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.

I go on a treadmill and walk, under doctors orders. OP jog on, I'm not going to worsen my medical condition to appease you, a random stranger

Crumbs.

You'd better go have a word with my orthopaedic consultant in that case. I'm not supposed to use a bike or stairmaster. The most I'm allowed for cardio is to walk on the flat only, though I've been working on getting my speed up - I've been told quite firmly that my knees won't be replaced for 'at least another 10 yrs'. In the meantime, the consultant doesn't want me to keep dislocating them.

I'm definitely improving in terms of speed and heart rate.

If you look up the history of the treadmill it was meant for walking as a punishment. It was used to help with the mills.

Yes bone density decreases in menopause. Yes lifting weights is beneficial for women of al ages, particularly older women.

But I have yet to see evidence that high intensity cardio - in and of itself - specifically changes a women’s hormones. And in What way.

Treadmills were intended to be used as people or animal-powered energy generators. They were later used in prisons as a way to punish idle prisoners who were required to walk on them (very slowly, I imagine) for up to 8h a day. So maybe let's not use them for what they were originally intended.

The only thing it is really "intended" for is to allow people to cover distance without leaving the spot. Which they are.

Well, that's what I said to him, but apparently it was common knowledge in the blokes' changing rooms (some were regular "purchasers").

This was in a very fashionable city and the girls were done up to the nines, also showing no signs of actually exercising while there, just sort of "presenting" themselves on various pieces of equipment.

I'm not suggesting this is the case of anyone walking slowly on a treadmill, any more than OP is criticising anyone slowly walking on a treadmill.

@WearyAuldWumman my PT has the principle that everyone should be able to carry their own body weight for a minute. I’m 9 kilos above 64 kg so I have a bit more training to go! I’ve tried 35 kilo dumbbells. I can barely lift one, let alone carry two. It’s weird because my deadlift is above 100 kilos. It’s the variety of training that’s important, I suppose!

Has @crinklechips actually apologised unreservedly yet? Or is she still saying “oh yes, but …” ?

cold
wind
rain
dark nights
fear of being assaulted

Can you honestly not think of any reason?

It's for walking.

This attitude and judgement is exactly why I avoided the gym for years. I’ve had knee issues since I was in my teens - definitely not visible to anyone but running is not a good idea. I walk at varying speeds depending on how I feel and what sort of day I’ve had.
Moving is moving - and we should be encouraging each other particularly young women. I get the frustration of waiting but you’d have to wait if they were running too.

I do worry about people reading or checking social media or working while using gym equipment. The second time I went to a gym I saw someone go flying backwards off a treadmill (staff called an ambulance). I don't want to use any equipment without my full attention.

But a phone ban doesn't make sense either. Don't people have music and timers and exercise plans on their phones?

(I'm not saying that the guy who came off the treadmill had been using social media etc, I don't know what caused the accident, just that I wouldn't take the risk.)

I am a young woman and have just had a c-section so yes I am walking on the treadmill and will sometimes go with a friend and make it social. Do I need to disclosure that to everyone in the gym to explain why I am using equipment the way I am?

Why is your membership and time more important than mine? The fact you even looked over to check how fast she was going (she probably noticed btw) will really make us/them self conscious and may think about not going again even if it is the only time we/they have spoken to another human or left the house that day.

my biggest gripe about some of the men at our gym are the ones who use 2 pieces of equipment, so their towel is on one, but instead of just taking a minute, then carrying on, they go to use another piece of equipment. With no towel (mandatory, there are signs EVERYWHERE about this)

and then

they just push off to monopolise the next 2 bits of equipment without wiping either of them down (there are sprays, cloths and signs about this everywhere too)

I have no issue going up to the treadmills, if all full, and generally asking if anyone will be done soon, and if it's a minute or two, i'll wait. And generally one person will say "yep me" and we're all fine with that.

I have my exercise plans on my phone. I also time my rests so I actually have 2 minutes between sets. So yes I sit and scroll through my phone, nothing more awkward than staring round the gym and catching someone's eye as you stare off into the distance.

At one point I was recording my weights and times in my phone.

If you actually Google "what is the purpose of a treadmill" this is what you get
The purpose of a treadmill is . It allows users to customize speed and incline to meet fitness goals while offering lower-impact surfaces compared to concrete.

• Convenient Cardiovascular Training: Provides an efficient way to boost heart health, improve endurance, and burn calories.
• Controlled Environment: Allows for consistent, uninterrupted training with precise control over speed and incline, ideal for interval training (HIIT) and avoiding traffic or weather obstacles.
• Muscle Toning & Strengthening: Engages muscles such as glutes, thighs, calves, and core, with options to increase intensity using the incline feature.
• Joint-Friendly Exercise: Offers a cushioned surface, which is better for joint health than running on asphalt or concrete.
• Accessibility: Suitable for all fitness levels, including beginners, and allows for multitasking (e.g., watching TV) during exercise.

The benefits of HIIT are enormous and not something that anyone who is otherwise healthy should generally be worried about. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) can affect hormones, bone density etc but it's very rare and tends to affect the athletic population more due to performance pressure etc.

I am a qualified fitness instructor aged 67. There are many people who need to walk in a controlled environment, which the gym is. They can monitor their HR whilst doing many types of aerobic exercise. I had a serious heart problem for the last four years, which means that if I joined a gym, then I would be one of those walkers for a while.
This is exactly the same scenario, as judging disabled because they look perfectly fit.

Me and my hypermobile limbs can only manage a walk before a hip yeets out of joint - if I’m paying the same as you, I’ll do whatever I like on the sodding thing. You’re no more important than anyone else, op. Run around a field if you’re that inconvenienced.

I have a friend who is 65. She is having knee problems and has a gym 'prescription ' in order to help her lose 4 stone. She has absolutely enormous breasts. They make it impossible for her to run. They're not 'just a bit booby' , they're each bigger than a large man's head. She has to walk . Would you judge her too ?

Well quite. But that’s not what the pp with many links said. They said that high intensity workouts “change women’s hormones”. (Which incidentally none of the links actually said). That sounds like the insta bullshit that’s going round at the moment to me.

I don’t think I need to worry too much about it as a slightly tunky 58yo. Not a whiff of the athlete about me! 😂

Bottom line, sometimes I just want to walk in a warm room with an TV screen in front of me. I say that as someone who hikes, a lot, in cold, wet weather. But sometimes I simply cannot be arsed with getting soaked, don’t want to drive to a hill to climb it, and just fancy 30-60 mins of light exercise, where I can buy a flat white.

And breaking news - you can run in the street too. I’ve seen it happen.

Good to know for when I go to the gym later. I am a regular gym goer, Run daily, weights 5 times a week and HiiT classes 3-4 times a week. I have recently had an operation (2 weeks ago) and have been told no exercise for 8 weeks. I am going up today to get out of the house as I have been stuck for 2 weeks bored out of my mind. My plan was to just have a walk on the treadmill while my gym partner does our usual routine. Good to know people will be judging me and be annoyed I am walking on a treadmill lol. New fear unlocked for me