I find the paradox between 24 Hour Fitness’ branding and the reality of their gyms to be rather interesting (read - disappointing, frustrating). Whether it is their TV ads, their website, or their posters, they seem to spend a lot of energy into making you think that it is a fun, cool place where hot young people workout. So, so not true. Here are 10* things (in no particular order) that I find curious and/or annoying at 24:

10.) the man in the leotard who looks like he just walked off the set of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
09.) people who ignore my one elliptical buffer rule - when you’ve got a row of identical unoccupied ellipticals, don’t jump on the one next to me. Leave one elliptical between you and me. That is unless you happen to be Jake Gyllenhaal.  In that case, not only can you jump on the one next to you, we can share an elliptical.
08.) people who wear polos to the gym. Or for that matter, any shirt with a collar. Doing so is like shouting to the world, “I’ve been sweating in this shirt all day at work and now I’m going to sweat in it even more!”
07.) same goes for people who wear jeans to the gym.
06.) same goes for people who wear cargo shorts, cargo pants, khaki shorts . . . really anything with belt loops.
05.) the man who rides the stationary bike while juggling an iBook
04.) the girls who spend more time talking on their cell phone than actually working out.  I’m sorry but are my gasps for air interrupting your cell phone conversation?
03.) people who wear athletic socks with sandals - this is wrong in ANY context
02.) body odor - wrong, so wrong.  Even worse when combined with #9.
01.) people who walk backwards on the treadmill - perhaps I just have treadmill envy

* In honor of their branding (YOU! 24!), I was initially hoping to track 24 things that suck about 24 but I couldn’t think of any more.  Maybe 24 isn’t as ghetto as it seems.