Smelly Gym Guy Help

I go to a small gym that only has a few machines.  I have a busy schedule and can only find a few specific times that work to go.  Everytime I've gone to the gym for the last two weeks, there has been a guy on the elliptical machines with very very strong body odor.  It is so bad, that I am not able to breath when I work out and am dreading going.  How can I deal with this, besides completely abandoning the gym?  Like I said, I can't change the times that I go. 

I sometimes have to deal with some smelly situations in work (healthcare - what can you do...), and a dab of Vicks in my nostrils helps a lot.  I don't know if the effect would last an entire work-out. 

I have the same problem.  This guy smells like he eats a whole head of garlic every day, and he passes gas at least 5 or 6 times during every yoga class.  I am not sure of what to do, but I wanted you to know you aren't alone!

Maybe you could bring a freshener spray and lightly mist the area around you?  He might get the hint.

What about talking to the manager/owner at the gym. You can tell them you've tried to ignore it for two weeks and how tight your schedule is. Maybe they can have a private discussion with him about personal hygiene or something... it's worth a shot. Also keep in mind that there are several health conditions that can make people smell bad too. If that's the case, maybe he needs to talk to a doctor...

Why not tell the guy?    He can't fix it if he doesn't know.     Telling the manager isn't going to help.  Why would the manager take a chance of losing a good customer?     Slip a trial size of deodorant in his gym bag if you can't tell him.  Or ask him.... "I don't mean to be a bother, but could you shower before you workout?  I know it sounds mean and I don't mean to be... but your odor makes it very hard to work out."  

Yes it sounds horrible.... but I'll bet he doesn't even realize it.  We all think we stink when we start sweating.  But sometimes only we can smell it.  

Be bold!  Take back the gym!! 

What about people who bathe in perfume? It's so hard to do cardio when someone hops on the nearest machine after dousing themselves in scent.

i would try the vicks thing first. some people have a medical condition that causes them to have uncontrollable, pungent body odor. sometimes it is something that cannot be helped.

HAHAHA... Is he 6'0 180lb and Asian/French mixed... looks like Dean Cain?

My roommate is like that.  He doesn't wear deoderant because he says he doesn't need it... normally he doesn't, but the VERY SECOND he touches a weight all of the sudden he smells like a Taco Bell burrito.

We've all poked fun at him for it and he doesn't care.  He continues to wear cut-off shirts and sniff himself in the gym.

- I would recommend the Vicks thing... OR... Put a note in his bag alongside a bar of deoderant with a polite message saying "I'm sorry to be so rude, but you smell horrible and everyone would appreciate it greatly if you used this deoderant liberally."

Hi, I think what dcyounts said is a good idea, leave a note WITH the deodorant in his bag or.....hm, sometimes ppl lock up there bags...but if he has a towel or water bottle then slide it next to it or something. Deo with a polite note will make the "maybe" embarassing moment less a little less painful. You could say something like, "I'm sorry to bother you but, it would be greatly appreciated if you would use deodorant while working out."

Good luck!!!!

just an opinion but i think pointing it out to him isnt the best thing to do... "/ he could be totally humiliated by some stranger pointing something like that out, even if it is better that he know! like what if he starts skipping showers on purpose to get you back!

i would go to the travel section of target and buy like 6 of the little baby sized deos & take 'em to the gym and ask guys if they want to try some free samples :]

but maybe thats just me!

i learned the hard way after i gave a girl a tooth brush and paste for her birthday in 7th grade, which resulted in a big argument, that sometimes you gotta be a litle descrete!