Boston is a relatively condensed city. We have young professionals, a plethora of college students, athletes of all kinds and all sports. We all need to share this space and sometimes it’s hard not get in someone’s way while you’re on the road to excellence. Here are some tips to avoid being THAT GUY when your head is so far up your butt you forget you’re not actually the King of The Universe.

1. Cyclists And Bike Riders Alike: Ride With Traffic, Abide By Traffic

This is my number one pet peeve when it comes to healthy living in the city. If you ride on the street with cars, you must follow traffic laws. This includes stopping at red lights, trying not to run over pedestrians, staying in your lane, and more importantly ride in the same direction as traffic. Just this morning, Lance Armstrong (wanna-be) was riding fast into oncoming traffic and weaves in and out, runs a red light and then gives me the bird when he cuts me off. You got a lot of ball there, mister. (See what I did there? Too soon?)

 2. Taking Fido For A Walk/Run: Pick Up His Business And Don’t Let Him Bite Me

God forbid the Commonwealth of Cambridge doesn’t give all pets equal opportunity, and I’m a proud Dog Mommy myself, but let’s all be responsible. Pick up the mess and don’t let your dog off the leash if you can’t trust him, especially if your dog is a jerk too. I can’t count how many times I’ve been plowed down by a giant muddy retriever while running around Fresh Pond. I guess it comes with the territory, but a little consideration goes a long way.

3. Giving Diet Or Exercise Advice: Rule Of Thumb, Don’t Do It Unless Asked

I sometimes have to watch myself when talking to friends. I don’t want to be that girl. The girl who can only talk about flax seed and edamame, or how many sit ups you should do before breakfast, or why plyometrics is so great for you. Sometimes we get so excited about new found information we forget that not everyone cares that you’re insane about working out or healthy living. This also goes for negative comments. For instance ‘Eww, do you know how many calories are in that?’. Be quiet unless someone asks for your assistance. Otherwise you just come off as a pompous know-it-all, and everyone knows they get picked last in dodge ball.

 4. Running Or Biking Around The Charles River: Stay On The Sidewalk

Some runners or bicyclists, for some reason, think that 100 feet of sidewalk is STILL not enough space and decide that riding/running on Memorial Drive or Storrow Drive is perfectly acceptable. It’s not okay, not even a little bit. There is no bike lane on either side, and you’re risking your life and the lives of the people driving around you. Not only is it unsafe, but it is incredibly annoying.

5. Carrying Your Gear: It Does Not Deserve Its Own Seat

Most of us commute via public transit to travel to and from our studios and gyms. Whether it’s your yoga mat bag, gym bag, sparring gear or your bike, do not take up a whole seat while on the bus/train. It’s rude, and you’re basically letting everyone know within 10 feet that you are a selfish jerk. Put it on the floor, under your seat, or keep it on your lap. Yes, it gets gross on the floor sometimes, but that is the price we pay for a public service. Also, why must you take your bike on the train during rush hour? You literally have two wheels and a seat to take you from point A to point B. Why are you taking up space Oblivious McGee?

6. Gym Etiquette: “I Pick Things Up And Put Them Down”

This one needs its own article, but we’ll stick to the basics of jerkiness:
1. Hogging machines, not ok.
2. Stalking machines around the hoggers.
3. Not wiping down equipment after you use it! Eww.
4. Full face of make-up. Really? Nothing says ‘I’m serious about my health’ quite like fake eyelashes.
5. Inappropriate attire. Forget your underwear, Bro-ski? No one wants to see your kibbles and bits on the abduction machine.
6. Cell phones on the floor, come on.

7. Lunch Time: Smelly Food In The Community Kitchen

We’ve all had the coworker who just loves to eat their leftover Indian food or warm up their seaweed and garbage salad in the microwave. While I certainly promote healthy eating, this is just one meal a day, perhaps you should stick to something a little less pungent. The odor lingers long after the food is eaten. In a shared environment, it’s best to think of those around you.

There is a much longer list than the one I’ve compiled, but the unlisted are personal pet peeves of mine. These Seven Deadly Annoying Sins seem to be a majority in the consensus. So as we fight fat, fight heart disease, or just plain ole’ fight, we must take our fellow health nut into consideration for safety as well as maintaining the sanity for the people around us. And remember, just because your bike costs $3,000 doesn’t mean I can’t hit you with my car.

bike, Boston, etiquette, exercise, gym, health and wellness, rules Lifestyle