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 a member of my local university gym and was worried about this – particularly young 'uns filming themselves – to start with, but have actually been really pleasantly surprised by how little nonsense goes on there.

The students are all very respectful and focused (to the point where I've had a few interactions where I've come away thinking "their parents should be very proud of them" and then feeling EVER so old 😂)

One guy on the bench next to me in the free weights section asked me if I could keep an eye on his water bottle while he went to the loo, and then when he came back, he waited and avoided eye contact until I'd finished my set before leaning over to say thanks.

There are a few who like to swing around on the rig doing upside-down crunches and are clearly hoping they're being 'noticed', but even they always check to make sure there's nobody nearby before they start wanging their legs around!

By the sounds of it, a few years makes all the difference.

YABU because there are regular reports of lack of exercise once school is finished, increasing obesity rates, lack of physical movement for young adults.
Approach the gym managers about your issues, they may not be aware.

If they were actually exercising, it wouldn't be an issue.

YABU and silly.

It is quite entertaining watching the teenagers peacocking in the gym.

Yabu (a bit). Early evening is peak attendance time for teenagers.

This is why I prefer to go either about 9:30 or 2:30, it’s mostly pensioners and the odd lone youngster. The pensioners are great, always clean the machines and put things away properly. No posing in scrunch bum leggings or roaring when they lift weights.
Any earlier and it’s full of gym wankers and too late it’s a free for all.

Went at 9am today, and at half 10 seen 4 high school kids walk in, in uniform. Couldn't believe it tbh. They didn't cause any physical trouble while I was there, but were gawping at all the women and again just formed in a group around various machines taking turns on it and chatting more than anything.

I think adult gyms should be adult gyms, and there should be separate ones for U18s.

Definitely start going early when they’re still
asleep! I’ve only ever gone to the gym in the early evening once. Never again!

Why do you think they have any less right to be there than you?
Or are you cross that you're being outlifted by a 16 yo? My DD is in the gym x 5 a week and lifting 200kg and i couldn't be prouder of her.

I’m not chasing lifting excessive weights.

As I’ve said, my issue is with the entire gym being filled with shrieking children who have no intention of actually working out or any sort of tangible goal, they’re just there to muck about.

It’s just so frustrating because why should I change my routine because people can’t parent their children?

But they’re also not exercising.

Also, not my problem. Get out of the gym till you can use it properly and pay for it yourself.

I moved gyms because the local council gym was full of teens doing what you’ve described and the boys showing off in the free weights section ( no Keane you can’t deadlift 100kg despite what your mates say so please don’t fucking try). I was torn because it is a really good thing to see young people working out but jeez they are irritating. I have enough teens at home so I figured moving was easier.

What a frustrating thread. It's like the parents of gym goers haven't actually read it - I wonder if they ever go to the gym themselves as most of us know what the OP is talking about. Teenagers exercising -amazing! Great. Wish it had been an option when I was that age. Teenagers hogging machines whilst not doing any exercise - irritating. It wouldn't matter if they were older, that'd be irritating too but there is a certain truth in gyms being a hang out space for 16-18 year olds.

@ijustwanttoworkout have you provided any formal feedback to the gym about your experiences? Because otherwise, nothing will be done.

At mine, there are specific teen slots for 11-17yr olds, something like 3 or 4 days a week between 3:30-5:30 - after school, but before the big after work crowd arrive. Seems to work well. Young people are allowed outside of these times on a pre agreed case by case basis, so the young people who are actually training and don't cause a problem have more flexibility (it's a gym that has a support program for young athletes).

I had the reverse problem, in so much that the very few open swim sessions (it's mostly lanes/aqua aerobics/swimming lessons on the time table) we're being dominated by a few arsey lane swimmers who would spread out across the pool, refuse to double up their imaginary lanes, and the kids wanting a casual swim ended up herded into the corner. I fed this back and they have changed these "open" sessions to family sessions now, and Brenda, Nigel and their little gang have to attend the lane sessions instead.

It is so incredibly obvious that OP is not talking about teens who are actually there to exercise.

She is also suggesting that teenagers have less right to be there as they pay a reduced rate. The original post, which i was responding to, was clearly anti teenagers generally and that attitude is grating.

🤷🏻‍♀️ they piss about, don’t want to exercise, disrupt those of us who do want to exercise, and pay less for the pleasure!

TBF I’ve seen adult men and women doing the same minus the school uniform.

We have this problem at my gym. Because it's on a site associated with a school, the students get access for free. Over the last five years, there has been a huge increase in the number of students using the facilities. They are, as a group, less considerate than other users - there are far more issues with them hanging out in packs, monopolising equipment, being unaware of those around them, and even disrupting classes. But there's also a straight-out overcrowding issue, as the gym is continually chasing new members despite finite resources. If I were a member primarily for the gym floor, I'd definitely be looking to go elsewhere. Ultimately, a gym is a service provider, so members need to vote with their credit cards / direct debit if not happy with the provision.

I do see some teenagers exercising - there's an adjacent college and some of the students from there come in.

Others are just sitting on machines and posing.

We did have some playing chase (!) one time, but the gym attendant sorted them out.

I think that part of the problem at our gym is that it's within a leisure centre with a pool, and the teens are used to being able to splash about in the sessions where floats etc are put in the water, so they don't associate the building with serious exercise.

There's also a cafe where - of course - everyone socialises, but some of the teens are a bit on the raucous side and prone to leaving a mess. (There's also that one family that does the same...)

This is what I was going to say too. I doubt many teens would be up before 9am even so just go early!

I'll also add that one time I was having difficulty adjusting a seat on a machine and a teenage laddie came over and offered to help. I thanked him for his kindness.