Gym etiquette, that is!

Okay, so I've been reading the lifting to failure stuff, and I still have a question. I do these side lift things (don't know what they're called, but you lift your arms out to the side at shoulder height). I started at 3 lbs, went to 5 lbs, and now I can do two sets of 10 with the last three of the second set pretty difficult. The next size weight is 8 lbs. I picked that weight up today and could barely do one rep. So what do I do? Keep trying to do that one rep, or keep up the 2 sets of 10? Or do I do both those things (i.e., the 2 sets at 5 lbs and add the one rep using 8 lbs) with the hope of eventually getting strong enough to start lifting the 8 lbs more than once? I looked all over the gym and can't find any weights between 5 and 8 lbs and none lower than 3 lbs.

The etiquette question. So there's this guy at the gym (and it's a small gym at a small Y branch) who started coming in when we're there on Tues. and Thurs. He works hard and sweats a lot, and he doesn't wipe the machines down afterwards. If I have to follow him, I wipe them down prior to using the machine, and after I finish. There is a note on the machines to "Please wipe down after using." My DH finally handed the guy a rag that he'd soaked with disinfectant, and the guy was kind of clueless. He said he thought it was "optional." Read the note, guy! He said "thanks," but then left it at the machine and never used it.

Just curious what the etiquette is at other gyms and what you'd do about something like that. I'm going to keep wiping before and after, but I find myself getting resentful about this unhygenic boor.

There are dumbells that come in 6 pounds, 7 pounds, etc., but a lot of gyms don't have them. Could you hold 2 3-pound weights in each hand? Or a 5 and a 1? If not, then you could ask the gym to get some, but it might be a while before they come in. Alternately, you could just buy your own -- you should be able to find them at places like Academy Sports or Sports Authority.

As for the boor -- I'd say tell him point blank (politely, but unambiguously) that he's supposed to wipe down the equipment after use. If he still doesn't complain to mgmt and let THEM tell him.

The general etiquette is to wipe down the machines, some people do, some people don't. Also the thing that annoys me is when people don't unrack their weights or don't rerack the dumbbells. I don't have a problem because I can lift 45 lb weights but I know some people can't. I almost think it is a sexist thing.

The FIRST RULE on the list at our gym (which is posted in at least 3 places - I'm assuming the men's locker room has the same list, but I haven't been in there to check for sure ) is that EVERY member MUST have a towel with them to wipe down any equipment including benches they use. If they don't come in with a towel, they either have to buy one at the front desk or turn around and leave. Pretty much everyone I've seen at my gym does carry around at least one towel - some people like to have two - one to wipe down equipment and the other for their personal use. We had one guy who thought it was macho to leave sweat everywhere, but that was a couple years ago - haven't seen him around lately.

Now leaving dumbbells and plates strewn about - THAT'S another thing. Our DBs go up to 120 pounds each so if some musclehead guy decides to leave one of them in the 15-25 lb area then it's kind of a PITA! Grrrr! Between sets I often spend time putting DBs back in their proper places...a futile effort generally.

If Mr. Sweathog (or Ms. Sweathog) isn't paying attention to the rules, you need to report him or her to the management. I'm sure you're not the only one who's disgusted and/or annoyed by this UNSANITARY behavior - people just tend to be scared to report it for some reason

Sheila53, if your having trouble making the transition between 5 and 8 lb dumbells you could try doing an extra set with the fives and looking at some other shoulder strengthening lifts (press, front raises, upright row etc).

MrsJim, you sound like me. Between sets, I try to fix the dumbbells, also I'll sometimes try to reorder plates or at least group them together. It is silly to see a 5lb plate behind a 45lb plate.

What I do is I lift the lighter weight for most of my reps then leave the heavier weight for the last 6 reps (or less) so that you can lift to failure!

Yesterday some (insert favorite perjorative noun) left 4 hundred pounders plus 9 45 pounders on the leg press. Due to recent surgery, I'm not supposed to lift anything (haha- my self-imposed limit until tomorrow is 25 pounds). Usually I would just unrack it, but I was PISSED and I can't safely unrack 100 pound plates. I hunted down the (same word-starts with f) and argued him into unracking it, or else! I'm not sure what "or else" would have been, but I was looking very official and angry, and the girl I was training wasn't capable of doing even the 45's.

Sweaty benches- UGH! We have towels, and paper towel dispensers along with spray bottles of disinfectant all over the gym. Some goons still don't get it. I may "or else" them too pretty soon.

Shoulders- the exercise you described is a lateral raise. Try mixing up the order of your shoulder exercises so you do that first for a while. You may be able to eek out a few more reps at the heavier weight before you need to drop to the lighter. Then when you get stronger, re-arrange the order and exercises again.

Mel

There are dumbells that come in 6 pounds, 7 pounds

And 250 pounds that don't wipe down machines.... ewwwww gross. And how could you think it was "optional?" Puh-leze.