A yucky gym...help?

This is sort of an odd question.

I just recently signed up for a gym nearby and I've noticed that they don't seem to take hygiene very seriously. Now, this isn't my first time working out here but after seeing a short documentary on germs at the gym just recently...I'm very interested.

In what way(s) can I practice good hygiene while using the machines at the gym, without bringing too much attention to myself?

I don't think they clean the machines at all...of course I'm not sure...but they don't even have a spray bottle of detergent or whatnot available to wipe anything down.

I live in Europe and although I speak the language, I don't want to draw attention to what I'm doing. Basically, I just want to clean only what buttons I'll need to touch, etc.

Any pointers on what I can take with me to use? Thanks!!

Courney,

Hey, thanks for your answer.

It's not that I necessarily care what other people will think, I just don't want them to come up to me and be like, 'Um, what are you doing? Don't do that, it might be bad for our machines.', ya know? I already make it pretty obvious that I don't like their gym, so I don't want to add to the tension there. LOL.

I will try and see if I can find something like Purell...that is a very good idea!

I carry my own towel with me. My gym is gross.. I go to Lucille Roberts so it's not the greatest of places but it's cheap and it's a gym. I make sure if I am working out and not using the towel I won't touch my face at all. Also I bought lifting gloves. I lift also so I just keep them on the whole time and wash them at least once a week. I sometimes carry a pocket size purell around as well when everyone's sick. Hope you can figure something out. When in doubt. Who really cares about what people think. It's your own health and well being that's more important.

Bring a towel with you, so if you need to lie down or sit on the machines, you can sit on the towel. bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer and you can use it after you touch the buttons.

I wear long sleeve t-shirt & long sweat pants and gloves. All very hot at first, but you'll get used to it. I also use a towel and antibacterial hand gel. I never use there showers, GROSS!!!! I go home and immediately get in the shower.

i geuss that u can bring a towel or 2 one for ur self and the other to wipe the machines... i live in canada and here there are little spray bottles and paper towels lieing around so that we can wipe them... it is also forced upon us to have a towel with us while we are working out

Maybe this helped You:
http://proactolblog.blogspot.com/2008/02...

good luck!