Page 6 | Anyone care to join me in a January gym rant?

HandbagsnGladrags · 2023-01-08T13:24:42+00:00

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.

poshme · 09/01/2023 19:21

And I swim with glasses. If I didnt I'd swim into the wall.

Titsywoo · 09/01/2023 19:34

Mabelface · 08/01/2023 14:07

This is why I'm waiting for February to join a gym. 🤣

Same!

ChickyNuggies · 10/01/2023 13:48

Well, I did my first class last night! A Blaze class as apparently I can't just ease myself in gently.

I parked within a designated space and ensured I had my pass ready to scan before I had even got out the car (a whole 35 mins early because I was in a panic about the whole being early thing 😂)

And actually.... It was great. Everyone was really really nice and helpful. They were happy for me to watch them when I got confused as to what I was meant to be doing and I didn't feel judged at all when I had to modify things slightly (for example if I did one more burpee I wouldn't have been able to get off the floor so I skipped them for round 3, and jogged rather than sprinted as I was starting to lose feeling in my legs). Then, at the end of class a lot of people came up to me and said well done for staying the whole class for your first time, you smashed it, it'll be easier everytime you come, hope to see you next week etc which I was really really pleased and happy about 😁

AllOfThemWitches · 10/01/2023 13:49

Oh for God's sake, so you're a gym veteran, who cares.

Original poster

HandbagsnGladrags · 10/01/2023 13:53

Well done @ChickyNuggies, Blaze is flippin tough!!

OP posts:

octaviaaur · 10/01/2023 14:22

ChickyNuggies · 10/01/2023 13:48

Well, I did my first class last night! A Blaze class as apparently I can't just ease myself in gently.

I parked within a designated space and ensured I had my pass ready to scan before I had even got out the car (a whole 35 mins early because I was in a panic about the whole being early thing 😂)

And actually.... It was great. Everyone was really really nice and helpful. They were happy for me to watch them when I got confused as to what I was meant to be doing and I didn't feel judged at all when I had to modify things slightly (for example if I did one more burpee I wouldn't have been able to get off the floor so I skipped them for round 3, and jogged rather than sprinted as I was starting to lose feeling in my legs). Then, at the end of class a lot of people came up to me and said well done for staying the whole class for your first time, you smashed it, it'll be easier everytime you come, hope to see you next week etc which I was really really pleased and happy about 😁

Glad to hear your update! Well done!

TheChosenTwo · 10/01/2023 15:06

@ChickyNuggies i’m kind of jealous of you jumping into a blaze class; they look brutal! Never joined one myself as I’m convinced I’d just collapse somewhere in a corner 😂 and also they say you need to buy one of the heart rate things and I don’t want to buy one to then only use it once!!

Original poster

HandbagsnGladrags · 10/01/2023 15:16

I've done a couple but I'm a wimp and felt like the boxing and kicking of the punchbags was giving me bruises and I'm not down with that. Would like it more if they combined treadmill & weights with something else. But yeah, very brutal.

Stages cycling next?? 🙂

OP posts:

ChickyNuggies · 10/01/2023 16:57

Rhythm tonight!! 😁

Twizbe · 10/01/2023 17:04

ChickyNuggies · 10/01/2023 16:57

Rhythm tonight!! 😁

I love Rhythm. I'm doing it to tomorrow morning

Original poster

HandbagsnGladrags · 10/01/2023 17:05

ChickyNuggies · 10/01/2023 16:57

Rhythm tonight!! 😁

Go you! Enjoy. For all it's faults, DL is a bit of an addiction.

OP posts:

ChickyNuggies · 10/01/2023 17:07

Thank you!! Tbh I'm not really in the usual salary bracket of most DL members I think so going there is nicer than sitting in my flat which could do with some decorating and plus heating is expensive now so it feels like a better prospect 😂

Twizbe · 10/01/2023 17:12

ChickyNuggies · 10/01/2023 17:07

Thank you!! Tbh I'm not really in the usual salary bracket of most DL members I think so going there is nicer than sitting in my flat which could do with some decorating and plus heating is expensive now so it feels like a better prospect 😂

You'd be amazed how many members use the club room for free heating / aircon.

When it was 40 degrees I just camped in the soft play with the kids. Much nicer than at home lol.

dementedpixie · 10/01/2023 17:18

What is rhythm?
Is it like zumba or something?
My dh has a DL membership but it used to be a different venue and i don't think it's been upgraded since so his doesn't sound as plush as others. His membership just went up to £70/month

dementedpixie · 10/01/2023 17:21

I did a spin class yesterday as a friend didn't want to go alone for her first time. I'd only done 1 in my life before so was kinda my first time too. My legs are ok today but my bum is sore from the seat. Glad there was a lot of standing up on the pedals involved!

Twizbe · 10/01/2023 17:33

dementedpixie · 10/01/2023 17:18

What is rhythm?
Is it like zumba or something?
My dh has a DL membership but it used to be a different venue and i don't think it's been upgraded since so his doesn't sound as plush as others. His membership just went up to £70/month

It's a spin class. You ride to the rhythm of the music.

WGACA · 10/01/2023 17:36

I knew this was DL as soon as I read your OP!

Original poster

HandbagsnGladrags · 10/01/2023 18:55

dementedpixie · 10/01/2023 17:21

I did a spin class yesterday as a friend didn't want to go alone for her first time. I'd only done 1 in my life before so was kinda my first time too. My legs are ok today but my bum is sore from the seat. Glad there was a lot of standing up on the pedals involved!

The bum soreness goes if you go all the time. Your arse must get hardened to it.

I work from the clubroom sometimes as well. Saves me putting the heating on at home.

OP posts:

TabithaTittlemouse · 10/01/2023 21:41

Are these DL prices per month?!

well done @ChickyNuggies !

Original poster

HandbagsnGladrags · 11/01/2023 05:00

£70 per month is cheap for DL.

OP posts:

BloodAndFire · 11/01/2023 12:03

TabithaTittlemouse · 10/01/2023 21:41

Are these DL prices per month?!

well done @ChickyNuggies !

Insane isn't it? I pay 29.99 a month for my gym in London, do loads of classes, 24/7 access, etc.

Stellaris22 · 11/01/2023 13:05

I pay about £25/month and get 24hr access and I can go to any of the classes. I can access pretty much all of the gyms in the country with that membership as well.

Most of the PTs and staff know me and greet me by name. But I have no interest in a cafe or sauna, I just want to do my workouts.

UglyModernWindows · 11/01/2023 13:52

I feel your pain OP! I'm a member of DL too.

Some of the behaviour is awful. Fit young men parking on parent and child spaces, massive 4x4's parked on disabled spaces but no blue badge anywhere to be seen, kids running and screaming in the cafe, kicking balls and whacking them on the walls, kids climbing into a wall display shelving unit but rather than tell them off/remove them the parents were giggling and taking pictures instead. Few times I've seen a lone toddler trying to do a runner through the front doors but no parents anywhere to be seen.

Having said that, I like some of the classes and we use the gym a lot which is usually ok apart from the first 3 weeks in Jan. It is really expensive but we love the outdoor pool access during the summer. We have some other gyms around us but they are all 15-20 mins drives away whereas DL is only five minutes away. So DL it is (for now).

BloodAndFire · 11/01/2023 14:17

Stellaris22 · 11/01/2023 13:05

I pay about £25/month and get 24hr access and I can go to any of the classes. I can access pretty much all of the gyms in the country with that membership as well.

Most of the PTs and staff know me and greet me by name. But I have no interest in a cafe or sauna, I just want to do my workouts.

That's the difference between gyms like yours and mine (possibly the same chain, I also have access to almost all of the gyms UK-wide) and places like DL, hellholes full of children and cafes and saunas and whatever other nonsense. My next-door neighbours are DL members but I don't think they actually do any exercise there, and they drive there - a full 10 mins walk

It also means that everyone there is actually there to work out and it's just a way better option for me in every conceivable way.

SideshowAuntSallly · 12/01/2023 06:40

I hate this time of year, I go at 5am and usually there is about 8 of us there. We all recognise each other, nod, smile, wipe down the equipment. I was there the other day and by 5.30am there were 40 people when I left at 6am they were queueing for the car park. They carry their gym bags around ignoring the signs to use the lockers, they also ignore the sign to put their car reg in then complain when they get a parking fine.

It's actually putting me off going.