Is there a gym etiquette I'm not aware of?

[rumred]

Hello all I have just started using the local gym after having a program designed by one of the trainers there. I have never used a gym before.
I've been twice on my own and both times asked men sitting on equipment if they are using it. Both times I was made to feel like I was being completely unreasonable. And today the man got off the thing leaving it covered in sweat-all parts. I used it but it felt awful, literally. I left quite swiftly after this.
Am I getting it wrong? Should I not enquire politely?

It depends how long they've been sitting there. I get really annoyed when people just sit on machines using their phones, but if they're resting between reps then I wouldn't ask them to move. Not cleaning equipment down is vile though. Only thing to do is clean it yourself.

The correct thing to ask is “how many more sets have you got?” Basically a little prompt but not quite as aggressive. Unfortunately people do tend to sit on the equipment between sets and can take ages. But the alternative is you ask if you can jump in in between sets but I usually have to have seen the person around the gym a lot before I ask that. I will never get how few people take a towel with them!

Strength training becomes strength training and not cardio when adequate rests are taken. But a maximum of three minutes should suffice most lifters. If they’re resting much longer, and on their phones, a nudge could be useful.

They’re most likely resting between sets.

Yes the etiquette is to ask how many more sets or to ask to work in (do your set whilst they are resting) That can be irritating if it involves adding/ taking off a lot of weights though so they might say no but go a bit faster!

The other things you can do are to go on to a different exercise and go back when it's free or ask for alternative exercises to be included on your program so you can still work the same muscles if the machine is busy eg do push ups or a barbel or dumbbell chest press instead of the chest press machine.

Wiping down equipment is everyone's responsibility. Our gym provides paper towels and spray cleaner. I wipe down before and after if someone else hasn't

Thanks for the comments. I honestly didn't realise that was the etiquette, how could I?
I will try again and only use machines without people sat on them

Once guys get onto their phones between sets they often lose track of time and sit there for ages, which is very annoying.

I think asking was ok, and it likely they could tell you were new so could have been a bit more kind or explained they were resting.

Sweat should also be wiped off.

Yes I was polite, and I would think look a bit lost as its new to me. I certainly didn't expect rudeness though. Lesson learned.

Yep. For those doing strength training most of the time is spent resting and not actually using the machine. Each time you move weight that's a rep, and a group of reps performed after each other is a set. Most will do a set of 8 reps, then rest for 1-3 mins, then do another set of 8, rest again, another set. Usually for 3-5 sets.

You might consider finding ways to use the dumbbells, as they offer a lot more flexibility, rather than waiting for specific machines. That tends to be the more intimidating section of the gym, but paradoxically the users are often friendlier and more patient with newer people!

Good luck.

You need to ask them how many sets they have left, they might be resting between the last set and the next.

Not cleaning it down is grim, but barely anyone does it.

If you can I would consider having a few PT sessions and asking to be taught how to use the free weights (barbels, dumbells, kettlebells). Once you have got the technique these are a lot more flexible than machines and mean you can avoid queues and waiting around plus I find that you can usually increase the weight in smaller increments than for machines making it easier to progress. I have been strength training with free weights for over 5 years now and I absolutely love it. I have stuck to it much more than any other exercise I tried before.

@ThePure I'm trying to increase my stamina for swimming so not doing any weights on the program I've been given. I'll have a word with the trainer though about weights

If you're not doing any weights what kind of machines do you mean? If you mean cardio machines like a stepper, rower, bike etc then there's no need for anyone to be sat on them resting. If you mean strength machines like a chest press, leg extension, leg press etc then all the above about resting between sets applies. But then you are doing weights just through a machine not free weights, and anything you're doing could be done through free weights instead. Which I agree are more flexible.

Yeah I’d have been pretty short with you too. Just leave people to finish using the machine. Unless they’ve been sat on it for the duration of your gym visit in which case I guess you could ask how many sets.

Did you tell the PT this was your aim? I know lots of swimmers and they increase their stamina for swimming by swimming and also strength (weight) training in the gym so they are more efficient in the water.

I increased my stamina for swimming by swimming. Swimming is the only exercise I actually enjoy, other than walking.

The sweat and the waiting would drive me crazy. I can see I'm not suited to a gym.

Yeah, this thread is reminding me why I stopped going to gyms.

I am leaving my gym partly because so many people bring small children and leave them to play on the machines while they do their workout. I’ve moved 8-10 year olds off the machines several times over the past few weeks. One was hanging upside down off a leg machine. The staff don’t seem to give a shit about it either

It's annoying to change the weights between sets so I would try and find an alternative station or just switch the order of my program around . I am not offended if someone asks how many sets I have got left as long as they are polite.
Anyone who is sitting or standing on a cardio machine is really being inconsiderate.
The nicest people in the gym are often the really big older guys. They often offer to help me set up my weights for deadlifts etcIsometimes find that harder than actually lifting them. I go a non chain gym, everyone is very friendly and keen to help people new to the gym, when I went to pure gym no one really spoke to me.

I try to choose times when it's not so busy so I have more chance to use the machines. There are 2 older men that spend 10mins sitting on the leg press and chest press machines doing FA. When I see them in the gym, my heart sinks and I know I'm not likely to use those machines today. I end up doing an extra 5 mins on the rower or something.
I've got a routine with dumbbells and kettlebells now that works so I don't need to rely on those machines.

Yes and not being allowed to tell an entitled person to move off the machine they're hogging!

It's bad enough when you're running on pavements and variously have dog walkers, people with buggies and scooters, middle aged joined at the hip couples and parked cars to navigate...

This is all very helpful thanks. I'm off there soon, hoping for a better experience this time and definitely won't ask people if they are using the thing they're sat on. This thread has been so useful. I understand now what's going on.

@Einwegflasche swimming is my favourite activity, because the pool is in a gym I thought I'd give it a go to improve all round fitness and stamina.

I do sometimes ask people how much longer they have, or if I can nip in between reps.

Some guys do spend bloody ages on one piece of equipment though, and there is a lot of time just sitting and not using. There was one young guy on the leg raise machine I was waiting to use the other day, I used another leg machine, 2x 15 reps, did a two sets of 15 lateral raises and a ten minute run and he just finished on there. Yet some people have asked me if I've finished when I'm on a machine and I am only there for 30 seconds in between sets and take about 2 minutes in total.

One time I was there I noticed one guy was alternating between the leg raise and sit ups, but leaving his stuff on the machine while he was doing his sit ups. I just went on the leg raise machine, and he comes prancing over and tells me he hasn't finished. I said, breezily (as breezily as you can while lifting weights with your legs) "Oh, I thought you had finished. Don't worry, I'll be done in a minute" and just finished my reps off.

Some people must be there for hours, just fannying about and hogging equipment.