To be annoyed by new people in the gym

[NotHereToMakeFriends]

So I'm an avid gym-goer (been going to the same gym for 4 years) and always encouraging people to join. However there is a usual spike in January (always to be expected) but these new people can cause annoyance and outrage to use regulars as they don't know the gym etiquette, hog the machines without even using them (just standing their and talking) or talk on phones ridiculously loud. Now I know that most people will drop out after a few weeks and I try to move my workout around the rush but AIBU for thinking that new people should try to respect the regulars routine as they will be there long after they stop going?

Iamthewombat

See, OP? Irrational tide of bile by people who won’t read posts.

Its as irrational as your bile towards those that have an "instant excuse"

You are hilarious. Suggesting that some people are glad of an excuse not to go to the gym ‘sneering and belittling’?

You should get out more. Genuinely.

I joined a local gym in December when they had a black Friday deal that was too good to refuse. I have about 5 stone to lose and people like you are what makes people like me avoid going to the gym.
I don't take selfies, speak to no body unless spoken to, get straight off the machine as soon as I am finished and then clean it with the anti bac spray provided. I also never get on a machine right next to someone else if there is another one available. Do I meet your high standards? Either way I couldn't give a shit.

Iamthewombat

You should get out more. Genuinely

Maybe you should be open to people's issues instead of staying in your own bubble.

I don't take selfies, speak to no body unless spoken to, get straight off the machine as soon as I am finished and then clean it with the anti bac spray provided. I also never get on a machine right next to someone else if there is another one available. Do I meet your high standards?

If you’d read the OP’s posts (I’d estimate that a maximum of 20% of people on this thread have done so), you’d know that she is irritated by the behaviour you have specifically noted that you don’t engage in. So where is the problem?

Maybe you should be open to people's issues instead of staying in your own bubble.

There is a world of difference between ‘being open to other people’s issues’ and tolerating nonsense. Is everybody who disagrees with you ‘in a bubble’? How exhausting it must be, to be you.

Honestly, this is attitude is what puts me off of joining a gym. I'm too scared to be that person who doesn't know what to do and breaks all the unwritten rules.
I bought a bike instead, so at least I can get out and get some exercise but I'd quite like to join a gym. I always get to the point of joining then chicken out. Knowing the attitude of regular gym goers just confirms every one of my reservations.

Ha.

I feel the same about supermarkets in January.

I’m dairy intolerant and can’t get the products I buy all year round because of bloody veganuary

The use of the gym is for the sole purpose of her ladyship, she can allow you to use some of the machines but only if you play very nicely around her, any annoyance will not be tolerated

Iamthewombat

Is everybody who disagrees with you ‘in a bubble’? How exhausting it must be, to be you.

Does everyone that disagrees with you need to "get out more"? How exhausting it must be, to be you.

Posters have given reason why they don't join gyms, many of them. Yet you think that this means that its an "instant excuse".

And you have changed your narrative to "glad to have an excuse", Some are happy to have an excuse for others its the reasons given and not the "bile" that you seem to think that they are posting.

Oh dear. You can’t even invent your own insults. You’re like a ten year old, repeating things back.

Perhaps re-read the thread, and this time try really hard to spot the spiteful responses to the OP, including your own. Other posters have noted it too.

I realise that it must be difficult for you to take off your self-pity goggles, but if you learn to actually read things and attempt to understand them, you might learn to make coherent arguments and then you might be taken more seriously. Good luck.

It looks like its not just me that needs to re-read the thread, I haven't been spiteful to the OP.

As for the rest

Pot kettle.

Good luck to you too.

They should respect general gym etiquette, yes, but they are a member and have paid the same as you do no reason why your workout regime should take precedence over theirs.

YABU.

In my gym it always tends to be sneering and “don’t they know they etiquette” type stuff by people who are regulars and still out out shape and are bitter that the newbies are new to the gym environment and already in better shape than the regulars.

Frumpety If you do 3 x 20, for example, but take a long rest between them, if someone is waiting let them do a set and alternate with you rather than sit on the machine to rest.

I'm starting the gym in February (been a member for a year but only used it for swimming so far) and initially I was just worried about people laughing at the fat lass trying to run, now I'm nervous about hogging machines and interrupting people's sets and whatever the hell reps are 😭😂

DontGo It's mainly a case of being considerate of other people and not thinking that you own the place (which unfortunately is the message that some people are getting about OP from the initial post, though subsequent posts explain this is not the case) .

for example, if the gym is busy and all the treadmills are in use, don't spend an hour on them (gyms often have notices up suggesting a maximum time in busy periods).
Or, if the gym is busy, don't monopolise 4 bikes with you and your 3 friends gossiping about what Sue said to Linda, and don't actually do any/much cycling. And maybe, be aware that the gym is a public place and actually most of us are not interested in what Sue said to Linda anyway, so there is no need to have the conversation very loudly. Particularly if it's quite explicit (though my teen thinks it's exciting to go to the gym in January as he hears quite a lot about people's sex lives).

If you're using one of the weights machines, it's fine to sit on it while you catch your breath between lifts, prior to lifting some more. It's not fine to sit on it for 10 minutes, playing with your phone, while other people are waiting. You should get off and offer to alternate with another person if you genuinely want to keep using it but just want a longer break.

if the gym is not busy, it might ok to set up 3 or 4 machines/pieces of equipment and expect other people to leave them alone while you rotate round them (or to alternate with another person, as above). This is also not ok if the gym is busy (especially if other people are waiting for the things you're using). And when you've finished, put the equipment away, before you get the next thing out, so the next person to arrive doesn't spend 5 minutes searching for the dumbells to find they are under the kettlebell rack which is completely the opposite end of the gym (this happened to me yesterday).

If you're used to swimming, it's akin to the rules that you only swim in lanes if you are actually lane swimming (not messing about), that you swim in the lane that is appropriate for your swimming speed and that you swim in the same direction as everyone else in your lane.

That's really helpful Redsky, thank you 😊

We have the same at ours...classes getting overcrowded is the most annoying for me, but they'll all disappear by February so we just smile and put up with it 😁

We have to book classes at my gym either via the app or phone . So far I’ve managed to be able to book all my usual classes but always do it promptly .

used to feel that way about walking to and from primary with dc, oh the amount of fair weather walkers come the spring.
same with my usual dog walking route, full of joggers come 1st January.

that is life op.

I use the running machine which is dead out of fashion now. Always one available. If you want a cross trainer in January though, you're fucked.

i would be too embarrassed to join the gym in January, due to the attitude, oh yes, joining the gym in January, i bet you wont stay long

Honestly, this is attitude is what puts me off of joining a gym. I'm too scared to be that person who doesn't know what to do and breaks all the unwritten rules.
Don't be put off. Most gymgoers are very supportive in my experience.

I tend to find that when I would go in the free weights area the big bulky guys were brilliant, but i was really intimidated before thinking they'd wonder what I'm doing there. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The idea of respecting the regulars in the OP makes me roll my eyes. There's not really lots of gym etiquette and really it's largely common sense, for example:

• if you use a machine, wipe your sweat off it
• don't leave your shit lying around
• if you use a piece of equipment, put it back
• don't hog the machines (especially if you're going to spend 5 minutes between sets on your phone or having a chat)
• if there's loads of machines, you'd leave a gap between you and someone else
• don't be taking photos in the gym where there's others in the background

The only negativity I've ever experienced in a gym has been from people who were more bothered about standing around in their gym kit socialising than working out. Beyond that everyone else from the new to the super fit have been friendly.

Yup. But the influx of membership fees probably help your gym survive the rest of the year so I shouldn’t grumble too much.

YABU I've been going to the gym for eons and it's the same every year, classes with massive waiting lists, people 'checking in', you just need to get organised with the booking (which applies all year round at my gym). The machines will be back to normal in a few weeks so chill. As pps have said it's how gyms make money. On a side note whenever I see a newbie in a class I always want to go over and tell them how well they're doing and they'll get it in no time, I never do as they'd probably think- "who the fuck does she think she is?"🤣