Let's be nice to the newbies
kimberlyblindsey
Posts: 266 Member
So I used to be the mean girl in the gym all high and mighty when the newbies would come stampeding into the gym in January all haughty and angry that "they" were crowding up "my" gym. However, now that I'm wiser and perhaps older, I realize the err in my ways and realize, we all have started somewhere, whether it be on new years or some life shattering moment that caused us to make lifestyle changes.
For me I was an avid outdoor runner, but there was a time where I decided to join a gym to give me more options besides the great outdoors, and there were lots of cool people, who helped me with the machines and friends I met in aerobics classes that were some awesome all around people, but few mean unsupportive people, not to say I was outwardly mean to any one, but in my heart I suppose I was. So with that said if you see someone new at the gym, wherever you happen to workout, greet them, smile, and help them if they do not understand how a machine works. It will cost you nothing, but will pay off in how you feel and perhaps that one word of encouragement or smile will help them to continue their fitness journey.
For me I was an avid outdoor runner, but there was a time where I decided to join a gym to give me more options besides the great outdoors, and there were lots of cool people, who helped me with the machines and friends I met in aerobics classes that were some awesome all around people, but few mean unsupportive people, not to say I was outwardly mean to any one, but in my heart I suppose I was. So with that said if you see someone new at the gym, wherever you happen to workout, greet them, smile, and help them if they do not understand how a machine works. It will cost you nothing, but will pay off in how you feel and perhaps that one word of encouragement or smile will help them to continue their fitness journey.
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Replies
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Yes!!! Thank you! Every person in that gym has a right to be there!0
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Or we could just leave them to get on with it and if they need any help, they'll ask someone.-1
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Thanks, mom.-3
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I read this post and thought....oh how nice....maybe I shouldn't be so afraid to go to a gym....then I read....the Gym Rules post and now I'm scared again!0
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No, you should totally go; don't let anyone or anything scare you away from doing what you want to do to get fit.0
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It's nothing personal against newbies in particular. It's just unbelievably crowded in classes for the month and it's sad to see so many people inevitably drop out so quickly. You hesitate to reach out to new people in January because the odds of them being around in February are so small.0
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Look at it this way-- Without people who pay all year for the gym and only use it in January, gyms would cost the rest of the people a whole lot more!0
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As nervous as I am to go....seeing the rules totally made sense to me......I would definitely want a trainer as I've never done weights but from everything that I am reading it's the weights that ends up getting people to their goals. And I'm glad that someone put the rules out there.....or I would be the one causing stress for others. Again, MFP is full of such valuable information...and I appreciate that people take the time to post. I've learned so much.0
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Yeah, I think I'll do my exercise at home without the judgment of others. I'm not on the market anyway.
No one is judging that I've ever seen in my years of membership and for people who stick around, it's a great place to make new friends. I don't know anything about being on the market, though.0 -
47Jacqueline wrote: »No one is judging that I've ever seen in my years of membership and for people who stick around, it's a great place to make new friends. I don't know anything about being on the market, though.
Sounds like you are at a friendlier gym than OP!
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47Jacqueline wrote: »No one is judging that I've ever seen in my years of membership and for people who stick around, it's a great place to make new friends. I don't know anything about being on the market, though.
Sounds like you are at a friendlier gym than OP!
I don't think I was outwardly mean to anyone, but on the inside I was frustrated when I couldn't find a parking spot or I had to wait for machines; however, easy for me to say now(20/20 hindsight), since I have built a decent home gym.0 -
I read this post and thought....oh how nice....maybe I shouldn't be so afraid to go to a gym....then I read....the Gym Rules post and now I'm scared again!
The only ones that really matter/should abide by are :
"#1. The Squat rack is for squats. DO NOT CURL IN THE SQUAT RACK. If you feel the need to use a full Olympic bar for your maximum, super awesome curls, there is a power rack right next to the squat rack. Or, you know, a curl bar...and dumbbells.....
#2. Re-rack your F-ing weights. You were able to pick them up and put them on machine, you're certainly strong enough to put them back.
#10. Wipe down your damn bench. Nothing quite like seeing another persons *****, and back print on the seat to get me pumped for a set.
#11. Please, please leave the weights in the weight section. Don't run off them, making us all wonder if the gym has gremlins.
#12. Please don't hoard the dumbbells. Often, you can only lift two dumbbells at a time. If you have made a nest of 8 dumbbells, even if you super set, it is SUPER annoying to the other gym goers."
Don't be scared!!!0 -
47Jacqueline wrote: »No one is judging that I've ever seen in my years of membership and for people who stick around, it's a great place to make new friends. I don't know anything about being on the market, though.
Sounds like you are at a friendlier gym than OP!
I belong to the Y, which I have to say is friendlier than NYSC was. It also has better facilities and I can go to any location in the city.0 -
Why would someone be mean because they were exercising? Everyone pays to be there.0
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What's wrong with being frustrated about those things? Sounds normal to me.kimberlyblindsey wrote: »47Jacqueline wrote: »No one is judging that I've ever seen in my years of membership and for people who stick around, it's a great place to make new friends. I don't know anything about being on the market, though.
Sounds like you are at a friendlier gym than OP!
I don't think I was outwardly mean to anyone, but on the inside I was frustrated when I couldn't find a parking spot or I had to wait for machines; however, easy for me to say now(20/20 hindsight), since I have built a decent home gym.
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Nothing, I suppose, just trying to be more understanding these days.0
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I wipe down my sweat and even put away other weights if I have time. But I still get upset at newbies and regulars that don't follow the basic rules. I pay to use the facilities but I also take time to take care of the facilities0
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I've worked for the largest YMCA in the country. With that free membership, I went to classes (Zumba!) and did a few days on the machines. No one helped me, and with all the weird looks I got, it discouraged me. I got more serious about losing weight and ended up losing 40 lbs in 6 months from eating the right amounts (of whatever I wanted except for fast food), walking 2.5 miles a day and doing 200 crunches a day. Didn't need the gym. Continued to work there though.0
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Also something I learned/still learning, some people are shy. Me being one of them, I don't talk to people of I don't need to. That being said, I was literally a memeber at one gym for a full year, and maybe spoke a sentence in that entire time to someone. Made me feel unwanted and ended up leaving the gym and changing gyms because of it. So remember not all people don't want to learn/don't want to teach. I learned at the next gym it is ok to ask and ok to give pointers if someone seems to be struggling.0
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As nervous as I am to go....seeing the rules totally made sense to me......I would definitely want a trainer as I've never done weights but from everything that I am reading it's the weights that ends up getting people to their goals. And I'm glad that someone put the rules out there.....or I would be the one causing stress for others. Again, MFP is full of such valuable information...and I appreciate that people take the time to post. I've learned so much.
What really helps is to read some books (like New Rules of Weightlifting for Women) to understand the basic game plan and why you do what and when, and then find people demonstrating exercises on youtube. When you go in armed with a battle plan and a bit of knowledge, it makes it a little less intimidating.
Don't ever be afraid! Just get started - and if you see somebody doing something you were curious about (how to work a machine, form, etc) it's ok to watch from the corner of your eye for a moment.
For gym regulars, New Years Day is something you sort of prepare yourself for. It's just gonna be more crowded, and not everybody knows (or cares) about 'the rules'. A big smile will go a long way.0 -
Suzanneishere wrote: »As nervous as I am to go....seeing the rules totally made sense to me......I would definitely want a trainer as I've never done weights but from everything that I am reading it's the weights that ends up getting people to their goals. And I'm glad that someone put the rules out there.....or I would be the one causing stress for others. Again, MFP is full of such valuable information...and I appreciate that people take the time to post. I've learned so much.
What really helps is to read some books (like New Rules of Weightlifting for Women) to understand the basic game plan and why you do what and when, and then find people demonstrating exercises on youtube. When you go in armed with a battle plan and a bit of knowledge, it makes it a little less intimidating.
Don't ever be afraid! Just get started - and if you see somebody doing something you were curious about (how to work a machine, form, etc) it's ok to watch from the corner of your eye for a moment.
For gym regulars, New Years Day is something you sort of prepare yourself for. It's just gonna be more crowded, and not everybody knows (or cares) about 'the rules'. A big smile will go a long way.
Amen0 -
Hey guys, let's uhm, be nice ok?
Thanks.0 -
As long as nobody gets in my way intentionally, I don't care what they do. I'm not going to go out of my way to help every person I see in the gym, but I suppose I would if they asked for it. If someone wants to watch me lift I don't mind as long as they tell me before hand that they are doing it to learn. So my rules would be:
1) Respect my personal space.
2) Talk to me if you're going to stare at me.
Anything else...whatever.0 -
Please Clean the equipment after you use it! I do not want to sit in any ones butt sweat.0
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47Jacqueline wrote: »It's nothing personal against newbies in particular. It's just unbelievably crowded in classes for the month and it's sad to see so many people inevitably drop out so quickly. You hesitate to reach out to new people in January because the odds of them being around in February are so small.
Do you think that people drop out so quickly in part because there are just so many people at the beginning of the year? Do they come in and assume it will always be that crazy and give up? Maybe we need to educate people to not start in Jan/Feb because it can get a bit out of control.0 -
Yeah, I think I'll do my exercise at home without the judgment of others. I'm not on the market anyway.
what does that even mean?
like if you go to a gym you're some how on the market?
You know- honestly some of the most judgemental people I've ever seen are the ones who go "I'm afraid to do XXXX Because I'm going to get judged"
seriously.
If you want to go to the gym- go to the gym.
if you want to workout at home- workout at home.
neither of those things should be impacted by what other people think. You should have a goal- and work to the goal- damned if anyone else thinks otherwise.
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It would never even dawn on me to be mean to someone at the gym. Like, why? I don't get it.
Thankfully, I workout with a great community.0 -
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