Ok so I have been wanting to write this for a while. It is long overdue. I'm actually hoping new guys to the gym and guys stuck in bad habits at the gym will learn from this post andf correct bad gym behavior. Keep in mind alot of this is personal opoinon, but adhereing to this guide may help you become more respected and well liked at your gym. Not that its a popularity contest, but i think most would agree making a friend is far more beneficial then making a enemy. Why let poor gym manners stand in between you and a potential friend, spotter, or networking contact? So without further delay

1. Rerack weights. It is not the job of others to pick up after your inconsiderate ass. if you can lug the wieghts out then be man enough to put them back. The gym is your second home. treat it with respect even if others dont. For the guys who have spent some time on the yard you know excatly what i'm talking about. In the prison system not cleaning up can result in the revoking of weight priveledge. Others will take note and those who are respectful enough to rerack weights will make mental notes who do and do not. i personally will not associate with the guys who dont rerack and pick up there wieghts. it tells others volumes on what kind of person you are.

2. Bad Form. 15 years in the powerlifting game. I can tell you I am far more impressed with a guy that benches 135 the right way then one who benches 405 the wrong way. I understand many people incorporate cheat sets and half reps, but we all know who the repeat offenders are. I am not saying shy away from pushing to the max, however dont be that guy who consistantly uses bad form. You make a fool out of yourself and it is obvious you are trying to compensate for weakness. Pride is a dangerous thing and that includes in the gym. You will hurt yourself physically and your gym respect will be weaker then your poorly trained muscle. Use full range of motion. dont half rep squat, keep your ass on the bench. dont bounce the bar off your chest. knees to chest on leg press. dont look like your having a siezure when curling. etc etc you get the picture. guess what? ...people are laughing at you!

3. Proper gym attire. i only where baggy sweats and baggy tshirts. that is my preference. Yours may not be the same, but let me propose a question to you. If you are a big guy wearing baggy clothes people can still tell you are big and you come off as a humble guy. if you are not a big guy and wear tight clothes then you look like a skinny guy and a complete tool wearing a tight shirt. its not Night at the Roxbury fellas. leave the beaters and baby gap tshirts at home. i hid my size in the gym and more often then not i'm more approachable because i lift heavy and people dont know what i got going on under there. i'm not giving off the ora i'm Gods gift to the world. i'm actually making the statment i am a work in progress like we all are.

4. Dont give out advice unless asked. I dont care if you read Encyclopedia of Body Building 3 times. You are not a expert. Even if you are the biggest dude in the gym that doesnt give you the right to walk up to someone and give them advice. you come off as arrogant and holier than thou. If someone asks then that is a different story,but no one likes the guy who walks around correcting everyone. if you are gonna do that then you might as well go be a personal trainer at Planet Fitness and get paid to be a self righteous prick.

5. Face all plates in. Newbies just so you know numbers should not be showing. Can i give you a reason why...no! i just know its something thats been done by meatheads since the dawn of gyms long before you were a sperm in your daddys sack. So keep up with a little time honored tradition from the iron forefathers before you and face your plates in. one of the big things i can pick out a newbie a mile away is when i can see his plate numbers facing out.

6. Wipe up your sweat. if you dont sweat then its cool most people dont care. the gym is a dirty place we make no bones about that. my problem is the guy who leaves a puddle of his LA Looks hair gel with his musty neck sweat on the bench for me to have to slip and slide around on. it comes down to be about common courtesy more then anything. trust me if you dont wipe your nasty ass puddles up you wont be very well liked and you may get a old school guy like me rubbing your face in it like a bad little cocker spainiel who made a mess on the floor. !!

7. Grunt only when neccasary. Dont get me wrong if your squating 495 to the floor for reps with great form by all means you can scream the Lords Prayer across the gym. Its the guy who is yelling and screaming with the 135 on the bar half repping all day long. Bro if you aint lifting heavy you have not earned the right to get crazy. myself personally i believe we should suffer in silence. i lift heavy and keep my yap shut. guys who excessively shout and scream are really doing it more for the attention and p.s. most people realize that.

These are only a few Gym No No's. I hope some of this helps. keep training hard... inzer777