Crowded gyms in a few days
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My gym is at home. WIN
in for the win
btw i love new year's fitness resolutions, all kinds of fitness crap is on sale. i plan on stocking up.0 -
agreed- this year I'll be a 'resolutioner' and I am NOT happy about it. But it's the luck of the draw- I already scooped my gym out so but still- it's the reality of it.
Jo - Your "resolutioner" status at your new gym will last about as long as it takes you to load a bar. They'll all know right away that you're for real. :glasses:0 -
Yep.stop using the treadmills and start heavy lifting…problem solved...
I prefer when they stay on the treadmills. Keeps them away from my barbells.0 -
Every new year, the gyms fill up with people who make resolutions. They eventually get back to normal around March. But it REALLY ticks me off -- which sounds awful. But I feel like I go so regularly all year, every year, and then suddenly I have to wait in line to get on a treadmill. And the treadmill time is limited to 20 minutes. Anyone else find they have to wait in a friggin line to get on equipment at the gym? Crazy! They even have employees who come around and turn your machine off at exactly 20 minutes!
Don't go around 5am or 5pm and you should be fine.0 -
Ditto.My gym is at home. WIN
in for the win
Folks, try working out at your local university's gym in late August - when the whole place is taken over for weeks by chickie-boos in don't-sit-down dresses and don't-break-your-neck shoes for sorority rush. And then talk to one, and find out they're actually pretty sweet young ladies and very self-conscious about being in the way. This isn't much different. Everything is seasonal.
Because I'm an introvert with limited time, I work out at home now. My home gym is MY space. When I go to a gym "out there," it's OUR space, and nobody's access is any more important than anyone else's.
Also, DavPul: Brilliant. Utterly brilliant. :drinker:0 -
I started personal training Jan 2nd of last year. I wanted to do it end of Nov/Dec, but I had to rearrange some schedules and save up my monies. I went in as a regular resolution, not a New Year's one, but I noted the irony.
I don't think being frustrated about a crowded gym is bad. I get frustrated sometimes when the machines I want are not available. I freak out for a few min, and then try something else.
I hope everyone enjoys their January gym time!
agreed- this year I'll be a 'resolutioner' and I am NOT happy about it. But it's the luck of the draw- I already scooped my gym out so but still- it's the reality of it.
Like I said I'm definitely all about people changing their lives- but it's inevitable to have new people come in a big wave- usually January- and then in like March/April when people start panicking about summer and swim suits. It's kind of amusing- but oh well.lot of people can't afford a gym membership without the no joining fee/ lower monthly rate/ 6 months free/ free training sessions that gyms offer during January,
while I agree with the gym counting on the NY rush- I don't agree about the "well that's when I can afford it when they run the special" I'd say that's actually pretty much rubbish- having spent over a year working at a gym- I can comfortably tell you most gym's offer specials year round- at different times- January is not the ONLY month they run a special.
It may not be the only month, but they generally run the best deals in January because they know lots of Resolutioners will be joining and they are competing with other gyms. Some people also wait because they count on receiving money and gear for Christmas to use at the gym. It may be rubbish to you based on your experience at your gym where you live, but not everyone is in a fantastic financial position, nor are all gym memberships affordable. I can't even afford to join a gym in my area, discounts or not, for less than $100 a month thanks to the need for childcare. That's life, so I work out at home.0 -
while I agree with the gym counting on the NY rush- I don't agree about the "well that's when I can afford it when they run the special" I'd say that's actually pretty much rubbish- having spent over a year working at a gym- I can comfortably tell you most gym's offer specials year round- at different times- January is not the ONLY month they run a special.
at my gym prices went up in the middle of december and personal training package specials started getting phased out in mid november . i just noticed that they raised the prices on the cheapest packages while reducing the total number of sessions on the large $1500 session.
In other words, they know you're coming, and they are ready to make all the monies. they will advertise a special, for sure, but if you had signed up at the end of last summer it would have been cheaper than right now. 99.9999% of people don't realize this because they aren't checking the prices year round.0 -
I have a hard time believing it's that bad in Trenton OH with a population under 12,000. I would agree if you said Detroit or even Toledo.20 minutes is not enough. my old gym gave 30 minutes - old gym. And it is too darn cold to run outside, plus dark by the time I get home and as a female I am not going out alone after dark. If the gym does get crowded I am lucky enough I can just go later but not everyone has that luxury.
Wow, just wow. Just because someone doesn't live in a big city means they shouldn't be reasonably concerned about their safety? A woman should never feel she has to go out alone after dark if she doesn't feel comfortable. Crime happens everywhere. As a woman I can tell you I feel pretty vulnerable on the street by myself after dark, which is why I don't put myself in that situation.
No one should exercise outside after dark if they don't feel safe. No one should feel like they have to put themselves in harm's way to burn some calories. The person who expressed these concerns has reasonable priorities.0 -
And now to the original question...I haven't seen anyone post anything about whether the gyms should accept so many new members that their current members have trouble using the gym. As a membership business, they should know that at some level of crowd, people are going to start quitting and canceling. I canceled my gym membership last year, partially because my gym had become so crowded it was hard to get into the kettlebell classes I wanted to take.
I know the gym is a business that's there to make a profit, but they should realize that if members can't park in their lot, can't get on the machines and can't get into the classes because there is literally no space, there are too many members. They should draw the line somewhere.
And to those who say "Don't go at 5 PM", well, I say, many people have regular jobs and families, and they are constrained by those things to working out between 5 PM and whenever dinner is.0 -
And now to the original question...I haven't seen anyone post anything about whether the gyms should accept so many new members that their current members have trouble using the gym. As a membership business, they should know that at some level of crowd, people are going to start quitting and canceling. I canceled my gym membership last year, partially because my gym had become so crowded it was hard to get into the kettlebell classes I wanted to take.
I know the gym is a business that's there to make a profit, but they should realize that if members can't park in their lot, can't get on the machines and can't get into the classes because there is literally no space, there are too many members. They should draw the line somewhere.
And to those who say "Don't go at 5 PM", well, I say, many people have regular jobs and families, and they are constrained by those things to working out between 5 PM and whenever dinner is.
so basically you're saying that once you're on the boat they should pull up the ladder0 -
And now to the original question...I haven't seen anyone post anything about whether the gyms should accept so many new members that their current members have trouble using the gym. As a membership business, they should know that at some level of crowd, people are going to start quitting and canceling. I canceled my gym membership last year, partially because my gym had become so crowded it was hard to get into the kettlebell classes I wanted to take.
I know the gym is a business that's there to make a profit, but they should realize that if members can't park in their lot, can't get on the machines and can't get into the classes because there is literally no space, there are too many members. They should draw the line somewhere.
And to those who say "Don't go at 5 PM", well, I say, many people have regular jobs and families, and they are constrained by those things to working out between 5 PM and whenever dinner is.
so basically you're saying that once you're on the boat they should pull up the ladder
This is not a lifeboat, or even an emergency room. It's a gym. If it's so crowded that many of the members find it difficult to use the facilities, then yes, they should turn people away. Just like a doctor with too many patients will not accept new patients. This seems harsh, but the doctor cannot serve more than a certain number of people without neglecting some of them. Same thing for a gym. Some people may have to look elsewhere, or find another way to exercise.0 -
This is not a lifeboat, or even an emergency room. It's a gym. If it's so crowded that many of the members find it difficult to use the facilities, then yes, they should turn people away. Just like a doctor with too many patients will not accept new patients. This seems harsh, but the doctor cannot serve more than a certain number of people without neglecting some of them. Same thing for a gym. Some people may have to look elsewhere, or find another way to exercise.
from a pure economics point of view, the system you described is the system working perfectly. gym management would be crazy to make changes.
1st, they have no idea what time new members are going to work out. if it's busy at 5pm why should they turn down the money of a client who may be coming at 2pm when the joint is empty.
2nd, many people pay for memberships for years without showing up once, so why should they deny themselves that revenue stream.
3rd, just like they don't know what time you work out, they have no idea what classes a new member will want to do, if any at all.
4th, it's absolutely in their best interest to let the place get so full that members who can't stand the pain start cancelling. everyone won't cancel, just a handful. if they cut off new memberships right after you got on the boat, you'd be happy but they'd probably lose 10-15% of their profits for the year.
This is pure, free market business at it's best.0 -
This is not a lifeboat, or even an emergency room. It's a gym. If it's so crowded that many of the members find it difficult to use the facilities, then yes, they should turn people away. Just like a doctor with too many patients will not accept new patients. This seems harsh, but the doctor cannot serve more than a certain number of people without neglecting some of them. Same thing for a gym. Some people may have to look elsewhere, or find another way to exercise.
from a pure economics point of view, the system you described is the system working perfectly. gym management would be crazy to make changes.
1st, they have no idea what time new members are going to work out. if it's busy at 5pm why should they turn down the money of a client who may be coming at 2pm when the joint is empty.
2nd, many people pay for memberships for years without showing up once, so why should they deny themselves that revenue stream.
3rd, just like they don't know what time you work out, they have no idea what classes a new member will want to do, if any at all.
4th, it's absolutely in their best interest to let the place get so full that members who can't stand the pain start cancelling. everyone won't cancel, just a handful. if they cut off new memberships right after you got on the boat, you'd be happy but they'd probably lose 10-15% of their profits for the year.
This is pure, free market business at it's best.
It wouldn't be right after *I* got on the boat. I was a member there for a few years when I quit, and I didn't join in January.
I see what you're saying. There is some good stuff there, especially about the idiots who pay for years without going. I suppose it depends on what the gym wants to be known for. If they want to be known for catering to their members and having a gym that's nice to go to, then they should take some steps to ensure that everyone who joins can use the facilities if they want to. If, on the other hand, they're more interested in squeezing every last dollar out, then just let people join willy-nilly. When people complain, they can just say, "If you don't like it, then quit". Some people will quit, and give the gym bad word of mouth. Some won't. I did.0 -
I love it when the gym gets more crowded. I like to people watch. And, I mean if you are polite about wanting to use a piece of equipment next people will normally be polite right back.0
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It is what it is. Mine does not have time limits. Peak hours it gets full, but I find parking harder then a treadmill. And off peak the regulars try to cover each other's back as best we can, of course we see the drop out by early february, not March.0
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The point about larger crowds subsidizing membership dues is one I had not thought of, so than you for pointing that out. I didn't mean for my orgiinal post to come across as mean, hateful, or anything of the sort. I should have re-framed my question and asked those who attend gyms what they do when the crowds show up after New Year's, and the time you have to get in a workout becomes truncated. At the gym I go to, it is no exaggeration to say that you could wait 20 minutes to get on ANY cardio equipment. Anyway, yes, it is what it is. I certainly didn't mean for my original post to come across so brusquely. And my hope is that some of the responders on here would not have intended their posts to come across in a mean fashion. I've found the support on these boards very encouraging, for the most part. Cheers, everyone.0
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It's true, gyms do tend to get crowded the first of the year, but as you say it gets back to just the regulars around March. I can't really complain too much. Even though I am a regular member, I stop and start, I've just started back on a regular basis. I just don't seem to be able to stay motivated on a constant basis. Maybe this time I can hang in there. :happy:0
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I may destroy someone for running in place inside of the power cage.0
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It's not the new people that piss me off. It's that many of them hire personal trainers to help them get started. Many of these personal trainers just spent countless time hogging equipment while the only thing they do is talk and talk and talk with their client.0
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I don't mind people in the gym, it's good for them to change themselves for the better. What does make me mad is people that just sit on weight machines listening to music or staring into space and you will get more of that with the more people in the gym.0
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Every new year, the gyms fill up with people who make resolutions. They eventually get back to normal around March.
I've always thought it was funny and certainly inconvenient. The drop off toward the end of January toward march is especially funny. I noticed it yesterday too. I think folks were working out in preparation for a Xmas pig out.
Another phenomenon of health clubs is the discounted sale of life memberships just before they declare bankruptcy.0 -
I think the gubmint should close down all gyms and send every citizen (tax-paying or not) their own elliptical, treadmill and weigh-lifting apparatus!
Problem solved.0 -
Got to agree with this guy here.
Run outside -- Problem solvedEvery new year, the gyms fill up with people who make resolutions. They eventually get back to normal around March. But it REALLY ticks me off -- which sounds awful. But I feel like I go so regularly all year, every year, and then suddenly I have to wait in line to get on a treadmill. And the treadmill time is limited to 20 minutes. Anyone else find they have to wait in a friggin line to get on equipment at the gym? Crazy! They even have employees who come around and turn your machine off at exactly 20 minutes!0 -
I love to see the increase of people at my gym around New Year's....what I dont like is when I have to wait for an indoor-rower to become available because someone is sitting on it using it to relax - you know when they just rock back and forth without doing much...that is the only thing that frustrates me Row or get out and take up the treadmill 0
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Maybe the majority of those people are gone by March because they are treated like they are in the way. I certainly don't stick around where I'm obviously not wanted. Just a thought.....0
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Thread is scaring the crap out of me.....
Anyone suggest a time of the day or night where I'm least likely to bump into one of the 'regulars' ?0 -
Maybe the majority of those people are gone by March because they are treated like they are in the way. I certainly don't stick around where I'm obviously not wanted. Just a thought.....
or they dont stick around because many think that all they need to do to lose weight is exercise and eat healthy and then by feb/march when they arent seeing results they give up.
or they try to change too much too soon and instead of developing motivation and commitment to their goals they rely on will power which doesnt last long.0 -
I found the best way to make sure that NO ONE uses the machines you want to use is to go up and SNEEZE on them! Spitting on them works also( I mean the machines, not the people, although that could work too) Going up and just staring real hard at them works well too, especially if you are not wearing any clothes.....just remember, WE are important, THEY are not!!! Hope this helps.......0
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Thread is scaring the crap out of me.....
Anyone suggest a time of the day or night where I'm least likely to bump into one of the 'regulars' ?
Please don't let this deter you from going to the gym. Seriously. There are plenty of regulars who are happy to help people who are new to exercising and will encourage you to keep going. I always loved having new people come in, especially when they came to classes, because it just made it more fun. Some people just get territorial and forget that they were once the new kid as well.0 -
Thread is scaring the crap out of me.....
Anyone suggest a time of the day or night where I'm least likely to bump into one of the 'regulars' ?
you'll be fine. i think the moral of the story is be aware of your surroundings and realize that sometimes the gym is a bit like a community.
i think most of annoyance at newbs is because they dont know how things work all the time, dont know where things go, dont know the expectations for resting on equipment, ask about best spots if you need to spread out and do a circuit style workout, policy on wiping down machines, etc. when you get your free training session, that's stuff you can ask the trainers.
there's nothing wrong with asking the trainer to give you a bit of a heads up on the gym's culture0
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