FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wants you to know: you're hurting your workout when you bring your cell phone into the equation. She shared her three reasons you should stay cell phone-free at the gym in our 10 Pounds Down! community group. 1. It’s hurting your workout (and could cause you to get hurt) If you can text or talk on the phone during any part of your workout, you aren’t working Read more

Going to the gym is more than just walking in and jumping on a treadmill: there's etiquette to follow. With so many of you making good on your New Year's resolutions and hitting the gym this month, make sure these gym-going tips are fresh in your mind. Gyms are ridiculously busy in January. Check out our tips for navigating when yours is overcrowded. No one wants to get sick from exercising. Read more

It's crowded at the gym right now. Folks are making good on their New Year's resolution to get fit, and gyms are responding in kind by slashing enrollment fees. For longtime gym rats, this influx of new members is both good and bad. We love seeing people get healthy, but when newbies don't know proper gym etiquette, it's kind of annoying. Luckily, the gym code of conduct is easy enough. Always Read more

I'm all for helpful tips when it comes to working out, but unless you are my personal trainer (disclosure: I don't have a personal trainer), I don't really want to hear your best "advice" in the middle of my workout. First, it's distracting: if I'm focused on a run, the last thing I want to hear is someone's voice behind me, especially if I'm wearing headphones and they need to tap me on the Read more

This morning I was treated to a loud (and unwelcome) karaoke session in the gym by a gent working out near me. I was 20 minutes into my workout when a guy hopped onto an elliptical behind me and started singing whatever song he was listening to on his iPod. It was funny at first, but after 10 minutes it became downright annoying. And because I work out without music, I didn't have any way of Read more

Here's an important tip to take with you to the gym: wipe down equipment before using it. The gym is a breeding ground for germs, and even though it's nice to think that the person on the treadmill wiped it down before you, this isn't always the case. Keep in mind that you can catch more than the everyday flu or cold from gym equipment. Superbugs — like the staph bacteria MRSA — can survive Read more

I try to avoid going to the gym during peak hours because of the long waits and time restrictions on the cardio equipment, but some days I can only manage to hit the gym during prime time. While it's tough to adhere to the 30-minute gym-imposed time limit on the treadmill, if there's a long line of people waiting (and there usually is), I play by the rules. But, of course, there's one woman who Read more