12 THINGS YOU SHOULD AVOID DOING IN GYM
Many people exercise regularly at their gyms but not all of them manage to retain their memberships. Why does this happen? If you are a regular visitor to the gym, you need to observe a few dos and don’ts such as what to avoid, how to behave and how to use the equipment. Apart from these, there are some things you should avoid in the gym to get the best out of your workout and your time investment.
1. AVOID DISTRACTIONS
In a unisex gym, both men and women workout in the same rooms, using the same equipment. It is easy to get distracted by one another in such a situation. Distractions of any kind are not good in a gym where you’ll be using heavy weights and large pieces of equipment. Don’t try to impress a person of the opposite sex by attempting some ludicrous personal best on the bench press. You will only be inviting injuries. Focus on your workout and listen to music to keep your focus within.
2. AVOID IMPATIENT BEHAVIOR
Listen to your trainer’s instructions and do only as much as you’re told. Gym trainers and instructors know exactly how much you should workout per day and what equipments you should use gradually. They will never recommend heavy weight or the bench press for you unless your body is ready for it.
So don’t be tempted to try the heavy set rusting on the floor until you are absolutely ready. If you stick to the program, you will get the results you want. Rome wasn’t built in a day. So don’t be impatient, and take it one day at a time. This way, you can avoid serious injuries while getting the best results for your body.
3. AVOID DIRTYING THE CLOAKROOM
The cloakroom is for everyone’s use. Don’t drop your used towels all over the place. Don’t eat snacks in the cloakroom and litter the floor with crumbs and packet wrappings. Respect the other gym goers and keep the cloakroom as clean as you can. No one wants to step on your sweaty towel or step into your mess.
4. AVOID LEAVING YOUR EQUIPMENT DIRTY
People who workout at gyms tend to sweat a lot directly on to the equipment. How would you like to lie down on someone else’s sweat when you benchpress? Just as you wouldn’t like having someone’s sweat and body fluids to touch your body, remember others won’t either. When you use a piece of equipment, be sure to wipe it dry before you leave it. This shows you respect others and care for their well-being.
5. AVOID THE LEG EXTENSIONS
Leg extensions are not just a waste of time for 99% of trainees, but they cause more knee injuries than any other leg exercise in the gym. The leg extension forces your kneecap to shear by placing dangerous pressures on tendons and ligaments. So even if your trainer puts you on the leg extensions machine, be sure to check with your doctor before you agree to do this exercise. Do only as much as your doctor advices and at the very first sign of knee pain, stop.
6. AVOID THE SMITH MACHINE
The Smith Machine looks good and certainly allows you to lift more weight. That might impress people wanting to develop their shoulders and arms quickly, but if you want long-term, injury-free results, avoid the Smith machine wherever possible. The Smith Machine locks you into an artificial plane of motion, which can cause imbalances in the smaller fixator and stabilizer muscles over time, leading to chronic injuries at times. Serious body builders do what they need to do and personal trainers usually guide them. If you’re visiting the gym to stay in shape, you can do so without using the Smith Machine.
7. AVOID BOSU BALLS & CIRCUS TRICKS
Bose Balls and Circus Tricks equipments only make you look like a circus clown. You can achieve much better results with basic weights. If you want to get bigger, stronger and leaner, then train yourself on stable surfaces that allow you to lift the most weight in good form. These new-fangled Bosu Balls and Circus Tricks are only there to make gymming look more attractive. They’re not really necessary to get into shape.
8. AVOID POWER PLATES
Power Plates vibrate your body in an attempt to lead you to strength and leanness. However, there’s no proven track record of anyone having developed any type of physique using these overpriced gimmicks. These are shortcut tricks, usually designed for people who don’t want to do serious gymming. If you are injured and your exercise potential is restricted, you can use Power Plates to enjoy passive workouts. However, if you are a serious gymmer, please avoid this excuse for an exercise. All it does is shaking you for a few minutes; there’s no impact on either your muscles or your metabolism!
9. AVOID UNNECESSARY GADGETS
The exercise market tries to capitalize on the fitness mania by bringing out fancy gadgets that don’t really help you much other than cleaning out your wallet. You can buy these gadgets at any good gym; Valeo belts to cinch the waist, heavy duty lifting gloves, bench press suits, do-rags, and Otomix trainers are a few of these. Putting all these gadgets on before you try the bench press will only make you look silly in the midst of serious gymmers. Invest in a few sensible pieces of gym wear such as good shoes, socks, clothes, hair bands, wristbands, towels, gym bags and so on. The other gadgets are not really worthwhile unless your doctor recommends a gadget for a medical condition.
10. AVOID SHOWING OFF
Some people who inhabit the gym regularly have a bit of the strutting peacock in them. The tendency and the need to show off to newcomers, to members of the opposite sex, or to the trainers is hard to resist for some people.
Since everyone does this to some extent or the other, a bit of this behavior is tolerable. However, don’t go overboard while trying to impress someone else. You won’t achieve anything by adding many kilos to your benchpress and bouncing the bar off your chest as if your sternum were a trampoline. You will however, stand the risk of injury.
11. AVOID PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE GYM TO MAKE FRIENDS
One hour at the gym, if you apply core focus, should be more than enough to get you in shape. However, if your training goes on for more than an hour, it means you’re socializing too much. The gym is a great place to meet new people and build new relationships, but you need to keep your head down and your mind focused on your workout. If you extend your workout more than an hour and your cortisol levels rise and testosterone levels drop off a cliff. There are always people who treat the gym as though it were a club. Avoid these people as they only contribute to distractions. They’re not very serious about their workouts and they will disturb your focus as well.
12. DON’T MONOPOLIZE EQUIPMENT
Use equipments only as long as you need to, based on your program. Don’t monopolize equipments, or lean against an important piece of equipment and talk to a friend. Remember people pay heavy fees to workout at a good gym. Most people find it difficult to make time for the gym and every minute is precious for them. Don’t take the gym too casually; it’s not there for your personal pleasure. Respect other people’s rights also.
John runs an online scrubs store where you can shop for branded lab coat, scrub sets and jackets.
Comments
Interesting
Some interesting points and thoughts, but I'd love to know where you get your research information from. Specifically on things like the Bosu balls and leg extensions.
Add new comment