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.

Please don't feel like that. Hand on heart, I promise you that people are concentrating on what they are doing and not looking and judging anyone else. If you are worried about using the gym, make sure you have a proper gym induction first and are shown how to use the equipment safely and also have a tailored programme just for you.

If you want to go to classes, turn up in good time, speak to the instructor and explain you are new. Good luck, don't let a couple of posts on a forum put you off.

@HandbagsnGladrags it's people like you that have always made me hate gyms and find them the most unwelcoming places that exist. Cliquey, nasty places. No wonder so many don't return for the 2nd month after all the stuck up tutting they endure from the self appointed gym elite.

What's wrong with wanting to see in the pool? Sorry I'm not an elite athlete with perfect eyesight.

God. Some of this could really put off those who are considering starting exercising. There's space for everyone.

Fuck yeah!

I just think they're used differently. My DL was somewhere that people spent all day at. I'd see the same people there whatever time I was there. Whilst at my new gym people just work-out and leave. They might have the same number of members who visit the same amount of times but they spend less hours there so it's less full at any time.

My DL had 2 pools. Dreadful pool etiquette. Really frustrating. And cold.
New gym just has one pool, narrower lanes and I've been in there 3 times this week in the morning 'rush'. Quite full (being January) but excellent pool etiquette with everyone in the right speed lane. And the water is warm and much deeper.

I wasnt sure about leaving the 'luxury' of DL, but I'm genuinely less stressed and wish I'd made the move years ago.

What pisses me off is the young girls that come in with a full face of make up and hair all done then just sit on equipment taking selfies. Move off the shit if your not using it!!!

@ChickyNuggies i hope you have a good experience. I am that person with the two kids who forgets their cards and causes the hold up at the gate. But I also am not a newbie, and am there every week. The op just sounds intolerant.

@Walkingtheplank interesting. Which gym chain is it?

It's Nuffield.

Ah, thanks. Sadly I don't have a Nuffield nearby.

I don't mind at all new people turning up.

I mind (and have seen this week)

People turning up with their friend and talking nonstop throughout the class, including when things are being explained - just rude

People turning up late and demanding the instructor goes through it all again

People not respecting others' personal space/equipment

It's not about being 'elite' or 'stuck up,' it's about basic respect for those around you.

@BloodAndFire 👏👏

Gyms in January are always hell. I exercise from home now but when i was a gym goer it always cooled off by mid Feb and got far more pleasant (including for the remaining newbies!).

Newbies who want to get fit are always welcomed by most people in my experience, so this thread shouldn't put people off. The complaint isn't about people who are still learning and aren't sure of the exercises yet, it's people blocking entryways, talking over people, parking badly or causing chaos in a cafe. That's rude wherever you are, not just in a gym!

It’s the chatting side by side when the pool is busy that pisses me off- go to the cafe afterwards ffs. But that happens at all times of year.

Chicky, great advise from Miss there.

Please don't be put off. Always feel chuffed to see new people who are just cracking on and working hard, it's awesome (especially if you are in the weights section!).

It's members who turns up late for a class and expect the instructor to pause to get them set up.

I think 99% of posters here will happily help out any new member. Honestly if you are unsure please ask as we were all new once

I have frustrations with DL but for me it’s still worth every penny. I pay £189 and they have a brilliant spa that I use a lot. Spa day near me is £120 for half a day.

I am a member of DL, I have noticed that for classes I book on the app it does specify that if you’re new to get there early so the instructor can talk you through things and get you set up. I’ve been in classes before where people have turned up late and had a bit of a telling off for being disruptive. Not a shouty ticking off but just a direct “I’ve already started, you’re welcome to join but you’ll have to catch up, I can’t stop the class for you,” type thing.
My biggest bugbear is having so many lanes open for 4 swimmers and only one third of the pool for 6 families. Irritates the crap out of me but we rarely swim there so doesn’t bother me enough to complain!

Yeah,it's not really a gym, is it? Op sounds like me, like she actually wants to go and work out, not use a sauna/steam room/cafe.

I also use the gym prior to the spa

@TheChosenTwo I have the reverse complaint re the pool. Quite often there's only one swim lane as there are two reserved for lessons and then a third of the pool for family swim. Not sure how much of the pool you'd expect to have for 6 families - a third is plenty unless your pool is significantly smaller than ours.

I don’t know how wide your pool is! But there are 3, sometimes 4 fairly wide lanes allowing for multiple swimmers per lane sectioned off and never more than 2 people lane swimming, often none! So 2 people in 2/3 of the pool compared to about 25 people trying to play in the pool in 1/3 of it! It’s a bit of a squeeze and hard to find a little space to play in.

I was at my local leisure centre gym this evening and it was full of early teens having a go on the weight machines while their mates took the Mickey out of them. They all looked very young and trying hard not to try too hard. Bless their stinky little socks. I can't imagine they'll be around for long.

Stinky little socks 😂😂

Well, if they're like the socks my nearly-13yo DS leaves all over the house ...

@ChickyNuggies that was me last month.

Absolutely terrified I'd screw up at the gym (never been before) and people would get cross or laugh at me.

Well, so far I've managed a couple of swims, a gym induction with a personal trainer (definitely worth doing), and a couple of gym sessions on my own.

And it's been fine. No one looked at me weirdly. Everyone seemed fairly friendly, and I hope that continues.

First class tomorrow, and hoping the OP won't be there to scowl at me.