I Hate September at the Gym... Almost as Much as January!

Does anyone else get annoyed with the sudden overload of people that arrive at their gym every January to kick off their "new years resolutions"?

Has anyone else noticed that September at the gym is JUST AS BAD with all the "new school year" resolutions?

<rant>

I would like to think of myself as a (usually) supportive person and I really do think everyone should exercise... but seriously I can not wait until the end of the month when all these people give up and leave my gym space for the people who are actually dedicated!

My gym was not designed for the amount of people that have been there this week. I actually LEFT the gym 5minutes into my workout last night due to the surplus of people. I was not impressed that I had to leave home at 8pm to go BACK and give it another try. 

For September I think I'll have to switch my after work routine to later in the evening (not ideal) (pisses me off) in order to avoid these temporarily motivated people.

*sigh*

</end rant>

hmmm, this sounds oddly familiar, deja vu-ish even. .

anyway, i have to go to the gym at 8pm every time. cannot stand waiting for anything at the gym!!!! im just a little glad most people use those stupid weight machines instead of free weights.

i encourage everyone here at cc to use free weights. but there are some times i feel like saying to some of my fellow gym members, "actually that machine over there would be better to do squats (get outta my way!)" im ok with being a hypocrite, really.

joining in on the rant... with all the back to school rush come the people who have not seen anyone all summer, so they want to stand on and around the machines and chat (loudly) with one another.  It's all I can do to control myself when I have to keep turning up my iPod louder and louder to try to drown them out.  I am at the gym to work-out, not to listen to every wife's tales of woe about how happy she is the kids are back in school and how much of a jerk her husband is.  I'd really like to tell them to take the conversation out in the parking lot and free up the machines and the space for people who want to work-out

okay... end of my rant also!

I agree. Im actually planning on walking outside for the next couple of weeks to avoid of the gym craziness at the University gym. Eventually, most of the students will slack off and then I will start.

I work at a university and use the faculty/staff gym, which means there are a TON of people who show up at the end of August after their summer off.  It's not quite as bad as January, but it's still pretty annoying!  I'm always like, "Why do you bother when you're just going to give up in 3 weeks anyway?"

That was mean.  At least they're getting 3 weeks of exercise.  Better'n none at all.  Sigh.

I would say LOOK at the bright side. If there were not the entourage of people paying memberships your fees would go up Ie: more users usually = lower costs. So when they 'give up' you get the luxury of having more space at a lower cost. What month did you start your membership? Just curious

I agree! I'm a grad students and I use the school gym and these past two weeks it's been hard to even get a treadmill. Not to mention I end up shoved in a corner during the group fitness classes because there are so many people. As bad as it sounds, I can't wait for all these people to give up and head back to the couch lol.

Interesting ... I was just thinking this morning at the gym that there were a whole lot of new people there - hadn't really thought about it but it makes sense to me now! 

I still think January is worse for the goal motivated/time orientated ones .... the influx of newbies at the gym is annoying ......

Good thing is we know that we go on an ongoing basis ....

The worst part to me is that they don't know the rules, and somehow can't read the signs.  They don't wipe everything down, they don't sign up on the board for the cardio machines...grrr.  I guess on the plus side it really makes me appreciate the other regulars.

No parking spots when I went to the gym this morning. What the heck?! Normally I would just shrug and start walking to the gym but I have to shlep my kids along for childcare when I do the early morning classes. Why can't the OTHER people walk in? If they're suddenly desperate to lose weight that couldn't hurt! (I'm half grumpy because I gained weight this week and half just a grump)

I am going to join the rant as well..because I've noticed it too!

Ever since school started there has been a TON of people at the gym, like a freakish amount and it's also been irking me latley.  I see them on the elliptical and treadmill and I just want to roll my eyes at them.  I guess I feel like a little protective of my gym which is mean of me, hehe.  I mean, I used to frequent it every day last year (just about) and had it all to myself in the mornings and the first week of school there were just too many people. 

 

ANYWAY..I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. :D

Original Post by r4eboxer:

I would say LOOK at the bright side. If there were not the entourage of people paying memberships your fees would go up Ie: more users usually = lower costs. So when they 'give up' you get the luxury of having more space at a lower cost. What month did you start your membership? Just curious

Your question has a long answer (sorry): About 9 or 10 years ago I was an employee for 4 to 5 years at the gym I am now a member at. (I hated January/Sept then too! Especially with surplus of newbies who didn't know the system. Newbies are fine mind you - but 200 all at once gets to you!)  My most recent "membership" began in October '07 because I had just moved back 'home' from another city. Previous to that I had free access to a gym through my office.

Side note: I don't believe most people actually ever follow through on their resolutions. My new years resolutions are always very obtainable... for example one year it was "Eat more cheesecake". That was something I could handle! haha.

IMO: More members doesn't = lower gym memberships. In fact they will charge you as much as they think they can convince you to pay.  And then they'll just keep selling as many memberships as possible because they assume most members won't actually USE the gym. (which is true) I couldn't believe the attendance records our gym kept for people. SO much wasted money out there by people.

Something else for everyone to look out for:
I can't predict the exact month - but if you live in an area with "winter" you'll notice the first warm spell brings out all the people who realize they'll need to be wearing a bathing suit and less sweaters soon. They too will be gone by June. :)

Well, I walked into the local university's gym today seeing as it's one of the perks of returning to the Fold.

 Good god, I hope that wasn't the regulars I saw there today :)

Oh my Gosh I couldn't agree with you more!!!  I get especially ticked at the people that come into a class that you have been taking forever and they stand in "My" spot  But I know they will soon be gone so I just glare and bear it. 

I am SOOO glad I go to a city gym...all the college kids that go there for the summer are gone!! Granted I didn't mind them as I just graduated myself so they kept me company, but now the gym is not so packed!!  And all the kids who just came pack to the city for school, well they're busy crowding up the university gyms and leaving mine alone! yay!!

I do hate january though...very very much

This is reason #5 of why I stopped going to gyms, and started investing in personal equipment.

Original Post by laurdie11:

I am SOOO glad I go to a city gym...all the college kids that go there for the summer are gone!! Granted I didn't mind them as I just graduated myself so they kept me company, but now the gym is not so packed!!  And all the kids who just came pack to the city for school, well they're busy crowding up the university gyms and leaving mine alone! yay!!

I do hate january though...very very much

 I actually usually FAIL miserably at being active in January because of the influx of attemptees.  I just quit all together for a month!

I have to admit that most of the increase in numbers at my gym seems to be Moms. I don't think its necessarily just students that see Sept. as the start to a "new year".

I do remember the University gyms just being absolutely ridiculous... to the point I went off campus and paid money for a gym!

freedomfrom: Personal equipment is great!!! I get distracted if I try to workout at home though. PLus I definitely do not have the space...

Betzc ...."I just glare and bear it"  Wow what a classic play on "grin and bear it"  I love everything about that statement.  Thank you for bringing that into my life.