Give me my gym back

[Anonymous]

What I really wish would go away are the old men sitting on machines and conversing. They stop talking only long enough to check out the young women, usually one small step short of drooling, and then go fling weights around with poor form and much noise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did my first 5k at a new years resolution run. I was fat and out of shape and i walked and cried. And people were amazingly kind! It turned out to be the beginning of a whole new healthy lifestyle for me. Lost 50 pounds and now run 3 miles a day. Thank the lord for the kind people that day who embraced me instead of sneering. Try to be like them.

Love this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with new people. What I don't love are people who need to prove to others how cool they are Like guys who come to the weight room and do ton of curls (often in the one squat rack) and then walk around on their tiny stick legs with their chests thrown out. Or guys who do a deadlift set at 225 (dropping the bar every time) and then look around like they are waiting for a round of applause.

At my gym, the really strong people tend to be quiet and courteous and considerate - like the huge man who saw me waiting to do squats and hurried through his sets of overhead press at 185 pounds so I I could use the squat rack. Or the guy who cheerfully sets up in any odd corner when the deadlift platform is being used and proceeds to deadlift sets up to 500 pounds without dropping or banging the weights at all.

OMG are you at my gym? They do this despite the signs everywhere exhorting them NOT to drop their weights! A-holes! But those are our regulars, sadly. Newbies are kind and read the signs.

One of the employees came out of her office to tell someone to stop dropping the weights. She suggested he scale back if he had to drop them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to work in a gym, trust me the people we made fun of were not the new years people it was the people like you.

+1 my best friend in my early 20s was the aerobics director at our local gym. She couldn't STAND the Bs that thought they owned the gym and looked down on the folks coming to the gym for the first time. January and February were her least favorite months of the year at work because of all the kvetching she had to deal with from the nasty "I can't stand resolutioners" women. It's also extra pathetic seeing women trying to recreate the cool kid clubs in adulthood. Newsflash, no one cares that you've been going to the 6:30 PM Wednesday Turbokick class every week for the last 5 years. It doesn't make you special and it doesn't make the instructor your bestie who cares more about you than Susan who just started this week.

Anyone trying to make an improvement to their health and well being should be applauded. Yes, most will be gone by March but some of them won't, some of them will stick around and keep working out and hopefully improve their health and/or physical fitness. And the people that don't stay this year might make it stick next year.

So take your "OMG I can't wait until my favorite spin class is just us regs again" crap and stick it in your cellulite free buttocks.

Lol

I love you

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to jump in and say how encouraged I am by this discussion (to clarify-im pleased by the negative response to the initial 2 postings). As someone who has struggled for years to “get on track” it’s really nice to see how encouraging and supportive so many of you are.

[Anonymous]

Two weeks in and the gym is back to normal. The fastest January drop off ever.

[Anonymous]

I love newbies. Or those trying to to get back on track who used to be at the gym years ago. Those working on being more consistent. Those trying new habits / routines.

I can't stand the guys (sorry didn't see any females past 2 weeks) - coughing everywhere, not trying to cover anything up, jumping off the treadmills- blowing their noses, jumping back on and coughing, blowing germs everywhere. no gym wipes, no attempt to not have their germs fly everywhere - nothing. but strutting around the gym - not sure why?

It's gross and seems rude. I guess they get over their illnesses fast, which is great for them. But you know, some other folks at the gym, it can be a little more challenging (parents with children with immune compromised systems, older folks trying to get a work out in). I don't expect the gym to be germ free - but why treat it that way - would you do that at work or other places?

sorry for the vent

[Anonymous]

23:10 - lucky. I went around noon today and it was super crazypants crowded. I wish I'd stuck to my usual 5:45 a.m. workout time, even though I didn't have to work today. Another week or two and mine should be back to normal.

I'm supportive of people starting a workout plan! I think everyone should work out and be healthy. I just wish some would start it in February or March or April or any other time but January 2nd. It would be more fun for everyone.

[Anonymous]

I like working out around other people even though I could work out in my basement. I have a bench, free weights, bands, balls of various weights and sizes, but I always get distracted working out at home.

I like taking group classes for the same reason. I like feeling the energy of people getting their dopamine.

[Anonymous]

I have no problems with New Years resolutioners - as long as they’re not curling in the squat rack. Nothing gets be more mad at the gym than walking up to the squat rack or platform so I can squat or do pulls/cleans and someone is there doing curls.

They seem to wonder around a lot too, if you have a question ask someone. Most people will answer it for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with new people. What I don't love are people who need to prove to others how cool they are Like guys who come to the weight room and do ton of curls (often in the one squat rack) and then walk around on their tiny stick legs with their chests thrown out. Or guys who do a deadlift set at 225 (dropping the bar every time) and then look around like they are waiting for a round of applause.

At my gym, the really strong people tend to be quiet and courteous and considerate - like the huge man who saw me waiting to do squats and hurried through his sets of overhead press at 185 pounds so I I could use the squat rack. Or the guy who cheerfully sets up in any odd corner when the deadlift platform is being used and proceeds to deadlift sets up to 500 pounds without dropping or banging the weights at all.

OMG are you at my gym? They do this despite the signs everywhere exhorting them NOT to drop their weights! A-holes! But those are our regulars, sadly. Newbies are kind and read the signs.

One of the employees came out of her office to tell someone to stop dropping the weights. She suggested he scale back if he had to drop them.

Anyone who has to drop the weights at 225 is weak. More to the point, sometimes they make a loud noise, I don’t have an issue with it if it’s not intentional or someone is trying to get a PB. Try pulling 600 and see how gently you put it down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go at 5am. It's he same crowd of people year round. people who start resolution don't show up at that hour.

But then the 5am crowd will roll their eyes at the newbie OP. There is always someone "better" than you so it's really not worth comparing/judging.

Uh, early morning person who doesn't roll her eyes at newbies - and I don't see my fellow gym rats rolling their eyes either. This is bs.
But it is true that while we get a few extra people early in the morning, it doesn't get really really crowded in January. Come on by!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no problem with new people. What I don't love are people who need to prove to others how cool they are Like guys who come to the weight room and do ton of curls (often in the one squat rack) and then walk around on their tiny stick legs with their chests thrown out. Or guys who do a deadlift set at 225 (dropping the bar every time) and then look around like they are waiting for a round of applause.

At my gym, the really strong people tend to be quiet and courteous and considerate - like the huge man who saw me waiting to do squats and hurried through his sets of overhead press at 185 pounds so I I could use the squat rack. Or the guy who cheerfully sets up in any odd corner when the deadlift platform is being used and proceeds to deadlift sets up to 500 pounds without dropping or banging the weights at all.

OMG are you at my gym? They do this despite the signs everywhere exhorting them NOT to drop their weights! A-holes! But those are our regulars, sadly. Newbies are kind and read the signs.

One of the employees came out of her office to tell someone to stop dropping the weights. She suggested he scale back if he had to drop them.

Anyone who has to drop the weights at 225 is weak. More to the point, sometimes they make a loud noise, I don’t have an issue with it if it’s not intentional or someone is trying to get a PB. Try pulling 600 and see how gently you put it down.

This is the PP originally quoted. Exactly - it's not the noise per se, but the circumstances. Deadlift platforms and bumper plates are built to allow for banging the weights. It's gonna happen. My issue is with guys who think they are strong because they do a set at 225 (mixed grip, or with straps ) and seem to make an effort to make as much noise as possible in the process. I'm a skinny old guy, and I don't exactly put the bar down silently when the weight gets above 315, but I also don't drop it from the absolute top of my pull every damn time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no problems with New Years resolutioners - as long as they’re not curling in the squat rack. Nothing gets be more mad at the gym than walking up to the squat rack or platform so I can squat or do pulls/cleans and someone is there doing curls.

They seem to wonder around a lot too, if you have a question ask someone. Most people will answer it for you.

YES!! Drives me insane. It's called a *squat* rack for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And also? DON'T GO TO THE GYM SICK. Sorry it sucks that your cold or flu lined up with your New Year's resolutions to get in shape, but go home, rest. Come back when you're 100% healthy.

OMG this.