A woman who frequents the gym was stunned when an employee informed her that other members had complained.
Perhaps even more puzzling were the specific complaints people were reporting to managers.
Gym users reportedly complained to the manager about the odor of the woman while she was training.
The Planet Fitness member shared her latest experience at the gym, which was then uploaded to TikTok.
According to the woman, she was about to leave the gym when she was accosted by a male employee. He pulls her girlfriend to her side and tells her that her other gym-goers have been complaining about her lately, especially about her scent.
“He was like, 'Oh, some of the guys complained to the manager about your smell,'” the woman confessed.
She was surprised to hear the employee's report. “I'm at the gym,” she said, noting that it's normal to sweat excessively, especially if you push her body to its limits during a workout.
The employee claimed to understand the woman's reaction and told the woman that the gym's management had received numerous complaints from people about the woman's odor and had sent a man to deliver the news. . However, the woman was confused about what her fellow gym-goers expected of her.
“Don't you stink at the gym?” She added that she believes Planet Fitness should be a “judgment-free” zone. “I'm so confused how I can spend two hours at the gym without smelling bad.”
Some agreed with the woman that others shouldn't notice her odor while working out.
“I'm sure Planet Fitness is a no-judge zone, right?” TikTok user @italways_something_ This was pointed out in a video reply to the woman. She attached a screenshot of her promotion for Planet Her Fitness' membership, which reads, “Live from the No Judgment Zone: Acoustic Ecological Mapping of Planet Fitness Locations in Southeastern Wisconsin.”
In many of Planet Fitness' ads, It advertises itself as “The Judgment Free Zone.” It's certainly not the kind of place where people will point out the smell of sweat.
However, some argue that if more than one person complains about a woman's odor, it is most likely due to poor hygiene and not just sweat.
So while Planet Fitness may be a “judgment-free zone,” that doesn't mean you can simply ignore the comfort of other members if you have a legitimate complaint. Other TikTok users were quick to point out this fact, even blaming the woman for her situation.
“Sweat isn't smelly or funky,” one TikTok user commented.
“You don't get consulted by management for smelling sweaty at the gym. This had to be next level epic funk,” another user wrote.
Sweat is not the only cause of unpleasant odors during exercise.
“Odor occurs as a result of a combination of sweat, sebum, the long time between cleansing, and the interaction of bacteria, yeast, and proteins on the skin.” Dr. Francesca Fusco of Wechsler Dermatology told Shape.
Bacteria can live on gym equipment, especially if it's not properly sanitized, and can worsen the overall odor of the person working out and the gym itself.
However, the most important thing is to arrive clean and not sweaty. This includes wearing new training gear. This greatly reduces the chance of body odor buildup.
Thankfully, there are solutions you can implement before your workout to reduce body odor.
Using soap in the shower, applying deodorant, and simply staying hydrated can greatly improve your scent.
Still, if you notice the smell of your own sweat in the middle of an intense workout, don't let it stop you from achieving your fitness goals. When you push your body to its limits, it's normal to have a few drops of sweat.
Bring a sweat towel to the gym and keep working hard.
Megan Quinn is a writer for YourTango, covering entertainment and news, self, love and relationships.
