Like most people, I have a gym membership. I go to the gym for various reasons; stay healthy, get a little pick me up, get out some aggression, and so I can feel like I accomplished at least one thing today even if it was just an hour or two working up a sweat. I love going to the gym for all these reasons, however, there always is at least one person at the gym that does something that makes me go insane; yes, I’m one of those people who likes things “just so.” So to my fellow gym rats and sweat junkies here’s your public service announcement to stop doing these 6 things.

1. Stop hogging the machine.

Incase you didn’t catch the first 5 sings when you walked up in this joint, let me reiterate it for you. You are only supposed to use a cardio machine for 30 minutes. No more. Seriously, there’s a limited number of each type of cardio machine and because you have been walking/running on and off for the last hour and half, there are 5 people in a line waiting for their turn. Also, you can’t just do cardio. You’re not going to make any real fitness advances simply by doing cardio.

2. Stop ruining my focus.

Ayy, group of chatty Kathy’s over there, your bellowing laughter and incessant need to hear yourselves talk isn’t helping anyone. First off, I’m in the middle of jamming out to Kesha’s new single while doing my ab routine and frankly I can’t hear her hit the high note in “Praying” because of you. Second, when I’m taking a class, I’m doubly focused; focused on my form and focused on the instructor. With you yapping your jaws I can’t hear a word she just said so now I’m being yelled at by a former SEALs trainer because I can’t hear her over you. Lastly, you’re just plain in my way. It’s time you and all your little buddy’s part like the Red Sea and make yourselves scarce.

3. Stop dropping the weights.

Mr. Macho Man this one’s for you. You seem to think you’re capable of lifting that weight with precision and control, but you do one rep and then drop it like its a hot plate. Clearly, you’re lifting more than you can handle. You then strut for a moment, turn around like you’re the king and everyone else here is a peasant, do one more rep and again drop it like its a hot plate. I’ll be honest; the entire time you’re going on like this I’m just waiting for you to drop the weight on your foot because you’re being stupid. The exception to dropping weights is when you’re doing so to avoid an injury, otherwise, just stop. There are signs printed in black and white that say “Do not drop the weights.” So DON'T DROP THEM.

4. Stop staring.

I get it; you’re curious about what everyone else is doing and want to do a little people watching while here, but staring is just plain rude. Stare at the wrong person and you’re either going to receive a glare that will burn a hole in your face or you may wind up staring at a super competitive individual who will then turn your entire workout for the day into a competition. More likely than not, they’re so competitive that they’ll wear you out even if it kills them and make you feel inadequate because you couldn’t keep up. If you do run into the ultra-competitive type, just go about your business and do the workout that your body can handle and know you kicked your own butt. To the men, staring at a woman doing squats is not going to get you a date. She’s not a stake for you to devour. What’s going to happen is she’s going to think you’re creepy as all get out and give you one nasty look. Then you’re going to call her a bitch to your friends because she clearly doesn’t like you. But you, good sir, are the problem here. Simply don’t stare! Do this and she may be willing to speak with you on her way out.

5. Stop not putting equipment away.

The gym is not your home. At home, you may throw things on the floor and leave them until you feel like picking them up; if at all. At the gym, everything has a place and the place is not wherever the hell you want it to be. It is precise. It's organized. Yet, you, little blonde girl who walks on water, has a tendency to leave the mats, the weights, the steps, etcetera, thrown about as if your mommy is going to come clean for you. Well, news flash, that’s not gonna happen! So put your big girl panties on and take care of the stuff you’re borrowing from the gym.

6. Stop leaving your sweat puddle behind.

Take a look around your gym. I bet you see signs on the walls but you’ve never bothered to read them. Here’s the thing; plastered on every door into this gym, on every wall, mirror, and beam there is a sign that reads “Please wipe down equipment after use!” Yet every day, practically no one wipes down the equipment they use. THIS IS DISGUSTING! I have Raven Symone from That’s So Raven’s catch phrase “ya NASTY” on replay in my head because of you. And, get this, the gym even provides the wipes needed to clean the equipment! There is literally no excuse for you to leave your sweat behind.

When at the gym, all I ask of my fellow gym goers is that you be courteous, and being courteous involves you not doing the 6 points listed above.