Really foul gym experience.

[John Schmidt]

While going about my business today at the gym, I became aware of an awful smell of BO nearby. This young guy was literally reeking and wouldn't you know it, he approached me...asking if I'd like to work out together. Uh...no! How does one deny in a polite manner? He pressed it by asking "why...looks like we use the same equipment." Tried a different approach by telling him I prefer to go it alone, he wasn't buying it. I was about to tell him the real reason when this chick walks by and greeted me with her usual smile, we've chatted at length before. She then frowned and wrinkled up her nose and looked around to see the source...followed by "my god Barry, go home and take a shower." Poor guy was totally humiliated and just left the building so I asked her if it was really necessary to be so blunt. Her answer..."yes, I've known him since grade school and all through school it was a problem he refused to attend to. The school nurse once told him he needs to see a dr. in case it's something physical but he refused." She then added that his sports buddies found out he just has poor hygiene, even his own mother harps on him to do something as simple as brushing his teeth. Felt kinda bad for the dude, seemed like a nice guy but I couldn't get past the BO. People were staying a good 20 ft. away. I know we sweat when in there, but he had just arrived so that wasn't the issue.

[Jess from VA]

I had a buddy who was always clean, but if he took his shoes off, it would clear the room.

It was like his secret weapon. 

[Psychotic Bovine]

One of our drivers, supposedly, smells horrible.  I say supposedly, because I have no sense of smell (no olfactory bulbs at all).  I wonder how many people I have been near that reeked but I never knew?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Was his name Lloyd Milburn ? Having one spoiled fish in a Navy Computer compartment with usually 7 or 8 other guys is brutal. He was the worst. He was a strange cat to begin with. 25 years old, virgin, with multiple Subic Bay calls. He had no shame. It didn’t matter what you said to the guy, he wasn’t going to take a bath. We had to physically force him.

[The emperor has no clothes]

One of our drivers, supposedly, smells horrible.  I say supposedly, because I have no sense of smell (no olfactory bulbs at all).  I wonder how many people I have been near that reeked but I never knew?

Don’t smell anything ? Food, perfume, etc. ?

[Robert]

I think the girls saved you and you should thank her. Its unacceptable for this type of lack of personal hygine especially in a gym. You can only surmise what other lack of cleanliness he does not practice and in a gym using the same machines with the sweat it actually becomes a safety issue.

I had to tell a kid that I was working for me to step up to the plate and use deodorant and have also had some issues in the gym too. So its not as unusual as you think but its always awkward.

[da prez]

  We had a younger guy working in the machine shops . When he went into the changing room , it was like a fire drill. It was my job to inform Steve of his odor. He said he knew. He showered and used deodorant. I convinced him to seek medical help. He was in the first stages of kidney failure.
 He ended up getting a kidney transplant.  Went on and married a girl who also had a transplant.
 I lost contact with him.

                                        da prez

[0leman]

One of our drivers, supposedly, smells horrible.  I say supposedly, because I have no sense of smell (no olfactory bulbs at all).  I wonder how many people I have been near that reeked but I never knew?

I have that problem also.  Lost the smeller in a chlorine gas accident in my late teens.    It helps with problems of folks who have BO or gas issues.   Not so good in determining what's being cooked in the kitchen.   

I agree that a gym will have certain smells from sweat and hard work, but to come in smelling is not acceptable.  Also with the virus problem, wiping down equipment when done with it should be a standard practice.  Get your germs off/sweat off.

[old2soon]

       Had a guy in boot camp company that needed 2 Not 1 But 2 Navy assisted showers. You know ky yi brushes and lye soap. He went straight to the fleet but a bunch of us went on to some A schools. John maybe after the work out some B O as that's somewhat normal. But before and That Foul no how no way man. RIDE SAFE.

[POPS 57]

I had to quit the gym. One day i was on the exercise bike and this guy gets on the one next to me. What he did next was too much to take. He put a water bottle in the pringles holder.  

[Bret SD]

That and many other reasons are why I haven't trained in a gym for decades. Get some kettlebells and train at home, you'll be much happier.

[John Schmidt]

Re. wiping down the equipment after use, that's a requirement at this gym...they have sanitizing towel dispensers throughout the building. I also do a quick wipe of the handles before I use them...just in case. They also don't allow street shoes past the carpet at the front door. In summer it's not really an issue, but in winter with all the snow & slush...it's a worthwhile practice. They ask that you come in with a pair of shoes dedicated to just gym use & change before you start. As a result, the entire facility is quite clean, plus whomever is on duty at least three times a day will go around with a bucket and rags and wash down the equipment with a sanitizing washing liquid. The nice thing about using this place is it's available 24 hrs., members are issued a little doodad you put on your key ring and flash it by the reader at the door. Some people go in at 2-3 o'rooster AM just before they go to work...or in my case, can't sleep.

I had to tease one gal a few Fridays ago, we were both in there at 7:00pm. I told her that anyone in the gym at that hour on a Friday night doesn't have a social life, she had to laugh about it but admitted it was true...sadly. We ended up going to Olive Garden together, just a friendly gesture...I have grandchildren older than her. Plus...she didn't smell bad after working out. 

[semo97]

The biker saying when you can smell yourself at 60 mph you need a bath. I sat next to a very large ( I am being nice) lady on a plane. Maybe not so nice she spread into my seat and the one by the window, should have road in the compartment you put animals. Had not bathed and wiped clean for days. I do think her arms would not reach.  Finally could not take it and asked to sit in one of the steward jump seats.

[Psychotic Bovine]

One of our drivers, supposedly, smells horrible.  I say supposedly, because I have no sense of smell (no olfactory bulbs at all).  I wonder how many people I have been near that reeked but I never knew?

Don’t smell anything ? Food, perfume, etc. ?

Nothing.  I literally lack the physical hardware for me to smell anything. 

[Jess from VA]

The biker saying when you can smell yourself at 60 mph you need a bath. I sat next to a very large ( I am being nice) lady on a plane. Maybe not so nice she spread into my seat and the one by the window, should have road in the compartment you put animals. Had not bathed and wiped clean for days. I do think her arms would not reach.  Finally could not take it and asked to sit in one of the steward jump seats.

I was on a packed plane with a giant wide body next to me that sweat and stunk so bad, I went and sat in a (small) toilet for a couple hours.  It didn't smell great either, but at least they had the perfume cakes in there, and my eyes stopped watering and I didn't have a wide body laying on me.  The stews wanted me out and back to my seat..... sorry, can't do that right now.  There were three other toilets, let them eat cake.

When I finally came out before landing they asked what the deal was, and I said go down to 17A and have a seat and see if it doesn't smell like of bucket of pigsh!t to you too.   

Haven't been on a plane in 13-14 years, don't think I ever will again (except my brother's two seaters). I don't mind flying at all, but TSA (and airports in general) can KMA.  

You start baaaaing like a sheep in there and they get angry and try to do a bodily cavity search on you.

[Patrick]

Along this line, I was talking to a friend today that volunteers driving the van for medical visits, etc. He has such a person that is a regular. Apparently he is the one that gets stuck [ or put ] with this person regularly. No one wants to ride when he is on board. So Charlie came up with the idea of loading his wheelchair in the rear of the van and always opens the windows even though this guy complains. He can still be smelled at speed with windows open. i don't know how people can live this way whether its their lifestyle or a medical condition.

[Jess from VA]

Just carry a bottle or two of Febreze Air Freshener and liberally spray them down.  

If they don't like it, next time they can bathe.



And this reminds me, I did two tours in the middle east, and only rode a public bus once.  

[scooperhsd]

Just carry a bottle or two of Febreze Air Freshener and liberally spray them down. 

If they don't like it, next time they can bathe.

ROFL !!!!!!!

[Farside]

While going about my business today at the gym, I became aware of an awful smell of BO nearby. This young guy was literally reeking and wouldn't you know it, he approached me...asking if I'd like to work out together. Uh...no! How does one deny in a polite manner? He pressed it by asking "why...looks like we use the same equipment." Tried a different approach by telling him I prefer to go it alone, he wasn't buying it. I was about to tell him the real reason when this chick walks by and greeted me with her usual smile, we've chatted at length before. She then frowned and wrinkled up her nose and looked around to see the source...followed by "my god Barry, go home and take a shower." Poor guy was totally humiliated and just left the building so I asked her if it was really necessary to be so blunt. Her answer..."yes, I've known him since grade school and all through school it was a problem he refused to attend to. The school nurse once told him he needs to see a dr. in case it's something physical but he refused." She then added that his sports buddies found out he just has poor hygiene, even his own mother harps on him to do something as simple as brushing his teeth. Felt kinda bad for the dude, seemed like a nice guy but I couldn't get past the BO. People were staying a good 20 ft. away. I know we sweat when in there, but he had just arrived so that wasn't the issue.

Jphn, Apparently he knows he stinks and you being fairly new at this gym, my thought is he was messing with you or you reminded him of his dad I couldn't let it go without saying that he smells. I call like i see it. I would of thought it would be doing him a favor letting him know but sounds like he doesn't care. 

[MarkT]

Had a shop teacher in grade school, 8th grade I guess in Indpls, PS #58.  Young guy in his 20's.  Man he was bad, your nose would actually burn.  At that age I didn't know he was an aberration, just thought this is how some adults are.  I'm guessing he just missed that part of growing up - includes personal hygiene.  It went on for the whole semester though.  Why some adult didn't get him the message I'll never know.  Funny thing is no students talked about him.  That I heard.  I still use the skills he taught - guess I got past the stink.

[MAD6Gun]

 We had this guy that worked at the Pontiac GMC dealer I was a tech at. He was our lube tech. Probably in his 30s. He stunk so bad it was unbearable especially in the heat of the summer. We tried everything to get him to shower. Hanging soap on a rope on his toolbox,shaming him,nothing worked. The service manager had to take him to shuttle a car back to the owner and told him he reaked and to take a shower. Still nothing. Even some customers complained. One day I went to get a drink from the drinking fountain and it was downwind from him. I almost puked in the fountain. Some people just don't get it or care...

[The emperor has no clothes]

We had this guy that worked at the Pontiac GMC dealer I was a tech at. He was our lube tech. Probably in his 30s. He stunk so bad it was unbearable especially in the heat of the summer. We tried everything to get him to shower. Hanging soap on a rope on his toolbox,shaming him,nothing worked. The service manager had to take him to shuttle a car back to the owner and told him he reaked and to take a shower. Still nothing. Even some customers complained. One day I went to get a drink from the drinking fountain and it was downwind from him. I almost puked in the fountain. Some people just don't get it or care...

It sucks as a boss having to tell someone they smell. Especially if they are female.

[John Schmidt]

While going about my business today at the gym, I became aware of an awful smell of BO nearby. This young guy was literally reeking and wouldn't you know it, he approached me...asking if I'd like to work out together. Uh...no! How does one deny in a polite manner? He pressed it by asking "why...looks like we use the same equipment." Tried a different approach by telling him I prefer to go it alone, he wasn't buying it. I was about to tell him the real reason when this chick walks by and greeted me with her usual smile, we've chatted at length before. She then frowned and wrinkled up her nose and looked around to see the source...followed by "my god Barry, go home and take a shower." Poor guy was totally humiliated and just left the building so I asked her if it was really necessary to be so blunt. Her answer..."yes, I've known him since grade school and all through school it was a problem he refused to attend to. The school nurse once told him he needs to see a dr. in case it's something physical but he refused." She then added that his sports buddies found out he just has poor hygiene, even his own mother harps on him to do something as simple as brushing his teeth. Felt kinda bad for the dude, seemed like a nice guy but I couldn't get past the BO. People were staying a good 20 ft. away. I know we sweat when in there, but he had just arrived so that wasn't the issue.

Jphn, Apparently he knows he stinks and you being fairly new at this gym, my thought is he was messing with you or you reminded him of his dad I couldn't let it go without saying that he smells. I call like i see it. I would of thought it would be doing him a favor letting him know but sounds like he doesn't care. 

Actually, I'm not new to the gym...but he is. Joined only a few short weeks ago and has already made a name for himself...sort of. I've watched and if he moves to a different machine, those nearby will shortly move away all the while giving him the eagle eye.

[old2soon]

     Before I drove truck I worked in a lab-Universal Oil Products in Des Plaines Il.-running minature oil refineries and they were ALWAYS HOT. Doors and windows wide open in the summer and still partially open in the winter. I constantly took over from the same guy as the experiments ran 24/7 once undr way. He reeked far far too long. No broad or direct hints worked. Talked to my shift supervisor and he talked with the other 3 shift supers and they talked to the head honcho. He was given an ultimatum and promptly ignored it got fired sued the company and lost. Talk bout a hard head! Would rather lose a good paying job sue the company than take a shower. Even when I was drivin big truck most if not all of the better truck stops had showers available 24/7. I slept better when I was clean.  RIDE SAFE.

[da prez]

  Years ago I was on a return flight from Nashville.  Un-assigned seating. Age and a cane let me be one of the first on board. I sat behind a male(?) and within a minute , moved.  A land fill smelled better.
  This was the year that the cheerleading convention was held in Nashville.  The first kids that sat near him(?) stated "you stink. You should not be allowed in public".
 The flight attendant came back and most of the kids stood in protest. He(?) was removed from the plane.
  After we took off , I told some of the kids that some people have medical issues and some have beliefs.
  I also thanked them for standing together . It would not have been a good flight.

                                         da prez

[0leman]

Actually, I'm not new to the gym...but he is. Joined only a few short weeks ago and has already made a name for himself...sort of. I've watched and if he moves to a different machine, those nearby will shortly move away all the while giving him the eagle eye.

John, maybe it's his way to get to use machines/stations without interference from others.  Can use it in peace.  Seems to be working. 

[Bagger John - #3785]

That and many other reasons are why I haven't trained in a gym for decades. Get some kettlebells and train at home, you'll be much happier.

I go very early in the morning to mine.

The very hard-core types (not too many at this particular outfit, compared to some other area gyms) tend to go at that hour. None stink. All focus on their routines.

I had a very decently equipped home gym at one point and would prefer to utilize such again if possible. Especially in light of the idiocy I see when chain gyms are at peak-usage times.

[Bret SD]

That and many other reasons are why I haven't trained in a gym for decades. Get some kettlebells and train at home, you'll be much happier.

I go very early in the morning to mine.

The very hard-core types (not too many at this particular outfit, compared to some other area gyms) tend to go at that hour. None stink. All focus on their routines.

I had a very decently equipped home gym at one point and would prefer to utilize such again if possible. Especially in light of the idiocy I see when chain gyms are at peak-usage times.

Early is best if you have to do it, I really can't stand the music they play in gyms either. Everyone is with the ear buds and in their own private Idaho.

I used to love the older, dirty iron gyms.

[Jess from VA]

I never liked any gyms, too many guys (and gals) looking at themselves in the mirror.  And they charge money (and some had pretty bad reps with small print contracts, dunning and collection agencies). 

You can work your ass off in the great outdoors or your yard or garage just fine.

[Bret SD]

I never liked any gyms, too many guys (and gals) looking at themselves in the mirror.  And they charge money (and some had pretty bad reps with small print contracts, dunning and collection agencies). 

You can work your ass off in the great outdoors or your yard or garage just fine.

Chop wood, carry water