1. Don’t try to sneak into the gym if you are not a member. This is first against the law (basically stealing) and is very disrespectful to the gym owners, staff, and members. If you want to use the facility, pay your dues.

2. Bring your membership card every time. Stop thinking of half-ass excuses why you left it. Take the gym seriously and the gym will take you seriously.

3. Bring a towel and even more importantly, use the damn thing! No one wants to lay down in your sweat.

4. Re-rack all the weights you use. Nothing more annoying than trying to find that other dumbbell which is hidden on the other side of the gym.

5. I realize that the gym is a place for hardwork and hardwork will make you sweat but please be sure to come relatively clean. No one wants to smell you or your week old workout shirt from the front door.

6. Do not use the squat rack to perform bicep curls. You are standing in the way of someone else’s serious progress.

7. Do not use the gym mirrors to pop pimples on your face or anywhere else for that matter.

8. Don’t ask the staff to change the music, they cannot make everyone happy. If you don’t like the music the gym plays, invest in a portable CD player or mp3 player and blaster your own tunes all you want.

9. Refrain from using the gym as a pick-up joint. Most ladies don’t like that and will just find you annoying disturbing their workout time. Plus, the time you spend trying to pick some chick up can be better spent picking some serious weight up.

10. Most women will ask for assistance if they feel they need it. Most men will not. Don’t offer your “expertise” to people who are not asking for it. If you see someone doing something dangerous maybe ask them what that exercise does, how is it performed etc. This can defuse the already heighten egos that populate many gyms.

11. Don’t come to the gym to hang out with your friends. You are just taking up space and standing in the way of someone who is trying to make serious changes to his/her body, health and life.

12. I realize that getting those final few reps in is tough work but try to keep your groaning to a decent volume. Too many moan and groan too loudly, most are just trying to say, “Hey, look at me! Look how much weight I can lift!”, but it never seems to come out that way.

13. If someone is looking in the mirror while performing an exercise, don’t step in front of them and start your own set. Everyone likes to see what they are doing and there is usually plenty of mirror for everyone (good light is another thing…lol).

14. Last but not least….”DO NOT SPIT IN THE WATER FOUNTAIN!!”

Mark-Anthony Bailey