WHAT REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS!

WHAT REALLY GRINDS MY GEARS? 

Gyms and fitness centers are more popular than ever. You'd be hard pressed walking into any commercial gym on a Monday night, and not to find it busting at the seams with dedicated individuals, trying to get in shape and improve their health and performance. For most people, sticking to gym etiquette is common practice, and not a difficult task. But there's always the select few that can't grasp the simplicity of not being a douche in the gym. Those people are what really grind's my gears.

Anyone that knows me, knows that I can be a tightly wound guy at the best of times. As therapeutic as it might be for me to rant my way through this post, I'm going to try my best to keep it less like a rant, and more like a guide on how to be a better member/trainee. If you find yourself reading through the points below and come across something that you might do, scraping your crappy gym habits will improve your workouts, intensity and focus. And even if it doesn't, at least less people will hate you.

#1 - PUT YOUR FRIGGIN WEIGHTS AWAY!

This one is simple. If you use it, once you’re done put it back! I understand that your Mum might pick up your dirty clothes when you’re at home, but remember YOU'RE MOTHER DOESN'T WORK HERE. No one wants to pick up your crap in the gym. If that's what you want or need, buy your Mum a membership and have her follow you around the gym to clean up for you. Nobody else wants to!

Obviously someone’s Mum stayed at home this day

#2 - LEARN HOW TO COUNT

Similar to the one above. Just so where all on the same page it goes like this.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!

Now I can count higher than that, but if that's something that you're struggling with I'm sure there's a kindergarten teacher that could fill you in on the rest. It amazes me how many people see an empty spot on a dumbbell rack, and regardless of the dumbbell they hold in their hand, just put it where ever they want. It should not be a mission to go searching for 2 dumbbells of the same weight! 

No way this guy gets it wrong!

#3 - BACK AWAY FROM THE RACK

Here's a sure fire way not to get in peoples way after you've picked up your dumbbells. Choose your weight, pick it up, take 5 big steps back, and STOP BLOCKING OTHER PEOPLES WAY TO THE DUMBBELL RACK! Nothing worse than finishing a set, walking up to put your weights away, only to find someone standing right in front of the rack busting out a set. Actually, the only thing worse than that is when you ask them to move, and they get frustrated at you for interrupting them! 

#4 - USE THE EQUIPMENT FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE

I'm all for creativity and experimentation, but there are just some pieces of equipment that should be used for its intended purpose and that alone. For example, if you're using a squat or power rack to do curls, and you're not Ronnie Coleman, you should probably take your barbell and use it somewhere that's not in the way. I'm not saying these racks are only to be used for squatting; I’m just saying there are a bunch of exercises higher on the list before you get to bicep curls. Now if you can't pick it up off the floor, and you have a set of fully functioning lower limbs, you have no business curling it. Stop wasting your time, get back in the squat rack, and start training those bean poles you call legs.

Even Rambo hates you

#5 - REMEMBER, SOME PEOPLE COME TO THE GYM TO WORK OUT

Part of what makes a great gym is the community! A great gym is a place where like-minded people can come together to work out and improve their bodies. I am all for that! Social chatting and discussion is healthy, but some people just need to remember that the gym is not a coffee shop. If you spend more time talking than lifting or training, you really need to check how important your goals are to you. The only thing that's worse than wasting your own training time is wasting the time of others. If someone is training, and you get the vibe that they don't want to chat, best leave them alone. Nobody likes a pest!

And that's a wrap. Turns out it was a rant.....

I could go on at this all day as I could list many more gear grinding habits. Probably best to stop just to be sure I don't lose too many more readers. If you’re still reading, thanks taking part in what could be seen as my very own online vent and counselling session.

Check back here next week for a new blog entry. I promise the next one will be RANT FREE and informative. I'd also love to hear from you, so if you have any feedback, questions, or topic suggestions be sure to send me an email on seanosheapt@y7mail.com