Ever looked into a kiddie pool and thought ewww?  Well you would be shocked to find out that the mats at your gym are actually filled with more bacteria and germs than that urine filled pool.  All those nasty germs and bacteria can swim in the thin film of sweat left behind by the last person that used it.  But can you really catch a disease from that bacteria?

The answer is yes, athletes foot, rashes and even ringworm are common ailments caught at the gym from bacteria and germs left behind in sweat on gym mats and even weight machines and cardio machines.  To make matters worse more deadly germs like E. Coli, flu virus, H1N1 virus, and staph bacteria could also be lurking around the gym watching for you to touch it.  The wipes left in the gym may contain disinfectant but if you are not sure what they contain then you should highly consider bringing your own sanitizing wipes that contain disinfecting properties and use them on all the equipment and mats.

If the idea of the gym is making you nervous during flu season then be sure not to put your hands on or near your face while you are in the gym and be sure to wash your hands well with hot water and soap when you are done your workout.