People walking on treadmills in the gym

[crinklechips]

OK to start with I know I'm being a bit U but I need to have a mini-rant.

I use currently use the gym mainly for running intervals and speedier sessions which are easier to manage indoors.

Every time I go in all the treadmills are taken, and mostly by people walking.

Now I can totally understand that people have different fitness levels, might be using the treadmill to warm up or for recovery and that's absolutely fine.

But there seems to a growing number of people (actually, exclusively younger women in my observation) just using the treadmills for a gentle stroll while messing around on their phones.

I ended up next to a young woman last night who spent the entire half hour I was on the neighbouring treadmill walking at 3kph, no incline, while scrolling instagram. I can barely call that exercise, it's below a normal walking pace. If that's how you want to kill time then I guess it's up to you but it just seems selfish when there's a queue of people waiting for a treadmill.

Oh no, you’re ok then.
OP is judge and jury on who is deserving of being able to walk on one and who is not.

I don’t think as some have said OP is ableist.

It’s nothing more than a sneery post at ‘young women’ who are clearly doing it for nothing more than to post on instagram.

Pathetic.
OP- Run outside if it genuinely bothers you.

I swim a lot. There are usually people in the lane going significantly slower than me. I'm not consistently quick enough to move to the faster lane.

I work on the general principle of not being a dick so let them be. Never know when it might be you in that position due to injury etc.

You are being very unreasonable OP. Firstly if people pay a gym membership then they are as entitled to use the equipment as you are. You feeling more entitled because you run is a you problem. Secondly you have no idea why people aren't running or not doing enough by your standard. I have a chronic health issue and I also walk on a treadmill at the Gym because I can't do high impact exercise as it worsens my condition. Some days I have overcome a lot to even get to the gym to do any sort of exercise at all but you wouldn't see that you'd just feel aggrieved and resentful. The weather is awful here much of the year and I don't have space for a home treadmill. I go with my partner and while he works out I do what I can to keep a bit of fitness and mobility. On days I feel best I do go a bit faster and add an incline but some days I really can't and am in too much pain to do more than walk.

I'm sorry that you dislike having to share with people who might be less able bodied than yourself but it won't stop me from taking what is often the only exercise I can do.

Hahah it’s ironic that I’m reading this thread whilst I’m walking on the treadmill at my office gym. Even worse, I’m wearing jeans and a shirt and I’m casually strolling at 2.5mph.

I'm usually fairly considerate of others, but so find some pedestrians annoying. Especially those glued to their phones in the middle of the path completely oblivious to their surroundings, and people with dogs on extendable leads waiting to trip me up.

Judgmental pricks in gyms are an active barrier to fitness for many people. People that the judgmental pricks then judge for not going to the gym and becoming fitter.

What does it matter to you. I say this as a runner. I have used treadmill occasionally for intervals etc. But ultimately I CAN go and run outside. I can find a street to do intervals ir even tracks locally though all are a trek to get to.

People walk at slower pace for all kinds of reasons injury, illness, recovery from surgery, asthma etc. I can run a reasonable pace a 24 min 5km but I also have chronic brittle reactive asthma. I STILL exercise even when taking high dose oral steroids and with a peak flow 50% of what it should be, but yes I am then slower and as I dont have an audible wheeze you would have no way of knowing from looking at me.

Posts like yours just put people off exercise at all. This gatekeeping of what 'counts' .

One could also argue that people going to the gym to run on the treadmill are unreasonable - why can’t you run outside? 😉

My local gym has 4 treadmills set aside for running max 15 minutes sessions and the remaining for whatever you want.

’what are they getting out of this’ you sound really entitled.

They are getting

steps in
healthier
clearing their mind
prioritising themselves
Could be new to the gym
Could be recovering from injury

I get the frustration if someone is sat on a bit of equipment doing NOTHING but then you can say ‘are you using this’ or ‘can I jump on inbetween sets’

but in your case they are walking, so they are using it.

stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and if you need to prioritise go at a quieter time.

There's absolutely no way I could go to a gym like that! If I couldn't listen to an audiobook or my music, I'd die of boredom!

I feel your pain but YABU. By the same definition I could resent folk who use the squat rack and can only lift 50kg but that’s not how it works.

See my very recent post about going to the gym, I’ve just recovered from almost a year of breast cancer treatment, surgery, chemo and radio,

I asked about going to the gym, consensus was, take it slowly, don’t over do it.

I will be the person walking on the treadmill, then I might slowly do some rowing, then into the pool for a few slow lengths.

YABVU!

If they pay for the gym they can do as they see fit.

Whe I first started at the gym I spent months slowly walking on the treadmill. Nothing physically wrong with me but I have PTSD and was building up my confidence to be in a room with men. Sounds bonkers but it helped.
I don’t think that my inner fear was visible to anyone running next to me but who knows.

I know happily use all of the equipment and feel safe there. My PTSD is mostly under control (as in I’m Okish) but when I next struggle I’ll make a sign for my back to apologise.

I meant for the OP to run outside? Not for anyone else. OP is the one complaining, not me. Like you I walk my dogs outside every day of the year, in all sorts of weathers.

First of all, unless you are going to the gym in 1996, nobody is dressed in Lycra.
And if they are young and fit, then they must be doing something right. You only see a short snapshot of their workout.
I powerlift. I take anywhere between 6 and 10 minutes rest between heavy sets. If you were to pass by me, you'd probably think "what's the point of spending an hour at the gym and only doing three sets". But there is a point of long rest periods. And it is part of my programme.
If someone has so much time on their hands that they are aware of who is doing what and what they are wearing...then maybe they need to think about how much quality training they are doing themselves.

I completely agree OP. My gym is full of people staring at their phones then occasionally lifting a very small weight. Nobody can actually be getting fitter or more toned. I don't care but it does seem like a waste of a gym membership - although I guess they're there more for the social side than the actual exercise!

I think POSSIBLY a reasonable rule might be no scrolling on phones while using the equipment.

That doesn't inhibit people who are genuinely needing to do a slow workout, but maybe would flush out a few who are telling themselves they need to workout but really can't be bothered, or who, perhaps, are really there trying to meet someone for which purpose they don't want to break a sweat. I guess I could entertain that sort of rule as I do get frustrated with the number of people stopping in the middle of the pavement or walking paths to look at their phone, or the cafe culture where people go out together and then sit in silence glued to their phones - simply because I think these things can be both dangerous and destructive of interpersonal relationships.

But I don't think you can ask them to hop off because they don't go as fast as you: that is massively unreasonable - and just intolerant of others.

Spend a bit less time watching and assessing people and what you think they’re doing. Maybe you should scroll on instagram snd MYOB!

I don't use the treadmills at the gym because I prefer to do classes but if I did I would definitely be on my phone or reading a book because it's so boring.

Go run outside?

But there ARE a lot of young, very fit looking people, all clad out in Lycra, who spend a lot of time on machines scrolling on their phones and/or taking selfies.

So what??

The phone comments on this thread really bug me, people use their phones for workout apps, track progress, time rest between sets, to take form videos, to check how to use equipment, listening to music and podcasts! Also who cares if you scroll socials between sets or whilst on the treadmill.

get over it

I think OP is jealous. Thinks it’s not a real workout unless you’re red and sweaty and in old rags. They don’t want people looking nice in the gym.

I know, so is the issue they’re unfit and that’s why they’re just walking and not being proper gym bunnies.. or they are evilly flaunting their young fit bodies in Lycra?…