Onslaught of New Gym Members
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I have been worried in the past about the gym being too crowded as January, but it has not been a problem at the gym I am a member of.0
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GreenValli wrote: »I have been worried in the past about the gym being too crowded as January, but it has not been a problem at the gym I am a member of.
Same. Most resolutioners join Planet Fitness or the like, not my powerlifter/bodybuilder focused gym.0 -
Some of these posts make me sad, because we get many people afraid to go to the gym--people judging them. I sincerely hope some of the new people stay. I, personally, don't laugh at anyone that's starting out, and if they do something dangerous, I'll tell them or the people that work there.22
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January does tend to suck from an overcrowding/lack of machines/yoga mat place standpoint but it also can be entertaining if you accept it for what it is knowing its mostly 2-3 weeks and over and they are helping to fund a reasonable membership for the rest of us the remaining 11 months.
I just make it a spectator sport in January while doing whatever I can to start the year:
2016: The person that weighed themselves 4 times in 30 minutes like some miracle was going to happen. I did enjoy the large bottle of coke they were drinking with how many calories was in that thing.
2017: I got to see the person texting and taking the tumble on the thread mill that was going way too fast for their skill level let alone their lack of concentration.
2018: There was the person that put 50 pounds on one side and 25 on the other without locking the plates in. That didn't end well for many reasons.
2019: My personal favorite was the multiple sobbing people around the room in a brutal hot yoga class. Hot yoga studios know how to get rid of the newbies after collecting the fees after just 1 visit.
I too am deeply affected by these comments. The post above made me cry... from laughing so hard!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVt_wzsVgQk 2 -
Being retired now, I have the option of going at off times. However, sometimes it's not any better. You don't get the crush of newbies, but you have a bunch of doddering old people who do the exact same thing every workout and who "protect" certain machines like it was their lucky seat at bingo.
And they NEVER clean up after themselves. Worse than the kids.
OMG, this sounds like stereotypes but there's a few older men when I go that do a bunch of cardio before machines then get sweat all over the machines and don't use a towel. I do cardio first too, it takes 5 seconds to wipe the machines down so someone doesn't get your sweat all over them.1 -
I take group fitness classes and it's more fun with a big crowd.6
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As an about to be noobie after surgery recovery this thread just gave me anxiety about being in the gym with all of you😣20
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As an about to be noobie after surgery recovery this thread just gave me anxiety about being in the gym with all of you😣
Hugs. Most gym-goers don't mind new folks at the gym, and those that take issue (there won't be many) aren't worth the time it takes to worry about them. Most are super happy to see others trying to better themselves. We were all newbies at the gym once too, and sometimes I think folks forget that (not YOU, other person reading this). You are going to kick butt.
And for the thread: I use my home equipment almost exclusively now so I don't have to deal with the frustration of needing to play nice with others.
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As an about to be noobie after surgery recovery this thread just gave me anxiety about being in the gym with all of you😣
Don't have any anxiety. We were all newbies at one time or another. Nobody has any issue with new people. I think the issue is with "resolutioners", which are people who aren't really serious about working out or making a lifestyle change, so they all join a gym in mass, and then kind of half work-out the first few weeks while mostly just taking up space in the gym before quitting. The issue is their lack of commitment, not that they are new.
When I first started at my gym, which is group class martial arts, I was the most out of shape person in the whole gym. I would get passed by people twice my age and half my age. But I stuck with it, and not only did I hit my personal goals, but I've become a leader at the gym, not because I am the best or the strongest (far from it), but because everyone values and respects my determination and refusal to give up. So as long as you have that, the rest will eventually come.7 -
I think resolutioners get a bad name. The fact is that they have great intentions and in their own minds are committed. However, we all know how hard this really is. I can’t count the number of times I started and ended up quitting. I also don’t know what ended up being the difference when I finally did stick with it and see success. Yes many will start and many will fail, but for some this will be the time that sticks. For those others I hope that they keep trying in the future until they find the time that sticks too.14
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As an about to be noobie after surgery recovery this thread just gave me anxiety about being in the gym with all of you😣
I just want to see you at the gym - STILL - at the end of February, then I will know that you are going to make it through the year with the rest of us "regulars"2 -
As an about to be noobie after surgery recovery this thread just gave me anxiety about being in the gym with all of you😣
Don’t have anxiety about going. The gym is a place for you to accomplish whatever physical goals you have for yourself. Have a plan going in and work the plan. You’ll be fine!
There are regulars that are quite annoying too. Like the talk on the phone. in front of the dumbbell rack guy, or I’m going to leave my glasses and phone on the ground right where you’re deadlifting guy, and my personal favorite I’m singing 80’s pop rock that’s playing in my headphones to the top of my lungs guy. Lucky for me all three of those guys are the same person at my gym. 🙄
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Have you ever seen Dude Perfect’s gym stereotypes??jlhalley7835 wrote: »As an about to be noobie after surgery recovery this thread just gave me anxiety about being in the gym with all of you😣
Don’t have anxiety about going. The gym is a place for you to accomplish whatever physical goals you have for yourself. Have a plan going in and work the plan. You’ll be fine!
There are regulars that are quite annoying too. Like the talk on the phone. in front of the dumbbell rack guy, or I’m going to leave my glasses and phone on the ground right where you’re deadlifting guy, and my personal favorite I’m singing 80’s pop rock that’s playing in my headphones to the top of my lungs guy. Lucky for me all three of those guys are the same person at my gym. 🙄
https://youtu.be/nU4EJfX2aXE 2 -
Haven’t seen it yet, but I’ll definitely watch it on the way home from the gym 😂 hopefully I’m not on it 😬0
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But how do you know whether other people are serious? And why do people have to be "serious?"? We don't all start in the same place.
Also, some people are recovering from injuries or illness. I prefer to exercise outside, but go to the gym when the weather is bad. I recently had a knee injury from running. I would go to the gym to walk on the treadmill. For quite a while, my fastest speed was 2 mph. Other people might have judged me for going so slow, but I didn't worry about it.
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I have a gym membership. When February is over and the weather improves, I move outside. I live near a national park and prefer to walk and run there instead of indoors. People have all kinds of reasons for what they do.8 -
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Did you read all of the words? It’s taking the things people rag on new gym goes for and turning them around to say hey don’t worry about it. People can be intolerant and entitled dicks at the gym but it’s usually about their own insecurities.14 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »Unfortunately IMO, if someone is waiting for a magic date to start exercising, watching their diet, etc., they are likely to fail. The condition(s) related to the planned changes didn't just pop up on Dec 31st. Waiting until 1/1 is just putting off what needs to be done and most likely will lead to less than optimum results.
Or maybe they are waiting to join the gym when the 1/1 sales/fee reductions are in play.
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Just give it 2 to 3 months - by Easter most of them are gone, only to return early next year...1
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Yes, wrong clothes - my gym has a policy, no jeans or other than workout pants. I don’t know why. But there has been a time in my life when I wouldn’t have been able to exercise there without making a trip to the store for the right clothing.
I think it’s pretty common for newbies to wonder what other people are going to wear and if they will fit in. I discovered quickly that if you go at 2 am like I do, it’s not a problem - the typical gym-goer there at that hour is dressed like they just came from a hobo convention.7 -
rheddmobile wrote: »
Yes, wrong clothes - my gym has a policy, no jeans or other than workout pants. I don’t know why. But there has been a time in my life when I wouldn’t have been able to exercise there without making a trip to the store for the right clothing.
I think it’s pretty common for newbies to wonder what other people are going to wear and if they will fit in. I discovered quickly that if you go at 2 am like I do, it’s not a problem - the typical gym-goer there at that hour is dressed like they just came from a hobo convention.
Thanks. My gym (a YWCA) doesn't have a clothing policy, or if they do, I don't know about it.
Many of the regulars come in rotten-looking old tee shirts and shorts, but some wear expensive outfits.
I own "the right clothes," designed for sweat/moisture etc., but prefer my $10 Walmart sweatpants.
I guess my attitude has always been it's none of my business what other people wear or do there, or how often they come or don't come. To me, my gym is a public place. Anybody who pays the fee has a 100% right to be there, whether they spend hours a day there or come only once.
Same thing with the tourists in the nearby national park. It's almost impossible to walk or run there except early in the morning because of all the cars -- but if not for the tourists, the place would close.10 -
Valentine's Day seems to be a pretty common cut-off date for the New Years crowd to fade away.
I just wish they would stick around and continue to train.2 -
rheddmobile wrote: »MelanieCN77 wrote: »
Thanks. My gym (a YWCA) doesn't have a clothing policy, or if they do, I don't know about it.
Many of the regulars come in rotten-looking old tee shirts and shorts, but some wear expensive outfits.
I own "the right clothes," designed for sweat/moisture etc., but prefer my $10 Walmart sweatpants.
I guess my attitude has always been it's none of my business what other people wear or do there, or how often they come or don't come. To me, my gym is a public place. Anybody who pays the fee has a 100% right to be there
In my opinon that’s 100% the right attitude. As long as they are not directly preventing me from accomplishing my goals they can wear whatever or do whatever.
I workout at a Y as well and ours has a dress code but it’s loosely enforced. Basically they want you to wear workout/gym style clothes and closed toe shoes, but they have an older group of guys that workout in khakis and jeans.0 -
I think I took this different from you. Yes it’s a little tongue in cheek, but did you read the bits in parentheses? To me it’s more a message to help someone to get over the intimidation factor of starting at the gym.
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »Unfortunately IMO, if someone is waiting for a magic date to start exercising, watching their diet, etc., they are likely to fail. The condition(s) related to the planned changes didn't just pop up on Dec 31st. Waiting until 1/1 is just putting off what needs to be done and most likely will lead to less than optimum results.
What I find is that many people wait until after the holidays to make a doctors appointment. Then their doctor scares them into dieting and exercise. Here in Italy, we also have what we call "bathing suit readiness", so people hit the pool and gym to be ready for beach time in June.0 -
I belong to “Better Leisure” leisure centre and luckily my membership allows me gym, all classes and pool, but best of all I can use any BL gym in the country. And depending on what I want to do I with travel to a different town. One has great strength machines, but the other place s a much warmer pool and the other place nearby has youtube on its machines. So I probably look to some people that the fat old woman (with a spinal tumour and therefore doesnt hammer it hard) doesnt come very often. But I do, several times a week just not at the same place.
I went shopping in Decatholon today and hit the sales, I bet I looked like a post xmas noobie! But I wanted another pair hi vis tights, a hat with a pony tail hole, more Runderwear pants, a running kit for my son (wicking T, warmer long sleeve and jacket, tights and trainers), a different belt, ankle support (achilles feeling achey), I ended adding a pile of extra stuff to my technical gear and I spent only £100. Very happy.
I giess I am still a newbie though, 4 months in. When do I becone a regular gym bunny ??2
You have a specific purpose and goals, though! It's a different situation.
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