270+ Funny Gym & Exercise Quotes to Work Your Core with Laughter

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Plus, motivational quotes to keep you going (to the gym, of course)
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Ah, the gym. So many of us have a love-hate relationship with it, but would a few laughs make us love it more? We think so! In this article, we’ve collected over 270 funny sayings, mottos, and quotes (along with a few inspirational words) about the gym and fitness to spur you on to a new personal record. Keep scrolling to find your new fitness catchphrase—then put your phone down and do another set!

Most Hilarious Gym Sayings: Our Top Picks

  • “I don't sweat; I sparkle.”
  • “Education is important, but big biceps is importanter.”
  • “Every day I’m musclin’.”
  • “I'm not lazy, I'm on a ‘rest’ day.”
  • “I do it for the ‘OMG, you look amazing!’”
  • “I consider my refusal to go to the gym today as resistance training.”
  • “Ain't no mice on my shoulders, too many traps!”
Section 1 of 10:

Funniest Gym Sayings

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  1. Read these gym quips for a gut-busting laugh (it’s good for your core!). The gym is a place to do hard work, but that doesn’t mean you have to be super serious while you’re there. Here are some of the silliest and most relatable jokes and sayings about working out (or not) and why we like it (or not).
    • “I got 99 problems, but I'm going to the gym to ignore all of them.”
    • “I'm sorry for what I said during burpees.”
    • “Life has its ups and downs. We call them squats.”
    • “You make my knees weak. Just kidding. Yesterday was leg day.”
    • “My favorite machine at the gym is the television.”
    • “It's my workout. I can cry if I want to.”
    • “I go to the gym because I think my great personality could use a banging body.”
    • “I’m not sweating, I’m leaking awesome.”
    • “I go to the gym because punching people is frowned upon.”
    • “I do yoga to burn off the crazy.”
    • “Going to the gym is like going to the circus, minus the fun.”
    • “I don't work out. I participate in extreme body motivational activities.”
    • “I'm not getting fitter, I'm just becoming harder to kidnap.”
    • “I'm not sweating, I'm just attempting to become a water feature.”
    • “I don't need a six-pack, I have a keg.”
    • “I don't need to work out; I get enough exercise from jumping to conclusions.”
    • “Today's forecast? A 100% chance of shredding.”
    • “I'm sweating like a sinner at church.”
    • “I work out so I can drink beer.”
    • “I'm only here so I can eat more later.”
    • “Why work out alone when you can complain with friends?”
    • “Burpees aren’t torture; they’re ‘character building.’”
    • “Muscles aren’t built in a day; they’re built in the time it takes me to find my workout playlist.”
    • “I didn’t skip leg day, I just prioritized ‘upper half day’.”
    • “I don’t want to look thin. I want to look like I could kick your butt.”
    • “My favorite exercise at the gym would probably be judging.”
    • “At the gym, I’m like a ninja. You’ll never see me there.”
    • “I will never break up with my gym. We just seem to work out.”
    • “Rest day? Where is the rest muscle?”
    • “Merry fitmas and a happy new rear.”
    • “Calluses? You mean lifting trophies?”
    • “I exercise because zombies will eat the slow ones first.”
    • “When in doubt, squat it out.”
    • “My Apple Watch made me do it.”
    • “Meet you at the bar…bell.”
    • “I'm in a good place right now. Not emotionally, I'm just at the gym.”
    • “The guy on the treadmill next to me didn't know we were racing. (I won.)”
    • “Good things come to those who weight.”
    • “I spend my time at the gym doing diddly squats.”
    • “I must go. My gym needs me.”
    • “Education is important, but big biceps is importanter.”
    • “I don’t get why gyms have mirrors. I know what I look like. That’s why I’m there!”
    • “I don’t always go to the gym. But when I do, I make sure everyone on TikTok knows about it.”
    • “Do more of what makes you happy. Unless it’s burpees. Never do more burpees.”
    • “My favorite machine at the gym is the vending machine.”
    • “But the gym IS therapy.”
    • “I sweat so I don’t cry—same emotional release, less judgment.”
    • “Gym? I thought you said gin.”
    • “Dear abs, I'm working on you. Please show up soon.”
    • “This workout brought to you by my emotional support water bottle.”
    • “Demons go to the gym regularly to exorsize.”
    • “I like working out, but yoga is a stretch for me.”
    • “Some apples just have good cores.”
    • “You can’t spell legendary without leg day.”
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Section 2 of 10:

Funny Short Gym Mottos & One-Liners

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  1. Try a short gym saying for a quick laugh (or catchphrase). Looking for a witty motto to keep you motivated at the gym? Look no further. These concise words of wisdom perfectly sum up why we go to the gym and just can’t stay away.
    • “Hustle for that muscle.”
    • “Sweat is just fat crying.”
    • “Strong is the new beautiful.”
    • “Keep your squats low and your standards high.”
    • “Do it for the after selfie.”
    • “If you look cute after, you didn’t work hard enough.”
    • “Sweat now, pizza later.”
    • “Lift heavy, laugh harder.”
    • “Sweat is just tears from the gym gods.”
    • “I belong behind bars.”
    • “Tired and sore and back for more.”
    • “Every day I’m musclin’.”
    • “On Fridays, we flex.”
    • “Sun’s out, guns out.”
    • “Walk in strong, crawl out stronger.”
    • “Girls just wanna have guns.”
    • “It’s not going to lift itself.”
    • “TGIF—the grind includes Friday.”
    • “No ifs, just good butts.”
    • “Talents: Gym.”
    • “Crunch time is my favorite time.”
    • “I’m not a gym rat; I’m a gym unicorn.”
Section 3 of 10:

Funny Gym Sayings about Weight Loss

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  1. Laugh at these relatable lines—it might just help you lose weight! Laughing is a natural way to reduce stress , which makes it easier to take off a few pounds. But that’s not all—some studies show that regular and frequent laughter can have a direct, positive impact on your weight and BMI! [1] So, here are some funny sayings about exercising, losing weight, and dieting to kickstart your workout chuckles.
    • “My favorite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch... I call it lunch.”
    • “I can't believe I forgot to go to the gym today. That’s 6 years in a row now.”
    • “I’m not losing weight. I’m getting rid of it. I don’t want it back.”
    • “Work out that cake!”
    • “How do you get your steps in? I like long romantic walks to the fridge.”
    • “I work out because I really, really like food.”
    • “Exercise? I thought you said extra fries.”
    • “My six-pack is protected by a layer of fat.”
    • “Of course I work out. I lift donuts to my mouth every day.”
    • “The only running I do is from the fridge to the couch and back again.”
    • “I don't have a six-pack, I have a party ball.”
    • “I'm not out of shape, I'm just in a different shape.”
    • “I'm in shape. Round is a shape.”
    • “I ate healthily and exercised today. I better wake up skinny tomorrow.”
    • “I go to the gym because my couch said I was getting too comfortable.”
    • “I need to get in shape. If I were murdered right now, my chalk outline would be a circle.”
    • “The best abs exercise is five sets of stop eating so much.”
    • “I'm not lazy, I'm on a ‘rest’ day.”
    • “I'm not sure what's more challenging: losing weight or convincing myself it's a good idea.”
    • “I'm not lazy, I'm on energy-saving mode.”
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Section 4 of 10:

Funny Gym Sayings about Weight Lifting

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  1. These lighthearted quotes show that lifting isn’t a hobby—it’s a lifestyle. It takes consistency to see gains from strength training, and people who love to lift know that their dedication might make it look like they’re obsessed. If this sounds like you, then these funny sayings will have you doubled over with laughter! (Just make sure you’re using proper form.)
    • “I consider my refusal to go to the gym today as resistance training.”
    • “Lifting weights is my love language.”
    • “Home is where the weights are.”
    • “Weights before dates.”
    • “Friends don’t let friends skip leg day.”
    • “Lifting is my cardio.”
    • “Squats? I thought you said shots.”
    • “Chasing PRs like they owe me money.”
    • “If the bar ain’t bending, you’re just pretending.”
    • “Bench press: because hugs don’t build pecs.”
    • “I like big weights and I cannot lie.”
    • “Friday night. Party at the gym with my friends, dumbbell and barbell.”
    • “Life is short. Lift heavy things.”
    • “The only BS I need in my life is breakfast and squats.”
    • “I lift weights, but they don’t seem to be getting any lighter.”
    • “I don’t always lift weights, but when I do, I make sure everyone sees me do it.”
    • “I'm not addicted to lifting weights; we're just in a really committed relationship.”
    • “Leg day: because walking down stairs normally is overrated.”
    • “My muscles are screaming in languages I didn't know existed.”
    • “My workout plan? Lift, grunt, and pretend to know what I’m doing.”
    • “Row, row, row… There’s no boat, just keep rowing!”
    • “Necromancers love a good deadlift.”
    • “Lifting dictionaries helps to add definition to your muscles.”
    • “I don’t pay rent. I’m squatting.”
Section 5 of 10:

Funny Gym Sayings about Cardio & Endurance

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  1. These sayings will make you laugh 'til your abs are sore. Whether you run marathons or just around the block, these sayings and quips about cardio and endurance exercise are super relatable. If you can’t work up the motivation to step on the treadmill, read through this list to remember you’re not alone!
    • “Does running late count as cardio?”
    • “Will run for tacos.”
    • “My idea of a workout is a good brisk sit.”
    • “Unless you puke, faint, or die, keep going!”
    • “My doctor recently told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already.”
    • “Run like you stole something.”
    • “The best high five is when the treadmill finally stops.”
    • “Running is my meditation, which means I meditate once a year for 10 minutes.”
    • “Cardio: the perfect reminder of my love-hate relationship with breathing.”
    • “Running on the treadmill… because running outdoors involves more effort.”
    • “The most difficult thing about a marathon? Working it into every conversation for the next year.”
    • “Running a marathon takes balls. Other sports just play with them.”
    • “I like all of the things about running, like eating carbs, being cheered on, and wearing comfortable shoes.”
    • “The hardest part of summer running is to stop sweating AFTER you shower.”
    • “They say good things take time, that’s why I run slow.”
    • “That awkward moment when you’re wearing Nike… And you just can’t do it.”
    • “Don’t be a jogger, they’re the one’s who find dead bodies.” [2]
    • “I’ve got 99 problems, so I went on a run to ignore them all.”
    • “You never realize how long a minute is until you’ve run on treadmill.”
    • “I plan on having such an epic run, Morgan Freeman should narrate it.”
    • “Running is not a hobby, it’s a post-apocalyptic skill.”
    • “I received hate mile at the gym today.”
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Section 6 of 10:

Funny Gym Sayings for Personal Trainers

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  1. Check out these funny quips about working with (or as) a personal trainer. Whether you’re a PT who wants to keep your sessions lighthearted or a gym-goer wondering whether your trainer is trying to kill you, these funny sayings are sure to bring a smile to your face (between your gasps for air, of course):
    • “I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done. And by ‘done,’ I mean when I’ve finished my post-workout snack.”
    • “They call it a personal trainer. I call it a personal terrorizer.”
    • “Sweat is just fat crying. Let’s make it sob!”
    • “Exercise in the morning… before your brain figures out what you’re doing.”
    • “Remember, if you lose motivation, chocolate is always at the finish line!”
    • “The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do… or the one where you forgot your headphones at home.”
    • “You are one workout away from a good mood. Two workouts away from feeling like a superhero. Three workouts away from considering opening your own gym.”
    • “The word ‘aerobics’ came about when the gym instructors got together and said, ‘If we’re going to charge $10 an hour, we can’t call it jumping up and down.”
    • “I’d like to thank my personal trainer for the muscles. And my pizza delivery guy for the motivation.”
    • “I’ve got 99 problems, and they all involve carbs.”
    • “I’m a physical therapist. I solve problems you didn’t know you had in ways you can’t understand.”
    • “Doing my best impression of a pretzel at physical therapy.”
    • “Physical therapists have their patients’ backs… and necks, and knees, and hips.”
    • “Physical therapy: because sometimes ‘walk it off’ just isn’t going to cut it.”
    • “Physical therapy motto: They poked me, they prodded me, and then they had the nerve to call it ‘therapeutic touch.’”
    • “When your trainer says ‘last set,’ they really mean three more.”
    • “I would have quit already, but my trainer scares me.”
    • “Our session was whey better than I expected.”
Section 7 of 10:

Funny Gym Sayings for Guys

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  1. Hype yourself up for a new PR with a braggy, punny quip. You work hard at the gym, so why not make a cheesy joke about your progress? There’s so much more humor to be had than a cliché saying about the “gun show” (although we’ve obviously got a few of those lines here—how can you not?). Next time you’re looking to gloat a little, pull out one of these:
    • “I hope nobody calls the cops on me for walking around with these massive guns.”
    • “This used to be a normal t-shirt, but I'm so cut that the sleeves fell off.”
    • “Someone call the cops, ‘cause I just killed this workout.”
    • “My arms are so jelly they’re turning green.”
    • “I’m like a water truck—so pumped.”
    • “Ain't no mice on my shoulders, too many traps!”
    • “No curl, no girl.”
    • “TSA stopped me and told me I have to check these guns.”
    • “I need a forklift to pick me up ‘cause I'm stacked.”
    • “I hope the gym’s empty, can't have anyone in my whey.”
    • “I think I'm allergic to iron, I'm getting all swole.”
    • “Gonna have to get some permits for these guns.”
    • “Leg curls? You mean smoking these hams?”
    • “Call me Tony Stark because all I do is pump iron.”
    • “This fisherman went to the gym to find some muscles!”
    • “Anyone got a bandage? ‘Cause I’m cut!”
    • “Working on my abs is such a waist of time.”
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Section 8 of 10:

Funny Gym Sayings for Ladies

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  1. Have a chuckle as you rack up with one of these gym quotes for women. It’s no secret that women have a different experience at the gym than men. Societal pressure to be thin leads some to believe the myth that lifting weights will just make you look bulky (and that “bulky” is undesirable—it’s not!). Plus, women have a harder time getting to the gym than most men due to obstacles like finding childcare or managing the household. [3] So, if you’re a weight-lifting baddie or a cardio superstar who hits the gym despite the struggles, these funny (and motivational) sayings are for you!
    • “Strong women lift each other and weights.” [4]
    • “Sweat like a pig, look like a fox.”
    • “Dear stress, let's break up. I found someone else... It's called the gym.”
    • “Strong is the new sexy.”
    • “I work out because I know I would've been the first to die in the Hunger Games.”
    • “This body wasn't made in a day; it's a work in progress.”
    • “Sweating out my insecurities.”
    • “I don't sweat; I sparkle.”
    • “I do it for the ‘OMG, you look amazing!’”
    • “Gym hair, don't care.”
    • “Sorry, I can't. I have a date with the gym.”
    • “Strong women don't have attitudes; they have standards.”
    • “Work hard, play hard, squat harder.”
    • “I didn't come here to look like a superhero, I came here to look like a hot mess who's trying.”
    • “Run like there’s a hot guy in front of you and a creepy one behind you.”
    • “Who needs makeup? I’m going for the post-gym glow.”
    • “Don’t train to be skinny. Train to be a bad*ss.” — Demi Lovato
Section 9 of 10:

Funny Gym Captions for Instagram

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  1. Share your love for the gym online with a cheeky fitness caption. Whether you’re trying to grow your fitness business online or simply flex for your followers, try one of these snappy captions to boost your engagement . When it comes to Insta or TikTok captions, keeping it concise and memorable is key. As social media expert Kasey Dunn puts it, “if it's not catchy, it'll be hard to keep [your followers] intrigued. You really want to captivate [your] audience.”
    • “Sweat is just fat crying tears of joy 😂” [5]
    • “Fitness? More like fitspo-tential.”
    • “Gym hair, don’t care.”
    • “Gym and donuts, balance 🍩”
    • “I didn’t choose the gym life, the gym life chose me.”
    • “I sweat glitter, obviously ✨”
    • “Sore today, strong tomorrow.”
    • “The only lift I need is a refill on my coffee ☕”
    • “Gym and Netflix, that’s my idea of balance.”
    • “I lift, therefore I brunch.”
    • “When in doubt, squat it out.”
    • “Will lift weights for donuts.”
    • “The gym is just my second home… with better lighting.”
    • “Sweat is just your fat cells crying for a better life.”
    • “Gym clothes, wine, and a good sweat. That’s my happy place.”
    • “I’m not lazy, I’m just conserving energy for my workout.”
    • “Fitness is my hobby, pizza is my guilty pleasure 🍕”
    • “Gym and tonic – the perfect combination.”
    • “I work out to justify my Netflix binge-watching.”
    • “Gym hair, don’t care – unless it’s a date night. 💇”
    • “I lift weights because I can’t lift cars. Yet.”
    • “When in doubt, squat it out.”
    • “Sweat is my signature, laughter is my accessory.”
    • “I work out to balance out my wine and cheese intake 🍷🧀🏋️”
    • “My body is a temple, and the gym is my sanctuary.”
    • “Fit, but still a fan of napping and pizza.”
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Section 10 of 10:

Motivational Gym Quotes

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  1. Need some good old inspiration to get back to the gym? Look no further! We all feel a little burnt out at some point. If you need a good quote to give you a kick in the pants , check out this list from pro athletes, trainers, and thinkers about fitness, motivation, and pushing yourself beyond what you thought was possible. You got this!
    • “Nothing will work unless you do.” — Maya Angelou [6]
    • “There comes a certain point in life when you have to stop blaming other people for how you feel or the misfortunes in your life. You can't go through life obsessing about what might have been.” — Hugh Jackman
    • “I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan
    • “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.” — Confucius
    • “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” — Mahatma Gandhi
    • “Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” — Lou Holtz
    • “Increased physical activity enhances positive energy.” — Lailah Gifty Akita
    • “Believe in yourself. You are braver than you think, more talented than you know and capable of more than you imagine.” — Roy T. Bennett
    • “Don't count the days; make the days count.” — Muhammad Ali
    • “Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” — Edward Stanley
    • “Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” — Oprah Winfrey
    • “It's going to be a journey. It's not a sprint to get in shape.” — Kerri Walsh Jennings
    • “Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” — Lance Armstrong
    • “No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn't trying.” — Tony Robbins
    • “Getting fit is all about mind over matter. I don't mind, so it doesn't matter.” — Adam Hargreaves
    • “Just believe in yourself. Even if you don't, pretend that you do and, and some point, you will.” — Venus Williams
    • “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.” — Richard Marcinko
    • “All great achievements require time.” — Maya Angelou
    • “We cannot start over. But we can begin now and make a new ending.” — Zig Ziglar
    • “You dream. You plan. You reach. There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, with belief, with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you, there are no limits.” — Michael Phelps
    • “Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I'm possible!’” — Audrey Hepburn
    • “If you give up at the first sign of struggle, you're really not ready to be successful.” — Kevin Hart
    • “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” — Japanese Proverb
    • “You have to push past your perceived limits, push past that point you thought was as far as you can go.” — Drew Brees
    • “I feel an endless need to learn, to improve, to evolve—not only to please the coach and the fans—but also to feel satisfied with myself.” — Cristiano Ronaldo
    • “When you have a clear vision of your goal, it's easier to take the first step toward it.” — L.L. Cool J.
    • “I was never a natural athlete, but I paid my dues in sweat and concentration, and took the time necessary to learn karate and became a world champion.” — Chuck Norris
    • “If you ain't pissed off for greatness, that just means you're okay with being mediocre.” — Ray Lewis
    • “Don't limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.” — Jerry Dunn
    • “You don't have to be good at it; you just have to do it.” — Karine Candice Kong
    • “When you hit failure, your workout has just begun.” — Ronnie Coleman
    • “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” — Henry Ford
    • “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.” — Wayne Gretzky
    • “Everyone's dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard.” — Serena Williams
    • “I train to be the best in the world on my worst day.” — Ronda Rousey
    • “The deadlift also serves as a way to train the mind to do things that are hard.” — Mark Rippetoe
    • “To enjoy the glow of good health, you must exercise.” — Gene Tunney
    • “Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up.” — Sylvester Stallone
    • “Your current body is the only body that can take you to your new body—so be kind to it.” — Elaine Moran
    • “Fitness is not about being better than someone else. It's about being better than you used to be.” — Khloe Kardashian
    • “Blood, sweat, and respect. First two you give. Last one you earn.” — The Rock
    • “Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together, and you've got a kingdom.” — Jack LaLanne
    • “The muscle and the mind must become one. One without the other is zero.” — Lee Haney
    • “If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you.” — Fred Devito
    • “Living a healthy lifestyle will only deprive you of poor health, lethargy and fat.” — Jill Johnson
    • “You've survived 100 percent of your worst days.” — Robin Arzon
    • “The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking.” — Mia Hamm
    • “The difference between try and triumph is a little ‘umph.’” — Marvin Phillips
    • “Acknowledge the fear and do it anyway.” — Emma Lovewall
    • “Don't dream of winning. Train for it!” — Mo Farah

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      References

      1. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9035242/#Sec17
      2. ↑ https://runtothefinish.com/funny-running-quotes/
      3. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2578875/
      4. ↑ https://jwradford.com/25-powerful-female-humor-fitness-quotes/
      5. ↑ https://www.exercise.com/grow/gym-captions/
      6. ↑ https://parade.com/1045407/marynliles/fitness-quotes/

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