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’m not sure if you’re trying to help or being obtuse. But I need childcare and the kids do clubs so we all get something from the gym, I can’t replace that at home. We do walks and cosmic yoga etc together but it doesn’t replace the gym entirely.

Ha! I hate to admit it, but I totally feel your pain….i had a massive rant at my mates when I eventually made it into the gym this morning: bad parking in the over full car park, people not knowing how to use the PIN number entry system causing a big queue in the cold (but damned if they were going to let anyone else in whilst they stood around trying to locate the relevant email details on their phone) and generally clogging up communal areas. BUT (as they reminded me once I had finished grumbling): it’s like this every Jan, it’ll pass in a few weeks and, most importantly, everyone has to start somewhere.

Yes, I’d prefer they started either somewhere else or at a different time of day, but in the end, they should feel welcomed and supported, not judged and unwelcome. So, take breath, smile at the newbies and give it a few weeks. It will all get back to normal, and the new faces who stick aloud will become part of the regular crew.

This is my dream.

I was guilty of staring yesterday morning (and I've been using the gym for too many years before anyone thinks I'm a newbie!)

A woman I'd say between 18-24, great make up, the shiniest hair, flat stomach and a size 8 proceeded to load up her weights and did deadlifts of 120kg.

Jealous?! I thought I was doing well with 80kg (although I probably have 25 years on her!)

I remember I used to go to a ladies night at the local pool (in the days before gyms were a thing). There were 3 women who used to just stand in the pool and chat then go in the sauna. One week I went into the sauna too and one of them was saying “I don’t know why I’m not losing weight, I swim every week” ….errr, no you don’t!

Super sets during busy times are impractical and selfish. The idea that I'm not going to use the set of dumbells sitting on the floor that you aren't using when there are no other dumbells of that weight available because you're going to be using them in a minute when you finish with a different piece of equipment is crazy and selfish.
If people want to superset then they need to go at quiet times when taking up multiple pieces of equipment and weights at one time won't disrupt others. If they want to do it during busy times they'll have to accept that they too will have to wait for specific weights when they want to use them.

Of course you have to wait for squat racks when they're in use and it's busy, I probably explained my second part poorly, what you shouldn't have to do is wait for a squat rack but somehow be behind in the wait to someone who's currently doing a bench press or on the cable flies.

So person A is benching, person B is on the cables and you show up but between each set person A and B swap positions so that neither of them have to wait for the other piece of equipment and expect you to be fine with it, I don't accept that, if person B wants the squat rack then they can wait in line with the others looking to use it. It's rife in one gym I attend and I can't understand how they think it's reasonable

Do you go to a DL gym? I couldn't find parking 2 days in a row it's absolute mayhem

Yes!

Tbh it started with parking, some twonk parked in an end space but really close to the white line - so when I parked centrally I struggled to get the kids out. He arrived as I was unloading and gave me a dirty look - but he could easily have parked further over which would have benefited us both. He then passively aggressively squeezed into his car and reversed out before deicing or something - like it was my fault he parked so far over. Spaces were limited as it was.

My day has improved 🤣🙌🏻

And the PT’s have a special offer 5 PTs for the price of 4…. But I pay for PT on a direct debit so can’t benefit! So frustrating. I love my club but DL management treat their members so badly.

lol - I have 2 good friends who do the exact same. They pay a fortune for gym/swim membership. They sit in the pool and chat, then chat in the sauna and then chat some more whilst stuffing their face with cake and coffee in the cafe after their ‘swim’.

They'll drop off in February. Hang in there.

I dint mind the January rush really-it’s annoying in terms of space but everyone starts somewhere
What I really detest are the steroid men hogging the racks and filming themselves on tripods. They obviously need a private gym but can’t afford it/won’t pay it. Bad gym etiquette and filming in a busy 24 hour gym is really a massive ick

I feel your pain @NewYearStillFat Our smallish hotel spa gym was rammed on Saturday with about a dozen people whereas normally there is only one or two of us in the weight training area at 11am. Had a girl do exactly the same, take several of the dumbbells as same time as using the cable machine. First world problems I know but frustrating. Next week if she is there I will take the two sets of dumbbells I use and keep them by me. Not even sure it’s etiquette, it’s more politeness as obvious others want the same equipment. Maybe I should do as suggested and just go and take the dumbells they are not using off the floor.
To add even more insult to injury the changing room for spa guests was closed so the gym changing room was chocker and there was a problem with the ventilation so kept getting cold condensation drip on me as I was getting dressed.😂
Normally I feel my gym session is a treat but was glad to get home.

So person A is benching, person B is on the cables and you show up but between each set person A and B swap positions so that neither of them have to wait for the other piece of equipment

It's known as "working in" @ThDanielDay and it's perfectly normal. Maybe you don't know that, or nobody's taught you that?

And people are allowed to go to the gym whenever it's convenient for them, and do whatever their programme requires. Maybe YOU should go at a different time?

You don't sound particularly friendly - maybe that's why people don't share the equipment they're using.

Don’t worry, the new year noobs will be gone by February, back on the booze and shit food. Peace and serenity will resume. ✌️ (the gym is my haven of self-care too)

I know the feeling @theriseandfallofFranklinSaint - I go to a serious powerlifters gym, with almost 50% women - many of them around 40 years younger than me. I have to remember this when I'm celebrating a deadlift PB of 105 kilos, and the 25 year olds are deadlifting 120 easy! Or squatting twice their body weight.

Age does play a role in lifting heavy but you'll get there!

My utter pet peeve, beyond the influx of people who don’t know what they’re doing, is the continuous filming in the gym for their socials “new year, new me” (brand new uniform of gym shark and massive headphones). That and they never, ever, ever reset machines or tidy away weight plates and dumbbells. It’s fucking dangerous to leave loaded machines, as well as really fucking lazy.

Yeah, I'm with you there @Twaddlepip - re-rack your weights, people, and in the right order & place! Drives me crazy when I'm looking for a 10 plate & I have to pull off loads of 20s or 5s to get to it.

@Twaddlepip I have seen someone filling in the squat rack once at my gym. I did watch. She set up, didn’t do any sets just took repeated photos of her arse and short videos. She did have a great arse in fairness and it wasn’t busy so I watched her bemused rather than in disdain. I would be horrified if there was lots of filming. I look like Mrs Trunchbull most the time.

I shop at M&S all year round and I feel the same Christmas week.

It’s utter carnage but doesn’t take long for normal service to resume. I imagine the gym will be the same come February.

I've just seen the photos from a race I did today and they're horrendous. I really don't think the world needs photos of me generally but a hot, sweaty and probably pissed off me...definitely not!

Working in is fine and I always accommodate. This isn't working in, but we're not going to agree on it I don't think.

@Flavabobble

Not something I've ever seen in a gym, dryers yeah. But straighteners? A bit grim.
Please tell us you didn't think the hairdresser cracked open a new set of straighteners for every client

Sorry to enlighten you

Everyone using this thread to be confused at communal straighteners? LOL. So common in loads of gyms.

i definitely try and act with good faith towards newbies as everyone has to start somewhere but I expect the respect back - cleaning your stations, putting weights back. Nothing wrong with being new but there’s some obvious etiquette that I don’t think you need to be a gym bunny to understand.

Doing some heavy deadlifts usually scares them off. 😂 Can't really lower the weight safely when you get near 150kg so need to slam it down (which is precisely what the deadlift platforms and bumper plates are intended for).