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Original poster

Anyone care to join me in a January gym rant?

209 replies

HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 13:24

I'd forgotten how much I hate January at my gym (and yes, I am aware than I was once a newbie but I'm going to rant anyway as a was never a newbie dick).

Got there this morning with plenty of time to spare to get to my class. There are cars queueing for spaces and people dicking around with indicators on waiting for people to leave their space, blocking the whole road. 4x4's parked across two spaces in case anyone should park too close to their precious tank. Then I finally get inside to find an entire family with kids blocking the entrance barriers because they can't find their membership cards or whatever. GET OUT THE WAY!!!

Get to class. Newbies who have never done it before turn up at the very last minute so that the instructor starts the class late because he has to explain everything to them. If you're new, turn up early to allow for this FFS.

Then on the way out there are two kids playing catch with a ball in the café where people are eating and drinking. It's not a playground FFS!!

Ahh I feel better now. Roll on February when everyone will have fucked off and normal service is resumed.

OP posts:
Original poster
HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 14:51

@SanFranBear yep, totally. Complete lack of manners sometimes in the pool.

OP posts:
CocoLux · 08/01/2023 14:51

'Newbies'? 'Bettering themselves'? Being a member of a gym for a long time isn't a sign of moral superiority. People being dicks is always annoying but misplaced snobbery is so tedious and juvenile.

Dentistlakes · 08/01/2023 14:55

It’s annoying but everyone has to learn the ropes and unfortunately you just get more new people at the same time in January. I go to the gym very early or very late. On the whole it’s still very quiet then. Peak times are hell on Earth.

icanwearwhatiwant · 08/01/2023 15:01

Lobstercat · 08/01/2023 13:58

because he has to explain everything to them. If you're new, turn up early to allow for this FFS.
Is it publicised to turn up ahead of time for it if your new? Every exercise class I've been to, it starts at the time it starts as there's normally a class in before hand, so you can't go in early and the instructor covers any new stuff for new joiners while we're starting or doing it not ahead of time.

I can on to say exactly this.
If they're told at gym induction to get to class early then fair enough. Otherwise I'd arrive at the time publicised. Otherwise I'd assume I'd be gatecrashing the end of a different class.
TBH a lot of your complaint sounds like the gym is at fault for not putting better systems in place to manage busy periods in the year.
Financially they often rely on members who sign up in a burst of enthusiasm then don't go but still pay for several months.
Perhaps write to the manager of the gym asking for specifics (like actually telling people to turn up early for classes) rather than just being unkind and making newbies feel unwelcome.

octaviaaur · 08/01/2023 15:05

Ahh I feel better now. Roll on February when everyone will have fucked off and normal service is resumed.

The January lot! I was complaining about this to friends this week.

Classes packed, struggling for space, queues. Etc! They'll be nearly all gone by the end of January, it's the same every year, but in the meantime it's a royal pain in the backside.

Original poster
HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 15:08

In terms of the gym should be telling people to turn up early for classes I would think this is just common sense. Even as someone who's been going to classes for years, I don't turn up on the dot of the start time as there's equipment to set up etc.

OP posts:
octaviaaur · 08/01/2023 15:09

And yes, not all newbies behave like that, and I never did 😇, but there's such a huge influx of them in early Jan that it makes a real impact.

octaviaaur · 08/01/2023 15:11

Yep, we had that instilled into us as children. The time of the class is the time it starts not the time you're supposed to arrive.

DeoForty · 08/01/2023 15:12

I thought exercise released endorphins. I can only imagine how highly strung you'd be without your gym hit.

Augend23 · 08/01/2023 15:13

HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 15:08

In terms of the gym should be telling people to turn up early for classes I would think this is just common sense. Even as someone who's been going to classes for years, I don't turn up on the dot of the start time as there's equipment to set up etc.

It does really depend on the gym though - my old gym the previous class ran to 1 minute before the next class started, so you need to arrive on time.

DL leaves a 15 minute gap I think (or they do at mine at least), hence arriving early is better. I found that out by stalking through the timetable to find the ones in that studio and saw there was gap when I was new but it wasn't highlighted to me.

Tomorrowisanewday · 08/01/2023 15:15

I attend a DL gym, and was told when I joined to turn up with enough time before classes, to get instruction on new classes, or for set-up, etc

Penguinsaregreat · 08/01/2023 15:16

I have to agree with you op.

NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy · 08/01/2023 15:18

I love the newbies at my gym as they dilute all the cliquey snobs who seem to think they own the place and get right on my nerves not looking at you OP oh no

Original poster
HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 15:19

Tomorrowisanewday · 08/01/2023 15:15

I attend a DL gym, and was told when I joined to turn up with enough time before classes, to get instruction on new classes, or for set-up, etc

There you go then! 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
icanwearwhatiwant · 08/01/2023 15:24

HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 15:08

In terms of the gym should be telling people to turn up early for classes I would think this is just common sense. Even as someone who's been going to classes for years, I don't turn up on the dot of the start time as there's equipment to set up etc.

Erm no, no not really. It's easy to assume that something is "common sense" because you know it. In reality people have all had different experiences in life.
My experience has largely been that if a step class starts at 11am, we wait outside until the 10-11am Zumba class finishes.
It might help to calm your stress levels down a bit if you try to see things from another perspective?
Alternatively you appear to have plenty of friends here so you can all just moan to each other until Feb when all the newbies will vanish 😆

GoodbyeLondon · 08/01/2023 15:27

Would anyone like to join you for a rant?

No thank you.

Was this meant to be a funny thread or are you seriously as angry as you are coming across?

I'm a regular at my gym, and I was a bit surprised by the sheer number of people in the pool when I went last week. But it isn't 'my' gym. If I wanted more privacy, I'd pay for PT sessions or something.

I did notice a woman at one of my regular classes throwing evil looks at newcomers and I found it decidedly weird of her. Are you a Gen X age woman with dyed blonde hair who wears all black at the gym by any chance 😂?

Stellaris22 · 08/01/2023 15:30

This is why I like my cheap gym, no snobbery ur judging, new members are encouraged rather than regulars being rude. It takes time to learn the etiquettes of the gym and people shouldn't be actively making new people feel unwelcome.

octaviaaur · 08/01/2023 15:33

I would add that I make a point of saying hello the newcomers to classes, as I think this makes them feel welcome, and some might possibly be nervous or apprehensive if they haven't done it before.

It's the entitled CFs, who delay the class then have endless questions, I have a problem with.

SnowyPetals · 08/01/2023 15:36

HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 13:31

I doubt that very much, it goes up about 10% year on year and it's not cheap. Also, this isn't AIBU...

Show quote history

I didn't say they prevent the costs rising, I said they keep them lower. Without the newbies the increase would be, say, 15%.

earsup · 08/01/2023 15:36

I dont go in January...take a month off....then resume in Feb...back to normal !

LlynTegid · 08/01/2023 15:39

HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 15:08

In terms of the gym should be telling people to turn up early for classes I would think this is just common sense. Even as someone who's been going to classes for years, I don't turn up on the dot of the start time as there's equipment to set up etc.

Common sense? Some people are never on time for anything.

Upwiththelark76 · 08/01/2023 16:02

Oh dear …. Do you realise how entitled you sound OP….. and all the others moaning about ‘newbies’. Get over yourself and try and be a little bit kind it’s really not that hard .

Ohgoodyanotherone · 08/01/2023 16:04

Flipping heck if going to a gym makes people as sneery as the OP, I'm glad I've never been to one. I bet the reason at lot of people leave after a few weeks is because they get pissed off with being judged.

N00bz · 08/01/2023 16:05

Look, we had to put up with you lot descending on our pubs in December.

Original poster
HandbagsnGladrags · 08/01/2023 16:06

Upwiththelark76 · 08/01/2023 16:02

Oh dear …. Do you realise how entitled you sound OP….. and all the others moaning about ‘newbies’. Get over yourself and try and be a little bit kind it’s really not that hard .

It's the people taking up two parking spaces with their massive cars who are entitled, not me. But whatever. Was meant to be a semi light-hearted rant. I think it's only the fellow gym goers who are feeling my pain.

OP posts: