Crowded gyms in a few days
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Thanks for the support.... well tbh think I'm panicking over nothing.... I'll take a towel and remember not to lift my leg up and pee on the apparatus
Fortunately it's a new gym that's not open until the end of the month so hopefully it'll be a level playing field0 -
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 culture
I don't know about every gym, but the ones that I have belonged to, it has been the responsibility of the staff to take new members around and give them that information. Some of them even required you sign up for an introductory tour when you join so they could show you how to use the audio and TV equipment, answer questions about the machines, go over behavior expectations while in the gym, etc.0 -
Gyms in new year are brilliant!! A pure comedy show:
I swear, everyone follows the below rules at the start of the year:
NO Diet changes required, coz 1,000 hours a week walking at a snails pace on the treadmill will loose the weight... You can even go to the café afterwards and eat carrot cake!
Walking on an incline is better for toning, just make sure you have it on such a high incline, that you have to hold onto the rails to stop falling over
No squatting in the curl Rack
No squatting in the sit up rack
Full range squats will break your knees - just do knee bends, it's the same thing...
The lads MUST clog up the bench. Coz you ONLY need to train your chest and biceps to look good
You Must do at LEAST 1,000 sit-ups a day, or you'll never get that six pack\flat stomach
And the best thing is, All those change you want WILL happen overnight!! If it's not happened in 4 weeks you have every right to get p***ed off and never go the gym again
If you over 60, then clothes are optional in the changing rooms....
Unfortunately, I have seen all of the above at new year, Lucky for me, I walk around like a nut case, shout at the bar, scare the bejesus out of everyone, and promote my epic protein farts for all to enjoy! If they stay in the gym after that, then they may be the type to stay and actually train...0 -
lol...I dont think anyone should be scared off from going to the gym - quite the opposite! GO TO THE GYM! IT IS FUN! IT IS A PLAYGROUND! -but as there were "rules" at the playground when we were growing up so are there "rules" at a gym...at any gym
A good gym would help new people to get familiar with these "rules" - such that the tearing the rower cable out and flapping it like a wave is nooooot niiiiccceeee...or dropping weights will attract "looks" of disapproval etc..but I think the most important things to be aware of is the concept of "consideration" Be considerate of others. It is absolutely fine to be a beginner at an exercise and wanting to do nothing more than "testing the waters" absolutely fine. But be considerate..if you are new dont start with the most complicated equipment or if you just want to walk on the treadmill dont take up the only remaining one for your 60min walk as you might have others who would want/need to do a quick 5min HIIT but then cannot.
I love my gym -they have PTs on the floor all the time and they wear a high visibility vest (yep!) with huge letters saying "Ask me for help" and they actively walk the floor to chat to people and give a hand where needed...If your gym hasnt got that then the NewYear influx of people will be stressful...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 culture
I don't know about every gym, but the ones that I have belonged to, it has been the responsibility of the staff to take new members around and give them that information. Some of them even required you sign up for an introductory tour when you join so they could show you how to use the audio and TV equipment, answer questions about the machines, go over behavior expectations while in the gym, etc.
i've belonged to some really lazy gyms though where you dont give that level of detail of tour, especially if there are tons of new members.
besides that, what really sucks, is that many gyms gloss over weight lifting rooms/sections to female members. for the (non lifting centered) gyms i've belonged to that had decent free weights they'd show me the girl friendly area (with smith machines, dumbbells, body bars, free standing benches, etc but would skip over the areas with the squat cages, olympic bars and weight plates.0 -
I work at the YMCA and we are ready for tourist season!0
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I work at the YMCA and we are ready for tourist season!
Haha..."tourist season". I go to the YMCA. I just signed up in December because it was too cold to run outside. (Today it -17 below zero). What I'm wondering is if it what time would be a better time to workout? Are resolutionists early birds or late birds? Should I go at 5am or 5pm????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' ?
don't worry about it. the real regulars are happy you're there. we were all new once. when I knew nuthin bout nuthin and was intimidated the regular guys at the gym were helpful to me. i always pay that forward0 -
I have kettle bells and dumbbells at home for these types of situations or for when I get snowed in or something like that.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' ?
don't worry about it. the real regulars are happy you're there. we were all new once. when I knew nuthin bout nuthin and was intimidatedthe guys at the gym were helpful to me. i always pay that forward
^^ This. There is always going to be somebody that remembers what it feels like to be a noob, is kind, and will want to either help or just give you a friendly smile. As for anyone else? Shake it off. You are there for you. Work hard. Nothing else matters.0 -
Sorry for not reading the full 6 pages but--for the haters on new January entrants--stop it--everyone starts somewhere--encourage not discourage. Nothing is easy and we dont need negative nellys to stand in our way. Merry F%^$^n Christmas too...0
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Been in gyms 15+ years and based on past experiences am not looking forward to next month. I'm happy that they will be forking over $40+ a month for the next 2 years(even more if they forget to cancel) for maybe 20-30 days worth of use though. I just try to remember all the new cables, pads, air purifiers changed out every year before I blow a gasket on people repeatedly curling in the only squat rack in the gym. LOL0
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I'm not hating on newbies. I was a newbie back in late July. Maybe it is just me, but I find people that decide during rhe year are more likely to not fail compared to New Years babies. In my experience--weightloss and health is a way of life. I could never pick a day and say "ok, I'm going to get healthy on January 1st". To me--I just woke up one day and looked at myself and my habits. I decided then that I needed to change. Thus I started my journey July 27th. I could have said "ok I will start August 1st" or "I will start on January 1st". My weight had 37 years control over me. I was tired of it. If I waited a day to start, that is one more day I have to work off. So, long story short, I want everyone that has it in them to succeed. I just think it takes more than just a start date to get there.0
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It's good for people to start going and good for any gym to have a growing membership. If you want to work out without having to deal with anyone, else, then I guess you should get something set up in your own house.
I understand not liking crowds or having to wait, but just keep telling yourself that some of these people will make a positive change in their lives and their health, and it's good for your gym to be thriving. You wouldn't want it to have to close it's doors for lack of membership, would you?0 -
My gym gets crazy around the first, too, but I'm lucky because the staff cater to us regulars. We're patient with the resolutioners, and even help them out. In turn, the staff treat us well, and try their hardest to accommodate us wherever they can. My gym rocks. :-)
:flowerforyou:0 -
I always go at off-peak times..morning 9am...morning 10am or after 6pm works like magic 0
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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.
Spot on.
Also Agree with dav's other post- happy to help people. That's not the issue.
Basic humanity rules apply- DONTBEADOUCHE.
That solves 99% of most problems at the gym.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' ?
don't worry about it. the real regulars are happy you're there. we were all new once. when I knew nuthin bout nuthin and was intimidated the regular guys at the gym were helpful to me. i always pay that forward
Yep. Why would anyone act superior to new people at the gym, anyway? It's not like you can be 'the best at exercising'.
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That's why I walk at a local park!My aren't you supportive. No wonder people are scared and feel awkward going to a gym, trying to change their lifestyle.
Years ago I join a gym (not at the start of the year), bad mistake! When asking the staff how to work certain equipment and weights, brushed off (but they had plenty of time for women who were in shape and pretty ) Also talked down to the one time an employee went through the motions to tell me how to use some of the equipment. I wanted to learn how,but with no one to show me, I quit going and haven't been near a gym since.
Walking is doing me good at the moment. My next goal is to buy a bike and enjoy that.
But I don't see myself joining a gym0 -
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!
That does seem a bit over the top. You are right... we will all face this battle soon... As for me, I try to go at times that are not peak times as much as possible but that is not always possible. Hope you have a better time getting your equipment this year.0 -
That's why I walk at a local park!My aren't you supportive. No wonder people are scared and feel awkward going to a gym, trying to change their lifestyle.
Years ago I join a gym (not at the start of the year), bad mistake! When asking the staff how to work certain equipment and weights, brushed off (but they had plenty of time for women who were in shape and pretty ) Also talked down to the one time an employee went through the motions to tell me how to use some of the equipment. I wanted to learn how,but with no one to show me, I quit going and haven't been near a gym since.
Walking is doing me good at the moment. My next goal is to buy a bike and enjoy that.
But I don't see myself joining a gym
Looks like you happened upon the wrong gym...0 -
Sorry for not reading the full 6 pages but--for the haters on new January entrants--stop it--everyone starts somewhere--encourage not discourage. Nothing is easy and we dont need negative nellys to stand in our way.*************...
I started in late January 2 years ago. Have been pretty consistent since then. I actually am a member in two gyms... One that I prefer and one with 24/7 hours that I can always get to for those days that I cannot get to the Y... (I actually keep the original membership so my daughter (11) will have something to do when she gets to come since the other gym has nothing for that age group)... but it is nice to be able to go in at midnight and work out if I have to.0 -
That's why I walk at a local park!
Years ago I join a gym (not at the start of the year), bad mistake! When asking the staff how to work certain equipment and weights, brushed off (but they had plenty of time for women who were in shape and pretty ) Also talked down to the one time an employee went through the motions to tell me how to use some of the equipment. I wanted to learn how,but with no one to show me, I quit going and haven't been near a gym since.
Walking is doing me good at the moment. My next goal is to buy a bike and enjoy that.
But I don't see myself joining a gym
i dunno, but at some point the onus is on the user to figure out how to do some of this stuff. the staff can give you a basic tour, but honestly, the front desk staff is usually comprised of minimum wage kids that barely know the equipment more than you do. if you want something more than that, you can pay a trainer, or you can let your fingers do the walking and find the answer to every single question on google and youtube.
i mean, if you buy a car the dealer will show you where the light switch is and how to work the AC but they're not going to give you driving lessons. it's your body and your health so if when you are ready to get serious, you'll find a way instead of waiting for someone to show you the way (for free). no victims in the free weight area.0 -
Bumping0
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And like clockwork every year there are a dozen threads worrying about/complaining about/griping about the new people at the gym.0
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I'm not a consistent gym goer, in part because I only go during non-peak hours. I can't stand to wait in line for equipment. But if I'm not ready to go early enough and I don't like to go really late, because my gym is not convenient, I end up not going.0
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I can't wait!
I was one of them last year, and this year I get to be the guy they watch in the squat rack before halfheartedly imitating in the smith machine.0 -
The problem isn't with newbs, the problem is with resolutioners. There is a distinction. Set goals year round if you want to last past February.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' ?
don't worry about it. the real regulars are happy you're there. we were all new once. when I knew nuthin bout nuthin and was intimidatedthe guys at the gym were helpful to me. i always pay that forward
^^ This. There is always going to be somebody that remembers what it feels like to be a noob, is kind, and will want to either help or just give you a friendly smile. As for anyone else? Shake it off. You are there for you. Work hard. Nothing else matters.
this ….
I was a noob once too ..
although it is annoying when people don't know basic etiquette….like if I am doing 60# dumbbell overhead press don't reach in front of me to grab weights…yes, someone really did this the other day..LOL…
but I am with you on we all have to start somewhere…0 -
yep.My aren't you supportive. No wonder people are scared and feel awkward going to a gym, trying to change their lifestyle.
This!0
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