the first few months of going to my new gym I only did classes (I tried almost everything until I found a few I go to regularly) and that way I recognized most of the people in the main gym when I went to work out.

The best thing to remember is that you are there for you and you are doing something to improve your fitness just like everyone else and that is very comendable. At the end of the day everyone is in the gym for the same primary purpose so you should have at least one thing in common with everyone! And you shouldnt feel out of place, you have as much right to be there and have an enjoyable work out as everybody else :)

who is shannon sharpe?

who is shannon sharpe?

I'm not your google monkey.

Okay, just this once.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/896/

remilard I appreciate your gratuitous use of "google monkey" LOL

I'm not your google monkey.

Okay, just this once.

:lol:
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ABC123
Gym etiquette?.... yah, righty, although I don't use a public gym, my suggestion nontheless is take with you your own skipping 'rope' if there is non there, so that whilst waiting for equipment in use by others, you can be doing skips with it and be good at it too by practicing at home and then noone can say (OR THINK) you suck or should not be there etc (if you are seriously worried about what others think that is)....

Also like someone else said, you have every bit as much rite to be there as they if you're a member whether a paying
one or merely at liberty to access. Your kudos is you want to improve yourself somehow or way, AND THAT is all that matters :) and others should require ONLY that in order to respect you! :wayne::up:

One thing I notice is that some people don't clean the machines so I always feel silly cleaning them before and after I use them...

I have very definite ideas about what I accomplish when I go to the gym, and I have a limited amount of time to achieve those goals, so I keep socializing down to a minimum. I think being friendly is fine, if you feel compelled to converse, but keep it short, and indicate with body language that you are starting a new set. They'll get it, and what's more you'll be helping them by making them realize they're procrastinating. ;)

almost forgot: www.VeganFitness.net. (in my sig).

One thing I notice is that some people don't clean the machines so I always feel silly cleaning them before and after I use them...


Ugg. Yea, I clean them even if I'm just walking up to it and haven't seen anyone use it. Gyms are dirty places and a lot of people don't even wipe down the machines when they're done. I'm not set until I've sprayed it down two times. I might be obsessive though, because my roomate got ringworm form the gyms mats.

I've also learned to just get over anyone that watches you. (It helps to listen to excessive amounts of loud music). When I'm on the treadmil, people will "race" me and make sure their incline and speed are more then mine at all times. At first I was terriblly annoyed, and kept upping the speed and stuff, but eventually I let it go...... and realized I can't run 45 minutes at 7.5 :D