How long does the New Year rush for the gym last?

Sued0nim

I am fully expecting my lovely gym to be heaving in the post-New Year Resolution season

But, this is my first year of having months of success, with a fitness regime that works for me and makes me feel great and as I am, at heart, a total curmudgeon I'd like a forecast of how many weeks my gym is going to be heaving with New Year's Resolutions people before they disappear and it returns to normal?

I'm assuming 3 - 4 weeks?

yesimpson

Too long is the answer to that question.

Realistically I notice it goes back to normal by Valentine's Day.

Azexas

each gym is different... my gym usually dies down around mid February/ early march at the latest.

queenliz99

I always found it to be only about 2 weeks.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

carriecarrio

1 month- I hope not longer!!!

NoelFigart1

Six weeks at my gym.

sheepotato

At the smaller gym most people give in within the month because everyone tries to go at the same time and gets sick of the long wait for equipment. At the larger 'family' gym branch it's a bit worse until Feb.

unlikelyathlete

Usually about three months, in my experience, for larger gyms. I also go at the end of the work day, so that might be why it seems to linger for so long-it's busy during that time year-round, but worse after the new year.

RGv2

I wondering if this thread is going to turn into the standard hell storm it tends to every year?

Like everyone said, it all depends... My gym goes through two. We have the post Thanksgiving gym special crowd now, then we pick up a bunch more at New Year's and then it drops off dramatically by mid Feb. At my favorite gym that I was at for about 5yrs, I want to say the rush lasted until March.

amwoidyla

My gym has been "New Years" busy for about 2 months already now and only expect it to get worse in January. I think the influx is weather related, since winter arrived early this year.

eric_sg61

When those people figure out their goal that requires a long-term commitment cannot be accomplished with a short-term plan.

lmr0528

At mine, it seems to last about 2 months.

Yanicka1

Usually is get better in the middle of feb.

levitateme

Beginning of March, in my neck of the woods. I am already dreading this.

malibu927

Hopefully not too long. I was a Resolution person this year, but the weather was so awful in January/February I maybe got to the gym a total of five times in those first two months. Last week it was fairly busy, too, so I'm wondering if it's already started.

RHSheetz

I am a 6:00 am person, I NEVER see any New Years Resolution people at any of the Gyms I attended.

Butrovich

February is will get back to normal

cwolfman13

January is the busiest, and then it starts tapering back down. By the end of February and going into March, pretty much back to normal and you get a couple months reprieve until the May surge into summer.

It can be annoying, but just keep in mind that a huge chunk of a gyms annual revenue comes in those first few months of the year...this money usually brings some nice new equipment with it...upgrades, and needed maintenance. Without those first few months of heavy membership, everyone's gym would likely be a heaping pile of old and outdated equipment.

fit_mama30

yesimpson wrote: »

Too long is the answer to that question.

Realistically I notice it goes back to normal by Valentine's Day.

Yep, I agree. I would say around mid-feb.

I'm all for people going to the gym and getting in shape, I honestly am. But at my past gym (a very large YMCA) it was wayyyy too crazy in january/february and sometimes even until March. I had to go to the gym around 6am if I wanted to be able to use weights and a treadmill. Crazzyyy! And all the zumba classes were full as well. All the time.

At my current gym it doesn't seem to be an issue. Makes me love my gym even more when I think about it I agree with previous posters who said it varies from a gym to another. I was there last week and didn't see an increase, but at some gyms it starts in december...

So yeah, I'd say it lasts about 1 month and a half, sometimes two.

xcalygrl

It depends. I live in the south where it doesn't really get cold and doesn't stay cold. By mid-February most of the resolutioners are gone from my gym. This could last a bit longer if the resolutioners are going to stick it out and you live in a cold climate though.

ninerbuff

It's about 6 weeks. What most regulars don't realize is that while new membership increases, lots of current members who are still locked into a 2 year contract, come in for the resolution.
I believe the stats are 1 in 15 resolutioners end up staying the course.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

higgins8283801

I go to the gym at 2am and I am hoping I don't have to deal with this. I go at 2am so I don't have to wait around as it is. lol.

astrose00

About a month, in my experience but it starts trailing off after two weeks or so. Luckily, I have outfitted my home gym quite nicely so I won't be going to the gym after New Years, except for a few classes.

yoovie

WAY TO WISH THE BEST FOR PEOPLE!

Sued0nim

yoovie wrote: »

WAY TO WISH THE BEST FOR PEOPLE!

Oh shush Pollyanna ....

astrose00

yoovie wrote: »

WAY TO WISH THE BEST FOR PEOPLE!

LOL. I think this phenomenon is set in stone at this point. I wish fitness for everyone, including myself. But I've seen gym sales people overselling memberships to people who don't even know if they enjoy it or who might feel overwhelmed by the crowds, etc. I remember I read something that said that gym regulars make up a really small percentage of the revenue that gyms make; maybe like 10% or less? Most of their money comes from those people who won't continue going. I think gyms' business models rely on this as well.

It is pretty gloomy, though!

lmr0528

The part that aggravates me is why people feel the need to do this at the first of the year. Wanting to lose weight or improve upon yourself is a great thing to do... but why do you need an excuse to start? If you're thinking about it now, why wait til the new year? I always believe, why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?

Azexas

lauraripson wrote: »

The part that aggravates me is why people feel the need to do this at the first of the year. Wanting to lose weight or improve upon yourself is a great thing to do... but why do you need an excuse to start? If you're thinking about it now, why wait til the new year? I always believe, why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?

+1 for me as well. I wish the best and fitness for everyone, but wait until the new year?

gshifrin

My gym was packed the Monday after Thanksgiving. By Tuesday it was empty again.
The first few weeks of the year are always busy, but it fades out quickly.

segacs

As others have pointed out, for most gyms, this *is* their revenue model. Signing up annual members and assuming that 70-80% of them will drop off after the first month or two is how gyms survive. If everyone who signed up used the facilities daily, gyms would have to restrict membership a lot more and they'd go bankrupt.

So, good for the gyms, not so good for the members.

Anyway, devil's advocate here: I tend to use indoor gym facilities most heavily in the winter, not because I'm lazy the rest of the year, but for weather-related reasons. December to March, when the weather is cold and snowy and miserable, I tend to work out indoors (with the exception of skiing). April to November, I switch a lot of that over to outdoor activity.

So yeah, some people lose their motivation and just quit. But others are taking advantage of the gym in January 'cause it's bloody cold outside in January!