10 Most Annoying Gym Members

There are “characters” in any gym, but every facility has these pathetic personalities you want to avoid!

For anyone who has made considerable progress in the gym, you know there’s a certain camaraderie and support among the group of folks you see day in and day out. However, there are always a few people at your local fitness centre to steer clear of if you don’t want to be annoyed. If any of these peculiar stereotypes sound familiar to you, you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about.

1. Tommy Texter

Everyone brings their phone to the gym these days, for better or worse. And worse is the guy who sits on a machine for long periods between sets as if the actual working sets are breaks for his texting routine. With his headphones on, he’s hoping folks will be intimidated by him, even if he’s been dominating a single (and the only) machine for a given body part for 20 minutes.

Determined that he won’t block your workout for a machine you need, you ask about working in. “What?” he asks as he looks up, finally making eye contact. “Can I work in?” you ask again, and he repeats “what?” before finally taking out an earbud. You again repeat the request before he finally relents.

“WTF,” you mutter to yourself rather loudly, “You think I’m asking for an effin date?”

2. “I Could’ve Been Pro” Dreamer

Every gym has one. If you’ve got a physique that’s better than mediocre, you can bet that the “I could’ve been pro” will approach you first by complimenting you, only to turn the conversation into one about himself and how he suffered an injury that cost him a pro sports/bodybuilding career. Often these chaps are quite nice and cordial, but highly delusional, and engaging them invites a lengthy discussion. One day, long ago, he tweaked a knee or pulled a hammy while training for a big event. Wouldn’t you know, that ended his hopes and dreams. If you’re getting the run-down while trying to focus on your workout and hear only half of the story, never fear: They all have the same ending!

3. The Mixed Martial Mirror Artist (MMMA)

This particular character is fortunately quite rare. Not only does 5 o’clock Zumba class Jackie Chan disrupt your focus on heavy squats from the opposite side of the gym, but he’s likely dressed in full jujitsu attire and shouts as he practices techniques with furious rage in front of a mirror. It can be a real bummer to finally get to the gym after a long day only to realize wannabe-McGregor can be outta sight, but never outta earshot.

4. The Flexer

This stereotype is the most common among the group. How annoying is it when you see someone finish a set, quickly drop the weight, and go right into some flexes, right in front of your mirror space? Don’t get me wrong—maybe once or twice a workout, you want to see your “pump” and you might just hit a side-triceps after a tough set of rope press-downs or skull-crushers. The Flexer makes sure to flex biceps, pecs, legs, abs—whatever muscle he’s currently training. Don’t expect him to be aware of your—or anyone else’s—sight lines or personal space in an effort to find just the right angle and lighting.

5. The “Can I Work In?” Guy

You’ve finally worked up to your heaviest weight, which demands your full attention and focus. From your peripheral vision, you see a guy approaching, and then he stops right in front of you, as you do your best not to look up. He taps you on the shoulder, necessitating a response. “Mind if I work in?” he asks.

Yes, we mind! Especially given the fact that this person has no business attempting such a weight and you’re in no mood to reduce the poundage to his working weight. There’s a mile-wide gulf between that and someone who has similar strength to yours who asks to work in. The always-wanting-to-work-in guy compounds the annoyance by asking you to spot him.

6. The Dumbbell Collector

This is another lifter who lives in every gym. You know the guy who completes a set of curls or lateral raises and then extends the set by “running the rack” with drop set after drop set. Well, the Dumbbell Collector takes the running out of that equation by simply taking several pairs of dumbbells hostage at his feet or beside a bench, essentially monopolizing every matched pair. For the advanced lifter who trains heavy, this may not be a hindrance, but for guys looking for 20s, 25s, 30s, 35s, and so on, it can be a real workout killer. Steer clear of the dumbbell rack when this guy’s around.

7. Freddy/Francine Foodie

Picture this: You’re prepping for your first competition and it’s coming down to the last couple of weeks before you hit the stage. You’ve been eating your bland bodybuilding meals for weeks now and you easily could be convinced to commit a crime against the local pizza parlor. On top of this, you’re low in energy and tired, meaning you’re more short-tempered and irritable than usual.

Thinking it could possibly be a mid-cardio apparition, you get a whiff of a pungent, fried-food aroma. Wait a second, you think, are those French fries and a greasy burger you’re inhaling?Yes, you’re certain it is. But it isn’t your imagination: Someone actually brought smelly, greasy food onto the gym floor, as if it weren’t an affront to others’ senses. It’s bad enough when people talk about all the gluttonous food in front of you, but bringing it into the gym and eating it in front of them is about as bad as it gets..

8. The Creeper

We almost all have been victim to The Creeper. You’re digging deep on a tough set toward the end of your workout with only a rep or two left in the tank. As your reflection in the mirror eggs you on, you quickly glimpse The Creeper, who’s watching your every last rep. The Creeper is that person who always seems to be staring at you, no matter what you’re doing, where you are, or how far away. He’s the reason many women avoid the workout floor.

9. The Self-Righteous Accuser

Probably the most ignorant of all the annoying personality types, The Accuser is someone who labels just about anyone bigger or leaner than himself as a steroid-user. And now with the Internet, millions of them have a place to display their self-righteousness online behind an avatar that’s likely not even the real deal. Their lack of effort, consistency, discipline, knowledge, and even good genetics mean nothing because, apparently, everyone knows that steroid users don’t have to do any real work to achieve a great—or even good—physique.

10. The Slamming Sammy

You know how euphoric it is when you find that special place inside your head before a very heavy set that’s going to test your mettle. With that mind-set in place and ready to rock, you’re distracted by the deafening crash of a 315-pound barbell ruthlessly dropped to the gym floor! Worse, your gym might doesn’t have sound-buffering neoprene flooring, so the clanging bounces off the gym’s walls.

Suddenly, that weight is scary all over again, and you’re no longer feeling invincible. Clearly, you’re now angry more than anything and must gather your thoughts, thanks to Slamming Sammy. Slamming Sammies have no respect for other folks’ focus or anxieties when it comes to slamming weights and dropping dumbbells.

This list includes just some of the annoying personalities you’ll find on about any gym floor. And, of course, there are any number of inspiring and uplifting folks, too. But it’s best to avoid these annoying personas so you can take the most rapid road to Gainsville.

Editor's Note: One way to avoid exposing yourself to annyoing gym members is to train at a serious gym! Check out our feature on one such gym and you'll know exactly why this is considered the mecca of the north!