Anyone care to join me in a January gym rant?

[HandbagsnGladrags]

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.

@GoodbyeLondon it wasn't a rant about newbies though - read the title, and the post. It was a rant about how busy the gym is, and about people being dicks. New or not.

@HandbagsnGladrags

I've read it thanks. You mention newbies about five times in the op. It's about newbies. Don't do the whole faux innocent thing. Especially after your expletive laden rant.

@maggienolia

i swim like that because I have to, nothing to do with glasses, make up or chatting 😩

One of the main reasons I now do all my workouts at home via Les Mills on Demand .So much better!

They will be gone in a month. I tell myself this every year and it's always true.

I took it to be lighthearted @GoodbyeLondon
It's mainly about newbies being late, so causing delays, and the parking space CF'ery.

That will only apply to a minority of newcomers but there are just so so many this time of year. As a pp said, those people who don't arrive in plenty of time, or parking issues, will do it in every situation, not just gym. Paraphrasing.

This is why i haven’t gone yet. I am fat but don’t wish to be THAT gym January stereotype. It’s a shame as I really need to get my fat arse moving.

expletive laden

Patronising much? This is MN. Everyone swears. That's why I'm on here.

Maybe consider The Gym - its cheap and cheerful, albeit v clean (unmanned with those sort of air lock entry things) but I really like it. Mine is populated by everyone from massive bro's in beanies and muscle vests to very old ladies and everyone in between. I would say it's exactly friendly as people tend to just do their thing but it's very inclusive in that it's definitely not "hot bods only need apply".

This is MN. Everyone swears.

Everybody doesn’t.

Not the gym, but my goodness my dog walks are full of dog walkers atm! Clearly everyone trying to do New Year's resolutions to go for more walks or 'better' walks. Can't wait for them to bog off. Wish they'd do a resolution to pick up after their dog too...

David Lloyd by any chance?

Yup especially something like Spin so the instructor hasn't got to explain how to safely set your bike up. 7 times over 10 minutes for the benefit of bloody latecomers

Weights…everywhere…. except in the rack where they should be so you have to go on a hunt.

TBF it’s not just the newbies that do this but it’s worse this time of year.

YANBU.

If you like swimming, you can buy prescription goggles fairly inexpensively (I went on Ali express last time but have got them from Amazon before).

I have some old glasses I sometimes use, and goggles as well, depending on if I want to swim fast or not.

Ha, ha, I knew this would be David Lloyd.
I've just had an 18% increase after the previous 10% increase at DL.
Well actually I've not had the 18% increase because I went elsewhere at year end for a 57% decrease for a less posh but 100% nicer and friendlier experience (staff and members) where so far in 5 visits I've not parked more than 20 metres from the front door.
Ladies in the changing room (much nicer than DL's) tell me it's packed at the moment but will calm down in February - but it's already far less packed than DL ever was.

OP perhaps you should try being a newbie elsewhere - I'm loving it!

@illiterato yep, I'm a member of Pure Gym and the mix of clientele is why I love it. Even though it's cheap I still get greeted (by name) by the manager and PTs/staff and it's a great atmosphere.

I've always avoided the expensive gyms (I don't need a pool or cafe) as this attitude is exactly what I'd expect.

The gym that I go to is really friendly, everyone supports each other. No one is judging, we are all there with similar goals.
Give it a chance.

The gym I go to has a car park which is patrolled by a private company. This is because the parking was so dreadful. Now if you park in parent and child spaces and do not have a child, park on double yellow lines, across two spaces or stay longer than 3 hours you will get a hefty fine. It works well and has also stopped staff and students from the school next door using the car park as free all day parking.

I've been going to puregym for about 7+ years now and I love it. No cafe, no creche, no sauna, no one comes unless they actually want to work out.

Unless they just want to take selfies for the gram

But that is less annoying than the crap you get at expensive gyms full of people with no interest in actually exercising.

The gym I go to doesn't have a car park at all. Even better 👍

@Walkingtheplank I thought all gyms packed them in!

The reason I've stuck with DL for so long is because of the pools. Although the swimming lessons taking up half the pool most of the day are annoying, but at least there's outdoors.

Yup. I have a pub perfectly located between the gym and the school where I have to collect my youngest.

You can book a few free sessions with a PT who will show you how to use all the equipment. TBF all the (weight) equipment at my gym has a little instruction diagram on the side, except the free weights section.

I joined DL when they messed about with the local leisure centre's timetable during COVID. I'm an overweight, not stereotypically gym-y person but I really like it. For me the prospect of sauna and steam room and a bit of a swim after a gym session, or a dip in the outside pool (especially when it's cold and no one else will venture out) massively increases the likelihood of my going.

I hope you like it. My recommendation is to just park miles from the door as it significantly reduces the parking chaos.