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How Friendly Are Gym Folks?

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Replies

  • sheepingly
    sheepingly Posts: 237 Member
    hesn92 wrote: »
    Personal trainer? Or maybe just try to chat with people 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?

    Problem was solved recently anyway. My sister (if she was serious) wanted to join planet fitness so there's that.

    Plus i decided to go back to MMA when i was a little more fit (stamina wise)
  • susanp57
    susanp57 Posts: 409 Member
    These days I've noticed that everybody is wearing earphones which cut down on the chat opportunities between sets. I rarely go in the mornings, but when I do those folks are more social.
  • Tacklewasher
    Tacklewasher Posts: 7,122 Member
    Been going to the Y for a month. 5:30 am most weekdays. Only person I've had more than a 2 word conversation with is my neighbour. I imagine some of the folks are friendly, but I just want to get in and get out.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'd also say that's it not that people are necessarily unfriendly...as I mentioned earlier, I've met a lot of good friends in the gym...but training time is typically training time, not chit chat time or social hour. Talk during the actual workouts is pretty limited. Most of the people I've met and engage with, it was after workouts...while stretching or in the locker room or hanging out in the lounge area afterwards...not during workouts.

    Don't assume that just because people aren't chatty when training that they are inherently unfriendly...they're just working.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I go to 4 gyms and see a different dynamic in each, but similar personalities. Many are uncomfortable at first, but once you realize that literally everyone there is just as self conscious, if not even more so, it gets easier. It doesn't get easier, you simply get used to the situation.

    1. Gym on military base - all military, so everyone has common ground. Very challenging and encouraging atmosphere and a lot of HooYahs thrown around whenever someone beats a personal best.

    2. YMCA - fitness levels all over the place, but everyone is cordial. Most keep to themselves and just into their own workout.

    3. RecPlex - community membership gym. Similar to the Y, but bigger and more stations/activities. Again everyone keeps to themselves, but there's a tight community to help new members out and encourage people to keep coming back.

    4. Work gym - goal is to get in and get back to work, so little to no talking. Everyone does their own thing and socialization is at a minimum.
  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    The owner of the gym that I go to is also my trainer and we work together in the early a.m. when he is there. It's a whole different class of people in the early a.m. versus the evening. At least for me, people are serious in the morning but also friendlier because the day is fresh! In the evening, people are tired and want to be home but at the gym sharing their bad moods ... at least that has been my experience.
  • Grnhouse
    Grnhouse Posts: 254 Member
    rybo wrote: »
    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.

    I would agree. I have been friends with people I meet at the gym for many years but we have one goal @ the gym. Workout!
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,111 Member
    I didn't meet anyone at my gym until I joined a women's boxing class they had. Since then the class has evolved into a team and we also lift together as a group. I love these women and we talk daily to motivate and encourage each other between workouts. Saturday were BBQing and watching the fight together.

    Join a class or group and you will definitely have work out buddies
  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    I have made a couple very good friends at the gym, but like others have said, it took time. It didn't happen overnight. The best friend I have from the gym, we started talking because we were both working with the same personal trainer. Now the trainer moved, the other friend works out at a different gym...but we are all still friends.

    I have made more friends at group training classes. Currently I go to 9Rounds to get good cardio, without being on a treadmill or other machine. I have met people there, they also do runs and other events together, they have a facebook group, etc. I could have a full social life with this group if I wanted to. The Facebook group has had multiple people ask and find workout buddies.
  • mygrl4meee
    mygrl4meee Posts: 943 Member
    i am currently changing gyms.. one of my concerns was the social aspect. i been at my current gym for years so i have seen same faces for years so i am one of the cool kids.. now gonna be a new kid on the block. i like ppl to br friendly say hello or even nod ect.. most of my serious chit chatting has came in the locker room since i rented my own locker.
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    I am a gym member. I am not seeking social contact when I am working out. I try not to be rude, either, and I will acknowledge people when they speak to me and try to modify my normal "dammit I'll bite you" expression that I have when I am concentrating hard. Inside, I am saying "OK enough now go away."
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
    are people friendly? some are, some arent. some of these go to gyms.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    I have gym buddies. But I have spent 10 hours in the weight room per week for 3 years. It took time. And even now, sometimes we ignore each other if we are not in the mood to engage.

    I am generally pleasant to people at the gym. I have yelled at a few *kitten* though.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    I checked your locale to see if you were in the US and then Meet Up is an option. And you live near me! I'm in Irvine!

    There are tons of active meet up groups for hiking and biking and other fitness stuff.

    Maybe try getting your feet wet there as one option. There are all kinds of folks in the hiking groups I've been to. I go to a gym and lift and do cardio, I also belong to a yoga studio. When I lift I'm very focused inward, same thing with cardio. Yoga is a lot more social and all we do hiking is chat.

    You can have whatever kind of experience you want when you work out.
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    They are friendly as long as you don't talk to them or otherwise interrupt their flow. :D;)
  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
    Gyms are part of normal society Therefore how people are in a gym is very muc a reflection of society. There are nice people and not so nice people. At some gyms people keep to themselves, others may be more beign part of a family thype gym.
    Have a look around some that are near (if there is only one then yes that is difficult) and talk to people, ask questions. It is really easy to see if the 'vibe' and you match.

    I decided on my gym that way (choice between three for me) and have no regrets.
  • Penthesilea514
    Penthesilea514 Posts: 1,189 Member
    I prefer to do what I need to do at the gym, maybe the occasional nod or smile or "are you done with that?", and focus on myself. Cultures of gyms are totally different- try out a few to find on that suits your style.

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,135 Member
    Having worked in gyms for almost all of my life, I'll tell you that there are too many variables to figure out if you'll find the right gym buddy. Most people are there for themselves first and foremost and just like to get their own workouts done. Many times just having to wait for equipment can be annoying to some and then add on top of that waiting for a gym buddy to finish. Or having a gym buddy that shows up late or not at all. Things to consider.
    Personally I train by myself and have for years.
    Many of my clients like that we can "talk" while I train them and count reps. So maybe consider hiring a trainer.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
  • Sp1tfire
    Sp1tfire Posts: 1,120 Member
    Depends. My gym caters to body builders and weightlifters mainly who are very focused on their work so I don't socialize very often, and I'm okay with that. I have had trials at other gyms where it was mostly moms and fellow college aged women and we talked a lot about everything. Best advice I'd have is to scope em out. Try and get a free day/week and see how it feels!
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