new year GYM newbies argg get ready

my peeve is the people who take up the running treadmills and do a half hour walk at practically .1 speed...cant wait for january to fly by

I never notice them since the cardio machines and weights are on different floors

Everybody's gotta start sometime. Maybe they'll see you killing it at the gym and be motivated, even though the original plan may have just been to lurk on the cable machines or bike and text. Give them a chance.

When I first started at the gym a few years ago, I looked like one of those girls just lazing away on the bike for 5 minutes, or spending 3 minutes on the elliptical then calling it a day. You know what though? A few weeks before that, I was entirely paralyzed from a stroke. I literally could not move my arms or legs. Those 3 or 5 minutes were as hard then as squatting 135 is for me now. Probably harder, actually.

Let's not judge those when we don't know their story.

^ I always say, I don't know your/their life. Everyone has to start somewhere and while I always notice there are more people at the gym right after New Year's, that can be the start of better habits. I did not work out on a regular basis until I went to college, and I remember feeling very awkward when I first started going to the gym. We should be supportive of people who are trying to attain their fitness goals because everyone can always do better.

Bear hug them sons of *****es! seriously, how awesome would it have felt for the rest of us who got the courage to go to the gym, how awesome would it have been for someone to flash us a smile, tell us nice job or give us a nod, a way to go in a sense.. Don't complain, don't b!tch, love them! You were them at one point, and just like here on MFP as we all motivate each other, do it in real life too, motivate them IRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please!

you know what i might just do this, some guy used to give me some kind of motivational chats similar to how you have put it across and you know what; it actually felt good on the mind...

take a moment out of your life to help someone - could this be a resolution to the resolutioners.. indeed

We all had to start somewhere.

I find 5 AM is prime "No Noob" time.

Dawn Patrol is the BEST! But not because it's easy to avoid newbies, more cause the gym is less crowded and it's a great way to start the day with such intensive "me investment time"

As to newbies, yes we all were once.

Whenever I see newbies, I try to catch their eye to give them a smile of encouragement. Especially for the older, very overweight women like I used to be. (still older chronologically, but no longer obese). I think to myself "hey fat girl, I'm like you, you can do this... I would love for you to feel as healthy, strong and confident as I do now". But it's hard to catch their look - I remember being new and just wanting to be invisible, and making myself invisible by not letting them see me seeing me.

Bigger picture on newbies - it's good they are there. Everybody has to start somewhere, they shouldn't have to feel uncomfortable and want to be invisible. Maybe they are trying to hide in the iphone screen? One of the topics on the forum has often been the obesity epidemic in the US/Canada. Truely it is a serious problem, if each of us can be a welcoming and motivating factor in just one person's commitment to change themselves, then maybe they can pass it forward in a year or two as well?

I know I know. Smacks of pollyanna-ish idealism. But in reality, we can all have an impact on the lives of others, why not make it a positive one?

I just learned that I've been having a positive impact on the most unlikely of people at the gym.


A few months ago, one of the most diligent, hard training, buff women at the gym made an encouraging comment to me as she walked by while I was doing some lifting. Thus started a nice gym friendship. I've learned that she used to be skinny fat, currently competes nationally in fitness competitions (placing top three provincially). About a week ago, she told me she was interviewed for a fitness magazine on the topic of inspiration and motivation. She told the journalist my story and that I am one of the people that inspire her cause I've lost so much weight, slowly through good old fashioned hard work, sweat, smart workouts and smart eating. I was floored. She inspires me, yet draws inspiration from me. Quite an affirmative moment.

So rather than see the New Year's gym newbies as a pain in the *kitten*, I'm going to try and see them as people trying to do the right thing. I understand the impulse to be annoyed, but perhaps the annoyance is less at the people and more at the interruption to our familiar, comfortable routine and environment. Those people yacking on the phone or texting are trying to make a connection with something they are familiar with in an unfamiliar and sometimes intimidating environment. They may be trying to make themselves invisible too.

Okay, PollyAnna out! Merry Christmas everyone.

I've thought about this already and decided to wait to start swimming again till February, especially considering the pools already difficult to swim in with people already! However, I do hope for their health that they can keep it up, just want them to calm down fast on going every available time =/

I love new people at the gym. I hate people at the gym who aren't serious. Not breaking a sweat? Not doing anything useful with yourself? Not pushing yourself or trying to get better? WTF. S e r i o u s l y !!!!

!!!!!!!!

=D