The Importance of Deodorant and Silent Voices

Jason Yu
February 7, 2012

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Read More: fitness, gym etiquette

Disclaimer: The following is not suitable for young children and readers with sensitive noses and/or sensitive stomachs.

After writing articles and blasting people on Twitter for breaking the simplest of rules of gym etiquette, I’m back with another article of what I’ve personally encountered at the gym this month. Before I get into the “nitty gritty,” let me just say that I’m very proud at the fact that many “resolutionists” have amazed the regular gym-rats like myself at actually going to the gym on a regular basis.

Yes, you probably know one or more people that you thought were going to drop the gym like dead flies, but no.  They were the proud, the few and let’s hope they keep it up.  After all, I’m all about exercising and losing weight the natural way, so I tip my hat to you!  At the same time, you might be one of those people that I will be talking about in this article and hopefully by the end of reading, you will be strong enough to slap on the deodorant, simmer down your voice or like Kathy Griffin says, be that strong, black woman and have the confidence to be able to tell someone they stink, straight up!

Check yourself, before you wreck yourself!

As a gay man and one with a highly sensitive nose, scent is really important and conspicuous.  I notice smells miles away and when it’s next to you on the treadmill or when disaster strikes, learn how to handle it.  Let’s be real, if you stink, no one will want to hang around you (unless they have a creepy fetish) and it takes a strong person to tell a guy or girl, “you stink!”

Case in point, let’s take my recent experience at the gym.  I’m at the hamster wheel doing my usual seven miles, rocking out to GaGa, and all of a sudden “homegirl” comes in with her book and parks herself on the Precor inconveniently next to me.  The second she parked herself, I literally wanted to barf on her so she’d move away.  Have you ever encountered someone that smelled like straight up fish fried oil, hot curry, and the L.A. smog?

Well, that was what happened to me.  And when she started using the exercise machine it got even worse.  I was at mile 4 and I could run no longer.  Her L.A. smog and fish fried oil  burst my bubble and not even a gust of the A/C would not help me keep going.  It was horrible.  For someone that’s a skinny mini and smelled like that was Bed, Bath and Beyond me.  I didn’t have the balls to tell her she stank and unless I had a gas mask on, I didn’t have the strength to approach her.  So, I left a FourSquare Tip instead.

It was really bothersome.  You would think, if the gym is able to provide towels and Clorox wipes, why wouldn’t they offer Axe or Secret deodorant spray?  That would be such a novel idea.  It’s 2012 people!  The multitude of products available out there to take care of “BO” (body odor) such as body sprays, breath mints, and apricot scrubs, shouldn’t provoke you not to use them and smell proper.

Out of my house, you have the worst manners!

The one thing I hate most at the gym (besides stinky people) is inappropriate “girl talk.”  Honey, we don’t need to spill the tea especially early in the morning when a bunch of us are trying to get a hard workout in.  Let’s start from the beginning, I’m on the dread mill, striding along, minding my own business and two “gal pals” hop on the Precor and treadmill and they start babbling about what happened the night before.

These girls were very inappropriate, talking about hook-ups, using fowl language, and how many vodka cranberries they each had and how Jeff did a body shot off of Christine’s new fake boob job.  I thought this situation was classic, as another girl on the treadmill beside me kept on giving these girls the “stink eye” and wanting to tell them to “Shut the front door!”  Meanwhile, I’m loving this experience as these two loud mouth honeys kept talking about their “#epic” Saturday night.

The girl next to me literally was about to fall off “the edge of glory” as she was huffing and puffing in rage.  The television volume only went up so much.  Three miles later, the girl finally shut her trap and the rest of the gym was able to move on with their workout and their life.  Now I would’ve been “that person” that would’ve rolled my eyes and go crazy over the two gals, but I was too into my run and thankful for my iPod being the saving grace and having the girl do all the “girl please” facial expressions and looks did the job.

Need I say more, I hope you will agree, it’s very impolite to talk to your buddy so loud where even the highest of volumes can’t block the thoughts of what you did the night before.

Let this be a lesson in gym etiquette, don’t be afraid to call someone out if they smell bad, carry a bottle of Febreze or throw a Clorox wipe in the air like you just don’t care. And don’t be afraid to give the evil “stink eye.” The person(s) will recognize, know what’s up and they will shut their trap.  Until next time folks!

Jason Yu is Partner and Director of Marketing for The Hardwicke Group in Richmond, VA. His company specializes in new media, PR and influence with an emphasis on digital marketing strategy and reputation management. Jason enjoys keeping active by biking, running and working out on a daily basis. Jason has ran in over twenty running races including the Marine Corps Marathon, Tough Mudder, Richmond Marathon, and Xterra races. Interesting facts about Jason is that he is a music fanatic, in search fro the best macaroni and cheese, and aspiring “mixologist.”