Onslaught of New Gym Members

But this time of year also means great deals on workout clothes and equipment.

kirstyfoy wrote: »

I have to use the creche at the gym so I can go (have a 2 and 4 year old). I go to the gym on a Monday and friday and you can book the creche 8 days in advance which I do. Called last Sunday for tomorrow and hour after bookings had opened and couldn't get in. Thursday I called again am hour and a bit after bookings opened, could only get 1 hour instead of 2. Today I am ready to call as soon as it opens!

What is a crèche? Daycare?

spartan_d wrote: »

lalabank wrote: »

Noticing that most of the people who seem to be bothered by newbies enjoy feeling superior.

I don't see that at all. They're mostly complaining about bad behavior, and you don't have to feel superior in order to do that. Heck, Planet Fitness bases its entire business model around criticizing what they perceive to be bad behavior.

I say this with no judgement since I’m kind of competitive ....

Well, can we agree that it takes a certain amount of judgment to judge that someone else enjoys feeling superior? I'm not saying that such judgment is wrong, but let's face it... it is ultimately a matter of judging what other people are doing, and that's not wrong.

Yup, my complaint about people in general, not just newbies, would be the behaviour. If they don’t want people judging their behaviour then:

1. Clean up the equipment you use. Spray it down, wipe it, puts all plates and dumbbells back where they belong.
2. Don’t block equipment you are not actively using. Stand in front of, rest on, use as a table for your water bottle and sweater, or set up a huge circuit and refuse to let someone work in, etc
3. If you need help ask, but don’t expect other gym goers to become your trainer or to be happy about someone suddenly talking their ear off when they are just trying to get in and out.

I have seen so much of number 1 and 2 from regulars and trainers at my little gym and it sucks. Memberships stay low priced if we can clean up after ourselves, and members stay happier when using the gym is easy.

Just remember everyone there, is just there to better their health as well. Focus on you. I assure you they are focusing on them.

I used to be a new gym member so I'd like to think I'm very tolerant of new gym members. I live near a lot of 55 and over communities and the demographic where I live is around 60 average age (easily). No sign of increased members today at LA Fitness near me, the most crowded gym I've ever been to. I think once people reach a certain age, they pretty much know if they are going to stay healthy or have just given up.

Theoldguy1 wrote: »

Where I'm at it's not the noobies it's the damn trainers that set people up in front of dumbbell/kettlebell racks, on the prowler track, etc.

Yup. I just had an introductory trainer session at the new gym, and she suggested we work on my squatting technique and check any new equipment my old gyms haven’t had that I’m new to. So, she put all our stuff in front of a squat rack and even said we’ll ”reserve” it, then took me to warm up in a different area, then proceeded to instruct all kinds of stuff in front of the squat rack. We never even did the squats. Just one of the reasons I will NOT be purchasing any sessions from her and will continue training with my old trainer, even though he works in a different gym that I only go to for his sessions.

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

If you're there, and they're there, the only difference between you two is that one is a cry baby...

At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs...

I don't think that's fair. If a person is using the equipment all wrong -- lounging on it for long periods of time, for example -- then I can't blame other people for getting annoyed.

Curling in the squat rack is a perfect example. Could other gym habitues "figure something else out"? Perhaps, but this would require settling for a greatly inferior alternative to the barbell squat. I wouldn't blame them at all for feeling frustrated.

Yeah but you see what you did here, you completely reframed the discussion under the assumption that all gym noobies have poor gym etiquette...

No, I didn't. In fact, I said absolutely nothing about newbies.

I was addressing the following specific claim:

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

My point is that it's not necessarily unreasonable for someone to complain about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment. It most certainly does NOT mean that such a person is "the one who least belongs."

So then just who were you referring to?
Because this discussion is about gym noobies, is it not?

You can't go on this little tirade about gym noobies not using equipment properly and then backtrack once it no longer serves your argument

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

If you're there, and they're there, the only difference between you two is that one is a cry baby...

At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs...

I don't think that's fair. If a person is using the equipment all wrong -- lounging on it for long periods of time, for example -- then I can't blame other people for getting annoyed.

Curling in the squat rack is a perfect example. Could other gym habitues "figure something else out"? Perhaps, but this would require settling for a greatly inferior alternative to the barbell squat. I wouldn't blame them at all for feeling frustrated.

Yeah but you see what you did here, you completely reframed the discussion under the assumption that all gym noobies have poor gym etiquette...

No, I didn't. In fact, I said absolutely nothing about newbies.

I was addressing the following specific claim:

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

My point is that it's not necessarily unreasonable for someone to complain about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment. It most certainly does NOT mean that such a person is "the one who least belongs."

So then just who were you referring to?
Because this discussion is about gym noobies, is it not?

As I said, I was addressing the statement that you made. Let me quote it again for your benefit and convenience.

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

That statement draws no distinction between newbies and veterans... and neither do I. In other words, my objection applies regardless of how long somebody has been going to the gym. It applies to everyone.

You can't go on this little tirade about gym noobies not using equipment properly and then backtrack once it no longer serves your argument

And as I said in the post that you responded to, I said nothing about "noobies." The truth or falsehood of your statement is not contingent on whether somebody is a newbie or not.

I have pointed this out twice in a row now. Perhaps we can save some time if you tell me how many times it should be explained before you realize that I didn't say a single thing about newbies. Or that the veracity of that statement isn't dependent on how long somebody has been working out.

OK great then... I'm glad we can both agree that the problem is not gym noobies, but rather inconsiderate people with poor gym etiquette...

Bless the noobies, and let's all make them feel welcome... We were all noobies somewhere at some point in our lives... ✌🏼💕

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

If you're there, and they're there, the only difference between you two is that one is a cry baby...

At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs...

I don't think that's fair. If a person is using the equipment all wrong -- lounging on it for long periods of time, for example -- then I can't blame other people for getting annoyed.

Curling in the squat rack is a perfect example. Could other gym habitues "figure something else out"? Perhaps, but this would require settling for a greatly inferior alternative to the barbell squat. I wouldn't blame them at all for feeling frustrated.

Yeah but you see what you did here, you completely reframed the discussion under the assumption that all gym noobies have poor gym etiquette...

No, I didn't. In fact, I said absolutely nothing about newbies.

I was addressing the following specific claim:

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

My point is that it's not necessarily unreasonable for someone to complain about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment. It most certainly does NOT mean that such a person is "the one who least belongs."

So then just who were you referring to?
Because this discussion is about gym noobies, is it not?

As I said, I was addressing the statement that you made. Let me quote it again for your benefit and convenience.

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

That statement draws no distinction between newbies and veterans... and neither do I. In other words, my objection applies regardless of how long somebody has been going to the gym. It applies to everyone.

You can't go on this little tirade about gym noobies not using equipment properly and then backtrack once it no longer serves your argument

And as I said in the post that you responded to, I said nothing about "noobies." The truth or falsehood of your statement is not contingent on whether somebody is a newbie or not.

I have pointed this out twice in a row now. Perhaps we can save some time if you tell me how many times it should be explained before you realize that I didn't say a single thing about newbies. Or that the veracity of that statement isn't dependent on how long somebody has been working out.

OK great then... I'm glad we can both agree that the problem is not gym noobies, but rather inconsiderate people with poor gym etiquette...

Bless the noobies, and let's all make them feel welcome... We were all noobies somewhere at some point in our lives... ✌🏼💕

Can we also agree that it's wrong to say that "the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs"? Often that person has a legitimate reason to complain. That is the point I was making, after all.

timetolosethatweight wrote: »

debrakgoogins wrote: »

Yay for keeping my gym in business another year!

This right here.

Yes! The surge of newbies in the gym means fresh revenue streams that keep my membership fees from increasing.
The crowds are a little bothersome but they usually go away by the end of February.

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

If you're there, and they're there, the only difference between you two is that one is a cry baby...

At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs...

I don't think that's fair. If a person is using the equipment all wrong -- lounging on it for long periods of time, for example -- then I can't blame other people for getting annoyed.

Curling in the squat rack is a perfect example. Could other gym habitues "figure something else out"? Perhaps, but this would require settling for a greatly inferior alternative to the barbell squat. I wouldn't blame them at all for feeling frustrated.

Yeah but you see what you did here, you completely reframed the discussion under the assumption that all gym noobies have poor gym etiquette...

No, I didn't. In fact, I said absolutely nothing about newbies.

I was addressing the following specific claim:

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

My point is that it's not necessarily unreasonable for someone to complain about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment. It most certainly does NOT mean that such a person is "the one who least belongs."

So then just who were you referring to?
Because this discussion is about gym noobies, is it not?

As I said, I was addressing the statement that you made. Let me quote it again for your benefit and convenience.

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

That statement draws no distinction between newbies and veterans... and neither do I. In other words, my objection applies regardless of how long somebody has been going to the gym. It applies to everyone.

You can't go on this little tirade about gym noobies not using equipment properly and then backtrack once it no longer serves your argument

And as I said in the post that you responded to, I said nothing about "noobies." The truth or falsehood of your statement is not contingent on whether somebody is a newbie or not.

I have pointed this out twice in a row now. Perhaps we can save some time if you tell me how many times it should be explained before you realize that I didn't say a single thing about newbies. Or that the veracity of that statement isn't dependent on how long somebody has been working out.

OK great then... I'm glad we can both agree that the problem is not gym noobies, but rather inconsiderate people with poor gym etiquette...

Bless the noobies, and let's all make them feel welcome... We were all noobies somewhere at some point in our lives... ✌🏼💕

Can we also agree that it's wrong to say that "the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs"? Often that person has a legitimate reason to complain. That is the point I was making, after all.

We can agree to disagree 😂...
How about that

I'm going to stand by that statement

But I will agree with you that people who lay about the equipment and are unwilling to share it are part of the problem

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

spartan_d wrote: »

Mr_Healthy_Habits wrote: »

If you're there, and they're there, the only difference between you two is that one is a cry baby...

At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs...

I don't think that's fair. If a person is using the equipment all wrong -- lounging on it for long periods of time, for example -- then I can't blame other people for getting annoyed.

Curling in the squat rack is a perfect example. Could other gym habitues "figure something else out"? Perhaps, but this would require settling for a greatly inferior alternative to the barbell squat. I wouldn't blame them at all for feeling frustrated.

Yeah but you see what you did here, you completely reframed the discussion under the assumption that all gym noobies have poor gym etiquette...

No, I didn't. In fact, I said absolutely nothing about newbies.

I was addressing the following specific claim:

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

My point is that it's not necessarily unreasonable for someone to complain about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment. It most certainly does NOT mean that such a person is "the one who least belongs."

So then just who were you referring to?
Because this discussion is about gym noobies, is it not?

As I said, I was addressing the statement that you made. Let me quote it again for your benefit and convenience.

"At the end of the day, the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs..."

That statement draws no distinction between newbies and veterans... and neither do I. In other words, my objection applies regardless of how long somebody has been going to the gym. It applies to everyone.

You can't go on this little tirade about gym noobies not using equipment properly and then backtrack once it no longer serves your argument

And as I said in the post that you responded to, I said nothing about "noobies." The truth or falsehood of your statement is not contingent on whether somebody is a newbie or not.

I have pointed this out twice in a row now. Perhaps we can save some time if you tell me how many times it should be explained before you realize that I didn't say a single thing about newbies. Or that the veracity of that statement isn't dependent on how long somebody has been working out.

OK great then... I'm glad we can both agree that the problem is not gym noobies, but rather inconsiderate people with poor gym etiquette...

Bless the noobies, and let's all make them feel welcome... We were all noobies somewhere at some point in our lives... ✌🏼💕

Can we also agree that it's wrong to say that "the person who cries the loudest about not being able to use a certain piece of equipment and can't figure something else out... Is the one who least belongs"? Often that person has a legitimate reason to complain. That is the point I was making, after all.

We can agree to disagree 😂...
How about that

I'm going to stand by that statement

But I will agree with you that people who lay about the equipment and are unwilling to share it are part of the problem

Then you've just proven my point. People who complain about being unable to use a piece of equipment, by your own tacit admission, are NOT necessarily being unreasonable. Especially with such behavior being fairly common.

I just went to my new corporate gym yesterday...holy *kitten* balls! I've been working in a small privately owned studio gym for years and forgot about the crowds and how massive they can truly be. I'm sure it'll all die down by the end of February, so I'll stick it out for the price and amenities...but going back to the studio gym is tempting right now.

I'm still working with my trainer on Fridays at the studio gym, but the cost of training combined with private use of the studio (basically a really good home gym setup) just got to be too much...not to mention it's a bit out of the way since we moved, so it's easy to be driving home from work and just say *kitten* it sometimes.