do you prefer...

xSophia19
xSophia19 Posts: 1,536 Member
edited October 4 in Fitness and Exercise
going to the gym on your own with your ipod, or do you prefer to go with a friend?

reason im asking is because im thinking of getting a gym membership pass for a month and go 4 or 5 days a week. but im not sure if i can go on my own? because i like to have someone to talk to because the gym i go to is full of local people and my self confidence isnt too good at the mo.. need a kick up the bum to go on my own with my music (as i know i will work harder if im on me own) but i just dont want to look like a 'loner' :blushing:

Replies

  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    You won't look like a loner. Most people go to the gym alone. It's normal.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    I prefer lifting alone, but I will occasionally train with someone else.
  • deninevi
    deninevi Posts: 934 Member
    I go to the gym alone and just focus on what I'm there for. Sometimes I go with my hubby and still don't talk to him. He is doing his own thing and I'm doing my own.
  • denisecc
    denisecc Posts: 72 Member
    I go with ny sister but alot of the time she doesn't go with me. So I get to the gym put the IPOD in my ears and work hard. It is nice to have someone to motivate you too but it's you who has to do it..Good luck...:smile:
  • Adina81
    Adina81 Posts: 252 Member
    I can't stand going with a friend... we just end up chatting.

    Try a week with a friend and a week without.... you've gotta figure out which pushes you most.
    You don't necessarily need someone physically beside you to push forward :)
  • sllm1
    sllm1 Posts: 2,130 Member
    I'm a walker. I used to like to go with friends - I thought the talking made the time go by faster. At this point, though, I've realized that I prefer me, myself, and my ipod. Sometimes you just need "alone" time, and it's a great way to focus on yourself, your goals, and your workout.
  • lackie09
    lackie09 Posts: 123 Member
    I like it either way, when i am alone I tend to work harder and push myself... when I go with my friend I feel obligated to talk to them because its kinda rude to bring a friend and plug in you earphones and ignore them or i would hahaha =)
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    going to the gym on your own with your ipod, or do you prefer to go with a friend?

    reason im asking is because im thinking of getting a gym membership pass for a month and go 4 or 5 days a week. but im not sure if i can go on my own? because i like to have someone to talk to because the gym i go to is full of local people and my self confidence isnt too good at the mo.. need a kick up the bum to go on my own with my music (as i know i will work harder if im on me own) but i just dont want to look like a 'loner' :blushing:


    Additionally, I wouldn't worry about what other people think, especially in the gym. I guarantee you this: Anyone in the gym who is in "good" shape won't be judging you or paying any attention to what you are doing or who you are with.

    To be blunt, they're too busy thinking about how they're going to smash iron on the next set, and they couldn't give two sh*ts about you or your training.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    going to the gym on your own with your ipod, or do you prefer to go with a friend?

    reason im asking is because im thinking of getting a gym membership pass for a month and go 4 or 5 days a week. but im not sure if i can go on my own? because i like to have someone to talk to because the gym i go to is full of local people and my self confidence isnt too good at the mo.. need a kick up the bum to go on my own with my music (as i know i will work harder if im on me own) but i just dont want to look like a 'loner' :blushing:


    Additionally, I wouldn't worry about what other people think, especially in the gym. I guarantee you this: Anyone in the gym who is in "good" shape won't be judging you or paying any attention to what you are doing or who you are with.

    To be blunt, they're too busy thinking about how they're going to smash iron on the next set, and they couldn't give two sh*ts about you or your training.
    this.
  • MrsNoir
    MrsNoir Posts: 236 Member
    I've done both in the past, and I found out that .. no matter how much I missed the company, I was more focused on my exercise routine with my mp3.. it kept me more energetic and I increased my routine. However if I didn't feel like like finishing then I wouldn't!:D.. but sometimes with my friend I wouldn't either! now I only workout at home, that way I don't spend that much money!:D
  • lsjd2000
    lsjd2000 Posts: 287 Member
    I prefer to go with my dh but its not always possible so when we have to go alone we compare notes at the end of the day to hold eachother accountable - plus when we go together i have a spotter i tend to shy away from the weights if i am alone vs with someone
  • bethdris
    bethdris Posts: 1,090 Member
    I prefer to workout alone....(i have a treadmill at home) its my only quiet time to be in my thoughts. ( we have 3 very active little boys running around). When I did have a gym membership and went with a friend I wasn't nearly as focused.
  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    And here I go again on my own
    Going down the only road I've ever known
    Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
    And I've made up my mind
    I ain't wasting no more time
  • mslh84
    mslh84 Posts: 180
    I prefer going by myself. I can go at my own pace, and if I go with someone else, I'd be more focused on running my mouth then doing what I came to do...plus your body is different than your friends, so you probably should be doing different things. I put my music on before I walk out of the locker. I don't worry about what other people think!
  • xSophia19
    xSophia19 Posts: 1,536 Member
    Thankyou everyone! Just need to buikd up my confidence now to go on my own as i will enjoy it better and i will be getting my moneys worth (as its not cheap!!!) :D
  • jdhosier
    jdhosier Posts: 315 Member
    If it takes a friend to motivate you to actually get up and go to the gym, by all means... involve a friend. Whatever it takes to get you to get up and go. The key is to GO (did I say that enough). ;-)

    Once you get there, you need to be focused on why you are there. I have taken my daughter to the gym a couple of times this week and we touch base once or twice while there. She is doing her cardio and strength training and I am doing mine. We help motivate each other to get up and go to the gym, but once there we each do what we went there to do on our own.

    Don't rely so heavily on a friend that your friend could end up being the cause of you failing to go to the gym... or eat right.
  • Enforcer25
    Enforcer25 Posts: 350 Member
    I go with my iPhone and gym bag, I would say a majority of the people I see at my gym are solo. I know people there and I'll say hi, but I really like to just get in a zone by myself and do my workout. That is me, now if you want a friend to go, I say do it, you want to do what works for you as a another poster said, do whatever works to get you to the gym. Good luck.
  • Segrande
    Segrande Posts: 75
    I much prefer working out alone. Like some of the people have mentioned above, I kind of feel obligated to talk to the person I'm with. I just plug my headphones in and workout, and time passes by really quickly. I also find that working out alone makes me want to push myself harder, which is always good! :D
  • Tonnina
    Tonnina Posts: 979 Member
    I work out alone... I have one friend who has the same gym membership as I do but our schedules are so different we never see each other there. I like it though... I'd rather work out and not talk than work out and be out of breath while trying to hold a conversation!
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    Hey, don't talk badly about us loners!! Actually we don't care what other people say because.... well because we are loners!!
    But seriously, you can make acquaintances at the gym, but you don't necessarily have to have a gym partner. I've read about how you should get a workout partner that will keep you in check, but seems that at some point the partnership fizzles, one of the two quits going...In the end, I think its best to count on yourself, find your own motivation and don't count on someone else going with you. Just thoughts from a loner!
  • icemaiden17_uk
    icemaiden17_uk Posts: 463 Member
    I prefer to go on my own as my workout is quite long! I went with my sister once and she moaned the whole time that I was taking too long so I had to miss out on my main cardio! Though I have to say I am looking forward to my OH joining me in the gym, but he will be doing a totally different WO to me so really he is just eye candy!!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I didn't want to go alone at first, but now I don't like working out with anyone. I want to do what I want to do, focus on me, stay as long as I want, and leave when I want.

    I think of it as just part of my maintenance routine, like brushing my teeth or shaving my legs. I don't need company for those activities, either. :wink:
  • stephaniezoundi
    stephaniezoundi Posts: 1,148 Member
    I train by myself...actually I get annoyed when people try to talk to me midworkout unless its my trainer. I do however to spin with a friend...not necessarily a class. We go into the spin studio crank the tunes and take turns leading our workout and she makes me work hard.
  • adross3
    adross3 Posts: 606 Member
    Do you go to the gym to socialize or get in shape. Doing both takes to much time in my busy schedule. I do wish I had a spotter every once in a while.
  • Fa_Cube_Itch
    Fa_Cube_Itch Posts: 5
    Ipod cause if I bring one of my gfs we talk to much and I can't concentrate on the workouts.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories