Resolutioner Season
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Sounds like some people would actually enjoy the extra audience for a while.5
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fritch_gets_fit26 wrote: »This is the kind of post/attitude that had me scared to step foot in the gym for a long time...
Being overweight and taking those first steps to work out is hard enough...then add worrying about those avid gym-goers making fun of you as you take your first timid steps into the gym. I was an athlete growing up, continuing into my first years of college, so I am lucky enough to be familiar with the equipment...I didn't feel like I was fumbling when I came back to it. But I am still a "fat girl" in their gym, working on their equipment (at least that's what it feels like). But I'm bullheaded, so I am sticking around and doing it for myself...but That's not everyone, and that means plenty of people could be intimidated right out of the gym...and for what?
Honestly, it's like going to a bakery every day/week/whatever for a treat, and then being mad when someone comes in for a cake on their birthday or for their wedding. That doesn't mean they are taking the cake from your hands, so just be excited that they also get to enjoy the bakery and leave them alonnnnee (or better yet, make new friends).
this is a very insightful post, and when it comes to the gym.....
wait.
did you say "cake" ??1 -
i don't get it. if this:thrilled when new folks join the gym
then how this?I get a kick out of [...] then you never see them again.
sure i find jan/february a bit hard. i get to skip it this year thanks to an injury and a rehab prescription that i can just do at home, and i'm glad. i make a bit of an effort to try and be gracious about it all though.
and i dunno. i've been lifting pmuch in the same place for three and a half years by now, and from what i've seen everyone comes in and drops out . . . and comes in and drops out and comes in again. so so what if some people are on their first cycle of that? i think it's a pretty petty thing to have an opinion or make predictions about.1 -
Be nice. We were all new once. We all once had crummy technique or did something weird or didn't know how to use a machine. And, I'm guessing we all also had that one person who helped us out at some point and didn't make fun of our newbie mistake.
I agree that most of the resolutioners don't hang around, but it's not our job to drive them away either. I've found that it is usually the cardio section that gets overloaded since that's what most people know how to do without training. Luckily, my gym has housekeeping that cleans up the floor through out the day so the weights are never messy. So, be creative for a couple months and wait it out. It'll eventually go back to normal... until next year.8 -
It’s always interesting that’s for sure. This will be my 3rd year of resolutioners. It just makes me happy that most of them avoid the squat rack and deadlift platform.
I enjoy seeing the new faces, the effort, and strive to change, but generally you can tell who’s going to stop coming well before they actually do.
I know it’s slightly egotistical but I do love the looks you get when it’s your heavy day and they’re just like “how in the hell”. My gf said she’s going to make a resolution to start going with me more, told her not to. If she waits to start coming then she’ll never stick with it. And that she should start now or not at all.2 -
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I started my get in shape /lose weight program on Jan 2 a few years ago. It wasn't exactly a resolution but I didn't want to focus on it until after the holidays. It worked for me. I have no problem with people who prioritize according to their needs and see no reason to critique them for it.10
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8 days and counting. Excited and nervous haha. I just wish my new pink stringer would be here by then.0
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This happens at my gym when school starts in the fall. All classes are full for a few weeks. You see a few faces you haven't seen since last fall, and some for the first time. It's fun to guess how long they will last. We should start a pool.
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fritch_gets_fit26 wrote: »This is the kind of post/attitude that had me scared to step foot in the gym for a long time...
Being overweight and taking those first steps to work out is hard enough...then add worrying about those avid gym-goers making fun of you as you take your first timid steps into the gym. I was an athlete growing up, continuing into my first years of college, so I am lucky enough to be familiar with the equipment...I didn't feel like I was fumbling when I came back to it. But I am still a "fat girl" in their gym, working on their equipment (at least that's what it feels like). But I'm bullheaded, so I am sticking around and doing it for myself...but That's not everyone, and that means plenty of people could be intimidated right out of the gym...and for what?
Honestly, it's like going to a bakery every day/week/whatever for a treat, and then being mad when someone comes in for a cake on their birthday or for their wedding. That doesn't mean they are taking the cake from your hands, so just be excited that they also get to enjoy the bakery and leave them alonnnnee (or better yet, make new friends).
Someone asked once, have you ever quit a class because you were the oldest, or the fattest, or the slowest, or the least fit. Did you slink home in embarrassment? If you think you're the oldest, who in the class do you think is next oldest, and how much difference in age? 10 years? So by continuing to come to class, how many people in that 10-year range do you think you're allowing to come in without embarrassment about being so old? Same with weight, fitness level.
I went home, thought about it, and started a lot of new classes the next week. I walked in, head held high, thinking "I don't know if I'll like this, or if I'll be good at it, but I'm just here to help others, to just give them permission to try it, by being the oldest, fattest, un-fittest person here."
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Christine4507 wrote: »fritch_gets_fit26 wrote: »This is the kind of post/attitude that had me scared to step foot in the gym for a long time...
Being overweight and taking those first steps to work out is hard enough...then add worrying about those avid gym-goers making fun of you as you take your first timid steps into the gym. I was an athlete growing up, continuing into my first years of college, so I am lucky enough to be familiar with the equipment...I didn't feel like I was fumbling when I came back to it. But I am still a "fat girl" in their gym, working on their equipment (at least that's what it feels like). But I'm bullheaded, so I am sticking around and doing it for myself...but That's not everyone, and that means plenty of people could be intimidated right out of the gym...and for what?
Honestly, it's like going to a bakery every day/week/whatever for a treat, and then being mad when someone comes in for a cake on their birthday or for their wedding. That doesn't mean they are taking the cake from your hands, so just be excited that they also get to enjoy the bakery and leave them alonnnnee (or better yet, make new friends).
Gym goers have NOTHING against committed newbies who are working hard to improve themselves.
Gotta hardcore disagree here! Give the sheer number of rude comments I've read on forums, had directed at me, overheard in passing, there are MANY regular gym goers who hate newbies and resolutioner. I'm glad you aren't one, but you should recognize that it IS a trend and as the person you were quoting shows.. it DOES negatively impact people are their goals.
I think the disconnect is that resolutioners, with very few exceptions, are NOT committed to improving themselves. That's why they waited until after the holiday feastings to get started. It's also why they peter out after just a few weeks.
I completely believe that most gym goers have nothing against beginners per se, especially those who are committed to making changes. The typical resolutioner is something else though, and rightfully or not, this does irk people.4 -
Christine4507 wrote: »fritch_gets_fit26 wrote: »This is the kind of post/attitude that had me scared to step foot in the gym for a long time...
Being overweight and taking those first steps to work out is hard enough...then add worrying about those avid gym-goers making fun of you as you take your first timid steps into the gym. I was an athlete growing up, continuing into my first years of college, so I am lucky enough to be familiar with the equipment...I didn't feel like I was fumbling when I came back to it. But I am still a "fat girl" in their gym, working on their equipment (at least that's what it feels like). But I'm bullheaded, so I am sticking around and doing it for myself...but That's not everyone, and that means plenty of people could be intimidated right out of the gym...and for what?
Honestly, it's like going to a bakery every day/week/whatever for a treat, and then being mad when someone comes in for a cake on their birthday or for their wedding. That doesn't mean they are taking the cake from your hands, so just be excited that they also get to enjoy the bakery and leave them alonnnnee (or better yet, make new friends).
Gym goers have NOTHING against committed newbies who are working hard to improve themselves.
Gotta hardcore disagree here! Give the sheer number of rude comments I've read on forums, had directed at me, overheard in passing, there are MANY regular gym goers who hate newbies and resolutioner. I'm glad you aren't one, but you should recognize that it IS a trend and as the person you were quoting shows.. it DOES negatively impact people are their goals.
I think the disconnect is that resolutioners, with very few exceptions, are NOT committed to improving themselves. That's why they waited until after the holiday feastings to get started. It's also why they peter out after just a few weeks.
I completely believe that most gym goers have nothing against beginners per se, especially those who are committed to making changes. The typical resolutioner is something else though, and rightfully or not, this does irk people.
Why, though? Why would a person care that another person may or may not be at the gym come March? Do people not have enough to worry about without thinking about strangers' fitness habits?
We tell people to keep their traps shut because their friends/family don't care to hear about their weight loss and then we have people who get upset because the guy who is using the dumbbells they want on January 2 might not use them on March 2. People are weird.7 -
I don't think it's hard to understand. They're annoyed that the gym is filled with people who aren't serious about getting in shape. This wouldn't be a big deal, except that these folks are creating massive inconveniences without actually getting anything substantial done.Christine4507 wrote: »fritch_gets_fit26 wrote: »This is the kind of post/attitude that had me scared to step foot in the gym for a long time...
Being overweight and taking those first steps to work out is hard enough...then add worrying about those avid gym-goers making fun of you as you take your first timid steps into the gym. I was an athlete growing up, continuing into my first years of college, so I am lucky enough to be familiar with the equipment...I didn't feel like I was fumbling when I came back to it. But I am still a "fat girl" in their gym, working on their equipment (at least that's what it feels like). But I'm bullheaded, so I am sticking around and doing it for myself...but That's not everyone, and that means plenty of people could be intimidated right out of the gym...and for what?
Honestly, it's like going to a bakery every day/week/whatever for a treat, and then being mad when someone comes in for a cake on their birthday or for their wedding. That doesn't mean they are taking the cake from your hands, so just be excited that they also get to enjoy the bakery and leave them alonnnnee (or better yet, make new friends).
Gym goers have NOTHING against committed newbies who are working hard to improve themselves.
Gotta hardcore disagree here! Give the sheer number of rude comments I've read on forums, had directed at me, overheard in passing, there are MANY regular gym goers who hate newbies and resolutioner. I'm glad you aren't one, but you should recognize that it IS a trend and as the person you were quoting shows.. it DOES negatively impact people are their goals.
I think the disconnect is that resolutioners, with very few exceptions, are NOT committed to improving themselves. That's why they waited until after the holiday feastings to get started. It's also why they peter out after just a few weeks.
I completely believe that most gym goers have nothing against beginners per se, especially those who are committed to making changes. The typical resolutioner is something else though, and rightfully or not, this does irk people.
Why, though? Why would a person care that another person may or may not be at the gym come March? Do people not have enough to worry about without thinking about strangers' fitness habits?
And that's the key. People don't tend to be annoyed at mere newcomers, especially if these folks are serious about making changes in their lives. When the newcomers are crowding the place out while accomplishing next to nothing, it's natural for people to think, "These particular newbies won't last. They may as well do us a favor and leave now."
Couple that with the fact that these people all arrive at the same time. If they were merely not-so-serious, you'd expect them to distribute their arrivals throughout the year, thus mitigating the crowdedness. Instead, they all arrive en masse, precisely because they chose to indulge in the holiday feastings and festivities before "trying" to make a change. It's obvious why this will tend to get on people's nerves.
Mind you, I haven't had to deal with resolutioners in years. My main gym is a pretty serious one, and thus, relatively immune to the January crowd. Nevertheless, I do understand why others dread this massive influx of humanity.
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Right. Regular gym goers aren't simply annoyed at being inconvenienced. Rather, they're annoyed at being inconvenienced--majorly so, no less--for no good reason.3
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Reading all of this makes me so glad I don’t go to gyms. I have the whole outdoors to run around. I just lace up, headphones in, and run. Resolutioners wont make any difference to my route.
I do have to worry about the occasional idiot driver, but I’d take that over the gym any day. I guess if you are a weight lifter you have no choice though.0 -
Christine4507 wrote: »fritch_gets_fit26 wrote: »This is the kind of post/attitude that had me scared to step foot in the gym for a long time...
Being overweight and taking those first steps to work out is hard enough...then add worrying about those avid gym-goers making fun of you as you take your first timid steps into the gym. I was an athlete growing up, continuing into my first years of college, so I am lucky enough to be familiar with the equipment...I didn't feel like I was fumbling when I came back to it. But I am still a "fat girl" in their gym, working on their equipment (at least that's what it feels like). But I'm bullheaded, so I am sticking around and doing it for myself...but That's not everyone, and that means plenty of people could be intimidated right out of the gym...and for what?
Honestly, it's like going to a bakery every day/week/whatever for a treat, and then being mad when someone comes in for a cake on their birthday or for their wedding. That doesn't mean they are taking the cake from your hands, so just be excited that they also get to enjoy the bakery and leave them alonnnnee (or better yet, make new friends).
Gym goers have NOTHING against committed newbies who are working hard to improve themselves.
Gotta hardcore disagree here! Give the sheer number of rude comments I've read on forums, had directed at me, overheard in passing, there are MANY regular gym goers who hate newbies and resolutioner. I'm glad you aren't one, but you should recognize that it IS a trend and as the person you were quoting shows.. it DOES negatively impact people are their goals.
I think the disconnect is that resolutioners, with very few exceptions, are NOT committed to improving themselves. That's why they waited until after the holiday feastings to get started. It's also why they peter out after just a few weeks.
I completely believe that most gym goers have nothing against beginners per se, especially those who are committed to making changes. The typical resolutioner is something else though, and rightfully or not, this does irk people.
Why, though? Why would a person care that another person may or may not be at the gym come March? Do people not have enough to worry about without thinking about strangers' fitness habits?
We tell people to keep their traps shut because their friends/family don't care to hear about their weight loss and then we have people who get upset because the guy who is using the dumbbells they want on January 2 might not use them on March 2. People are weird.
Yeah. If I get annoyed, it's at the number of people in the gym, which makes it hard to get things done. I don't judge on whether people are serious or not...how would I know that? I went to the gym for more than a year, and then just stopped for over two years. It can happen to anyone.2 -
When there's a massive crowd in January, and when they peter out in mid-February, it's not hard to conclude that they weren't serious. You might not know whether any particular individual was serious or not, but it's a safe bet that most of the crowd was not.
Not to mention that there are often tell-tale signs. I can remember several from back at my old gym. Excessive gabbing in classes, for example. Or sitting at a machine for 5-7 minutes between sets. Or sitting around for half an hour while waiting for the Zumba class to get started. And so forth.
But ultimately, it boils down to the fact that they don't last much past Valentine's Day. That's how you know that these annual floods of humanity aren't serious.1 -
I’m actually quite upset since my sister ordered me a bright pink gym tank top for the holidays. I was looking very forward to wearing it in the new year just for a laugh with all the new faces. Except I just found out I will not be getting it till late January.4
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And that's the key. People don't tend to be annoyed at mere newcomers, especially if these folks are serious about making changes in their lives.
i find the jan crowds as challenging as anyone does, but i just don't get where anybody gets off thinking they know who's serious and who isn't . . . and why.
what you're saying is 'regulars' are more entitled to gym space, on the basis of seriousness. that's what it sounds like to me, anyway. teh problem is, literal/legal entitlement is based on whether or not you paid your x bucks and don't break any of the house rules, afaik.9 -
The issue probably is that newbies don't always know gym etiquette. That alone is more of an issue when the gym is extra crowded at the beginning of the year.
If they have a membership, or even if they are a guest at the gym, they have just as much right to train as they like with the rest of us.
I just have an issue with someone, new or not, treating a piece of equipment like a recliner in their family room.
This is more of an issue when the space is crowded, as is typically the case in January.4 -
canadianlbs wrote: »And that's the key. People don't tend to be annoyed at mere newcomers, especially if these folks are serious about making changes in their lives.
i find the jan crowds as challenging as anyone does, but i just don't get where anybody gets off thinking they know who's serious and who isn't . . . and why.
I think I've explained that in great detail. With all due respect, if you don't understand, it's because you haven't been trying to do so.
To recap just a few points... excessive gabbing, long waits between sets, and quitting after just a few weeks are pretty strong indications that someone isn't very serious.
With regard to that last criterion, one admittedly can't tell which individuals are going to quit. However, year after year, we see that most of the January 1st crowd does exactly that. So without judging any given individual, it's not difficult to infer that MOST of the newly arrived crowd will quit soon, which in turn indicates a lack of resolve.
motorsheen also talked about resolutioners treating the equipment as places to relax, and I think that's an excellent point as well. Ditto for the other violations of gym etiquette. Most gym etiquette is pretty much common sense to those who take exercise seriously.
Again, these points have been explained in this discussion before. I think any reasonable person would recognize them to be pretty clear indications that someone has made resolutions, but without the necessary resolve to follow through.5 -
Again, these points have been explained in this discussion before. I think any reasonable person would recognize them to be pretty clear indications that someone has made resolutions, but without the necessary resolve to follow through.
see, i don't see it like that. to me, at any point in the year new people come in and they're instantly visible. they wander around, try things out, bring friends for help or just moral support, the whole new person schmear. all the same stuff that happens en masse in january. and with those mid-year people, i've never been able to foretell with much accuracy who is going to get serious once they find their bearings and settle down.
i guess to be honest, i don't expect anyone making their first trip ever to a weight room to be 'serious'. at that point most people don't know enough to have anything to be serious about yet. and they don't even know if it's 'for' them. so i dunno. it just seems to me like such a moot point, and something you're only ever really going to be able to be mad about in retrospect, if you care about accuracy. you have to wait until they're not there anymore, and THEN you get to be pissed off at them about all the time and space they took up in january. if you want to. but, yeah.
i'm a hypocrite up to a point because i hate the jan rush as well. but i try to just keep it to immediate and specific things - like 'you took that bar off the floor when i turned round to change plates' and 'you walked into my air space mid-rep' and that kind of thing. i'm not going to say who's serious and who's not. it's not my business, and if i just focus on etiquette stuff then i don't have to go there about who's more entitled than who and how can i disparage these other people to 'give' myself higher entitlement.I think I've explained that in great detail.
yeah, this part was my fault. i was thinking specifically of the just-going-to-quit-anyway rationale, but i wasn't explicit enough when i said so. i'll say in passing that *kitten* me. if 'serious' means not gabbing with your buddies and not checking your phone between sets and so forth, then a lot of the serious lifters i've seen over the course of the year are not 'serious' either.
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Motorsheen wrote: »The issue probably is that newbies don't always know gym etiquette. That alone is more of an issue when the gym is extra crowded at the beginning of the year.
If they have a membership, or even if they are a guest at the gym, they have just as much right to train as they like with the rest of us.
I just have an issue with someone, new or not, treating a piece of equipment like a recliner in their family room.
This is more of an issue when the space is crowded, as is typically the case in January.
I see just as many “experienced” people doing this kind of stuff—in fact more so. Most of the new people in our gym go out of their way to fit in and be respectful.
This silly thread happens every year and, to be honest, it tends to bring out the worst in people.
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You'll probably feel better if you try a welcoming attitude instead of deciding ahead of time to be annoyed.9
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JerSchmare is exactly correct.2
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