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.

The general etiquette is that you offer to 'work in' and share a piece of equipment, which usually means doing your set while they rest and vice versa. Obv with squats/deads it's impractical to keep taking plates on and off, but who tf has the energy to superset squats anyway if doing them properly. Usually it's bi's/tri's or bench/rows etc. Maybe OHP/pulldowns.

I superset a fair bit due to working long days (10-12 hrs, occasionally up to 15) and the fact that my strength workout takes 1.5hrs once you incude my mobility warmup, which I need to do when lifting heavy.

Supersets are often my only way of getting it all in and I'll be damned if I'm going to sacrifice my evening and walk out the gym an hour before bed (still needing to shower etc) and not have even finished my workout. I'd never be an arse though and expect somebody to stop using a piece of equipment. I'll just politely explain that I was doing a superset and ask if they mind me working in and quickly finishing my last set. If they say no then I'm just gonna use it anyway once they finish their current set. I'm not gonna sit and wait for them to do 3-4 sets before finishing my last set and stand there twiddling my thumbs while they rest.

Fuck waiting around for somebody that probs started work two hours after me and hasn't got to be in bed for a good few hours yet. Most people that train seriously are accommodating and I've got friendly with a lot of people in my gym this way.

You can join the gym anytime and actually it's much more likely you enjoy it if you do it because you want to not because of a new year's resolution.

The original poster is really just asking people that do join to check club rules and follow them. Yesterday a new person went to one of my regular classes. She didn't know what side of the bike to come off to stretch afterwards. The instructor forgot to say as he was used to the regular members knowing the rules and they are printed. The new gym member got of the wrong side of that bike. It doesn't sound like a big deal but actually meant I couldn't stretch after my spin class as the person on the other side got of the correct side. Things like don't film or hog gym machines whilst sitting scrolling on social media should be common sense but are not. If your really that put of going to the gym based on a Mumsnet thread I wouldn't be reading the thread.

So weird but I feel like a read this thread almost word for word when DL were offering their 14 day trial.

People join the gym in January. They take advantage of trial memberships. If you've attended a gym for more than a year you'll know this.

Give it another month when the newbies give up. Joining gym and weight management clubs is the worst thing to do as 80% of them would give up as they expect miracle results.

I’ve used/been a member of gyms since I was 18. I’ve probably used it most the last two years. The difference in particular this year is being so restricted as to when I can use the gym, whereas before I’ve had more time childfree. This year I’m solo parenting more than before, including weekends when I previously had support and so could visit at non-peak times. So I have to use the kids clubs to get to the gym which means peak times only. Not that I needed to explain myself.

Mine was back to being normal people this morning at 6am.

You’ve never heard anyone moaning how busy the shops are in December? How hard it is to get parked in town? Book a restaurant? I have. Many times!

Can I join the slightly ill tempered moan with what I have seen today? This is apart from all the general equipment hogging and other gym floor jiggery pokery.

Walked into the changing rooms to see a woman and her Daughter just wringing out their sopping costumes onto the changing room floor. Not the showers. The changing room right in front of the lockers. There’s two perfectly good cozzie spinner things as well.

no treadmills to be had - full of people walking slowly while chatting to their mate on the next machine. No dumbbells in the weight I wanted as people hold on to 5 or 6 weights around their bench while they text on their phones.

I get it. It’s January. It’s busy. But show some consideration!

no treadmills to be had - full of people walking slowly while chatting to their mate on the next machine
What's wrong with that?

You lot are sounding a bit nasty now. If walking slowly on the treadmill and chatting gets them started, surely it's good news. Presumably you all started somewhere.

If they didn't sign up, your precious gym probably wouldn't be commercially viable.

Yep. I have this specific class I attend 2 times a week. Sometimes I need to sign up to the queue on the app but even then it's like spot 3. Now I got a queue spot 27. Also there are no lockers in the lockeroom and I had to carry my stuff around the gym. Can't wait till February.

Edit: I'm glad people are exercising more but I can still be annoyed at a personal level!

@BitOutOfPractice that’s terrible re the costume.

Ive seen members complaining of a man on a sun lounger in the spa shaving himself 🤮
Chewing gum on equipment.
phones used during classes.

I don’t think you need much decency to accept these things aren’t reasonable.

Why not get on with what you’re doing and chat In the cafe so we all get a chance on the machines?

Ugh yanbu - I hate January at the gym! Stop nicking my spot on the classes I do, you will have quit by Feb!! 😂

Someone had the temerity to use my locker and my shower today! I mean they aren't officially mine but y'know, they are in my mind and should be in everyone else's 😬

January newbies annual event.
This too will pass ( in a few weeks )😁

Just coming back to tell you I heard a great term for these newbies the other day. "Snowmen" - cos they melt away by February!

I must add we were all newbies at one point, so I'm not universally sneering at these people. I generally think "good for you", unless they hog the machine I want!!

It’s eased off a lot now 🙌🏻 a couple have stayed and I’ve even made a new friend 🤣

It was driving me so crazy at mine that I reverted (I'd switched in November to the cheap, afternoon only membership) to the all day membership rate. Absolutely blissful to be there at 8am (can't do earlier as I'm out with dog!).

Even my 17 year old son was absolutely fed up with the 'January newbies' and started going in at 6am BEFORE his classes (school) to avoid them.

They must have been really, really annoying for a teenage boy who does not like getting up any earlier than he has to in the mornings to do this 😂

He's hoping February is more 'normal'

DP just came back from his class and said that it’s noticeably quieter today than last Saturday.

And hurrah for gym friends! They make the whole thing so much nicer.

Just don't chat to them whilst on tread mill

I wouldn’t. Because that would be inconsiderate 🙄

Or one could walk or run to gym so no need for treadmill

this is a good idea but the problem I've found is that it's not just 'gym etiquette', sometimes it's 'this is normal human interaction' which you'd like to think you shouldn't have to explain to people

Like 'please do not do stretches and yoga in the middle of the small changing room, requiring people to step over you.'
'Please swim in lengths in the pool to allow multiple people to use it at the same time, not in large circles in the middle'
'Please do not shave your legs in the sauna'
'If a noticeable amount of hair comes out when you wash it, please put it in the bin when you've finished your shower, not stick it to the cubicle walls in your revolting version of expressionist art'
'If there are multiple machines of the same type free, go to one on the end, or at least one further away, rather than jumping on right next to the only other person using them.'
'If you had a curry the night before, maybe use the toilet before exercising, rather than farting it out to an extent the person next to you is wrapping their towel around their face.'
'Wear whatever clothes you want to exercise, but bear in mind that some (jeans/crocs) are not optimal gym wear, and if you wear nude colour leggings people are going to stare. They are not leering at you, just checking you have remembered to put clothes on.'
'Once you have finished using a machine, GET OFF IT so someone else can use it, and don't sit for HALF AN HOUR playing on your phone and not moving.'