Teenagers at the gym

[ijustwanttoworkout]

AIBU to be sick of it?

Obviously now exams are over a lot of teens have started coming to the gym. It’s rammed tonight, lots of (mainly girls) hogging each machine, spending more time chatting than working out, and one girl was actually screaming as she ran on the treadmill.

I wish they had a set period of time after work for those of us who want to actually work out

I’m going to have to start I think. It’ll mean a really early start for me, but it’s time id just spend in bed scrolling anyway!

At mine most of them are looking at screens - gaggles of boys hogging the machines and staring at their phones between sets, girls in full make up & lashes, with hoodies hanging off one shoulder, walking at a glacial pace on the running machines whilst having loud FT calls at the same time. Drives me fkn demented - and don’t get me started on the clouds of sickly sweet body spray so thick you can actually taste it 🤮.

I’m all for teenagers being physically active and staying healthy, but the gym seems to have become a social hangout where they all just take up space and pretend to exercise whilst checking out each other’s abs and arses! Thank god selfies and filming are banned.

I train at a university gym where approx 75% of my fellow gymgoers are teens and have never had these issues.

They are all there at opening time, in appropriate kit, with dedicated plans, protein shakes, their own chalk etc.

Blimey. Teenagers can’t do right for doing wrong. Mine are both currently at the gym. I apologise if they are in anyone’s way.

Presumably you’ve taught them how to be considerate and functioning members of society? Not screaming, hogging machines and sitting on their phones?

Exactly. I’m not some gatekeeping old fart trying to deprive the poor kids of gym time.

There are half a dozen teenagers who are there on a very regular basis doing proper workouts. The rest are randoms doing precisely nothing except getting in the way of everyone who’s there to actually exercise.

It’s exactly the sort of vacuous posing I’d probably have done at 17 if my parents could have afforded it, but that doesn’t make it less annoying!

My comments probably relate to a younger demographic - school kids probably 15-18-ish. There are plenty of young adults at my gym and they’re probably equally irritated at the antics of the mid-teens!

People.hogging machines and hanging out are annoying but I dont think its uniquely teen behaviour. And yes, staff should be stepping in.

I'd love for the teens at my gym to be exercise conscious/getting off the screens, but most at my gym are a nuisance.

Lots of filming themselves, screeching, preening, machine hogging, slamming the weights around/down - but the worst behaviour typically is the girls, who I've seen mock someone's size, outfit, hair etc. This is DL though, so parents are either nowhere to be seen, or they don't seem to care if they are.

Exactly! I work hard to afford my membership and it’s really aggravating to be put out like that

Oh come on... were you never young once? Live and let live! Imagine if they were on their platforms (TikTok I guess?) moaning about too many old fogeys in the gym, we'd be fuming

I believe so. I’ve never had any complaints from gym staff.

go for a power walk instead? Fresh air and exercise and peace and quiet

And the side eye, giggling, whispering to each other and making other users feel uncomfortable. I very nearly confronted a pair of girls who were making a point of staring at women in the changing room before turning away and laughing. Something funny girls? But then I’d be the instigator if it escalated so I refrained

Definitely have a word with someone. A manager could come and observe what's happening and enforce rules.
You're not getting what you're paying for so you're within your rights to complain

It's not silliness at my local authority gym, it's just the 6th form boys hogging the machines. One will sit at the machine for 20 minutes and do in total all of 5 reps over that 20 minutes in between phone scrolling, I know this because I used 3 machines in the meantime whilst waiting for this particular leg machine. I'm happy for them to use the machines, bit not just use them as a chair.
Interestingly the girls are much more focused on actually working out.

I have this at my gym but I politely ask them to move and they always do. I found them annoying and intimidating at first but actually you are the adult, you need to tell them when you want to use a machine if they're just sitting on it. Annoying but that's the only way.

it’s groups of boys at my gym. It is really annoying when they are all stood round one piece of equipment and there are signs up saying not to do this.
The under 16s can only come without parents at certain times at my gym but typical it’s the time thats most handy for me!

16-18 year olds don't always get discounted rates in gyms.

I'm mystified why all the pp pay to go to a place where groups of teenagers hang out. I can't think of anything worse. There are plenty more options.

Are there? I have to exercise. I can't go for a jog, medically I have issues that mean running is a no go for me. I live in a small 2 bed flat with my DH and child, I can't work out at home. Where should I exercise exactly if not the gym?

I was pleasantly surprised at how many teens were at the gym around 4pm midweek. Until I realised that they move (and work out) in packs. So 6 to 8 of them taking it in turns on one piece of equipment.

This is the reason that I was put off a lot of gyms. I ended up at a scruffy gym on an industrial estate that does small group personal training. Just come home from a session with just 4 other people with fitness goals. I got some correction on my form and my trainer made some adjustments to my weight on a couple of exercises. I couldn't be ar$ed with screeching teens

This is not exclusively a teenager problem, it’s pretty normal that the only thing people exercised in our weights area is thumbs on mobile phones! Yes, I know you need rests between sets but when I’ve done 3 sets with rests and you’ve not picked up the weights in that time cos you’re on your phone, you’re taking the piss.

Like what?? I’m all ears cos I’m sick of my gym!