Teenagers at the gym

Well my kid goes to the gym regularly and is an elite athlete playing internationally (football). Normally he uses the gym at his academy but he is on study leave/end of season.

So let’s not stereotype just because some kids who paid money didn’t work out the way you wanted. You sound entitled.

Drives me up the wall. Spend more time picking their tiny shorts out of their arses and posing in front of the mirrors. Last week two lasses were sat on the arms of the treadmill taking selfies. It’s like a youth club at the gym we go to. We have complained as you can’t move around the machines properly and do an actual workout and the smell of perfume is enough to make me gag. Considering moving gyms because of this.

YANBU, same with issues at my gym with people hogging machines whilst scrolling instagram.

I go before work @6.30am - no teen is going to be up at that time

Most of the time they (teenagers) just use the place to hang out rather then do exercise. A bit irritating when they just sit on the machines scrolling on their phones but they usually clear off when asked.

Maybe it was Phoebe from Friends?

Totally agree! My gym used to be lovely and quiet at certain times but they gave a special discount to the adjacent high school and it’s now rammed with kids. The air is thick with body sprays and the uncontained BO that teens get when they don’t wash properly. They hog the machines, taking selfies and photos posing and pouting, it’s like being in a youth club. I’m all for kids adopting healthy habits, but I’d prefer them to do it from 1530 to 1700 so that I can avoid them. I will not be renewing at this gym sadly.

YABU

I'll also add that one time I was having difficulty adjusting a seat on a machine and a teenage laddie came over and offered to help. I thanked him for his kindness.

This is what I was going to say too. I doubt many teens would be up before 9am even so just go early!

I think that part of the problem at our gym is that it's within a leisure centre with a pool, and the teens are used to being able to splash about in the sessions where floats etc are put in the water, so they don't associate the building with serious exercise.

There's also a cafe where - of course - everyone socialises, but some of the teens are a bit on the raucous side and prone to leaving a mess. (There's also that one family that does the same...)

I do see some teenagers exercising - there's an adjacent college and some of the students from there come in.

Others are just sitting on machines and posing.

We did have some playing chase (!) one time, but the gym attendant sorted them out.

We have this problem at my gym. Because it's on a site associated with a school, the students get access for free. Over the last five years, there has been a huge increase in the number of students using the facilities. They are, as a group, less considerate than other users - there are far more issues with them hanging out in packs, monopolising equipment, being unaware of those around them, and even disrupting classes. But there's also a straight-out overcrowding issue, as the gym is continually chasing new members despite finite resources. If I were a member primarily for the gym floor, I'd definitely be looking to go elsewhere. Ultimately, a gym is a service provider, so members need to vote with their credit cards / direct debit if not happy with the provision.

TBF I’ve seen adult men and women doing the same minus the school uniform.

She is also suggesting that teenagers have less right to be there as they pay a reduced rate. The original post, which i was responding to, was clearly anti teenagers generally and that attitude is grating.

It is so incredibly obvious that OP is not talking about teens who are actually there to exercise.

@ijustwanttoworkout have you provided any formal feedback to the gym about your experiences? Because otherwise, nothing will be done.

At mine, there are specific teen slots for 11-17yr olds, something like 3 or 4 days a week between 3:30-5:30 - after school, but before the big after work crowd arrive. Seems to work well. Young people are allowed outside of these times on a pre agreed case by case basis, so the young people who are actually training and don't cause a problem have more flexibility (it's a gym that has a support program for young athletes).

I had the reverse problem, in so much that the very few open swim sessions (it's mostly lanes/aqua aerobics/swimming lessons on the time table) we're being dominated by a few arsey lane swimmers who would spread out across the pool, refuse to double up their imaginary lanes, and the kids wanting a casual swim ended up herded into the corner. I fed this back and they have changed these "open" sessions to family sessions now, and Brenda, Nigel and their little gang have to attend the lane sessions instead.

What a frustrating thread. It's like the parents of gym goers haven't actually read it - I wonder if they ever go to the gym themselves as most of us know what the OP is talking about. Teenagers exercising -amazing! Great. Wish it had been an option when I was that age. Teenagers hogging machines whilst not doing any exercise - irritating. It wouldn't matter if they were older, that'd be irritating too but there is a certain truth in gyms being a hang out space for 16-18 year olds.

I moved gyms because the local council gym was full of teens doing what you’ve described and the boys showing off in the free weights section ( no Keane you can’t deadlift 100kg despite what your mates say so please don’t fucking try). I was torn because it is a really good thing to see young people working out but jeez they are irritating. I have enough teens at home so I figured moving was easier.

Why do you think they have any less right to be there than you?
Or are you cross that you're being outlifted by a 16 yo? My DD is in the gym x 5 a week and lifting 200kg and i couldn't be prouder of her.

Definitely start going early when they’re still
asleep! I’ve only ever gone to the gym in the early evening once. Never again!