January Gym Joiners....in the way!!!

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  • Ashleystickwood
    Ashleystickwood Posts: 5
    :)
  • EricMurano
    EricMurano Posts: 825 Member
    What you guys seem to be upset about is gym etiquette, not January gym goers.

    I've seen plenty of regulars that have really appalling habits.

    Not wiping down equipment

    Hogging equipment while they do their supersets or whatever you call the thing where they do 1 set per machine/area; pretty much holding everyone else up

    Being passive aggressive about you asking if you could work in on PIN MACHINES! It's easy to change the weight between sets, mate, don't get all precious about someone wanting to get home early

    Reserving equipment with their towel while f---ing off somewhere for half an hour.

    You can explain etiquette to any January gym goer and they'll most likely be ok with it if you're polite. A regular will just take offence and will think that the gym is their territory.
  • mea9
    mea9 Posts: 561 Member
    I really enjoyed picking the used gum off of the only available treadmill this morning so that I had a place to set my water bottle down. I don't mind all of the folks joining and giving it a try. I sincerely hope at least a few succeed. But who raises people to leave their gum on gym equipment (or anywhere else, for that matter)!!!!
    I can't think when gum isn't gross. When did it become mainstream in public? When I was a kid I was made to put it in a tissue before getting out of the car. You certainly couldn't have it in school.
  • pupcamper
    pupcamper Posts: 410 Member
    One good thing about the January gym joiners who go 5 times a year February through December is that they pay their memberships so you actually get the last laugh by using the new machines that they pay for and barely use!! I have to say I used a couple of different machines yesterday only becasue the gym was busy and liked them!

    I'm just glad that working out reduces stress because the lack of gym etiquette from some patrons really gets my blood boiling!!
  • lucor001
    lucor001 Posts: 17
    I joined a gym just last December - nothing to do with a "resolution" - just coincidental timing. I only swim - no bikes/treadmills/etc for me but there is still etiquette, probably things I'm still messing up :). Maybe I'm weird, but if I'm doing something that grosses someone else out, I'd prefer they tell me. That way I can at least think to myself if their concern is rational - and likely change my behavior.

    I'm also hoping that most people don't go from the couch to the pool directly, so that the crowds at 6AM won't change much - but we'll see tomorrow :).
  • msnewbootie
    msnewbootie Posts: 240 Member
    What you guys seem to be upset about is gym etiquette, not January gym goers.

    I've seen plenty of regulars that have really appalling habits.

    Not wiping down equipment

    Hogging equipment while they do their supersets or whatever you call the thing where they do 1 set per machine/area; pretty much holding everyone else up

    Being passive aggressive about you asking if you could work in on PIN MACHINES! It's easy to change the weight between sets, mate, don't get all precious about someone wanting to get home early

    Reserving equipment with their towel while f---ing off somewhere for half an hour.

    You can explain etiquette to any January gym goer and they'll most likely be ok with it if you're polite. A regular will just take offence and will think that the gym is their territory.

    Good point!
    But, trust I am annoyed by the overcrowded gyms. And it just seems as though the onset of new people increases the overall lack of gym etiquette, as described by the other MFPs, which can be frustrating! Let's be frank, it's ok to take time out and explain a few tips to some, but I am not going to ruin my workout by explaining to all!!!!
    And I will admit, I am still learning gym etiquette,as it changes per fitness level. Meaning, there are a few things that I do, that my trainer/bodybuilder hates, but most would not mind!
  • kellybug123
    kellybug123 Posts: 240
    What you guys seem to be upset about is gym etiquette, not January gym goers.

    I've seen plenty of regulars that have really appalling habits.

    Not wiping down equipment

    Hogging equipment while they do their supersets or whatever you call the thing where they do 1 set per machine/area; pretty much holding everyone else up

    Being passive aggressive about you asking if you could work in on PIN MACHINES! It's easy to change the weight between sets, mate, don't get all precious about someone wanting to get home early

    Reserving equipment with their towel while f---ing off somewhere for half an hour.

    You can explain etiquette to any January gym goer and they'll most likely be ok with it if you're polite. A regular will just take offence and will think that the gym is their territory.


    Great Post. I didn't think of it that way. Thanks!
  • mideon_696
    mideon_696 Posts: 770 Member
    although i do agree mostly...lol...they are indeed annoying, but they have the same right to be there etc.

    what i would prefer is when they join, they ought to be taught the way of the gym rat as part of their induction.

    eg. squat rack, is a squat rack...overhead pressing also acceptable(but better in powerrack.
    bench press is well a bench press, not a rowing bench or a tricep bench etc...
    also, put the damn weights back! db's and on the platform especially!!
  • AlmstHvn
    AlmstHvn Posts: 376 Member
    Luckily I go to a Lifetime so the facility is big so you really never have to wait for anything, but the parking lot is way too small and sometimes you have to drive around and stalk people coming out to find a spot. That is what I hate the most. I hate stalking people in parking lots. I have a small ***** car and everybody takes advantage of me. Cry.

    Whoa! Do all Lifetime parking lots suck? I thought it must just be ours. Like you said, no problem inside the facility but the parking lot can get hostile!

    Apparently so! (Cincinnati area)
  • knapowell
    knapowell Posts: 230 Member
    I was a January Gym joiner just last year. I started in January, because that is the time the best deals, no joining fees, etc. are offered. When I started, I tried to go to the gym at "off" times, because I new that I was new to the machines and the unwritten "rules" of the gym. I had a few regulars that were MORE than rude, and if it had not been for a couple of very patient and helpful regulars, I probably would have been gone by February. As of today, I have lost 126 pounds (I started with MFP in November prior to starting the gym in January).
  • kellybug123
    kellybug123 Posts: 240
    I was a January Gym joiner just last year. I started in January, because that is the time the best deals, no joining fees, etc. are offered. When I started, I tried to go to the gym at "off" times, because I new that I was new to the machines and the unwritten "rules" of the gym. I had a few regulars that were MORE than rude, and if it had not been for a couple of very patient and helpful regulars, I probably would have been gone by February. As of today, I have lost 126 pounds (I started with MFP in November prior to starting the gym in January).

    WOW! Way to go and way to stick with it.
  • knapowell
    knapowell Posts: 230 Member
    @kellybug123 - Thanks. I don't know why I wasn't one of the many that quits a month or two in, I guess I was just ready this time. It is the best thing I have done for myself, and I am never going back.
  • iuangina
    iuangina Posts: 691 Member
    Tourist season is upon us. I applaud all of you who joined the gym in January and stuck with it. However, you are not the people being addressed in this post. The people who don't come back after 3 weeks are the problem. I do appreciate the subsidizing of my new equipment by these people so I will put up with it by doing workouts at home or outside so that I make sure I still get my workouts in.
  • jonbairam11
    jonbairam11 Posts: 37
    I am a little saddened by this thread and the attitudes in it...surely you were all in the situation of wanting to change something about yourself at some point..and probably most of you still are...after al thats why you started to go the gym or eat better or walk or whatever you chose to do.
    The fact is that these members that join and do not use the equipment for long and therefore were it out are subsidizing our gym use.
    How would you all feel if you could not work out when it suited you because you are a long standing member and therefore could only se the gym at certain times? it is the same if you impose so called 'beginner' time slots.

    I often find that new comers are the most polite and courteous in the gym as they are often a little unsure of the etiquette and it is the long standing, everyday crowd that are the unpleasant ones...you know the ones that have to always have the same machines at the same time in the same place, then get all shirty when its not available. TO the point of passing up a free machine and waiting.
    What a load of BS. Working out is working out. My choice of exercise fortunately doesn't include a lot of gym work, but I do a lot of classes at various gyms and the best thing about it is the atmosphere, even when you are new, most people are welcoming and helpful.
    Maybe thats the difference those that choose group exercise over individual gym work.
    For those that really want to work out on their own..go do it...run outside, cycle, walk.whatever. The fact is if you come to a gym, you have to accept other people and wake up to fact that you are not more important in the scheme of things than anyone else. everyone has the choice to move more and eat less, perhaps if the vibe in your gyms were more positive from the regulars, more people would be healthier and happier....pass on some positive energy..it will make you feel better to.

    Anyway....rant over.....

    cheers
    jon
  • NicoleLyn1818
    NicoleLyn1818 Posts: 110
    One of the lovely aspects of working out at home or outdoors. No crowds! I don't miss that. The only time I really liked the gym is when I was on night shift and would go at like 11pm or so on my days off.

    I totally go at that time.......love love love love being alone!
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