This "Primetime Live" really disturbed me. Feces anyone? http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Primetime/story?id=410907&page=1 Is Your Health Club Unhealthy? 'Primetime' Swabs Exercise Bikes, Dumbbells -- Find Out What Came Out Jan. 14, 2005 - It's the New Year's rush at health clubs all over the country. Every January, in some gyms, there are twice as many people working out as usual. There are a lot of people looking to get fit. But they could also get something they don't want -- germs. "Primetime" conducted an undercover investigation of a number of gyms, swabbing everything in sight -- from the free weights to the locker rooms -- and found germs practically everywhere. Microbiologist Dr. Phillip Tierno says the gym is an unusually effective place for the transmission of germs. There are millions and millions of germs on human skin. So when anyone sweats, they come pouring off. All those people, all that exposed skin and all that sweat, can create a perfect storm for spreading infections. "You are not using that one machine exclusively for yourself. You're leaving that machine and someone else follows you and the germs that you leave behind," he said. "Eighty percent of all infectious disease is transmitted by contact." It can be as simple as a sick person uses the machine, someone else uses it next, that person touches the same handrest and then touches his eyes … and he, too, can get sick. "By the time the 50th person uses that machine, there may be potential pathogens there," Tierno said. Generally Self-Policed Germs in gyms are not exactly a priority for health authorities. For example, in New York or Los Angeles, the health department usually inspects gyms on a yearly basis. Even then, they are generally inspecting pools for proper chlorine and filtration levels. Unless there is a specific complaint, no one comes out to inspect health clubs for germs. But health club owners are aware that cleanliness is a priority. At the New York Health and Racquet club -- which was not one of the gyms tested by "Primetime" -- members are given clean towels, and there are antiseptic spray bottles and paper towel dispensers on the exercise floors. Cleanliness is "first and foremost" in the mind of new members, said Jeff Bodar of the New York Health and Racquet Club. "If you run a dirty gym, you're not going to have customers. Simple as that," he said. "They want to see cleaners cleaning." "You spend a lot of time here and you get very sweaty," said one exerciser. "You don't want to share sweat with everyone in the club." When Popularity Increases Risks "Primetime's" samples were tested by Tierno's lab at New York University Hospital. The swabs were put into petri dishes after leaving the gym -- and soon bacteria was growing, sometimes in heavy concentrations. On a set of dumbbells, "Primetime" found staphylococcus, streptococcus viridans, diptheroids and e-coli -- the most common bacteria in human feces. On one exercise bike, "Primetime" found candida -- the germ that causes yeast infections. "Any article that is used by multiple people in quick sequence such as the dumbbells" is a high risk for germs, Tierno said. Other areas are seats where people may bike or sit down to lift weights. But Tierno said the bacteria found in human feces, e-coli, was worst on the shower floor. "Germs do survive in the shower … on the walls and on the floor," he said. "I found them in hoards. Unbelievable quantity." Still, Tierno was quick to note that most of these germs won't necessarily make someone sick. And there are precautions anyone can take. Don't touch your face while you are exercising. Shower after a workout. And most importantly, wash your hands before eating or drinking anything. As to the germs in the shower, "You wear little slippers, you're OK," he said. Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures
That reminds me... when I was in the restroom washing my hands at the gym on Saturday, a guy comes out of one of the stalls... goes straight back out to the gym-floor to continue his workout... no hand-washing of any sort. The rest of the time I was there, I was avoiding the equipment he used.
I have to agree with the people that said men hanging around the locker room -- way to comfortable with their nudity
This guy who insisted on watching Fox News on the only TV when the Rockets are in the playoffs, and when I ask politely ask if we can watch something a little less depressing while we run, he says some weirdass crap about me being anti-american. Not trying to get political here....some weirdo actually did this to me last year.
~snicker ________________ Perfume or cologne in the gym is beyond idiotic. Weight slammers. Excessive grunting. People who read books. People who stink (bad).
Uh, working out. And the women wear too much, and the guys too little! (of course, I would find a thong to be too much for the ladies...)
Bally's sucks and they are over priced. I worked at the one in West U as a trainer when I was 18. I would not recommend that place to any straight man due to the "behind the scenes" things going on in various areas of the club. Try Gold's(if there are any in Houston anymore) or 24 Hour Fitness. BTW, I hate people that read the newspaper at the gym. Read on your own time because I'm usually waiting on your pokey ass to get done using the equipment as your reading space.
My biggest complaint is guys who do circuits and tie up multiple machines/stations. My weirdest thing was back 8 years ago or so I had a free membership to a very nich club in town and I worked in the area so I would go there at lunch. Problem was there was always a group of 4-5 old guys who would be playing cards int eh lockerroom. That may not seem weird until I tell you they were either naked or just had towels on. Why in the fu$k would you want to be playing cards and looking at some other old dudes pee-pee? Needless to say i always picked a locker very far away from those dudes.
At least the squat racks are clean. That is one "station" you count that doesn't get used much. I love me some squats.
