To hate it when people stink at the gym

[PolkaDotMankini]

It was so busy at the gym today that people were queuing for machines. There were so many people who smelled of old BO. I understand it's more convenient to just have a shower after your workout, but it's inconsiderate of everyone around you.

But nobody smells nice when they're exercising hard? And exercising hard is what the gym is for.

I mean, people are going there to sweat. I've never been to a nice smelling gym. Just go when it's quiet

If you’re working out though you are only going to sweat no one goes to the gym expecting people to smell nice whilst they are there!

Surely it's the one place, that you expect people to smell a bit?

YABU. If you are going to the gym, don't expect non-sweaty people.

Obviously I don't expect people not to sweat at the gym But there's a difference between fresh-sweat smell and old BO/unwashed clothes smell of the type you can taste.

Nobody smells pleasant at the gym.

They should have good extractor fans, but I agree nobody should turn up actually stinking.

There's clearly a difference between being sweaty and being minging though

Shock horror people are sweaty and smell at a gym 🙄

get your best sad face on and complain to the daily fail op

YANBU @PolkaDotMankini . There is a world of difference between someone sweating during a work out and BO!

there is a guy who goes to my (quite small) gym and I can tell if he’s in as soon as I walk in the entrance door. He absolutely reeks of BO even when he just arrives - it’s nothing to do with sweating. he just doesn’t wash his clothes!!

I’ve changed the time I go to avoid him! Thinking of asking staff to say something but I doubt they will.

YABU. It's a gym, people smell. I'm afraid if you don't like it you should work out at home or outdoors. You don't get a say in other people's laundry and hygiene habits.

The gym is somewhere that should stink of sweat, if it's being used properly.

That said, I thought I would go insane when someone ate a banana near me at work when I was pregnant. It made feel so awful.
I also had a really peculiar smelling teacher who I really liked, but struggled not to wretch in their presence, it's hard when you're sensitive to such smells.

There really is. A guy in my gym has a yellow T-shirt (was white, but it's dried sweat), and he stinks. It's really off putting.

There's definitely a palpable difference between fresh sweat (from a current workout session) and old sweat that has dried on clothing, bodies, bedding, etc. Some people smell bad despite showering at least daily, because they can't/don't keep their clothing and environment clean.

At the gym, old sweat smell is often a case of re-wearing clothing that's been placed in a locker without being fully cleaned and dried - could even be something like a hoodie that you wouldn't normally think needs washed every time you wear it. There's also a trend (mainly in the US I think, not sure where you are) of homeless/transient people using trial/low-cost gym memberships to get a cheapish storage space and place to shower to avoid carrying belongings around all day and risking them being stolen. In those cases, you may encounter a freshly showered and groomed person who simply doesn't have a way to wash and dry clothing.

At my hot yoga studio, smell is exacerbated x100 due to the intense heat and humidity from everyone’s sweat. The only people who stink are those who haven’t washed before arriving rather than BO from the exercise itself. I can smell dog, stale smoke, smelly feet, stale BO.

< crosses hot yoga off the NY resolutions list >

Agree. Stale sweat stinks. Fresh sweat is different.

It's the smelly trainers that stink of cats piss that do my head in!

I agree. I take my daughter to karate and it stinks of feet there, it makes me gag. The smell of re-heated sweat is disgusting (bacteria). If I went to the gym after work I’d have a quick freshen up before hand. I also know people who don’t wash their gear after they use it, just keep wearing it until it walks itself into the basket. Beyond heave.

Yabu it's a gym.

DH has just arrived home from a 15km run. He's sweaty and smells but it's fresh sweat. I can't taste stale BO from across the room. That's not to say I wouldn't prefer him to have a shower before he stretches though...

I mean…it’s the gym, not the office. I think you’re being a bit precious tbh.

For me this would be the one place you could really relax and not worry about whether people think you smell.

There's a massive difference between fresh sweat and unwashed body where bacteria has had several days hours to work on turning out the stench that can hit you from some people.

Clean for the day and then going to the gym after work smell is generally OK. Clearly haven't washed since the gym closed on Christmas Eve (if not before that) is not.

YANBU - clear difference between stale sweat and new sweat. Everyone sweats at gym but you're right, some arrive smelling rank and stink out the room. Most people don't like it.
We always had one in our spin class and no one wanted to sit near as it was gut wrenching. She arrived smelling bad each time. It wasn't her norm as I knew her a bit outside the gym. My guess is someone mentioned it because for the last 2 years she still turns up but doesn't smell like she used to.

Surely it's just common sense to give yourself a quick sniff test before you get changed. You don't just roll out of bed/work, throw on dirty clothes and then inflict yourself on other people's noses. It's the gym: there are free showers!