When does the craze for the gym stop?

[DrNick]

So my classes aren't as rammed with newbies? Over by half term?

End of January. :-)

3rd week in January.

End of January, which is roughly when all the random dieting threads on MN stop popping up too.

Pay day.

It seems like something to do until they have money in the account after Christmas.

Oh thank god. I like a Newbie in a class. But not when I can't park.

Half term and all returns to normal, this year tbh hasn't been as BSD as the last couple of years yet. Last year people drove round in circles trying to park! I was watching out the window :)

Once we get a few flakes of snow or a really bad cold snap, it will be deserted again! Dreading the early bird swim tomorrow.

I went to my yoga class tonight and it was so packed we each ended up with a foot in our mouth from the person on the next mat when we were doing some lying down postures. (Retch)

If the foot comes near your face again, lick it.

No-one will go anywhere near you again.

I asked a couple of days ago - by March apparently. I wish they would sod off now though.

Somewhere between end of January and half term it starts getting more bearable, and as people have mentioned, bad weather will clear them out sooner.

I have no intention of going to the swimming pool before the end of January, although I am wavering on that, because I would really like a swim. However, I don't find it relaxing when the lanes are really crowded, and what I would really like is a swim which isn't too busy.

Oh god it is so 'noying. There were lots if disgruntled body combatters at the gym yesterday evening, there were all forced to do puma HIIT which was horrendous and I guess even more so if you were forced into it by January newcomers stealing your usual spot. I'm avoiding yoga until feburary as I can't stand the foot in mouth poses when the class is too busy.

My yoga class you have to sign up for, and it never gets too full, which is splendid.

Sounds like a plan there Edith !

We normally get 8 - 10 people which is fine in our small village hall, but we had 16 tonight which was a little too cozy for comfort! I would like to think we could get around 12 consistently as it is a lovely friendly class, and nice for our teacher to know we all enjoy her yoga...but I think it will revert to the "die-hards" in no time!

Grr

I'm a runner, always outside so there is never a lack of space but the number of runners I saw last weekend was massively up compared to normal, before Christmas. Normally I'm lucky if I see one, it was like Piccadilly Circus for runners! No idea where they come from because you can't suddenly decide to go for a long run but they weren't out and about the previous week.

The same with cyclists actually. Loads and loads.......

That will go on until the spring, once marathon season has passed I will get my routes to myself again, pretty much.

i have a theory that any runner wearing a baseball cap is a newbie.

I think third week of January it gets less busy - what is it they say- it takes three weeks to develop a new habit? Some snow next week would help.

We nearly had a fight in the pool on Tuesday morning as the male triathletes were behaving like twats as usual. We have to remember tho that we were all new once (saying this as I lie in bed on a day off, and not raging in the fast lane in the pool)

Agree my pool was stupidly busy on Wednesday morning, worse than when I went at the weekend. They weren't swimming much either just cluttering up the bottom edge chatting so people had to turn early.
I don't do classes and the gym machines are only slightly busier. I'm pleased more money is going into the leisure centre to keep it open. If the weather is bad more people attend here.
Runners carrying water bottles in their hand tend to be newbies too. Experienced runners can go for 40 minutes without a drink and marathon runners tend to wear camelbaks.

I used to use a well known chain. MY PT said that gyms operate on the assumption that 75% of members use it once a week or less. Anymore, and it's not sustainable because the space required would cost more than people would be prepared to pay. Therefore gym slackers can be happy in the knowledge that theiy're contributing to economic sustainability and keeping gym instructors in work (or something like that anyway).

Usually by February half term. At the moment you have to book at 6 30 am for the very popular classes, seven days in advance, or you end up on a long waiting list. But I'm used to it - been a member of this particular gym 9 years. Loads of new faces at the moment (who you'll see a few times in January and then never again!)

Hopefully soon. Not least cos the snotty FB staus updates from 'proper' gym users will cease

Be warned, by Easter it'll start again when the weather starts improving, the summer wardrobe starts coming out and the summer beach holidays are booked. Those ones tend to be more sticking at it because they have a set goal of so many weeks until holiday. They always intend to come back in September. It doesn't happen...

Oh but don't be rude, you can never tell which will be the ones who stick at it.

We get a '10 weeks to Xmas party dress' rush too.

I wonder when all the equipment people have bought to get fit at home starts appearing on eBay. I rather fancy one of those elliptical cross trainers although no idea how I'd get it in the car to bring it home or where I'd put it when it gets here