{"id":375269,"date":"2025-12-29T14:31:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/375269\/"},"modified":"2025-12-29T14:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T14:31:08","slug":"6-common-gym-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/375269\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Common Gym Mistakes\u2014and How to Avoid Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s that time of year when the gym fills up with more than just the regulars. And whether someone\u2019s a newbie or a seasoned lifter<\/a>, there\u2019s no shortage of rude gym habits<\/a> on display: Hogging multiple machines, skipping the re-rack, filming others without consent, even crop dusting the gym.\n<\/p>\n

While there isn\u2019t always a fix for every bad behavior (aside from basic etiquette!), there are common mistakes that can be easily corrected. Here, our editors share their biggest gym pet peeves and what you should be doing instead.\n<\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

What to Buy for Better Gym Etiquette, According to EatingWell Editors <\/p>\n

Mistake: You Take Your Shoes Off to Lift Weights
\n Solution: Wear Shoes Designed Specifically for Weightlifting <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

If you work out in a gym where people are putting up heavy weights on the regular, you have likely seen a person or two who take their shoes off before doing squats. \u201cIf you feel that you must take your shoes off in the gym, consider some barefoot shoes<\/a> instead,\u201d says Allison Little<\/a>, associate editor. Or, choose a shoe with a wide base, an ultra-firm midsole and great traction so you don\u2019t wobble when you lift heavy weights. You might also want to look for a weightlifting shoe<\/a> with a small heel-to-toe drop (the height difference between the heel and toe of the shoe).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Mistake: Playing Your Music Without Headphones or Wearing Noise-Canceling Headphones
\n Solution: Headphones with Adaptive Sound <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

Every editor agreed when associate editor, Danielle DeAngelis<\/a>, said, \u201cPlease just don\u2019t blast your music.\u201d And along those lines, don\u2019t wear noise-cancelling headphones either. \u201cI ran by three different people with noise-canceling headphones the other day, so even when I was shouting from behind to get by, they didn’t hear me,\u201d says Penelope Wall<\/a>, assistant general manager. \u201cIf you are in a space sharing equipment, noise-canceling headphones can be annoying for the other person, and maybe even a safety hazard.\u201d Wall swears by her AirPods with adaptive sound<\/a> so she can hear her music, but if someone tries to talk to her, the music turns down.\n<\/p>\n

Mistake: Metal Water Bottles That Are Noisy When You Set Them Down
\n Solution: A Bottle Made From Another Material or a Bottle Boot <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

We take hydration very seriously<\/a> here at EatingWell. But the kind of water bottle you bring to the gym matters. \u201cThere’s almost always someone in yoga class with a metal water bottle that makes a super loud sound every time they set it down,\u201d says writer Katie Brown<\/a>. You also don\u2019t want to be the person whose straw tumbler spills everywhere when it gets knocked over. Brown recommends this bottle boot<\/a>\u2014great for quieter settings\u2014or purchase this Stanley set<\/a> that comes with a boot and straw cover.\n<\/p>\n

Mistake: You Take Phone Calls in the Gym
\n Solution: Work Out at Home on Busy Meeting Days <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

We get it\u2014you really want to squeeze in that workout and keep your healthy streak going. But don\u2019t take that Zoom call or catch up with your aunt about the holidays while you\u2019re at the gym. Your workout neighbor doesn\u2019t want to hear it. If a long call is on your calendar, consider getting yourself an at-home setup. Our editors are fans of walking pads<\/a> for calls and weighted vests<\/a> for indoor and outdoor walks.\n<\/p>\n

Mistake: Not Wiping Down Gym Equipment\u00a0
\n Solution: Bring Your Own Towels or Wipes\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s cold and flu season, and you should do your part to cut down on the passing of germs. But also, just don\u2019t be gross! If you\u2019re sweaty, don\u2019t walk away from a piece of equipment without wiping it down. Throw a to-go pack of wipes<\/a> in your gym bag for good measure (after all, the gym-provided ones can suck) and wear sweat-wicking, quick-drying workout clothing like these shorts<\/a> or these leggings<\/a> to minimize the sweat you transfer.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Mistake: Using Chalk and Getting It Everywhere
\n Solution: Try a Different Product <\/p>\n

Amazon<\/p>\n

I am a self-admitted chalk junkie! And, as a result, I try to go around the gym after my workout and wipe up everything I touched\u2014some days are more successful than others. If you, too, are a fan of the chalk bucket at the gym, consider an alternative like Victory Grips hand grips<\/a>, which are a personal favorite. Or, Alysia Bebel<\/a>, social media editor and barre instructor, recommends bringing your own liquid chalk<\/a> to the gym.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s that time of year when the gym fills up with more than just the regulars. And whether…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375270,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[49,48,407,84],"class_list":{"0":"post-375269","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-fitness","11":"tag-health"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375269","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=375269"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375269\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/375270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=375269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=375269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=375269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}