If its your first time adding weight training to your fitness program, you may not be quite sure of proper weight room etiquette.

Hopefully I can offer a few suggestions that may aid you in avoiding a few of the more common pitfalls.

--First of all, make sure you're dressed properly. Most facilities insist on proper attire and as a rule its pretty standard. Basically, they don't want you walking in there in street clothes. Also, they expect the guys to keep their tops on. The most important consideration is proper footwear. Improper footwear can lead to slipping and sliding and possible injury.

--The towels and spray you see beside most weight stations is there for good reason. Its proper etiquette to wipe down a station after you use it. Its pretty uncomfortable and a bit gross to use equipment covered with another persons sweat. It can also be a health hazard.

--If someone's doing a workout in front of a mirror, don't walk between that person and the mirror. People do it all the time and its extremely rude.

--Don't put a water bottle, towel, or article of clothing, or anything else for that matter on a weight bench or piece of equipment you're not using. Basically you're preventing anyone else from using that equipment. Set these items down on the floor next to the equipment you are using.

--Don't start a conversation or interupt in any other way, someone who is in the middle of lifting a weight. I see people do this and just can't understand it. You can easily cause them to loose concentration and injure themselves.

-Be sure to replace any weights or other equipment to where it belongs after use. This is possibly the pet peeve of any weight room, anywhere.

--Don't interupt someone to let them know that they're doing an exercise all wrong. All that does is embarass people. If they want to know, its best to let them ask for help on their own.

--Dropping weights to the floor with a great deal of crashing and banging is a distraction to everyone around you and can also cause damage to the equipment or the floor. It you can't have it in control when you're setting it down, then obviously its too heavy for you. Use less weight.

-- Also high on the pet peeve scale in any weight room is the loud grunting and groaning that's meant to impress others and show them how strong you are. Actually, I think it does the exact opposite.

--Some people insist on using the same piece of equipment for half an hour without considering that others may be waiting to use it. I would suggest that you should try and use fifteen minutes as a maximum guideline for any one station. Actually, some weight rooms have signs posted to that effect.

--Finally, if you're not sure how to use a certain piece of equipment, its always best to ask one of the weight room attendants who are there for that reason. Often other people are on a schedule and its best not to distract them from their workout. Also, they may not be qualified to give you advice on proper technique. The same applies if you want someone to spot for you.

I hope that if you are a first time weight room user that some of these pointers might be helpful to you.

Good luck with your weight training program.