Avoid Being "That Guy/Girl" at the Gym

Working out at the gym involves coming into contact with a ton of people. In this community space, there are certain rules of etiquette that everyone needs to follow in order for everyone to get along. These rules are actually applicable to any social situation, so keep them in mind the next time you leave your house. There are three specific rules of hygiene that everyone should follow at the gym, but for each one, there is a group of people that seem to break the rule. Each group is different from the other, but all are equally distasteful. If you fit one of these profiles, take my advice and change - because trust me, people are talking

The Drip
This girl hops on the StairMaster, gets going at a hard pace, and works her butt off for an hour. Great, only she's sweating up a storm. With no towel in sight, she's dripping all over the place. Those sweat beads rolling down her face are getting everything around her wet. It's one thing to have sweat on you - but don't splash it! Bring a towel if you're a heavy sweater to wipe yourself off every few minutes.

The Stink
Do not attempt to enter a gym without first applying a good anti-perspirant/deodorant. PLEASE! When you move, everyone around you can smell it. And with a hard workout already making us a little faint, you just might knock us out with your body odor. Trust me, even if you think you don't smell, you do. Even people with deodorant/anti-perspirant on smell bad. If anyone else tells you different, they're going to be nice most likely, but they smell you, too. Just swipe it on, it takes a few seconds and saves a lot of people queasiness.

The Walk-off
So, you ride the bike for an hour. Put in a great workout, you're nice and sweaty (wearing deodorant, and wiping yourself with a towel, of course!). Then your machine signals you're all done (great job!) and you get up and walk away. Don't forget about the next person on the machine - go grab a paper towel or towel (whatever the gym provides for you) and spray it down with the disinfectant they also provide - and wipe down your machine. No one likes to sit in someone else's sweaty butt-print, and they don't want to grab onto some handles or grips to find out they're sticky or slick. Just take an extra minute and do something nice for your neighbor.

So, there you have it. You don't want to be one of those three guys/gals. Don't despair if you are - it's never too late to start over! Just make a point to follow these three rules, and your fellow gym-goers will certainly appreciate it.