Gym issues warning to member for showering without working out, says they'll face fines: 'Hopefully they don't watch for people skipping leg day'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 18, 2026 10:00 AM EST

Should you be allowed to shower at the gym without working out? 

Part of the good thing about going to the gym is being able to use the shower. You know this if you've ever needed a quick shower and you don't have access to one at home. This happened to me when the hot water was out at my apartment for weeks at a time. If I didn't have the gym shower, I don't know what I would have done. I would have suffered under the cold water at home or become a huge burden to my friends by constantly asking to borrow their shower. Sometimes I worked out before using it, but sometimes I didn't. After all, what do they care? They don't lose any money by me not using the gym equipment. In fact, they gain some resources back for their other customers.

What's even weirder than caring about this is enforcing it as a policy. What do you mean you're following me around as soon as I enter the gym to find out what I'm doing in there? Isn't that some sort of invasion of privacy? What are you going to do next? Tell me that I really should be doing more cardio? Leave me alone. I pay to be here, and I am allowed to use the gym how I'd like to use the gym, as long as I'm not breaking anything or disrespecting anyone. But apparently not at the gym mentioned in this story.

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  • A woman in the gym has a towel around her neck
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • After using the gym shower a few times, one gymgoer was surprised by the feedback they got. They weren't sure if they were breaking some sort of rule they didn't know about or if they were being unfairly targeted. The way they saw it, they were allowed to use the gym for whatever reason they wanted to. The way the gym saw it, they were breaking an unnamed rule and wanted to collect some fines for it. Read on for the whole story and see what you think about it, and see what commenters had to say about the whole ordeal.

  • Received a warning for showering w/o working out.

    I live out of my car. I joined anytime fitness here about a month ago. At the time, I was dealing with a bad rash in about a dozen spots on my body. It was an allergic reaction to a medication which I had been prescribed for dealing with a rash. (yes, the irony). It was non-
    via u/Horror_Lemon3415
  • contagious. I would sometimes go in during the first 2 weeks just to shower, as it provided some relief. There were times when I would go in with the intention of working out, but the itchiness was so severe I just headed straight for the showers. And yes I would have tried antihistimines but I had already been warned not to in
    via u/Horror_Lemon3415
  • conjunction with the medication. In any case, I started working out more as the rash cleared up at which point I received a warning that apparently I had been "caught" just showering without working out and if any other incidents happened I would face
    via u/Horror_Lemon3415
  • fines. Yes, plural. I received a message indicating multiple times twice as I conversed with the AF employee via text. Since then I've chosen to just workout and shower at night, as it feels less like I'm being "watched". Should I be extra careful now? Maybe go back to the doctor to get a note? How long do you have to work out to satisfy their monitoring team?
    via u/Horror_Lemon3415

  • Commenters wondered what was going on here.

    No-Trouble2212 Why would they care? You pay your monthly dues and you are not hurting anyone.
    via u/No-Trouble2212
  • Skaughtto I'd ask for the specific text of the policy you allegedly violated. I live in an old building with a boiler that fails. I've considered using my gym membership on days when hot water is unavailable at home. I couldn't find any limitation searching online.
    via u/Skaughtto
  • Tbplayer59 Hopefully they don't watch for people skipping leg day.
    via u/Tbplayer59
  • A woman stands in the gym with her hands on her hips
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • No-Attitude1554 My local anytime fitness is the same way. A guy went in to shave and didn't clean up after himself. The owner watched the camera to see who it was and saw they didn't workout. The owner tried to say the club policy was you couldn't be in the
    via u/No-Attitude1554
  • shower for more than 30 minutes. I looked at all my paperwork and didn't see anything about that. I really dont think they can fine you. Look at your contract. Or just go to a different anytime fitness if it's close by. I think the owners are afraid
    via u/No-Attitude1554
  • "homeless" people will use it just for showering. I would walk .50 on the treadmill and hit the shower. They can't do anything. There are people that live out of vans and cars that shower at the gym. You are paying for the amenities too.
    via u/No-Attitude1554
  • redfoot33 Tell them to put this policy in writing. Then send a copy ro the state attorney general. You are paying for a service, the service includes shower use, they are threatening to fine you for using the service you are paying for? GTFO.
    via u/redfoot33
  • Low-Ad-9615 That's wild! Is there another location near by to try? I also wonder if it was members who had noticed and complained? What time of day were you showering? Maybe try different times? Best of luck OP!
    via u/Low-Ad-9615
  • III-Organization5909 At that point what would they consider a workout? Would 30 sec on a treadmill at the lowest speed count?
    via u/III-Organization5909
  • Excellent-Seesaw-... That's just crazy and idiotic. You actually use LESS resources by only showering, your gym should actually treat you as a good customer.
    via u/Excellent-Seesaw-516
  • No1Pound Pup At my Planet Fitness there are a lot of guys that only shower before going to work. I don't see a problem with it.
    via u/No1PoundPup
  • rick1191 I work out at planet fitness. and there are times I have to go between one job to the next and I don't wanna go sweaty so I run in shower and go and never been told anything. I pay my membership so they get my money what's it matter to them. The same should go for anytime fitness. Def reach out to corporate
    via u/rick1191
  • industrial_hamster Ask them to see a copy of the contract you signed where it specifically said you can't shower without working out
    via u/industrial_hamster
  • JohnnyKPHX Absolutely ridiculous for AF to threaten you like that! I'd re consider my membership, honestly.
    via u/JohnnyKPHX
  • Odd... That's ridiculous, it sounds like you were doing water aerobics to me lol. Also thank you for showering, I know it sounds weird but I would be more bothered by a person. that smelled like they needed a shower than someone actually taking a shower.
    via u/Odd_Professional_790
  • redfoot33 Incidentally, did you give the employee who is messaging you your phone number (or did they get it from you membership files) and are they texting you from their personal phone or the clubs phone? There seems to be multiple problems here,
    via u/redfoot33
  • including the employee enforcing a policy that doesn't sound believable, then texting you on your personal phone to tell you that you will be fined if you don't follow their instructions. (Also, how exactly would they enforce these fines? If you have a credit card on file, adding charges to this credit card without your approval is all kinds of illegal.).
    via u/redfoot33
  • Bobbyj59 Dude, you owe no explanation. You pay your dues and showering is part of them.
    via u/Bobbyj59
  • BostonNU wtf! Monitoring you? That's a serious invasion of privacy, if not stalking! I'd file a formal complaint
    via u/BostonNU
  • NLSSMC Then they should've given you a written policy stating that when you signed up. Contact corporate. (I wouldn't mention you live out of your car though. It's not their business why you're showering without first working out.)
    via u/NLSSMC

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gym etiquette gym FAIL van life shower exercise gym membership showering working out
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