The Treadmill Lurkers

darkrider42

Just an observation so don't flame me, but I think I'd have to throw a flag on the play for trying to 'reserve' a machine by putting your stuff on it when you weren't even done wiping off your previous machine ... and that I might add, were over the time limit on. (I do totally agree with you tho that a 20 min limit is lame!)

I've been an active member of my current gym for almost 15 yrs ... and 8 yrs at the one before that. I've seen just about everything including the annual January new member surge. It'll pass, and quickly. In the meantime, can't we all just get along? :flowerforyou:

Shirley61

I just quit the YMCA because of the crowds and
the younger guys (I am older) hogging the
weight machines. :frown: We bought a Wii Fit and now
I do my exercising at home. :bigsmile:

heathersmilez

LURKER: (points to sign on wall that says 20 minute limit to cardio machines when busy) “see!?!?!?!?”

Sorry, but he wins here. Normally you were in the right since you put your stuff down but gym rules outweigh etiquette.

Side note, glad my gym isn't very busy (new member as of Dec 31) and doesn't have time limits since I go for 55 min on the elip daily. The girl who took me on a tour actually said you will never see the cardio machines fully busy so yay for me.

JennaM222

I agree that everyone should stick to the time limit rules for cardio equipment (if it's busy).

My friend actually got really pissed at a girl who had been running for over an hour on the treadmill during primetime. They had a few words, it was quite funny. The girl running had been on the machine for more than double the time allowed and she was looking at my friend like she was the one with the problem.

I am definately not one of those people who think the rules dont apply to me, I even talked to the manager about it. 20 minutes on on any cardio machine doesnt burn mch more than 250 cals, and that is at top speeds. At national gyms ( la fitness, life time, etc. ) there should not be time limits. Or, thats just what I think.

But why? So the people who get there earlier can use the machine as long as they want and every one else is assed out? I'm taking the other guy's side on this. You knew he was waiting and you cut. I would of told you "Sorry. I was USING it first"

I definately did not cut. There were other treadmills open, but he didnt want to use the others, he wanted that specific one. In that case, you snooze you lose. the treadmill was open, and I got on it. I pay each month too. there was no line, or waiting section filled with people.

Sparksfly

I agree that everyone should stick to the time limit rules for cardio equipment (if it's busy).

My friend actually got really pissed at a girl who had been running for over an hour on the treadmill during primetime. They had a few words, it was quite funny. The girl running had been on the machine for more than double the time allowed and she was looking at my friend like she was the one with the problem.

I am definately not one of those people who think the rules dont apply to me, I even talked to the manager about it. 20 minutes on on any cardio machine doesnt burn mch more than 250 cals, and that is at top speeds. At national gyms ( la fitness, life time, etc. ) there should not be time limits. Or, thats just what I think.

But why? So the people who get there earlier can use the machine as long as they want and every one else is assed out? I'm taking the other guy's side on this. You knew he was waiting and you cut. I would of told you "Sorry. I was USING it first"

I definately did not cut. There were other treadmills open, but he didnt want to use the others, he wanted that specific one. In that case, you snooze you lose. the treadmill was open, and I got on it. I pay each month too. there was no line, or waiting section filled with people.

Normally "you snooze, you lose" is true, but in this case you mentioned lots of people "lurking" and waiting. No offence, but I wouldn't have let that slide. I'm sure you would be upset if you were waiting a while for a piece of equipment and someone just jumped off one machine and onto another...leaving you waiting even longer.

For me, I know when I am ready to workout...I am ready to go. Any extra time waiting and I get frustrated...

haha but no worries I am just stating my opinion! :flowerforyou:

NotAllWhoWanderAreLost

i have been walking on my treadmill for the past 63 minutes (at 3.0 mph --- its my easy day) and have been surfing MFP the entire time with my Surf Shelf setup for my laptop. I am soooooo happy that we finally made the decision last month to cancel our Y membership (was a 20-minute drive one-way) and are paying the same $ amount out every month to buy a very nice new treadmill. We also have an recumbent bike from a few years back, some light handweights, a stability ball and my yoga stuff. This keeps me entertained for the winter anyways and no travel in the snow/dark or waiting on machines. Plus i would already be waaaaay over my 30-minute limit on my single machine. Its totally not worth driving all teh way there and back unless i get 30 minutes at over 6 mph plus warm up/cool down on the indoor track. For me, transferring the gym membership budget allotment to purchase my own equipment made good sense! Maybe this would work for some of you as well?

sallyLunn

I got really lucky. The village we live in subsidizes everyones gym memberships if they want to join the local club. For me, a family membership is cheaper then the YMCA was when I used to belong there and even this time of year, while annoying, isn't insurmountable and meatheads don't seem to go there.

Although I usually spend 55 minutes on any given cardio machine, I'm just not that picky. If the treadmills are full, I'll go to an a elliptical and I KNOW that if worse comes to worse, the ancient Nordic Track in the corner is ALWAYS free and I kind of dig the rhythmic wosh, whosh it makes when you use it.

CarolHudson11

I work out at LA Fitness, too. This past week has sucked mucho w/ all the new peeps (although i'm glad people are trying to be healthy). I use the treadmill 3 times a week and of course, they've all been full.

in every local LA Fitness I've been to this week, we've created a line. first one in line gets the next available.

If i saw someone jump from one machine onto another just bc it was open...especially when i know they've seen me waiting forever (10 min is forever in ferret time) i'd be hella pissed.

I should have been more spcific. There were ( apparently to this guy ) Less desirable treadmills to use, he was waiting for a certain one. Sorry pal, the gym right now is a dog eat dog eat world!

Ummm....rude! I'm one of the "newbies" your talking about (lol!), but that guy was just ridiculous. You can't have your own special machine. Run on the 1st available and be considerate of others. Geez....

mr_ashley

Not to hijack the thread, but in a related note, seems like a lot of people posting on this thread have recently killed their gym memberships and are doing it at home now. Is this a real big trend, or just a trend with those of us gym rats that are just done with the high fees and inconveniences?

runningneo122

I have never been a gym rat. I was a carpenter in my younger days and was in great shape. I started driving truck OTR and then quit smoking 11 years ago and have been packing on the pounds ever since. Last year I started running in my neighborhood because I couldn't afford the membership and wasn't sure I would stick with it.. I then scored a super deal on a treadmill and have been running on it ever since. Bought some exercise bands to use w/ the 10 minute workout. Next is a Bowflex Revolution and some dumbbells. Awesome deals at pawnshops and PIAS. Check out yakaz.com

clover27357

I don't know why this comes off as ignorant to me, but it does. I understand being OCD about schedules, you have to be, but how about some empathy? Those weight machines are intimidating and misconcieved as major muscle bulkers, so most people don't even use them leaving the treadmill as a major source of a workout. Have you ever mentioned to a new member why spending too much treadmill time isn't all that productive? I know they have trainers for that, but a word of advice doesn't qualify as a job within the gym. Going diva about your turn and justifying it by critisizing the newbs as part-timers isn't solving your problem. It actually makes you come off as stuck-up and selfish.


I don't go to a gym because they're expensive and people lurk by offering you magazines and conversation mid-jog on the treadmill. Once, some guy on the treadmill beside me actually wanted me to put my number in his phone while I was jogging, and I barely said anything I didn't even look at him! I'd rther spend an hour on my Fit board and walking in my own neighborhood than have to spend bucks to go through that.

ginnyroxx

Personally, I won't use an elliptical or a rowing machine or a bike. I won't go to free weights to kill time in between.
I schedule my time to run on the treadmill and take my zumba class afterwards. (or vice versa).

The only reason I'm on the treadmill running is bc i'm doing the c25k program.

so i'll continue to stand in line and wait my turn for a treadmill (although i won't be picky over which i get).

arewethereyet

I don't know why this comes off as ignorant to me, but it does. I understand being OCD about schedules, you have to be, but how about some empathy? Those weight machines are intimidating and misconcieved as major muscle bulkers, so most people don't even use them leaving the treadmill as a major source of a workout. Have you ever mentioned to a new member why spending too much treadmill time isn't all that productive? I know they have trainers for that, but a word of advice doesn't qualify as a job within the gym. Going diva about your turn and justifying it by critisizing the newbs as part-timers isn't solving your problem. It actually makes you come off as stuck-up and selfish.


I don't go to a gym because they're expensive and people lurk by offering you magazines and conversation mid-jog on the treadmill. Once, some guy on the treadmill beside me actually wanted me to put my number in his phone while I was jogging, and I barely said anything I didn't even look at him! I'd rther spend an hour on my Fit board and walking in my own neighborhood than have to spend bucks to go through that.

She mentioned way back that there were other treadmills available, but he wanted THIS one. She had set her stuff on their while she went to clean off the last machine-being courteous.

I like working in different manners. at home, in the street and at the gym...........so I guess I have gotten used to it all.

Good lucK!!! :drinker:

margie_77

I totally lip sink dirty hard rock lyrics on the eliptical.. and practice belly dancing moves as well.. probably looks like I'm about to fall off!! ahhha
24hour fitness is packed as well. Luckily the cardio machines have an hour limit! And most of the newbies can only handle 15 min at most, so even if they are all full, they start dropping like flies soon enough! hahahha
Hang in there, everything will return to normal soon.

TamTastic

I belonged to a gym for a long, long time, either through University affiliation or when i started having to pay for it on my own when I graduated. I was the only one in my household that used it, and the fees went to over 80.00 per month. We had to kill the membership. I do miss the variety of machines that are available, but now I have some dumbells at home (not referring to family), and I'm on my bike trainer several times per week, so the home gym is a nice refuge now.

Not sure I'll ever belong to a gym again for the reasons you all mentioned: fees, crowds in different times of the year, weird rules like 20 minutes on cardio, and nothing but a bunch of meatheads working out trying to impress each other. Why oh why did the rest of my gender have to harrass women so much that they won't work out with us anymore? Women are so much better to DISCRETELY look at than men. Just my opinion....

Nothing keeps me from the gym. I go, with baseball cap on....headphones...and sweat. I do have a great gym that is $20 a month though and about a mile away.

My gym is a bit crowded right now but it's to be expected. And I've helped two women understand how the precor works....so it's cool. Hopefully nice people at the gym will keep these people coming back.

Shannon023

I have never been a gym rat. I was a carpenter in my younger days and was in great shape. I started driving truck OTR and then quit smoking 11 years ago and have been packing on the pounds ever since. Last year I started running in my neighborhood because I couldn't afford the membership and wasn't sure I would stick with it.. I then scored a super deal on a treadmill and have been running on it ever since. Bought some exercise bands to use w/ the 10 minute workout. Next is a Bowflex Revolution and some dumbbells. Awesome deals at pawnshops and PIAS. Check out yakaz.com

I just found a treadmill for $75!! Thanks for the tip!!! :drinker:

runningneo122

I paid $50 for a ProForm XP590s that came with two iFit discs and the counter said 280 miles and 89 hours!! It is like new. PIAS told me it would be $350 - $400 at his store. I could also get half of that if I wanted to sell it to him or trade up.

dlaplume2

I don't run itno this that often because I work out at home. Maybe you should suggest the gym get number systems like they do at the deli. You could take a numer and then walk the track or something while you wait. You could even start doing some weights while you wait.

Just a suggestion to make to the gym to make your visits more productive.

jkestens63

If I had the space I would definitely put together a home gym. Unfortunately our apartment is the size of a postage stamp.

I go to Lucille Roberts & its a small gym (only 7 treamills & 9 ellipticals) so you have to sign up for the cardio equipment during prime times. You get 30 minutes, can only sign up for one 30 minute block at at time. Suprisingly, although New Yorkers have a rep for being rude, most pretty much stick to the rules. Once in while there's a cat fight over the machines but for the most part it works out well.