Don't grunt and moan. Seriously, no one wants to hear you struggling to squat more than you really can. On the rare occasions that the people around you forgot their headphones, this can make their workout pretty unbearable and just make you a unanimously disliked person at the gym.
Do wipe down the equipment!
First, EW. Why would anyone want to sit on the seat with your freshly produced butt sweat. Gross. Just no.
Don't talk to the person next to you on the treadmill.
If the person working out next to you is wearing a hat, hoodie and headphones, why on Earth would you think they want to make small talk about your fitness goals, your dog, or your marital issues? We're there for one reason and one reason only. Maybe the elderly gentleman a few treadmills over taking a brisk walk, with no headphones, and a Good Housekeeping magazine in front of him, would be much more approachable. For the most part, though, most of us want to find their zen and stay in it.
Don't hog a station.
It's totally understandable that you want to get all your sets in and that you don't want to leave that machine. But I'm talking the guys that sit there, for what seems like ever, waiting for their next set of 10. If you're really that exhausted, move on to a different machine, in the case that anyone has been anxious to use that one, and simply go back when you feel ready.
Do embrace your bod.
Comparing yourself to everyone else at the gym will definitely get you no where and only bring you down. Everyone has different routines and goals, and getting there takes time. I've realized you've got to do what works for you and be patient. Don't stress yourself out because you're not a shirtless guy or one of the few ballsy girls running in a sports bra (yet).
and...
Don't compete.
Are you ever on the stair master, bike or elliptical, and the person next to you continues to stare at your speed? As if they're judging you, or even trying to get ahead of you? If so, tell them to read the "do" above and get over them-self.
With all this said, going to the gym should be fun and reviving. Leaving there stressed or overwhelmed is only going to make it harder to go back. So, be respectful of the equipment and the people around you. Don't be intimidated, embrace your natural hotness and get in your zone. Now, go to the gym and kick some sweat covered butt.
