Page 5 | Teenagers at the gym

ijustwanttoworkout · 2026-06-08T16:43:30+00:00

AIBU to be sick of it? Obviously now exams are over a lot of teens have started coming to the gym. It’s rammed tonight, lots of (mainly girls) hogging each machine, spending more time chatting than working out, and one girl was actually screaming as she ran on the treadmill. I wish they had a set period of time after work for those of us who want to actually work out

EnjoythemoneyJane · 08/06/2026 18:31

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 08/06/2026 18:15

I train at a university gym where approx 75% of my fellow gymgoers are teens and have never had these issues.

They are all there at opening time, in appropriate kit, with dedicated plans, protein shakes, their own chalk etc.

My comments probably relate to a younger demographic - school kids probably 15-18-ish. There are plenty of young adults at my gym and they’re probably equally irritated at the antics of the mid-teens!

EnjoythemoneyJane · 08/06/2026 18:25

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 18:00

Not really. I’m an adult with fitness goals, paying full price for my membership. They’re children there to mess about and their parents pay a discounted rate.

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Exactly. I’m not some gatekeeping old fart trying to deprive the poor kids of gym time.

There are half a dozen teenagers who are there on a very regular basis doing proper workouts. The rest are randoms doing precisely nothing except getting in the way of everyone who’s there to actually exercise.

It’s exactly the sort of vacuous posing I’d probably have done at 17 if my parents could have afforded it, but that doesn’t make it less annoying!

Original poster

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 18:16

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/06/2026 18:15

Blimey. Teenagers can’t do right for doing wrong. Mine are both currently at the gym. I apologise if they are in anyone’s way.

Presumably you’ve taught them how to be considerate and functioning members of society? Not screaming, hogging machines and sitting on their phones?

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IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/06/2026 18:15

Blimey. Teenagers can’t do right for doing wrong. Mine are both currently at the gym. I apologise if they are in anyone’s way.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 08/06/2026 18:15

I train at a university gym where approx 75% of my fellow gymgoers are teens and have never had these issues.

They are all there at opening time, in appropriate kit, with dedicated plans, protein shakes, their own chalk etc.

EnjoythemoneyJane · 08/06/2026 18:12

LlynTegid · 08/06/2026 17:45

I agree about hogging machines.

Though better they are at a gym than some of the other things that they could be doing, and even better if they are not looking at screens whilst exercising.

At mine most of them are looking at screens - gaggles of boys hogging the machines and staring at their phones between sets, girls in full make up & lashes, with hoodies hanging off one shoulder, walking at a glacial pace on the running machines whilst having loud FT calls at the same time. Drives me fkn demented - and don’t get me started on the clouds of sickly sweet body spray so thick you can actually taste it 🤮.

I’m all for teenagers being physically active and staying healthy, but the gym seems to have become a social hangout where they all just take up space and pretend to exercise whilst checking out each other’s abs and arses! Thank god selfies and filming are banned.

Original poster

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 18:10

Xelda · 08/06/2026 18:08

This is one of the reasons I go at 6am!

I’m going to have to start I think. It’ll mean a really early start for me, but it’s time id just spend in bed scrolling anyway!

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Xelda · 08/06/2026 18:08

This is one of the reasons I go at 6am!

Original poster

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 18:01

I’ve had to leave because it is literally impossible to get a workout in. The sooner they get back to school the better

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Original poster

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 18:00

dippy567 · 08/06/2026 17:58

Yabu, it might be annoying but go at a different time. Teens have as much right to be there as you.

Feel sorry for teens...too much screen time, too much hanging about, kicking balls, going on childrens play equipment, going to gym, followed around shops in case shop lifting, too many hoodies, too much this, too much that....

Not really. I’m an adult with fitness goals, paying full price for my membership. They’re children there to mess about and their parents pay a discounted rate.

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dippy567 · 08/06/2026 17:58

Yabu, it might be annoying but go at a different time. Teens have as much right to be there as you.

Feel sorry for teens...too much screen time, too much hanging about, kicking balls, going on childrens play equipment, going to gym, followed around shops in case shop lifting, too many hoodies, too much this, too much that....

stichguru · 08/06/2026 17:57

LaJacondeFumantLaPipe · 08/06/2026 17:53

Yanbu. There is a leisure centre with a gym where I live and it is mainly used as a place for young people to hang out after school. I do understand it. There are not enough 'third spaces' for secondary aged kids and I am sure their parents prefer them to be at the gym than just hanging round the park etc. But if you're paying full whack as an adult, you just want to get your workout over with with minimal disruption.

I exercise at home now instead. It is a lot more peaceful!

Obviously NOT in favour of kids hanging around hogging machines and not using them properly. However if they are allowed to use the machines they will be properly paying customers who have had gym inductions and everything.

Pernicketywishes · 08/06/2026 17:57

Suggest it to the gym manager. I know our local gym has slots for 11-14 year olds. They can come at other times but they have to have an adult with them.
Over 14s should know better and someone should have a word with them. Are the gym staff not picking up on this?

mumofoneAloneandwell · 08/06/2026 17:57

Teenagers scare the living shit out of me

Original poster

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 17:57

Jellybunny98 · 08/06/2026 17:55

Our local Puregym used to be like this, not just with teens to be fair but people of all ages who would stand 3 people around 1 machine taking turns and chatting for half an hour at a time, even with your usual gym goers it was always too busy to get a good session done during peak times.

My husband & I both switched to a smaller independent gym and because its just slightly more expensive (£35 a month compared to the Puregym £17 a month) it seems to only have people who actually do want to train, total different environment and we both massively prefer it!

The issue for me is my local gym is a) definitely in financial trouble and b) so far away from work that by the time I’m done for the day I’m definitely not going to want to get home, get changed and then go back out to the gym

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latetothefisting · 08/06/2026 17:56

I've only ever gone to adult only gyms and have experienced more than my fair share of irritating/inconsiderate gym users, so think it's more of a case that you've been lucky until now rather than it being teenagers in particular!

Might be worth a complaint to the staff - I would have thought there's supposed to be some supervision especially at peak times?

TheGirlWhoLived · 08/06/2026 17:55

I think because there’s no easy way of accessing my gym apart from by car means that it doesn’t have this problem luckily. Outside pool will be packed with kids in the holidays tho!

Jellybunny98 · 08/06/2026 17:55

Our local Puregym used to be like this, not just with teens to be fair but people of all ages who would stand 3 people around 1 machine taking turns and chatting for half an hour at a time, even with your usual gym goers it was always too busy to get a good session done during peak times.

My husband & I both switched to a smaller independent gym and because its just slightly more expensive (£35 a month compared to the Puregym £17 a month) it seems to only have people who actually do want to train, total different environment and we both massively prefer it!

LlynTegid · 08/06/2026 17:53

Polkadotpompom · 08/06/2026 17:49

Are there not any staff about?

They should be supervising people if there are surely? Not all stood at a machine chatting and no one working out. Not screaming and being dramatic/silly.

Even if staff are about, I doubt they are empowered enough to do anything. Gyms also seem to be accepting of poor behaviour because it means more money, at least in the short-term.

GinWizard · 08/06/2026 17:53

If it's a pure gym then I feel your pain. It feels like a sodding creche sometimes.

LaJacondeFumantLaPipe · 08/06/2026 17:53

Yanbu. There is a leisure centre with a gym where I live and it is mainly used as a place for young people to hang out after school. I do understand it. There are not enough 'third spaces' for secondary aged kids and I am sure their parents prefer them to be at the gym than just hanging round the park etc. But if you're paying full whack as an adult, you just want to get your workout over with with minimal disruption.

I exercise at home now instead. It is a lot more peaceful!

Original poster

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 17:52

Polkadotpompom · 08/06/2026 17:49

Are there not any staff about?

They should be supervising people if there are surely? Not all stood at a machine chatting and no one working out. Not screaming and being dramatic/silly.

There doesn’t seem to be. It’s just so frustrating because you can’t get a good workout done!

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Renamedefault · 08/06/2026 17:51

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 17:45

About how fun it was to run on a treadmill 🙄 so, so annoying

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Yeah, that’s deeply irritating to be fair.

Polkadotpompom · 08/06/2026 17:49

Are there not any staff about?

They should be supervising people if there are surely? Not all stood at a machine chatting and no one working out. Not screaming and being dramatic/silly.

Original poster

ijustwanttoworkout · 08/06/2026 17:48

EmpressaurusKitty · 08/06/2026 17:46

Maybe try it & see if it’s worth it?

I’m going to on Wednesday. Just so infuriating

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