Has anyone made friends at the gym?

wemovealong
wemovealong Posts: 5
in Fitness and Exercise
This is probably going to sound so juvenile but I'm going to get a membership tomorrow at a local gym not only for the fact that I want to work out but more that I want to get out of the house and actually meet people. I figured I'd probably be able to meet people at the gym, right?
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Replies

  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Sure. I've gotten to know alot of the (older) ladies in the swim classes. Sure they're old, but they're all very nice. I've also gotten to know a few instructors a little bit. Maybe these people all fall under the acquaintance category, but it's nice to hold conversations with them :)
  • Mustgetbuff
    Mustgetbuff Posts: 267 Member
    I'm sure this is totally possible, however some people may want to be left alone...like me. I am a cranky, anti-social seventy year old lady at heart. I put my headphones on and pretend everyone else isn't there in the nicest way possible, even when I swim lanes. I like to focus when I workout, plus I suppose I'm a bit insecure and don't want to risk getting criticized by someone. Which probably would only ever happen in my head. But whatever.

    But I'm sure you will meet other lovely, social butterflies at the gym! Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Most of us are there to work, we really don't notice other people, but there are some guys that I have a "what's up bro? Nice set" relationship with. I wouldn't consider them friends, but they're good guys. Not saying you couldn't make friends, I'm just there to work, not socialize, so maybe it's just me.

    Rigger
  • Rowan813
    Rowan813 Posts: 170 Member
    I have made some very good friends at the gym. We enjoy encouraging each other and working out together. Many days I drag myself out of bed for a 0530 class because someone is expecting me.
  • cardbucfan
    cardbucfan Posts: 10,571 Member
    I haven't made friends but I've made tons of acquaintances and people I'm friendly with. I generally don't socialize when I'm lifting (headphones in, doing my thing) but before and after classes (and during sometimes!) I chat with the other people in class.
  • MzTanya77
    MzTanya77 Posts: 79 Member
    Yes I've made some cool friends at the gym that I work out with regularly. Usually you make friends thru classes. Take some fitness classes and you will develop friendships because people see you have a common goal and interest.
  • edwardkim85
    edwardkim85 Posts: 438 Member
    Met a famous actor. Didn't know he was an actor or famous until 2 months later because nobody made a big deal out of it.

    We became friends and now we're workout partners.
  • wannaBrunnner81
    wannaBrunnner81 Posts: 107 Member
    ive actually made good friends at my old gym, many i kept in touch with after i moved. It can be a social scene...but also a meat market. Get a feel for the hours and who goes when, dont be afraid of the free weight area, ask for a spot and start talking..
  • mschf3
    mschf3 Posts: 14 Member
    You can definitely make friends at the gym! If they have group exercise classes or bootcamps (or both) try those out. And smile a lot. :)
  • MyOwnSunshine
    MyOwnSunshine Posts: 1,312 Member
    I've made many acquaintances lifting weights in the weight room. I know the names of many of the regulars, and can predict their workout routines, such as who I need to beat to the squat rack, and who's advice to take when someone offers it.

    If I weren't old, introverted and extraordinarily busy, I could easily convert my acquaintances into friends.
  • drsean
    drsean Posts: 9
    I never intended to make friends, but yes. I have been going to my gym for about 4 years now. I am kind of shy around new people in these situations, but I have taken many classes over the years and have become acquainted with the trainers and other folks who go. Mostly we socialize at the gym, but I went to a party from a gym friend's invite once and feel I have met a few people I would miss if they ever moved on.

    So if you are wanting to make friends and are more proactive, I am sure you will meet some great people.
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
    nope. i have no interest in gym buddies.
  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    I wish I could make friends at my gym... meet new people AND workout!

    But most people are there to focus on themselves and are not looking to be chatty and meet people, but I sometimes wish they were. Actually, people (ok, women) seem a *little* more friendly in classes like yoga, in my experience.
  • annekka
    annekka Posts: 517 Member
    I've been actively going to the gym for almost 6 months now. I'm just now starting to really make friends/acquaintances. Now I don't want to scare you, it's because I'm very reserved and guarded in general. I take a while to warm up to people and gather the courage to talk to them. Add to the fact that I'm an expat living in a country where the native language is very difficult to become fluent in and locals whose English ability is not so great...well I think you can understand why it's taken me so long. ;)

    I was very lucky to have another expat encourage me in my first class, so that helped keep me coming back. It's gotten to the point where I'm friendly with most of the expats and locals who I know speak English and I know all of the instructors whose classes I go to, though the language starts to be a problem in that relationship. But they all know me and will say hi and ask how I'm doing and where I've been if it's been awhile since I last came. But yes, going to the gym has vastly improved my lack of a social life!

    Especially as I know they'll be wondering where I am if I don't go!

    If you're just going to use the weights/treadmill etc. it may be harder to make friends as opposed to if you're doing the group fitness classes where there is the opportunity to chat with people before or after the class about what's going on. That doesn't mean it isn't possible if you're lifting weights or doing cardio, it may just take a bit more of an effort.
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    I have made quite a few friends at the gym, I have been there for 4 1/2 years. Helped that the trainer I worked with and the owner and I became friends and did things socially outside of the gym. Now I have a whole group of friends that I have met at the gym and through people at the gym. I am pretty shy and quiet most of the time, it took me a while, just had acquaintances for the first year or so. I am at the gym 4-5 days a week, the people I have become friends with are similar to that. I have also made friends at classes that I go to, once I became a regular.
  • Always_Smiling_D
    Always_Smiling_D Posts: 118 Member
    If they have group classes, those are great to meet people who have similar goals as yours.
  • rattleh3ad
    rattleh3ad Posts: 50
    I have become great friends with one of the guys who works at the gym. He's really cool and helps me out all the time. He's the only person I like there.
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
    Met a famous actor. Didn't know he was an actor or famous until 2 months later because nobody made a big deal out of it.

    We became friends and now we're workout partners.

    And inquiring minds want to know...
  • sheenarama
    sheenarama Posts: 733 Member
    I made a friend there 7 years ago. Now I'm best friends with him and his wife and Godmother to his daughter. Good luck!
  • Achrya
    Achrya Posts: 16,913 Member
    There are other people at the gym?!

    I only notice others when all the squat racks are taken. :grumble:
  • ATGsquats
    ATGsquats Posts: 227 Member
    After going to the same gym for 5 years, you get to know a lot of the regulars. It's cool...
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I'm sure this is totally possible, however some people may want to be left alone...like me. I am a cranky, anti-social seventy year old lady at heart. I put my headphones on and pretend everyone else isn't there in the nicest way possible, even when I swim lanes. I like to focus when I workout, plus I suppose I'm a bit insecure and don't want to risk getting criticized by someone. Which probably would only ever happen in my head. But whatever.

    But I'm sure you will meet other lovely, social butterflies at the gym! Good luck! :flowerforyou:

    Me too! Which is the main reason I lift at home now.


    OP just be aware of body language, be considerate and you'll be fine.
  • TpocketT60
    TpocketT60 Posts: 44 Member
    There are other people at the gym?!

    I only notice others when all the squat racks are taken. :grumble:

    This! But I'm sure its very possible to make friends at the gym. Just try to get a read on people you attempt to befriend, because some people like to get to the gym, get their workout in, and leave, with little time for socializing. I'm always willing to chat between sets, of course :D
  • brenn24179
    brenn24179 Posts: 2,144 Member
    I had to get references for a job and realized most of my friends were at the gym. It is easy because you have so much in common with them there.
  • imabusymom04
    imabusymom04 Posts: 1 Member
    I look forward to going to the gym...I used to just walk on the treadmill, but I was able to see into the group fitness rooms while walking and they looked like they were having so much fun. So I joined them! I work WAY harder in the group classes than I ever would on my own. I quit the gym for 6 months (when my youngest went to school), but I missed it and joined back. So many people remembered me and asked where I had been, made me feel good to be missed! :) There was one class I did a few yrs ago where we would go out to lunch after occasionally, fun times! I had to quit that class though when my son went to half day prek...I always had to be home for his bus to arrive. Now I do the early weight class. Anyway, I agree with the above posts, if you are looking to meet people, group classes are the way to go.
  • randomtai
    randomtai Posts: 9,003 Member
    Nope I am not there to make friends.
  • southerndream24
    southerndream24 Posts: 303 Member
    I say hey to all the regulars I see in the Nike Training Club class I take once a week. The other days I'm in the gym lifting it's in the morning so I'm focused on getting my workout in then showering and heading to work.

    My run club is a different story. I've made great friends because we spend so much time training for marathons. We run the same races and a lot of us plan to do international races together. Later this year a big group will run the Reggae Marathon in Jamaica and I'll be running the Paris Marathon with a couple people too.
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    Yes. My gym is a Crossfit type small gym with WODs and we are all very supportive and encouraging of one another. Lots of friendship all around but total focus on getting the work done.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Most of us are there to work, we really don't notice other people, but there are some guys that I have a "what's up bro? Nice set" relationship with. I wouldn't consider them friends, but they're good guys. Not saying you couldn't make friends, I'm just there to work, not socialize, so maybe it's just me.

    Rigger

    Good answer.

    A lot of people tend to go at the same time so you tend to get pretty familiar with people. I'm on a first name basis with a number of people now. But I'm not big on making friends so I haven't tried to take our gym relationships to the next level.
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    I know one of the trainers at my gym. But we've been friends for years. I recognize regulars who are there the same time I go to work out, but I am not friends with them. I go there, do my workout and come home. I have music on when I'm exercising. I don't really want people to chit chat with me. Guess I'm there on a mission...

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