How to Make Me Hate Your Guts

on May 17, 2010
in All Posts

Obviously, with a title like that, this blog post contains a serious rant.  But before we get to that, let’s all gaze adoringly at my lovely lunch:

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That, my friends, is an arugula salad topped with kidney beans, baked polenta, and tabbouli (a pre-made kind from Costco).

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Dare I say this salad was perfect?  Because it was.  The flavorful arugula base, especially combined with the tabbouli, meant I didn’t even need dressing. 

 

Lunch was on the light side because before my workout, I had an English muffin with almond buttah:

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So… I guess you’re wondering how to make me hate your guts.  It’s quite simple, really.  Just put me in a confined space and make me listen to other people’s inane conversations at a loud volume.

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I wanted to mix it up by working out at the gym today, and between 15 minutes on the stairmaster and 15 minutes on the elliptical, I was having a lovely, sweaty time…  Until a dude started to yammer on his cell phone next to me.  Loudly.  VERY loudly.  So loudly that I could hear him over my earbuds, which were blasting Adam Lambert (Whatdya want from me? Whatdya want from me?). 

 

I seriously thought I was going to burst a blood vessel.  I’m not sure why, but talking on cell phones at the gym annoys me SO much.

 

There are several instances where it is, in fact, appropriate to talk on your cell phone at the gym:

 

  • “Hello, Representative from Company XYZ that I recently interviewed with for a super awesome job position.  What, I got the job?  Fabulous!  Please hold on for a minute while I step away from the treadmill…”
  • “Hi, Husband.  You’ve called me three times now so I figured it was an emergency and should pick up…. What?  We won the lottery/someone is dying/the house is on fire?! I’ll get right home!”
  • Hello, dearest friend who is 8 months, 3 weeks months pregnant.  You’re in labor at the very instant?! Let me rush to the hospital right now…”

 

You get my drift.  I totally understand the need to have your cell on your body at all times (because how I am suppose to keep up with Twitter otherwise?), but seriously… you do not need to talk on your phone at the gym for any length of time.  The gym is a place to work out and relax, not be subjected to other people’s ramblings.  Furthermore, I wonder how effectively these cell-talkers are actually working out when they focus more on gabbing than the task at hand. 

 

Side note: I do not mind friends talking to each other at the gym.  That’s fine with me.  It’s the cell phones that make me want to punch a wall.

 

Vent over.

 

Please respond – am I being completely unreasonable? Insane?  Hormonal? (OK, maybe a little…) Or do cell phones at the gym make your blood boil, too?

{ 223 comments }

 

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs May 17, 2010, 2:56 pm

    Haha! I love people ranting lol!
    I don’t got to the gym so I can’t comment on that part – but loudly mobile phone talking sure does tick me off in pretty much every other situation, so I don’t think you’re alone!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet May 17, 2010, 2:56 pm

    No! We have never even ALLOWED cell phone talking at my gym. There are signs up everywhere. It was more from an insurance standpoint – people talking and falling off a machine getting hurt. If there aren’t any signs up, I would suggest asking someone at the front desk if that is allowed. If not, they should tell them to get off.

    Clearly the only thing this person was working out was their mouth.

  • Scargosun May 17, 2010, 2:58 pm

    Need a ‘like’ button for this rant. Also hate when people think they HAVE to have there phones out on a table in a restaurant…even when said restaurant specifically asks that you refrain from using cell phone. GA!

    • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday May 17, 2010, 3:09 pm

      Worse is when people use their cell phones at the weight stacks/benches and other people are waiting to use them

      • Julie May 17, 2010, 4:36 pm

        I know, Right? Like when you are waiting to use it and they are just sitting there. Texting. Grrr.

  • Shannon, Tropical Eats May 17, 2010, 2:58 pm

    im a non-gymmer too. to me the outdoors > gym. but ya, ppl on cell phones are annoyingggggg no matter where they are: restaurants, the grocery store, BATHROOM, or the gym.

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) May 17, 2010, 2:58 pm

    you’re NOT being unreasonable at all…i think that people just assume that they have the right to do whatever they want at any time, regardless of where they’re at. but common courtesy is slowly dying, and cell phones at the gym are just one example! i’ve found that working out outside definitely keeps those people at bay!

  • E May 17, 2010, 2:58 pm

    Not being unreasonable at all — I’m surprised your gym doesn’t have a set of rules about that!

    At my gym, talking on your cell is absolutely not allowed.

  • Elyse May 17, 2010, 2:58 pm

    Cell phone usage at the gym bugs me so much! Karma bites them in the butt though. I saw a guy on his cell phone fall off the treadmill because he wasn’t paying attention. He was okay (his ego mightve bruised a bit) but it made for a good laugh with my workout buddy!!!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite May 17, 2010, 2:58 pm

    I always have my ipod on at the gym to avoid loud talkers and cell phone users.

    I can’t stand people who do that. So inconsiderate!

  • Beth May 17, 2010, 2:59 pm

    Ugh. I hate when people blab on their cell phones at any public place that is not outside. So obnoxious. Movie theaters bug me the most, but any enclosed public area should be off limits unless it’s an emergency.

  • Katy(Balanced Foodie) May 17, 2010, 2:59 pm

    Totally not overreacting. I am easily annoyed when working out because when I’m working my butt off and I need to focus and having people yell loudly, play music loudly(in the apartment gym mainly), or talk at an obscene volume when on the treadmill makes it so hard for me to focus and I get so frustrated. It’s just common decency! Excuse yourself and go to the locker room to talk people are trying to concentrate! In our apartment gym I’ve had up to 6 high schoolers hanging around taking up space when only two were working out. Or the girls that brought LAPTOPS to blast their music. It’s so irritating!

    Okay,phew, now my rant is over.

  • Meghan@traveleatlove May 17, 2010, 3:00 pm

    Drives me nuts! I have seen many women sitting on a machine talking for 1/2 hour or more. I wrote a gym pet peeves post awhile back, and it was hilarious what people came up with!

  • Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers May 17, 2010, 3:00 pm

    little things seem to become amplified in a gym environment. the top three things that annoy me at the gym:

    1. when there are 10 open treadmills and someone picks the one next to you
    2. people who sit on a bike & watch TV and don’t even pedal
    3. people who sing OUT LOUD to their ipod

    • Ashley (whole-ier) May 17, 2010, 4:51 pm

      Ha. Your #1 bothers me too. It’s always the super sweaty men that workout next to me too. ewww

  • Lauren May 17, 2010, 3:00 pm

    Not unreasonable at all. I actually hate people talking on their cell phones in most places. I don’t want to hear your phone conversation!
    Luckily I go to the gym at 5:30am, and I don’t think most people know others to call at that time.

  • Alison May 17, 2010, 3:01 pm

    Ditto. Total dittoes. I keep my cell phone with me at all times in the gym because my daughter is in school and I’m always fearful that something will happen to her and they won’t be able to reach me. With that being said, I never use my phone.
    It annoys me when people talk on the phone while “working out.” In my opinion, if you can have a lengthy conversation while working out, you’re probably not working out hard enough.
    It’s also annoying when people conduct conversations in the locker room. Hello, we can hear every. word. you’re. saying.
    Sheesh.
    I used to attend a gym that had an upstairs walking/running track. One day there was a young girl (15 or 16) walking at a snail’s pace, talking on the phone and drinking a Coke. People were weaving in and out and all around her and she was totally entranced in her phone call.

  • Tonyne @ Unlikely Success Story May 17, 2010, 3:03 pm

    Totally agree. I can’t stand it! I don’t even take my phone with me unless I’m on-call for work and then it’s on silence and I step away from the equipment to answer.

  • Janna May 17, 2010, 3:03 pm

    Nope! You are not unreasonable AT ALL! There are actually a lot of things that bug me about people at the gym, especially when it comes to cardio machines… and talking on the phone is definitely one of them!

  • ashleigh May 17, 2010, 3:03 pm

    Most gyms have cell phone rules, and if they don’t I think it’s fine for people to talk on them. It bothers me when I can hear ppls conversations everywhere but that’s just the way things are in todays world. If you can talk on the phone you aren’t working hard enough! I ever never use my phone at the gym!

    PS what does polenta taste like?

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:12 pm

      like grainy corn 🙂

      • Shellybean May 17, 2010, 4:06 pm

        Grits is another good description, if you’re from the south. 🙂

  • kirsten May 17, 2010, 3:03 pm

    It’s definitely rude but I actually like to listen to other peoples private conversations so it doesn’t bother me haha. It does however annoy the crap out of me when someone is ordering something at a restaurant or coffee shop and won’t get off there phone. I think that is so rude.

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:05 pm

      it wasn’t even in english so i couldn’t even eavesdrop effectively! LOL

      • Krista May 17, 2010, 3:41 pm

        Call me crazy, but EVERY time someone around me talks on their cell in another language they talk REALLY loudly!!

        • Marie May 17, 2010, 3:50 pm

          Um… yeah, that’s probably not true.

  • Erin May 17, 2010, 3:03 pm

    Talking on cell phones isn’t allowed at the YMCA where I belong, thankfully. You can have them (I use my iphone as my ipod) but can’t talk in the exercise areas.
    It’s definitely not an unreasonable request!

  • Kate May 17, 2010, 3:04 pm

    You are right on! I haven’t had to listen to too many call phone users while working out, but I am subjected to women talking on their cell phones in the gym and it drives me bonkers!

    I’m ok with a short “hi I’m leaving the gym see you soon.” But I hate having to listen to someone’s one sided conversation while they are trying to get dressed. “Oh yeah, I’m getting dressed at the gym. Work was ok, my boss did x, I really should quit that job. Blah blah blah.”

    Grr…

    • Erin May 17, 2010, 4:50 pm

      Agreed–sometimes it can just be a “hey, I can’t talk right now but will call you back in 30 minutes.” Okay.

  • Karen @ Not Just Celery May 17, 2010, 3:04 pm

    I don’t think you are overreacting – as you say, there are appropriate (short and sweet) convos that might be appropriate at the gym, but otherwise people should stay off them!

    My pet peeve is screaming/misbehaving children. I know a lot of times they don’t know better but a lot of times I find the parent’s response inadequate. Then again, I’m not a parent, nor do I want/plan to be anytime soon!

  • Nicci@NiftyEats May 17, 2010, 3:04 pm

    Omg, yes people on cell phones at restaurants talking loudly and holding up lines in the self checkout, at the grocers. ”Please put your cell away.” I can’t stand it either, especially in the gym. I went to a new gym recently, and no cell phones were allowed…very nice.

  • jessica May 17, 2010, 3:04 pm

    I’ve never seen anyone talking on their cell at my gym, I guess i’m lucky! My biggest gym pet peeve is the people who leave their water bottles/towels on the cardio machines during peak times when they aren’t around! And they are gone far too long for it to be just a washroom break!

  • Mary @ Fit this girl May 17, 2010, 3:04 pm

    Completely agree, most gyms have rules and I have had to enforce them before, by asking people at my internship to take their phone and go in the stairwell! I think it’s almost the same as talking in line at the store. People can’t get away from you, it’s not fair. 🙂 Cute rant…

  • Heather May 17, 2010, 3:04 pm

    You aren’t being unreasonable at all. I often daydream about hitting the stop button on the rails of the treadmill causing said person that is chatting to fly off because they clearly aren’t paying attention to what they are doing.

  • Shellybean May 17, 2010, 3:04 pm

    My pet peeve is people who run on the treadmill that directly faces the “Please limit your workout to 30 minutes when other people are waiting” sign and ignore the 4 or 5 people waiting for a treadmill who can see that that person has been running for 45 minutes.
    Ugh.
    Yes, I was waiting in line, and that girl ran for a freaking hour. So rude. And then she did the same thing two days later.
    I should have gotten on my cellphone and complained loudly about people who hog the equipment- lol. 🙂

  • Nancy May 17, 2010, 3:05 pm

    I don’t get bothered by people talking on their cell phones at gyms, probably because I haven’t seen it happen at the gym I go to.

    I don’t remember my pet peeves until they happen. I need to write them down and rant about them too. Because I know it makes me SO angry. I just can’t remember right now! 🙂 I guess that’s a good thing? haha

  • Carolyn @ lovinlosing May 17, 2010, 3:05 pm

    Totally agree with you. Though I have answered my phone before because my headphones are bluetooth and I use my phone as Mp3 player and Garmin-like device. The one time that happened I kept my converstation SHORT!

  • Wendy May 17, 2010, 3:05 pm

    I agree! I have never actually had that problem at the gym, but I can see how extremely annoying it would be, and do find it annoying in other places such as restaurants, stores, etc. I can, however think of one other appropriate reason to talk on your cell phone at the gym (or elsewhere) – if your child’s school/babysitter is calling to tell you that he/she is sick or injured. That is the only reason I keep my phone with me when I work out at the gym!

  • Ruth, Diet Procrastinator May 17, 2010, 3:06 pm

    Either there aren’t any yappy cell phone users at my gym or I zone out so much that I don’t notice! I’d switch gyms if I were you.

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:06 pm

      I quit today. I’m over the people at this gym. The trainers are equally obnoxious.

      • June May 17, 2010, 3:31 pm

        did you tell the gym people why you were quitting??

        • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:32 pm

          no, i just bounced. i couldn’t deal with their false promises of not sucking. LOL

  • Clare May 17, 2010, 3:07 pm

    reasonable. completely. I see people running in central park on their cell phones. who wants to talk you now? because I know nobody wants to talk to me on the phone when I’m running (and doesn’t your arm get tired?) no joke, last week I voluteered at a race and I saw a guy run by me, talking on the phone. It’s obscene! I have so many more, “what’s up with that?” things I could write. Wearing sunglasses on the subway? Is it sunny down here? Clipping your nails on the subway? I’ve seen that waayy too many times. Your bluetooth on the subway? Nobody is calling you, you don’t have service. Clearly your question has struck a nerve with me, huh? Yikes! I could go on, but I shall stop here, because it might get out of control. 🙂

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:08 pm

      I actually saw someone in the finisher’s chute at the ironman yesterday TALKING ON HIS CELL PHONE. he was like “yea baby, i’m almost done. see ya in a few hours when i get home.” i was like, are you serious? LOL

      • Deveree May 17, 2010, 3:25 pm

        Okay, I HAVE to chime in on this- in defense of the people on their cell phone during a race. My fiance was just in Iraq for a year long tour, during which he had to call me. If I missed calls I would have to wait who knows how many days until the next call. SO yes, I know it’s ridiculous, but I once had to answer my phone at mile 2 of a 5k. I know people around me thought I was crazy and what not, but hey, you do what you have to. I did quickly say, “I’m racing, can you possibly call in 20 minutes?” but nevertheless, I answered my phone during a race! I was also guilty of being on the phone in other random places during this time- so now I have more patience for cell phone talkers. They could be talking to their deployed soldier!

        PS- I’ve never commented, love your blog tons.

        • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:27 pm

          hahah OK. you win on that one. 🙂

          Thank you for being a military fiancee and having an wonderful man with an important job!

        • June May 17, 2010, 3:33 pm

          I would think that is a little bit different circumstance and NOT the norm AT ALL…I think people are referring to those endless chats we so often see runners/racers doing. I find it completely ridiculous.

  • Kelly May 17, 2010, 3:07 pm

    Nope I completely agree with you. A gym I used to belong to didn’t even allow cell phones on the gym floor. They had to stay in the locker room, but you couldn’t even use them there.

  • Ana May 17, 2010, 3:07 pm

    Absolutely agree with you. cell phone conversations at the gym drive me nuts. the only thing that is worse is when other gym-goers wear perfume/cologne while working out– just because Armani smells nice on a clean man does not mean that said man should bathe in it before sweating like a maniac at the gym. i’m all for smelling nice one you are leaving, but geez…cologne + sweat = sick nasty.

    • carla May 17, 2010, 3:46 pm

      This is the worst!! Why would you put on a brand new burst of cologne right before working out???

      • Clare May 17, 2010, 4:15 pm

        ugh, or the boys that just drop the weights? yeah, you’re soooo huge, i can’t handle it, you have to drop the weights from midair. now i want to make out with you. wait, no I don’t.

        • carla May 17, 2010, 4:22 pm

          LOL my absolute favorite man pet peeve (unrelated to working out but still) is when a guy yells/whistles at you out the window of his car. I mean, really, do you think I’m going to be so flattered that I’m going to run up to your car and hand you my number?? What exactly do you think is going to happen here?

        • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 4:28 pm

          wait… you DON’T do that, Carla? i always give them my number AND make out with them on the spot.

  • Chase @ The Chase Project May 17, 2010, 3:07 pm

    I’m ok with people doing it while I’m on the treadmills or whatever, because normally I have my headphones in and couldn’t care less about what they’re up to, but when people do it while taking spinning when I’m teaching? OH BOY. I start talking more loudly or turn the music up so hopefully they get the point!

  • Katie - Life Discombobulated May 17, 2010, 3:10 pm

    Oh, yeah. That would bug me, too! I lived in Taiwan for a year and belonged to the ONE gym in my town. If I didn’t make it onto the elliptical early enough, this woman (wearing jean shorts and a tank top) would beat me to it, then hoard the only remote for the TV. She would go around (on the elliptical) a couple of times vvvveeeerrrryyy slowly, then stop for like 5 minutes because she was so engrossed in the television program she was watching. It’s amazing I didn’t kill her! lol

  • Johanna B May 17, 2010, 3:10 pm

    Def not unreasonable. The fitness center where I work is in the basement with no windows and thank you very much no cell phone reception. One problem eliminated. There is an overhead paging system and a landline at the front desk if you are expecting an emergency.

  • Emily May 17, 2010, 3:11 pm

    Your rant is exactly why I don’t take my cell phone into the gym. I understand mothers that do, but teenagers/social butterflies that just have it there because it’s attached to their hip annoys me.

  • Alyssa May 17, 2010, 3:11 pm

    You are totally not overreacting! It is so annoying in every public location, gym included. I used to work at Starbucks and people would be on their cell phones while waiting in line, then have the audicity to annoyed that I was interupting THEM when their turn would come and I would attempt to serve them! My other huge pet peeve is people using equipment and not working out, such as sitting on a a bike (but not pedaling) to talk to a friend, reading magazines between sets on weight machines, or taking a spot in a full hour long spin class only to leave after 20 minutes!

    It’s really sad how many people lack common courtesy and common sense….

  • Casey May 17, 2010, 3:13 pm

    I actually have never run into anyone on a cell at the gym! But I’m sure I wouldn’t like it.

    Side question. 🙂 What do you think about arugula vs spinach, in terms of health benefits? I have heard spinach has more nutritional value, but I like arugula so much better!

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:14 pm

      I actually don’t know the difference, I just really love the taste of arugula over spinach for salads. 🙂

      • Cyclist Kate May 17, 2010, 5:19 pm

        I think all of those dark green leafy things are pretty much insanely nutrient dense and you should eat whichever you like the best. It’s always good to mix it up, but if you’re eating greens, you can’t miss. Incidentally, spinach’s ANDI score is 738, arugula’s is 556, broccoli is 361.

  • Bethany @ More Fruit Please May 17, 2010, 3:13 pm

    I completely agree with ya. Casual conversations over the phone should NOT be held at the gym. Or in any confined areas. Last week I was at Target looking at bathing suites and I had to hear a very personal conversation about a woman’s financial situation. She was over 20 feet away! In the recent issue of Glamour, they gave the advice that you should only pull out your phone to talk or text if you would feel comfortable doing a crossword puzzle. If you would feel awkward or rude doing a crossword puzzle, then don’t use your phone!

  • Michele May 17, 2010, 3:13 pm

    It TOTALLY annoys me too. There used to be this woman who would talk on her phone the entire time she was lifting weights. Not kidding — phone tucked between shoulder and ear while trying to to lat pulldowns. It made me want to vomit.

    The gym is not for the phone unless it’s extremely important!!

  • Gina May 17, 2010, 3:15 pm

    I agree 100%! Plus, it shows that if you can easily keep a conversation going, you’re not working out hard enough. One day I was at the gym later in the evening and all the ellipticals were free. One woman decided she just had to be on the one next to me and then immediately took out her cell phone and started to talk loudly. I gave her a death glare every few minutes and then switched to a different machine because I couldn’t take it anymore.

  • Rebecca @ Tales from the Range May 17, 2010, 3:15 pm

    Hahahah I love this post! So funny and on point!

  • Jenn May 17, 2010, 3:16 pm

    Thank you for the rant!! I thought maybe I was alone in being annoyed by people talking on the phone while using the machines at the gym.

  • KatieTX May 17, 2010, 3:16 pm

    Good rant. I have people text during my indoor cycling classes…part of me doesn’t care, but other part thinks that the text can wait…and aren’t you sweating all over your phone? Talking to a friend I think is fine to a certain level. In yoga class, that is not OK. Once a couple ladies in the back row of my cycle class were having a loud conversation, so much that the girl in the row in front shot them enough evil looks I didn’t say anything to them. If you are supposed to be sprinting, you should not be conversing, period!

    I was running on the treadmill today when my mom called, I answered and yelled “call you back in 30 minutes!” then hung up, I hope no one thought I was crazy. I felt that was proper etiquette.

  • Jennifer May 17, 2010, 3:17 pm

    I’ve switched machines and given many the nasty look to cell phone users at the gym. What irks me is that my old gym had signs that said “no cell phone use” and people still used to chatter away! I don’t get people sometimes. Respect for others!

  • Camille May 17, 2010, 3:19 pm

    You are being totally reasonable! The gym is just a breeding ground for annoyances.
    My personal favorite: people who feel like they need to bathe in perfume or cologne before coming to the gym. I am struggling to breathe as is, I don’t need to be choking on your overpowering musk!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) May 17, 2010, 3:19 pm

    In my opinion if you are able to talk on your cell phone you aren’t getting a good workout. And it is rude to those around you. Besides I don’t want you to hear my conversations so why would you want me to hear yours. Do it before or after. They make Bluetooth so you can talk on your drive home.

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman May 17, 2010, 3:19 pm

    I hate it too. I think it’s a respect issue, and when someone talks on their cell (and, let’s face it, it’s always loud) it’s them saying their conversation about the girl they made out with at the bar last night is more important than your workout. It’s just plain rude.

  • Mary May 17, 2010, 3:19 pm

    I am in complete agreeance with you. An even bigger dislike of mine while I’m at the gym is when people walk at .2mph on the treadmill while they’re yapping on their phones. Wtf. The gym I don’t think is meant to be for social hour its for healthy exercise

  • Amanda (modernation) May 17, 2010, 3:20 pm

    150% agree. Our society has zero cell phone etiquette and I hate it. The one that really pisses me off is when someone is checking out at the grocery store and is talking. Hello! That is a human being standing across from you ringing up your toothpaste and tampons. Have a little courtesy and hang up the phone for a second.

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg May 17, 2010, 3:20 pm

    ARGH!!! I hate it when people do that. In Altoona, our gym is really old school, so there are a lot of older men who go there, and they will have LOUD conversations with each other from across the gym. It drives me CRAZY. In fact, I think this fall, we’re going to switch gyms for that very reason.

  • Amy @ Second City Randomness May 17, 2010, 3:20 pm

    You’re not being unreasonable at all. My workout room only has two treadmills- one of which will make you go deaf if you use it, so sometimes I have to wait for the other one to open up. It was clear I was waiting and the guy actually paused the treadmill and stood on it as he was talking and said (as he looked at me), “no, it’s cool, I can talk- I’m just on the treadmill right now… what’s up?” Wtf.

  • KellyB May 17, 2010, 3:21 pm

    Your gym should actually have a zero tolerance policy for talking on the phone anywhere in the gym but the locker room. I would politely ask the gym manager to install such policy. I can’t believe people could be so rude!

  • Megan @ Mego Blog May 17, 2010, 3:21 pm

    Not only are cell phones annoying, but what about those people that go to the gym to hang out and don’t ever workout? SO annoying! I also have seen some couples kiss A LOT at the gym, nasty!

  • Sarah May 17, 2010, 3:22 pm

    Fantastic rant. That is one of my pet peeves, and I typically don’t mind listening in on conversations if out in public / people watching. At the gym is a different story. I always mute my phone and wish people would do the same. You just can’t get a good workout in or escape with people gabbing away. It just irks me! Like Jennifer said, it’s all about respecting others.

  • Anne P May 17, 2010, 3:22 pm

    Aghhhhh that makes me crazy when people talk on the phone at the gym, too. SO unnecessary.

  • Amy Ramos May 17, 2010, 3:23 pm

    And this is why I will never join a gym ever again. This kind of rude behavior (even after I let the manager on site know) will not be tolerated. I paid $$ to go to a place were I can tune out for an hour or so. Not to hear about a TMI issue with the dude next to me.

  • Ashley May 17, 2010, 3:24 pm

    I completely agree with you and never talk on my cell at my normal gym, 24hour. however, to be honest, at my small, unpopular gym in my office building( i hardly see more than two people other than myself it it at one time), i sometimes walk on the treadmill at lunch and will talk on the phone. Is this horrible?

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:26 pm

      girlllll you know i love you but YES (if there are other people in the gym, if not, gab away). LOL

      • Ashley May 17, 2010, 3:27 pm

        lol ok thanks for the honesty, i’ll ixnay it. I guess talking on a cell at the gym is rude if it’s one person you’re around or thirty.

  • Little Bookworm May 17, 2010, 3:25 pm

    Your salad looks great!

  • Lisa @ bakebikeblog May 17, 2010, 3:25 pm

    What great looking eats!! And I too also hate people talking on their cell phones at the gym….I have actually never really understood it myself!

  • Sami May 17, 2010, 3:26 pm

    AYYYYYMENNNNN! SO annoying when people talk on their cells at the gym. I’m with ya, Cait! 😉

  • Kristen May 17, 2010, 3:26 pm

    I’m completely with you! People talking on the phone at the gym ranks right up there with those who talk on their cells in public restrooms. Like really??? Nothing can possibly be THAT important.

  • RhodeyGirl May 17, 2010, 3:27 pm

    Makes my blood boil too. I hate gym cell phone users.

  • Erin May 17, 2010, 3:28 pm

    I understand that there are times and places where you must use your phone for whatever reason, and I think you should be able to do so as long as you do NOT disturb the people around you. It’s really all about common courtesy. My biggest pet peeve when it comes to cell phone use is the people who talk on them while they’re using the restroom. You’re taking care of your own business, and being forced to listen to two kinds of someone else’s business! How rude, and GROSS!

  • Kendel May 17, 2010, 3:29 pm

    You are absolutely right. There’s a time and a place to yammer on… the gym is not that time and place. I love my gym because they have a strict cell-phone policy. If you are on the phone, you will be asked to leave to the lounge area- outside the gym.

  • Sara May 17, 2010, 3:30 pm

    Ha! I love a good rant. As someone who is easily distracted and also easily annoyed by loud conversations, I’m with ya. I don’t even really like working out with other people; it’s really the only time I get to focus on just me. Why would you waste that time on the phone?!

  • PippaPatchwork May 17, 2010, 3:30 pm

    I’m totally with you on this one. So obnoxious. And maybe I’m just antisocial at the gym, but I’m also not really into it when strangers try to strike up a conversation. When I’m sweating buckets on the stair master, I don’t really feel like small talk.

    • carla May 17, 2010, 3:42 pm

      I have to agree with this one too! There is an older woman at my gym who is always doing this. And I have headphones on!!

  • Jenny May 17, 2010, 3:33 pm

    You are not insane for feeling this way, this drives me mucho crazy. A very close second is people who whine at their personal trainer the whole time. Like, loudly enough that I can hear you over my ear buds. I feel like I should stop and say, “You do know this is what you paid a personal trainer to do, right?” Rant over 🙂

  • Courtney R. May 17, 2010, 3:34 pm

    Totally off topic but thought you might be interested!
    http://www.beautymarkmovie.com/

    I am going to look into showing it here at ECU. Also, do you think you will still be doing presentations for Operation Beautiful at universities? I am one of the dietitians at ECU and we always show movies or bring in a presenter during ED/Body image awareness week (end of Feb). I didn’t know if this is something you might consider doing since you will only be about 3 hours away from Greenville NC when you move to Charlotte!! Thanks! I know it is forever away but summer is my downtime/planning time for the upcoming school year!! Just keep me posted!! No pun intended!!

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 3:36 pm

      I’ll email you!

  • Liz May 17, 2010, 3:37 pm

    You are being reasonable. I think it’s OK to tell someone to get off the phone at the gym when they are working out next to you and talking to loudly!

  • Andrea May 17, 2010, 3:37 pm

    I would say your rant is VERY justified. I agree 100%. I also get disgusted with people texting at the gym.

  • LindsayH May 17, 2010, 3:39 pm

    i dont really mind, i just crank up the volume on my ipod and tune the talking out. people using their phones in the locker room however is not okay with me because of cameras and stuff. i work in a LIBRARY and we get some of the rudest people having loud personal conversations on their cellphones. its ridiculous! some people are just clueless.

  • carla May 17, 2010, 3:42 pm

    It is so ridiculous!! Personally I leave my phone in the locker, it is the only time of my life where I can have some freedom from it!

    My other pet peeve is when someone is next to me on the treadmill/elliptical and keeps looking over to see my pace / level and is trying to “compete” with me. Like, really??? Is this neccessary?

  • Suzanne May 17, 2010, 3:43 pm

    I hear you, girl. That’s so obnoxious, especially when you’re waiting for their machine. Are they actually getting a good workout in when they’re worrying about their cell phone? I could be making much better use of their equipment!

    On the flip side, my other pet peeve is when people crowd me to use equipment once I’m done. It makes me antsy. I’ll let you work in, buddy, but give me space to do my thing!

  • Amy May 17, 2010, 3:44 pm

    I must be extra bitchy, because I don’t even feel that you need your cell phone on you while at the gym.

    • Andrea May 17, 2010, 5:34 pm

      Nah, I agree with you.

  • Aubrey S May 17, 2010, 3:46 pm

    I agree with you 100%. It drives me crazy!

  • Rachel May 17, 2010, 3:47 pm

    Oh man, I hate it when people talk on their phone in the gym. I also loathe:
    1. People who walk on a side walk, see you running towards them, and DON”T EVEN MOVE! It’s called SideWalk Etiquette, people – SHARE!
    2. People who take up a weights machine – and SIT THERE for the entire time between their sets. Come on! We could all get so much more done if you moved your hinney so that someone else can do a set… then you can jump back on!

    I’ve actually gone up to meat heads and kicked them off a machine so I could get a quick set in. Argh! Ok, I’m nice about it, but still.

  • Stephanie May 17, 2010, 3:48 pm

    I could go on and on about gym pet peeves. Cell phone talking isn’t my biggest pet peeve but here are a few that make my blood boil 1)women in the locker room. I am perfectly okay with seeing someone naked or vice versa. It happens. But those women who make it a point to just walk around with it all hanging out. Yuck! 2) people that not only get on the machine next to you for no reason but keep turning to look at you for extended periods of time 3)people that ask to jump in on your weight machine when there are plenty of others available. Geez, I wonder why the gym is just so frustrating?

    • Kayla May 17, 2010, 3:55 pm

      haha I hate it when there are five other tredmills open and they pick the ONLY one next to me, and def. agree on the staring part. One lady last week just kept looking over at my time and distance, I don’t get.

  • megan May 17, 2010, 3:52 pm

    for some reason this doesn’t bother me too much. If they’re loud enough that you can’t hear your music, then yes, annoying. but if it’s a normal voice, then I don’t care. to me it’s like they were talking to a friend on the machine next to them. I just tune it out. Plus, i don’t care how hard they’re working, if they’re out of breath or not, etc. that’s their business. everyone uses the gym for different reasons. maybe it was an easy cool down day? so yeah, I don’t really care.

  • Kayla May 17, 2010, 3:53 pm

    lol I am always preaching phone etiquitte (sp?) to my mom! I’m 19 and she’s 55, we will be sitting down at a restaurant and right in the middle of a conversation she answers her phone and talks. Not just a “hey I”ll call you right back” she has a longgg conversation w/ them. And yes, she is totally one to just call whoever on her cell at the gym to make the time go faster as she’s walking. My dad and I get SO annoyed and she just doesn’t get why.

  • Rachel May 17, 2010, 3:54 pm

    As long as you are using an indoor voice (or lower) and there aren’t people working out very close to you, I don’t mind cell phone chats during workouts. I think if you want to be active (props!!) need the extra stimulation (or the distraction) by chatting up someone, it is okay. Plus, some people are so inanely busy that that is the only time they have to catch up with, say, their mom or something.

    But there are plenty of things like that that make my blood boil. Things like when there are tons of extra cardio machines around, but someone insists on getting on the treadmill right next to me.

    I also don’t like when anyone besides the instructor tries to pipe up and give out corrections to other people in the workout class. Not your place, lady!

  • Evan Thomas May 17, 2010, 3:56 pm

    No, no. You’re right. At my school, there was a girl who walked on the treadmill talking to her BFF about really lame stuff. Then, after 15 minutes, she hung up and continued to walk while reading a book. None of that required a gym or a treadmill. WTF

    • Cyclist Kate May 17, 2010, 5:23 pm

      listening to an ipod doesn’t require a gym or a treadmill, either :). Being in a gym is all about distracting yourself until you can leave.

  • Courtney May 17, 2010, 3:59 pm

    I don’t even bring my cell phone into the gym. That is my place to relax and get away from everything at home. My line of thinking is more like, “The house is on fire? I’ll deal with it later. “

  • Tracey May 17, 2010, 3:59 pm

    I’m 100% behind you on this one. Cell phones have really brought out the rudeness in people.

    I also hate it when people talk/scream on cell phones when taking public transportation. Come on, the message over the loud speaker (on the bus) even asks people to be mindful and not talk on cell phones.

    Loud cell phone talking people – What makes you think you are so special that everyone want’s to hear your conversation? Nobody is that special!

    UGH!!!

  • Rachel May 17, 2010, 4:00 pm

    Oh my biggest pet peeve ever is people who pass gas while they are working out.

    Some people just refuse to hold it because it will mess up their workout. (Uh, take a break please and release it elsewhere)

    How the hell do you think that makes the rest of us feel when we are taking in huge gasps of air filled with your stench?

    NASTY!!!

    • Katalina May 17, 2010, 4:03 pm

      Rachael,

      i agree, that is so frustrating!!! Once i took a begginer yoga class and the girl near me everytime during the class corrected me!! That was so upseting to me! isn’t yoga suppose to be a quait work out?! why are people so annoying?

  • Katalina May 17, 2010, 4:01 pm

    Yes I totally agree, I think a lot of people lost the sense when they can use a cell phone and when no!! That is totally frustrating!!! By the way I loved your lunch today, so simple and so delicious, and also seems to me very refreshing!! 🙂

  • Caroline May 17, 2010, 4:01 pm

    My gym doesn’t allow people to talk on cell phones, I think. It never happens, fabulous!

  • Julia @ www.britbride.com May 17, 2010, 4:03 pm

    Thats why you are lucky to live where it is almost never “have to go to the gym weather”!

    I totally get your post. My gym pet hate (and the reason I quit) is random guys thinking it is okay (ITS NOT) to stroll up to your treadmill and start chatting you up!

    HELLO. I am wearing a massive engagement ring! Double HELLO, even if I were single or hadn’t seen man in like, 10 years, I do not want to chat whilst hot and sweaty and trying to EXERCISE. This is a GYM not a CLUB.

    Rant over!

    Julia
    http://www.britbride.com

  • BethT May 17, 2010, 4:06 pm

    I hate loud cell phone conversations anywhere. I was actually surprised to see you even tweeting from the gym because I’m a firm believer in not bringing my phone in at all…not only to have an hour or so without it, but also to focus solely on the task at hand.

  • Therese May 17, 2010, 4:08 pm

    I totally agree! The gym is a place where you work out, not for gabbing on a phone. You’re either not having a proper conversation or a proper workout if you’re talking on your phone at the same time. Does no one treat gyms like gyms anymore?! Plus, do you really want other people overhearing your conversation the entire time? I wouldn’t!

  • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 4:11 pm

    That behavior makes me give a death glare to whoever is doing it. Seriously though, if you can talk, and at that volume, while working out? You’re NOT WORKING OUT HARD ENOUGH.

  • Denita May 17, 2010, 4:15 pm

    I can’t agree with you on this. I don’t typically have my phone on me at the gym but I don’t care if others do.

    Possibly they don’t enjoy working out and need that distraction to keep them from focusing on how much they hate being there. At least they are making some sort of an effort.
    Possibly this is the ONLY time of the day that they have to themselves and the only time they have the opportunity to catch up with a friend on the phone.
    I’m sure that there are other reasons too…some I would think were good reasons, some I would think are not so good reasons.

    I agree, they should have some volume control.
    I agree, I don’t really care to know about their life.

    I honestly miss the times when people did not have their phone constantly attached to them. I miss the freedom of that.

    I can’t stand the loud grunters at the gym myself, but oh well…it won’t prevent me from going.

  • Claire May 17, 2010, 4:18 pm

    Ha! Have you ever seen Curb Your Enthusiasm? There’s one episode in season 6 where Larry David goes to town on a guy talking on his cellphone while out to dinner at a restaurant. Too funny. I like to think I would employ his technique if I was ever put in that situation at the gym.

  • Kacy May 17, 2010, 4:22 pm

    Drives. Me. Nuts. I have been known to answer a call if it’s something I think might be important, but I either get off the machine and go into the hall or keep the call to about 15 seconds.

  • Mellissa May 17, 2010, 4:23 pm

    Drives me nuts! I overheard a woman telling a friend about the NAKED pictures she sent a guy she was dating. I really didn’t need to know that!

  • cjrymommy May 17, 2010, 4:25 pm

    First time commenter 🙂 but I just had too. During my spinning class last Wednesday a girl proceed to text- TEXT during our class. First of all you aren’t listening to the instructor if you can text because I was out of breath and sweating like a mad woman. Two, you realize that everytime you touch your phone it lights up like a Christmas tree in our dark room, hence totally making me lose my focus!

    Ugh! Stay home and text or talk people! Some of us are actually here to workout!

    Rant over 🙂

    Jocelyn in the STL

  • Mary @ What's Cookin' with Mary May 17, 2010, 4:25 pm

    I think you’re being completely and totally reasonable… but I think I’m a little hormonal ;P

    Thanks for the tips on the bike cleats/ shoes. 🙂

  • Hedda May 17, 2010, 4:25 pm

    Haha, uhm, maybe a bit hormonal? 😛 Maybe it is the pressure who is getting you.
    No, but I do understand that you get annoyed. Important calls = okay. Chit chat with friends = can wait.
    Very simple rule. Beside, I thought that talking in phone while excercising made you easier out of breath.

    The worst thing btw, since I am feeling hormonal too is cell phones in church. Don’t know if I should feel for the one who forgot to turn his phone of during a funeral, or turn my temper on.

  • Samantha May 17, 2010, 4:27 pm

    Hhahaha. A few months ago a girl was texting constantly on the bike beside me in spin class. I got so mad after a while with the click click click that I said “Are you really going to do that this entire class?? Because that’s what I left work and came here to get away from!” She was embarassed and stoped immediately.

  • Stefanie May 17, 2010, 4:33 pm

    Oh my god, I am RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. This drives me nuts when this happens. Especially when it is someone barely working out, crawling on the treadmill and not in shape..and I won’t to go “YOU WONDER WHY YOU ARE NOT IN SHAPE” mean I know, but that is what it does to me.

    Another one is people reading novels on the weight equipment between reps or on the treadmill, going 2 miles an hour. Seriously…read at home-I need the equipment!!!

    • Cyclist Kate May 17, 2010, 5:28 pm

      I get you on reading on weight machines–that’s a little ridiculous (at least step off and read between sets so somebody else can use it), but as long as a person is moving on the treadmill, whether he/she’s going 2 mph or 10, I don’t see any reason to resent that person–they might “need” the equipment just as much as you do, they’re just using it differently.

    • Alexandra May 18, 2010, 5:35 pm

      Stefanie – I used to ‘judge’ (I put it in quotes because it’s such a harsh word) people who seemed like they were barely working out but then I realized that there are so many people who have unique situations and I couldn’t even begin to understand what that person might be dealing with. Maybe that 300lb person just started working out yesterday and have never walked a mile in their life. Or maybe they have some sort of condition that limits their intensity during exercise.

      I recently fractured a bone in the top of my foot. When I was given the go-ahead to walk at a slow pace as my only form of exercise, I did! And I wondered if people were judging me for not working out too hard.

      And I totally agree that reading while on the weight machines is just ridiculous. I understand them doing it on the treadmill or other cardio activity, however.

  • Lauren @ Running Examiner May 17, 2010, 4:36 pm

    I cannot stand when people talk on their cell phones at the gym. It’s just so obnoxious and utterly unnecessary (unless, like you said, there’s an actual emergency). Not only is it disrespectful to the people around you, but how the hell can you possibly be getting an effective workout when you’re talking up a freakin storm?

    Clearly this topic gets me riled up, too 😉

  • Erin May 17, 2010, 4:43 pm

    I hate how people are connected to their cell phones ALL of the time. I see more mothers pushing strollers or people walking dogs with a cell phone glued to their ears. Why? What is so important that you can’t put the phone down for 30 minutes? Unless there are circumstances like you said about–and we’ve all been there–can’t your conversation about “Hmm… gosh, did you watch The Hills last night” wait for another hour until you’re home???

  • Stacey May 17, 2010, 4:46 pm

    I totally agree. I think it’s because I view my time at the gym as “me time”. I’m there because I want to feel better physically and emotionally. The last thing I want is to hear an annoying phone conversation. The people that sing out loud with their headphones and talk to themselves really annoy me too!

  • kalli@fitandfortysomething May 17, 2010, 4:49 pm

    so crazy annoying for sure!

  • Lauren May 17, 2010, 4:50 pm

    You’re not unreasonable! I can’t stand it when people gab on their phones. Personally, I like to completely zone out when I’m on the elliptical or treadmill, so I’ll turn up my soundtrack/orchestral music. Sometimes I’ll even pray or have quiet time.
    It’s not fair when other people impose on your relaxation time. And then they make you look like YOU’RE in the wrong if you DARE to ask them to quiet down. (cue eye rolling)

  • Tricia May 17, 2010, 4:51 pm

    Love this. I hate people who talk on the phone in the gym and I hate people who talk to each other next to me and have whole conversations while I am trying to be in the zone! I know that is crabby but I like to be quiet and if you are talking, then I am listening. Can’t everyone just exercise in silence for an hour!

    And lastly, WHO are you talking to??? I don’t have friends that want to talk to me while I am working out. Is that just me?

    • caitlin May 17, 2010, 5:18 pm

      haha me neither!

  • Kelly (Local Foodie Fight) May 17, 2010, 4:52 pm

    omg. No you are totally right. thanks for this post it made me laugh =)

    I am also linking you in my next blog post with regard to someone who knows how to tweet things that are really funny. 🙂

  • Lindsay @ The Ketchup Diaries May 17, 2010, 4:52 pm

    Totally annoying and I understand where you’re coming from. For me, it’s so annoying because I’m there to work HARD. Get out of here if you just want to take it easy!

  • Katie May 17, 2010, 4:52 pm

    I LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG SO TRUE. This post MADE my day 🙂

  • barbara(Blood, Sweat and Heels) May 17, 2010, 4:54 pm

    Funny…this is a HUGE pet peeve of mine and douches who sing outloud to the ipod. Just stop…it’s not karaoke. Rants are so much fun to read…

  • Ally May 17, 2010, 4:57 pm

    Your lunch looks perfect! I love polenta, but my regular grocery store doesn’t have it, I have to go to WF and that’s out of my way–but, that looks so tasty, I may have to make the trek to WF.

    I am with you on the cell phone thing. I don’t ever have full on conversations at the gym on my cell phone! I’ve answered my phone maybe once at the gym and that was when my husband was driving cross country and only had cell reception a little bit at a time, so, I didn’t want to miss his call. In that case, I ended my workout. Also, can you actually have a full on conversation while on the treadmill/bike/elliptical? Cause I can’t!

  • Lizz (leadingthegoodlife) May 17, 2010, 5:04 pm

    Rant on, my friend!!

    I think good cell phone etiquette is hard to come by. I hate when people are on the phone while interacting with other people – like when checking out at the grocery store or going through the drive-thru or paying at the bookstore. I just think it’s so rude and disrespectful. These people might be complete strangers to you, but they are still people. Being on the phone is like saying, “you are so not important, just do your job and let me be one my way.” Ugh.

    • Andrea May 17, 2010, 6:26 pm

      Ah! So true!

  • Cindy May 17, 2010, 5:05 pm

    I very infrequently bring my cell with me in the workout area of the gym. I think I have only talked on my cell once while working out and it was b/c my sister called me and she NEVER calls me so I thought something was wrong and answered.

    It drives me crazy too when people have trivial conversations while I am trying to concentrate on my form or not falling off the elliptical.

  • Jasmine @ Eat Move Write May 17, 2010, 5:05 pm

    OH now. It makes me so insanely mad, too. Have some respect people.

  • Chelsie May 17, 2010, 5:08 pm

    So long as the person is talking in a soft/normal voice, I don’t see how it is any different than two friends talking to each other on adjacent treadmills? It doesn’t really bother me, as long as people are not talking so loudly or talking about something unsavory/inappropriate for public conversation.

    I also don’t understand so many commenters judgments about people “not working out hard enough” if they are talking on their phones. Who is anyone to judge how hard someone is or should be working out? Sometimes I go to the gym and I’m so exhausted I just walk slowly on the treadmill but I figure it’s better than nothing. Do I not have a right to be there because I’m moving slowly? Not everyone is at the gym to get a heart-pounding, sweat-drenched workout. I don’t care why people are there, I figure if they are a member they can exert whichever level of intensity they please as long as they are using the equipment in a safe, appropriate manner. I really don’t think anyone ought to judge anyone else on the intensity of their workout.

    • caitlin May 17, 2010, 5:19 pm

      yea, i kind of agree on the ‘not working out hard enough’ issue which is why i didn’t phrase it like that. like, not all workouts have to be hard. but i think cell talking prob reduces it’s effectiveness in terms of mental relaxation!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin May 17, 2010, 5:18 pm

    Your lunch looks fabulous! I love mixing premade taboulehs/bean salads/random mixes into my salads.

    I don’t even notice people talking on their cells at my gym. I guess it’s because I’m usually in my own little world with my ipod when I’m working out. 😀

  • Emmanuelle May 17, 2010, 5:21 pm

    I don’t like that but I don’t mind, unless their voice is louder than the music blasting in my ears in my iPod! I play my music because usually music there sucks, and it helps me focus on my workout, so hearing someone’s conversation instead of my music, thanks but no thanks.
    Same thing with friends talking to each other, of course I won’t go and stop them, but I am bothered when they’re really loud. I hate it when on the elliptical there is one person on my right and his/her on my left, and they’re shouting to each other so they can continue their conversation. Louder than the gym music, louder than the music in my ears, and making me feel like I am the one bothering them… Anyway, that doesn’t stop me from working out, so in the end it’s not so big a deal 🙂

  • Natalie May 17, 2010, 5:41 pm

    You are definitely NOT being unreasonable. I think the same thing, but luckily at the YMCA I workout at this hasn’t been a problem! I have had it in the past though, with various other gyms. I also agree that while they’re having their lovely little conversations — are they even doing their workout justice? It’s definitely something when you can hear them over blasting iPods!!! Geez! It’s like they want you to hear their conversation and chime in.

  • Vaala May 17, 2010, 5:45 pm

    Hahaha! I don’t think I’ve ever encountered people chatting away on their cellphones at the gym but yeah, I suspect it would bug me…but I’m easily bugged (I think it’s ’cause I hate gym days). If there are people standing around leaning on the equipment and just chatting away for ages I get really grumpy! And I get grumpy at iPod people sometimes (I know, I’m totally unreasonable). I don’t mind when they’re on the cardio stuff and everything but sometimes my mate talks to me while we’re doing weights and he’s listening to his iPod at the same time and I always want to grab his headphones and pull them out of his ears!

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels May 17, 2010, 6:00 pm

    cell phones are banned at my gym, I think it mostly has to do with the whole privacy thing because they all have cameras now

  • elaine! May 17, 2010, 6:25 pm

    Cell phones should be banned from the gym, just like yoga studios and movie theaters. Every time something like that happens, I spend about 10 minutes wanting to sucker punch the idiot on the cell phone, then I cut my workout short, bitch to the gym rep at the front counter, and leave. People are SO RUDE sometimes.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) May 17, 2010, 6:37 pm

    I have actually never heard anyone talk on a cell phone at the gym …

    Although that might be because I haven’t stepped foot in a gym for a while!!

  • Tami May 17, 2010, 6:38 pm

    our gym has a policy of no cell phones….can you imagine the pictures floating around that people take of others at the gym.

    too bad the owner of our gym walks on the treadmill and talks (he also blows his nasty nose in the towels they provide us as well)

  • kate May 17, 2010, 7:04 pm

    How can you be getting in a workout if youre chatting on your phone? Can people not go without technology for an hour a day?!

  • MelanieF May 17, 2010, 7:05 pm

    Good one! I don’t even own a cell phone, so I guess you know my answer? 🙂

  • Claire May 17, 2010, 7:07 pm

    We definitely can’t talk on the phone at my gym and we can’t even bring cell phones with photo capability into the gym. In college, I read blogs, etc. while cross training sometimes but thats it. Looking is definitely not like talking though! I think that is just ridiculous. I thought the polenta was golden beets and looks amazing!

  • Jennifer May 17, 2010, 7:07 pm

    Oo that lunch looked good! I have to agree with you about the cell phones at the gym. I DESPISE IT!! There was a woman a few weeks ago that was on the hip adductor which I was waiting to get on, and she was just SITTING THERE ON HER PHONE! Mind you, I work out in the mornings before work, so I really have to get in, get my workout on, and get out. Needless to say I was not happy standing the next to her waiting, while she was telling her friend about what she did the night before. So freakin’ rude!!!

  • Brynne May 17, 2010, 7:23 pm

    You’re totally right – it’s SO rude. During finals week, I was studying before one of my exams on the elliptical and a professor picked up his phone next to me and proceeded to have a 20-minute conversation with his wife about their kids. I glared at him the whole time but he didn’t notice – or apologize. RUDE.

    On a lighter note, that salad sounds so so good – must recreate!

  • Sarah @ cocoanutshakes May 17, 2010, 7:39 pm

    AHHH I can’t stand that!!! It always makes me want to blast my music, which ends up hurting my ears which makes me even more mad. Vicious cycle. It’s funny how glaring also never works because usually the person is so oblivious to begin with!

  • Wei-Wei May 17, 2010, 7:42 pm

    Wouldn’t it be incredibly weird to be talking on the phone with someone who was working out? I mean, wouldn’t it be like “OM pant G pant I can’t believe pant he did pant that to you! pant What a pant jerk!” Either you’d sound like that, or you would just sound normal, ie you wouldn’t really be working out.

    I guess it’s just one of those many people who THINK they’re exercising but really are just doing the same thing over and over again, which is making them bored AND not getting any results.

    I don’t think you should get too upset about this as well. There’s really nothing you can do. Relax! Turn up the Adam Lambert. 🙂

  • Angie (Losing It and Loving It) May 17, 2010, 7:49 pm

    Looks like a popular topic! I started writing a blog post the other day about my gym annoyances that I have not completed yet LOL But seriously I agree, I cannot stand it when you can hear them over your own music. I never have my phone with me…it’s only an hour or so and if I’m really needed they can leave a message and I’ll check the phone later or call the gym and have them come upstairs to get me.

    I could go on and on but I wanted to say that salad looks awesome. I made your broc slaw/hummus/tomato wrap today and it was so good. Tonight I try my hand at your biscuit casserole. Hope hubs likes it but he has no clue it will have hummus in it before he tries it LOL

  • Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter May 17, 2010, 7:56 pm

    Ugh. I was on a small, little, itty bitty mat only meant for one person when a girl comes and squishes up next to me and starts jabbering SOOO LOUD on the phone. My workout ended so early because of her.

  • Erin May 17, 2010, 7:56 pm

    I completely agree! Although people talking to each other kind of drives me up the wall too…

  • Tricia Ptak May 17, 2010, 7:59 pm

    This sounds like a serious case of needing to tune into “The power of non-reaction”. Yoga teaches us that reaction is the only thing that we have control over. This is a good time to choose not to react and actually look at the situation as a challenge. Seane Corn shared an interesting perspective on difficult people with us at a conference. Challenging people in our lives are actually our angels and teachers. Not always easy to see at first, give it a try. Hate is ugly.

  • Krystina May 17, 2010, 8:08 pm

    This post is exactly why I always have my headphones in at the gym.

  • Meredith @ An Epic Change May 17, 2010, 8:13 pm

    there is a woman who uses her cell phone during spin class! DURING! how she hears the other side of the conversation is beyond me but it lasts like 20 seconds and involves her telling her children she’ll call them right back. why even pick up? and she texts the whole time too! SERIOUSLY?!

  • Molly @fuelherup May 17, 2010, 8:14 pm

    For some reasons, cell phones don’t bother me! Like at all…I sort of can’t wrap my head around why it’s so annoying, but it obviously is. I don’t do it just to be safe, though…I haaate people who take the equipment right next to you if there’s other equipment in the row. Not cool! Makes me uncomfortable!

  • Kim May 17, 2010, 8:22 pm

    I really dislike hearing people talk on their cellphones anywhere. For some reason people talk insanely loud on cellphones.

  • Gloria May 17, 2010, 8:35 pm

    I’ve thankfully never had to deal with people like that at the gym, but when I was in grad school I would get so frustrated with students that talked loudly on their phones in the computer lab. I worked part-time as a research assistant and would need to use a specific computer program in the lab, so I had no choice at times but to go there and try to get my work done while undergrads surfed facebook and blabbed away on their cell phones. One time I was having a really hard time with a project and there was this girl next to me that was talking on her phone to a friend, trying to figure out where Haiti was located (it was right after the earthquake)…she found a map on Google and later exclaimed, “Oh, it’s in the Dominican Republic! Yeah, I bet the Peace Corps would send us there” It took every ounce of self-control I had to not scream at this girl, YOU ARE SO WRONG! ABOUT EVERYTHING! SHUT UP!

    But now I’ve graduated, and calmed down 🙂

    • ari May 17, 2010, 9:16 pm

      hahahahaha ABOUT EVERYTHING

  • Nicole May 17, 2010, 8:44 pm

    Caitlin-I remember your rant about this last year..I was cracking up at your list of appropriate times to use the phone at the gym. And I agree with you 110%!!! It’s so annoying!! I see people on their phones (with the bluetooth in their ear) talking while they’re lifting or doing strength training or whatever…I seriously want to yank the thing out of their ears. I am with you girl, you are NOT crazy!

  • Rachael May 17, 2010, 8:55 pm

    Very much with you on the gym cell phone deal. But, another huge peeve of mine is when I’m on a trail,walking around my local lake or in some other otherwise pristine outdoor environment and the people in my vicinity are yapping away.Nothing makes me walk/run/take to the hills faster. Hiking and cell phones do not a happy marriage make. Unless you are being eaten by a bear, and even then, I don’t think the phone is going to help much.

  • Stephanie @ Must Love Broccoli May 17, 2010, 8:59 pm

    I could rant forever about gym etiquette too. I don’t even bring my cell phone into the gym with me. You are being completely reasonable. But lucky for you, you can workout outside. I choke on smog if I try to workout outdoors.

  • Alycia @ Fit n Fresh May 17, 2010, 9:22 pm

    people aren’t even ALLOWED to bring their cell phones into the gym where i go – and i love it! i would never talk on the phone while exercising because not only is it annoying, it can be dangerous as well! pft people

  • Dawn May 17, 2010, 9:25 pm

    Hi Caitlin! I wonder if you have some advice. I just started biking longer distances (62 miles last Fri, 75 a week later), and my butt is so sore that that is what makes me stop! My sitbones start screaming around mile 60. I wonder if it is my lack of distance experience or if you have some advice!?

    Many thanks. I am a lurker reading every day!! 🙂

    • Caitlin May 17, 2010, 10:07 pm

      Hi!

      Are you wearing padded bike shorts?

      • Dawn May 17, 2010, 10:14 pm

        yes
        women’s seat too
        hmmm
        thx!!!

        • Caitlin May 18, 2010, 9:44 am

          i’m going to have my dad weigh in… hold on.

    • HTP Dad May 18, 2010, 10:16 am

      Hmmm…butt pain…never heard of a cyclist with this problem. I dunno. Seriously, there’s a way to resolve this easily, usually. Lay on your back and have a close friend measure the distance between your “sit bones” (ischeal tuberosities, I think). If your saddle is narrower than this, it will never be comfortable. Otherwise, if you’re riding 2 or 3 days a week consistently, you should adapt in two or three weeks.
      Even once the width is correct, different people like different saddles. Here is where a good bike shop or club is a great help. Some will have a selection of saddles to try. Performance Bike Shops “no questions asked” return policy will let you try some.
      Lots of padding (on shorts or a saddle) can make for a hot ride; once you’ve adapted, neither is necessary, even for long rides.
      OTOH, recumbents avoid this issue completely.

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) May 17, 2010, 9:25 pm

    i hate people on their cellphone. If i’m trying to “relax” by running I don’t want to hear YAPPING. Another thing that bothers me are people who FART at the gym (yes you know people do it) or people who OD on perfume!! AHHHHHHHH.

  • Kelly (the Running Phoodie) May 17, 2010, 9:27 pm

    i agree 100% with your rant! i hate it went people have loud and long conversations right in my ear and there is no way to escape them! garrr

  • Marilyn @ Lipgloss and Spandex May 17, 2010, 9:52 pm

    It totally drives me nuts. I feel like people are so used to talking loudly on their phones in inappropriate places that it’s become the norm… but I don’t like it one bit!

  • Sarah (Enjoying One Meal at a Time) May 17, 2010, 9:58 pm

    I agree! Anywhere like the gym or the library too. It makes me want to get up and leave, even if I was super motivated before.

  • Courtney May 17, 2010, 10:14 pm

    I get stabby when chicks with long hair don’t tie it back during workouts so I understand your pain. I ran a half marathon this weekend (my first WOOT WOOT) and there were more than one girl running with their hair loose and free. SeriouslY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Courtney
    adventures in tri-ing

  • Danika May 17, 2010, 10:39 pm

    What annoys me at the gym?

    A) girls who try to pick up men at the gym. hmm c’mon ladies. take it outside. the gym is made for workin out!!

    B) girls who wear too much makeup and smell of cheap perfume!!! (esp when theyre walking while your busting your butt running on that treadmill)

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit May 17, 2010, 11:05 pm

    Neither unreasonable nor insane.
    I hate when big sweaty guys don’t wipe down machines and DON’T care!

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople May 17, 2010, 11:24 pm

    That drives me insane! But I have to say I hate it when two friends are talking as well.

    If it is quietly, I don’t mind, but most of the time it is LOUD followed by even LOUDER laughter. And they most definitely aren’t getting a good workout.

  • Ashley May 18, 2010, 12:05 am

    I have never seen someone on their cell at the gym for longer than 30sec. THIS IS INSANE!!!! I wanted to rant big-time the other day after biking around the park. THere is a designated “on wheels” lane and a “walking” lane..marked with painted pictures on the paths. People cannot comprehend them apparently!!! Double wide strollers on the bike lane?? NO! I had to saw WATCH OUT like 12 times, no joke. It was reeeediciulous. People crossing the lanes that wouldn’t even look UP! SO SO frustrating =)

  • peony May 18, 2010, 2:27 am

    i do know what u meen,
    the gym is there to exercise in, your not getting the best work out if your just chatting away on the phone x

  • Joanne May 18, 2010, 8:30 am

    You are SO perfectly justified. Some people feel the need to talk loudly on their cell because they believe others will think they are important. It’s a cry for attention and I prefer to ignore them. Can’t stand lack of consideration for others – THAT makes my blood boil.

  • Coco May 18, 2010, 8:41 am

    I agree. In fact, I think this rule should apply not only to the gym, but to basically any public place! I hate walking through the store hearing someone yakking on and on to their friend, etc. And yes, you’re right–they must not be working out too hard if they can hold a conversation!

  • Shawn Christine May 18, 2010, 8:42 am

    I’m totally with you on the no cell phones! I even hate seeing people texting (usually because they’re sitting on the machine I need to use) Usually at my gym its bimbos on the eliptical, barely moving, chatting with their girlfriends. No phone usage is allowed in the locker room, but the rest of the gym is ok I guess. I keep my phone with me in case my boyfriend calls me (he’s in Afghanistan and I’m lucky if I hear from him every other week) but I don’t respond to anyone else. And if he did call, I’d get off the machine and go somewhere else!

  • Jessica May 18, 2010, 8:51 am

    NO, you are NOT being unreasonable AT ALL!! I hate it too!! It hasn’t happened to me very often (maybe b/c at my gym the equipment is so old and loud, you can’t really talk on the phone anyway?), but it has happened and it’s ANNOYING!! I don’t want to hear you talking your personal business!! It’s like that one commercial where the girl is in the locker room talking about some rash she has-ewww. I don’t even bring my phone with me- and if I do I leave it in the car b/c there is noone I need to speak to that urgently!

    I also hate the big guys in the weight room who grunt as they do EVERY repetition- ick!

  • daisy melo May 18, 2010, 10:32 am

    So here is my question. with my job. I travel guests for the Maury Povich Show and work like 80 hours a week. So I generally work out in the morning and will take my phone (cause I have to in case a guest decides they dont wanna know if their man is cheating and cancels on us) so I am unfort attached to my phone 24/7. If i am not then I lose my job. So there have been many times when I am on the elliptical and on my phone.

    I mean I feel awful but I need to work out and need a job.

    • Caitlin May 18, 2010, 10:34 am

      do you really work for maury povich? that is really freaking awesome (and it must be crazy). i don’t think its bad to have your cell phone on you, i just think its a matter of stepping away from the equipment if you must take a call. and, as described by many people above, most gyms have no cell rules to begin with.

  • daisy melo May 18, 2010, 10:37 am

    haha I do work for him. so if you ever want tickets and are in stamford ct let me know. I will hook a girl up. its hard to walk away all the time cause sometimes we have continous issues. Like for example someone fighting at a hotel and getting arrested…yeah. so do i forego my workout because im on the phone sporadically for an hour?

    • Caitlin May 18, 2010, 10:39 am

      dude, i don’t know! that’s a hard one. can’t you just tell your boss you need an hour of peace and quiet to workout? or workout in the early morning? this isn’t even an issue of cell phone use, i worry about your sanity with maury callin’ you all the time. LOL

  • daisy melo May 18, 2010, 10:41 am

    I work out in the morning. haha and trust me i am losing my s**t. this job is ridiculous and if i were to tell my boss i would need an hour she would laugh in my face. I guess its just one of those circumstances. I mean I have been working out at home more aka insanity and p90x which has alleviated the problem but sometimes you want a little elliptical in your life.

    • Caitlin May 18, 2010, 10:50 am

      dude i feel you on the insanity of your boss. that’s how my friend’s boss is and i know from her how much it sucks. deep breaths!! 🙁

      i give you permission to talk on your cell at the gym LOL tell the people who shoot you death glares “i work 80 hours and my boss is insane, i’m sorry” and i bet they’ll understand.

    • Corinne (breathe and savor) May 18, 2010, 11:28 am

      Aw now I feel bad for my response to this post. ha. Your work outs are what keep you sane from maury! I guess this just proves it is unfair to judge because we really really do NOT know what that person has going on! 🙂 Howeverrrrrrrr…the ppl I hear on their cell are gossiping, NOT talking business. BIG difference.

  • Juli D. May 18, 2010, 10:49 am

    It can be annoying – but I try to take the “live and let live” approach. They aren’t really hurting anything and they only bother you if you let them. Plus, maybe the only thing that motivates someone to go walk on the treadmill is that they can catch up with friends/family during that time. If that’s what it takes for that person to get healthy I’d fully support it.

  • daisy melo May 18, 2010, 10:55 am

    and this is why i heart you and your blog!

  • Sarah May 18, 2010, 11:23 am

    It’s funny you brought this up. During a yoga class this past Sunday morning, a cell phone rang right before final relaxation. The worst part was that the ring was loud, and in her embarrassment, it took the woman a few moments to shut it off. I mean, who brings a cell phone into yoga?! On a Sunday?!

  • Corinne (breathe and savor) May 18, 2010, 11:24 am

    If this was on facebook I’d click the “like” button! ha. Seriously…talking on the phone while on a workout machine should NOT be allowed. It just shouldn’t be. There are many restaurants that have a no cell phone rule…gyms should follow their lead. It is distracting, it is rude it isn’t even healthy. Whatever it is, can wait, if it can’t, leave the gym.

  • Tracey @ TropicalHappiness May 18, 2010, 11:33 am

    THIS MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL! I seriously get sooooo aggravated. A few weeks ago, I was at the gym, and there was a guy about 10 machines away from me. I could hear him on his cell OVER the music on my headphones. He was seriously yelling! It was so annoying. I was on the treadmill, and he was on the elliptical. My back was to him, so he was technically behind me. I started giving him death stares over my shoulder, which was pretty funny considering I was running on the treadmill facing the opposite direction. It was late in the evening, and there were only about 5 or 6 of us in the cardio area, but STILL.
    It was so annoying that I was about to go over to the front desk, but then I saw a girl talking to the front desk while walking on a nearby treadmill. Right that second, she ALSO picked up her cell phone and started gabbing. Right in front of the staff. And the staff (it was a young girl) didn’t care!! UGGGG!
    Next time I’m definitely saying something. If it’s an emergency, cool. If it’s a thirty second conversation, cool. If it’s any longer than that, get off your machine. Take a walk outside while you chat on the phone. Just don’t force me to listen to your conversation! UGG!

    And PS- cologne/perfume at the gym is another pet peeve. JUST DON’T DO IT!

  • Tiffany May 18, 2010, 1:19 pm

    I’d like to add coffee shops as a place not to torture people with your personal calls. I wouldn’t mind if people talked in normal voices, but people yell into their phones. I’m at this moment being tortured in this way, can you tell?!

  • Sarah @ Long Legs Healthy Life May 18, 2010, 1:35 pm

    Not unreasonable! I completely agree with you. My cell phone stays tucked in my purse, in my locker. I understand having to take an emergency call, but full-out conversations need to happen somewhere else.

  • Lisa May 18, 2010, 3:05 pm

    NO! I am 100% with you. I hate people on their cell phones. It’s soooo annoying!

  • Heather May 18, 2010, 5:34 pm

    I used to have a membership to Planet Fitness, and they had MULTIPLE posters all over the gym asking patrons to not use their cell phones. Obviously, this didn’t work. When I’m on the treadmill and have left my headphones at home and you are walking at a 1.2 pace and yapping with your girlfriends about the rerun of Jon & Kate + 8 on TV, it’s a surefire way to make me picture 523 ways to hurt you. Look, I get it: some people are chatty! I love to talk, spend a lot of time on the phone, and am a fan of the amazing technology that has been made available to us so we can communicate in multiple ways. But there are a few scenarios which warrant you not talk on your phone, and working out is one of them. Not only do you and your body deserve to focus specifically on this (it’s the same reason why I can’t/don’t read while working out, save for maybe a recumbent bike where it doesn’t affect my endurance), but you also should warrant that respect to people surrounding you. ALSO: if you MUST talk on the phone at the store, please apologize to the cashier and at least acknowledge them. “Sorry, my mom just won’t shut up and I don’t know how to get her off the phone without making some static noises and pretending we just got disconnected!” is an acceptable excuse. I say this as someone who worked in retail for 8 years, and it was so freaking rude.
    Ah, see, you mention one of my pet peeves and now I can’t shut up!

  • Kate May 18, 2010, 7:38 pm

    Ugh! Yeah, there’s definitely a time and a place… They gym is no place to be chatting on your cell phone. In my book, that’s about as bad as whipping out your phone on a first date! Yuck!

  • Allie May 18, 2010, 11:58 pm

    Haha, these are my sentiments exactly. I remember one time there was a girl on the machine in front of me ‘gabbering’ on about how she “partied so hard” the night before for 10+ minutes. When she finally hung up – I thought she was done. No, no … she moved on to the next friend in her speed dial to talk about the same stuff. Its amazingly rude and disrespectful I feel. Although, I do agree with it being “accessible” for emergencies but there is a difference between that and talking about nothing forever.

    • Stina @ Girl Can May 19, 2010, 9:54 am

      This happened to me once on the train. After the third call, I actually got up and moved to another seat further away!

  • Stina @ Girl Can May 19, 2010, 9:54 am

    Despite my inability to be separated from my cell phone for any more than 15 minutes at a time, I absolutely despise cell phones! People have no sense of courtesy when it comes to talking on a cell phone. I take public transportation to and from work so I pretty much deal with this on a daily basis. There is always someone talking on their phone. I suppose this would be fine except it seems like everyone must YELL into their cell phone. It’s like they think if they aren’t yelling into the phone the person on the other end can’t hear them. Seriously, take it down a notch.

    Of course, I also get super irritated with people who have their iPods (or other music listening devices) cranked up so loudly I can clearly hear what they’re listening to as if the earbuds were in my own ears.

  • Shawn Christine May 19, 2010, 11:22 am

    I responded to this yesterday, but I went to the gym last night and something happened that I just HAD to reply again… A woman was on her phone in the elevator going into the gym, in the locker room, and on the eliptical… and it was on SPEAKER PHONE!!! I almost cried. She was having the most inane conversation too (I know, because I heard ALL of it!)

    Also, I’d never thought about the perfume thing until I read peoples replies on here, but I noticed it yesterday. After a hard run I go into the locker room to be gagged by a girl who needs to smell (good?) for yoga… no one cares how you smell at the gym.

  • Katherine May 19, 2010, 4:05 pm

    THANK YOU!
    I have a condo gym so it’s like the 70 people who live in the building and most of them are never in the gym so it’s a pretty intimate setting.

    people are SO rude when I’m there reading on the elliptical or working out and they just walk in smacking gum, yelling into their cell phones. ahhh drives me crazy

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat May 21, 2010, 9:48 am

    Oh, I hate lengthy cell phone talking just about anywhere! Especially when it is an awkward conversation (I always seem to overhear ones about STDs, lol).

    But the gym is the worst. It’s like, why are they even there if they “need” to talk on the phone so much?

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