How Friendly Are Gym Folks?

sheepingly
sheepingly Posts: 237 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
It's a stupid question but I haven't been inside a gym in about 15 years and I remember the one I used to go to people kept to themselves and weren't all that firendly.

How's the environment now? I want to join a gym eventually but I don't really have anyone to go with.

Most of the folks I know (family, friends, coworkers) aren't into "working out" or go to specialized gyms where the workouts/classes are for people that can handle the intensity level.

But I want to have a gym buddy that knows what they are doing i.e. power lifters, body builders -- I like strength training more than cardio and I'd think they'd be a good influence.

Anyone have any good experience at finding one at the gym they didn't already know?
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Replies

  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    This is going to be highly variable. Tons of people go and don't want to speak or look at another person.
    Others are social butterflies.
    One of my best friends is a guy I met at the gym almost 20 years ago. But it was small and you saw the same 20 people every day.
  • MaryYoungmark
    MaryYoungmark Posts: 66 Member
    edited July 2017
    Check out a crossfit gym. Everything is scaled to your ability, the coaches are there helping you every step of the way if needed, it's like a group training session every single day, and the community is amazing, so positive and supportive
  • deputy_randolph
    deputy_randolph Posts: 940 Member
    I've been going to the same gym for 5.5 years...I have a group of gym friends now. It took me 4 years to make friends though!
  • Okiludy
    Okiludy Posts: 558 Member
    Depends on the gym. Mine is not a social experience. People go there to lift and that's it. Other gyms have many classes and folks tend to be bit more social. The there is crossfit. They tend to be very social, if a bit competitive.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,488 Member
    I have been going to the same rec centre since 2009 using the gym, pool and taking classes.

    I am on nodding acquaintance with a dozen or so in the weight dept, with the odd pointer chat. But, if I go at a non regular time, I can be among complete strangers.

    The pool, I chat in the changing room with half a dozen people that either swim regularly at the same time or take aqua fit classes.

    Classes, I have, to my surprise, found them extremely friendly and supportive. Surprised because classes were what I dreaded the most when I started as a new to gym 54yo- I thought they would be the most judgmental.

    I tend to keep to myself but try not to scowl (RBF) when I am concentrating so I look a little approachable.

    I do think, because most are there with a fitness goal; not to socialize, it can take longer to get to know some one.

    OP if you think you would do better with a partner see if you can put s notice up.

    Cheers, h.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,532 Member
    Complete, complete mixed bag. Personally, when I'm gymming, I'm there to work out and not make friends. I prefer to work out along, headphones in and ignoring the world. I'm sure many others do likewise. Others may be more happy to have a chat or even form a friendship.

    I think if you're really looking for a buddy, looking on local meetup groups or going to some group classes or group training sessions would be a better plan than just hoping to connect with someone on the gym floor.
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Whenever I say hi to someone in the locker room, they seem to take it as an opportunity to review their medical history for me.
    I've quit saying hi.

    omg i can't ever talk to anyone in the locker room or even make eye contact with them. the majority of the time they are naked and saying hi would be really awkward lol.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    Complete, complete mixed bag. Personally, when I'm gymming, I'm there to work out and not make friends. I prefer to work out along, headphones in and ignoring the world. I'm sure many others do likewise. Others may be more happy to have a chat or even form a friendship.

    I think if you're really looking for a buddy, looking on local meetup groups or going to some group classes or group training sessions would be a better plan than just hoping to connect with someone on the gym floor.

    Totally this. I'm just there to take of business. I'm not looking for social interaction. I'm pleasant to others. But, if they are good with ignoring me, I'm good with ignoring them. I have a lot of friends and family, I don't need or want more social interaction.
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    I've not made any new friends at the gym in 6 months. In all fairness though I wear headphones so I'm not particularly receptive to starting conversations. I make more friends in the changing rooms because I'm not wearing headphones and it's more relaxed & casual when getting changed.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    It varies.....the 6AM gang at my gym was very friendly (you'd see the same people day in day out) but not so much in the evening.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    SonyaCele wrote: »
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Whenever I say hi to someone in the locker room, they seem to take it as an opportunity to review their medical history for me.
    I've quit saying hi.

    omg i can't ever talk to anyone in the locker room or even make eye contact with them. the majority of the time they are naked and saying hi would be really awkward lol.

    I don't exactly look them in the eye while naked.
  • erienneb66
    erienneb66 Posts: 88 Member
    I haven't made actual friends at the gym, probably because I'm not trying to. WHen I first started I was super self conscious and guilty of judging the people on the weight floor with me, which is ridiculous because I was afraid they'd judge me in turn. I fully admit I assumed these were mean people because they looked like the stereotypical "bro", but I've come to find most of them, especially the ones that lift super heavy and compete, are so nice and encouraging and it really changed my whole perspective.

    But our interactions are limited to "Hey that was a great set" or something similar. I also avoid eye contact in the locker room. One time someone I knew from elsewhere was in at the same time and trying to talk to me while I was half naked and I was so uncomfortable haha.
  • YOLO145
    YOLO145 Posts: 98 Member
    I work out at 6am and I'm not what you would call a morning person... I'm not mean, but definitely not "friendly."
    Also, I love working out, but it's also a job I have a set amount of time to do, so not much socializing for me.
  • blakejohn
    blakejohn Posts: 1,129 Member
    I've lived in 5 states and been in gyms in everyone. The gym of yester year is gone. It can be as friendly as you make it. I would say find someone who is training at your level. A power lifter or bodybuilder that has been working out would not make a good training partner. You could hire a trainer or ask someone to give feed back on your form.
    It's been my experience that training partners will come and go, I was one that came and went moving from state to state. I liked working out with those that were close to my level of fitness we would push each other and helped keep each other in check. The thing to keep in mind is you are at the gym and there to build your body strong not build friendships strong.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    in the public rec centre system, i haven't found one but like someone else said, i haven't been looking either. there actually is one smaller old-school branch where i felt like active overtures were beign made to sort of 'include' me in the overall room atmosphere, so i think it varies from one venue to another and it's certainly possible in some of them. but i'm just one of those loner types who finds things like that overwhelming and distracting. i genuinely appreciate the vibe as an overall atmosphere, but for actual workouts, i would really much much prefer to do my own thing in parallel with everyone else also just doing their own things.

    with that said though, i think 'how friendly are people' is a slightly different question from 'will i make friends'. almost everyone in the places i lift is extremely friendly. they just don't (typically) go out of their way or step into each other's space in order to generate relationships with one another.
  • spartan_d
    spartan_d Posts: 727 Member
    Some people treat the gym as though it were a social club. Don't be one of those people if you want to get a serious workout. You'll just wind up wasting time and effort, and you'll be annoying the people who are serious.

    On the other hand, other serious gym goers will tend to be reasonably friendly. They will tend to be focused on their workouts, and many of them won't be much for chit-chat. They'll probably be reasonably civil though, and seldom will they be outright hostile.
  • amtyrell
    amtyrell Posts: 1,447 Member
    Try group classes. They gear to people who like group exercise and you are more likely to find friends
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I've made some good friends at the gym, but it's not like we were just chums from day one...it's taken me years to establish these relationships just like anywhere else.
  • CTcutie
    CTcutie Posts: 649 Member
    Agree- classes or small training groups I've been in have been more social.
    I am social... but most others just want to get in and get out. I've been going to the same yoga class 1-2x/week for 6 weeks or so, people are friendly, but only 1 person even asked me what my name was (other then the instructor) :neutral: Takes time to establish relationships, but I prefer quality over quantity!
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    I'm pretty anti-social at the gym, but there again I'm also an Aspie so I'm pretty much anti-social full stop. I do attend a few (well more than a few classes) and talk to a select few, but if I've got my earphones in then that means I'm not in a talking mood. I'm pretty sure that they're a friendly bunch at my gym though, they're certainly understanding, supportative and inclusive (we have several members from the local supported living for adults with LD).
  • sheepingly
    sheepingly Posts: 237 Member
    MaryYoungmark wrote: »
    Check out a crossfit gym. Everything is scaled to your ability, the coaches are there helping you every step of the way if needed, it's like a group training session every single day, and the community is amazing, so positive and supportive

    I joined one for four month trial and was so out of shape I couldn't even handle the modified workouts LOL so i quit
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    edited September 2017
    Personal trainer? classes? Or maybe just try to chat with people up in the weight room and see if they want to be friends?? Bahaha. Sorry I am super antisocial so I'm no help. Maybe Theres a local group on Facebook where you could ask if anyone needs a workout buddy?
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