Annoying People at the Gym
annoying people at the gym. Nothing gets us steamed like the guy who leaves pools of sweat on the bench or the woman who douses herself with perfume right before her workout. And don't get me started on the grunters, the cell-phone yellers and the machine hoggers.
The question is, how do you deal with them? That often depends on your personality and just how annoying the person is. There are a number of ways to confront (or avoid confronting) the perpetrator and choosing the right way can help you get past these annoying people and focus on your workout.
Flattery
You know the old cliché about catching more flies with honey. The same applies at the gym. Most people enjoy a compliment, so use that to your advantage when dealing with an annoying gym-goer:
- To the person who left 1,000 pounds on the bench press: "You are so strong ... I could never lift that much! In fact, I don't even think I can lift those big plates. Maybe you could help me?"
- To the person who keeps bumping into you in kickboxing class: "I'm really enjoying your energy. It's almost like you don't even notice other people are around!"
- To the person who's been on a machine for a half hour: "You know, most people would wonder if you're ever going to finish, but I'm really learning a lot from your technique."
Be Helpful
Some of us, no matter how annoyed we are, can't bring ourselves to confront irritating people at the gym. However, there's a way to use your good mannersto nudge people in the right direction without seeming to do so:
- To the person who left a big puddle of sweat on the seat: "Oops, I think you forgot something. Here, let me get you a fresh towel."
- To the naked guy in the locker room: "Are they out of towels again? I hate that! Let me see if I can go find some."
- To the person yelling at their spouse on a cell phone: "You know, it really annoys me when my husband/wife calls me at the gym, too. I mean, don't they know you're here to exercise? Geez."
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