New Year Gym Goers upsetting the equilibrium

[NewYearStillFat]

I'm a regular gym goer - usually putting the kids in clubs and using the gym is an opportunity to relax at the weekend. Everyone gets some exercise and I can workout, have a decent shower and maybe grab a coffee.

But it was utter chaos today, it was a nightmare getting on any equipment - people hogging several sets of dumbbells whilst on cable machines, maybe doing supersets or whatever but looked like they were just reserving them.

Changing rooms so busy - people occupying space they weren't in - so on changing benches but also at dressing table etc rather than move their stuff so someone else could use. I was waiting for the straighteners as a woman was literally half chatting on the phone and half straightening her hair - in the end I had to ask if she was still using them as it wasn't clear and then realised there were two other people eying them up after me.

Chaos! What's usually my place to relax was so stressful.

Good to vent, everyone starts somewhere but it would be better if they could also be considerate to other users.

I doubt they caught anything from the very hot straighteners

Brushes, combs, scissors yes

The heat would kill them, if there were a load of adults with nits in a gym, which itself is unlikely

OP it happens every year, so to be expected - if you also went at peak time then it’s often really busy anyway.

Agree with PP the staff should help manage gym etiquette, eg put signs up

Maybe they could make some really heavy hair straighteners that act as gym weights while using them?? 😝

My son says exactly the same. I read somewhere tho that gyms make most of their income from January joiners who don’t come much longer than a month! 🤣

Have to agree there's nothing relaxing about it at the moment. Just got to grin and bear it until most give up

That’s me chickening out for another year then 😢

I attended my gym yesterday and the usual New Year rush. I have stopped trying to be helpful at these times. When I was new I was glad of someone helping me adjust a step or let me k ow what equipment might be needed.
I tried to say to someone that you'll need a little space around as we would be working with a barbell in that class so not to be too close. I think they must have taken it as a why are you next to me???? It's for safety. Soon realised when she clashed bars.

Theres 11 other months of the year you can join the gym and work towards your fitness and health goals? I’m not here to put anyone off. Just ask you’re considerate.

@DrizzleTrip Ignore all the moaners and go and join.

It shouldn't matter what month it is. Most people aren't like the ones on this thread(although even as a seasoned gym goer I still get the same attitudes from some gym goers in January), most get on with it or switch times to avoid the rush. I used to go at 4:30/5am in the morning in January, bonus was I was one of about 10 people. I literally rolled out of bed put my gym clothes on and went.

They were the newbie once, which they seem to forget.

Re the straighteners/head lice concern thing.

Look at it as a bonus...a workout and a complimentary portion of egg fried lice before heading home, whats not to like?

Don’t chicken out but just read what the OP has written - have an induction so you know how to use the equipment, make sure you wipe it down and leave it tidy and be considerate. That’s all is being asked.

Comments like this are really unhelpful. I don’t go to the gym due to a physical dissipation and never would/could so it’s no skin off my nose.

We are an increasingly obese and unhealthy nation of people, so we should be encouraging and welcoming when people start to make an effort to change.

I have no doubt some people are annoying and I am sure newbies get it wrong but they’ll learn. A bunch of sarcastic comments online about how they’ll soon be returning to bad eating and not exercising doesn’t help anyone!

This!

I think the thread is a kind of sardonic humour about a phenomenon that those of us who are regular attendees notice. Most gym goers are a helpful friendly bunch. We do moan about others' behaviour, but it's on this thread, and not in our gym behaviour.

Be sensible: get a proper induction. Join in with some classes - that is the single BEST way to learn about the gym. Don't treat it as a social event to chat etc - get it done & chat after.

I've been going to gyms most of my life, and training to lift very heavy for about 7 years, but I still don't know what some of the machines do (I'm a barbell person) and I still get a bit weirded out at a new gym. But I have my programme, and my ear phones & podcasts, and I trudge on.

I was a newbie once and found the gym incredibly intimidating. I didn’t know what to do beyond the treadmill and cross trainer. I’m no expert but feel at home in the gym now.

Come on in, just if you see a queue for equipment and straighteners be considerate, take your turn and move along.

Thank you - I don’t intend to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Embrace the gym!

Protein goals! 💪🏼

I went yesterday afternoon and it wasn’t too bad.

@KimberleyClark i went this morning and it was a dream!

Could you just leave it to air dry

Theres another 11 months of the year you too can use the gym

Your point? I’m just making the point that if you don’t join in January you don’t have to wait till next Jan - you can join in the interim 🤔

Our gym - same chain is limiting guest pass timing now which is helping and we do usually have a staff member patrolling the gym floor. I had the outdoor pool practically to myself as we had snow last week and it was bliss. DD is too old for most clubs but now joins me in the gym which spoils the relaxation for me somewhat.

I had a rubbish gym trip last week.

Front desk have to swipe us in because their fancy new system doesn't work and they were held up with new member queries. I had to wait five minutes to enter.

Then some bloody January person had the audacity to try and correct the way I was swimming (we have a fast lane and a swim anticlockwise section, they wanted to swim lanes in the anticlockwise section even though it would be carnage).

I can't wait until they all fuck off again. It's always been my policy never to join a gym in January, been at this gym a few years though.

@MsAnnFrope I’ve seen other clubs restricting guest use at peak times - that would help improve the experience for new starters too.