How germ-y do you think exercise equipment is?

[hhcowgirl]

Hey, y'all. I was just wondering how germ-infested/sickness-promoting you all think communal gym equipment proves to be. I have been using lots of the weight machines for the past couple of weeks at the on-campus gym, and I just feel disgusting after a workout, plus I feel like I am catching a bug and I wonder if there is a correlation??? Does anyone know anything about this?

[pmmahan]

well, this is pretty unscientific, but... I started working out at a new gym last week, and went everyday. From Friday to tuesday, I was sick as a dog - flu, sinus infection. I haven't been sick all year, and I was struck down. I don't know anyone who had it like I did, so.... the gym was the only vriable in my life that had changed. I am very careful to wipe off the equipment, too.

[emilycat]

I read an article in Shape Magazine several months ago called, "Is Your Gym Making You Sick?", and it was really interesting. I mean, if you think about it, you've got all these people sweating and breathing and dripping all over the same equipment -- that's pretty gross. I typically bring a towel and wipe anything off that's sweaty, and lay my face on it if need be. Just make sure that after a trip to the gym you always wash your hands before you touch your face, and definitely take a shower as soon as you can.

That being said, I don't think that my gyms have ever made me sick. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Emily

[SandyM]

Maybe take some of those anti-bacterial wipes or sprays (travel size) from Bath & Body Works and wipe/spray down the areas you touch? Or immediately wipe off your hands when you're done, before you shower? Probably looks pretty anal to some, but good grief - beats getting sick.

[HARRYET]

I guess i've always been fortunate, i have never gotten sick from my gym, but on the upside the gym employees are constantly spraying and wiping the equipment off throughout the day.

i also agree that colds are primarily transmitted through touching your hands to your face, so washing your hands and or showering right away will definitly help.

Ann

[aggie94]

Your gym should provide clean rags and cleaning solution for members to wipe down the equipment after they're done using it (or if they forget, for you to clean it before you use it). If your gym doesn't, you should definitely ask them to.

[maccmedia]

My gym has bottles of this type of spray and cloths situated around the room. You are required to spray down the surface and handles of equipment after your turn. If you want to you can spray it prior to use if you are not sure. I will be happy when the nicer weather comes and they open the windows - can get a bit smelley!

[MrsReber]

I think about that, too, but my gym does have papertowel dispensers and bottles of spray so people can wipe down equipment. They also usually have at least one person walking around cleaning the equipment and I always wash my hands after a workout. Can't say that I've ever gotten sick from my gym. They keep it pretty clean.

[Kristilyn1]

From what I understand the "spray" is usually just water, as anything else damages the equipment and the manufacturers go crazy. I would definitely bring some of the antibacterial "stuff" and use it between pieces of equipment. You probably don't even think about it when you use one machine and scratch your nose when you step onto another, etc.

Kristi

[hhcowgirl]

Of course my gym has all that stuff, too--I wouldn't spend my time at some place that didn't. However, how effective do you really think those cursory "spray-n-wipes" can possibly be? I think your ideas about the antibacterial wipes are great and plan to run to bath and body works today! (Still feeling a little under the weather, though--boo hoo! AND, my best friend from college is coming into town this weekend. AND I have a ball to go to. SOrry for the whines. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif)

[SusieO]

I actually walked away from a machine without using it recently, because it was disgusting, and there was no spray in sight (I really hate my gym). I will definitely look into bringing my own anti-bacterial wipes. Never thought about that before. Thanks for the tip!

[luv2cook]

Well, if you think about it germs are germs. I'll give you this example. My hubby when I first met him was sick constantly. People were always using his phone, he was using other phones and of course he saw 2,000 people a day.

I got him to start washing his hands all the time - really make an effort and wahla! he didn't get sick. If he gets careless, he gets sick - ie., he doesn't wipe off a phone when he knows someone has got a cold.

So the moral http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif of my story is wipe, protect and wash. you would be amazed at how many people I see use the gym equipment and go straight out the door. GROSS!

[JHolcomb]

I think that gym equipment is probably as gross and germ-laden as it gets. That being said, I don't THINK I've ever been made sick by it (so far), but I do always wash my hands after I've used it. They provide us with the stuff to wipe it down, but most people don't, so to be on the safe side, I just scrub up.

I was actually going to make a post along these same lines. I saw the single most disgusting thing happen at the gym yesterday. This woman was exercising BAREFOOT. Yes, barefoot. No socks or anything. Which is not only gross, but also very dangerous. She used the elliptical trainer and all of the weight machines, too. It's not like she was doing yoga or Qi Gung or something, which would have still been kinda yucky, but forgivable. For some reason though, I didn't rat her out, but I really wish that I had now. It totally reminded me of the Seinfeld episode where George gets kicked out of his gym for an unspeakable act. If I see it happen again, though, I will not be silent!

[This message has been edited by JHolcomb (edited 02-25-2001).]

[luv2cook]

Jyholcomb - Do her a favor and rat her out. Obviously she is too dumb to realize what could happen, not to mention the cleaniness aspect of it. GROSS! ALso, it's against the rules in most clubs to wear anything but sneakers...