Let’s just say the…noises…emanating from the crowd are a lot more diverse:eek:;). We haven’t had a lot of folks just up and leave the session, which is what has happened during previous waves of new-but-uninformed folks try it out…maybe the folks working there have been instructured to be more clear about the experience up front…
The Y was substantially less crowded today and it was all the fresh young faces that were missing. I guess they were college kids off on break.
ha! Something like “Just so you know, doing yoga in a 100 degree room is no picnic. It’s less like stretching in a hottub and more like a workout on the surface of the sun.”
I was actually a New Year’s resolutioner back in 2009, although I didn’t sign up for the gym first thing. I did workout videos at home for a while and then started running. I only joined the gym in September or October, when I wanted cardio machine availability on bad weather days. So I probably don’t count as one of the Resolutionary Army clogging up the gyms, but just wanted to throw out there that sometimes resolutions do stick.
I definitely agree that a lot of people have no idea how much work it really takes to burn off not very many calories. When I started tracking calories, I was horrified to realize that running for half an hour burns off, oh, about a third of a Starbucks muffin. And that’s running, for crap’s sake, not just ambling along at slow speed on a treadmill for 20 minutes. I’ve heard friends say things like, “Oh, I’ll just go for a walk after dinner to burn off dessert.” Yeah, not unless you’re going for a two-hour walk, pal.
They are everywhere at the two gyms I go to (one by work and one by home, same chain.)
The thing is, my Pump class is packed (and for the love of god, newbies, stop packing up in the middle of class!) My full hour advanced RPM spin class is not as affected, which is good, I’d hate for her to slow down that one to let people catch up. It’s my aggression killer! I did a regular RPM and it was full. I don’t want to be “that guy” either but I’m watching people without enough tension on the bikes wreck their knees. It’s pretty painful to watch.
I’ve come a long way myself from 10 minutes at low speed on a treadmill being all I could handle, and I don’t mind it as much as I did last year for some reason. But it’s awkward and hard to watch them struggle, particularly when the need to do something differently to keep from hurting themselves. More tension, for example, is “harder” but when you’re standing on the pedals you’re going to hurt yourself, so you’re not doing any favours to your body if you don’t turn it up.
They seem to be well clear of the weight room, though. That’s also kinda painful and hurty to watch.
Hahaha they do that because they can’t hack it! Because they look at you and think “Hey, I wanna look like that” or worse “I look just like her” and do the same weight you do. If they did little weights they’d make the whole class. Guys sometimes do twice the weight I do - and that’s even funnier. I don’t care how stupid they are and I won’t offer help unless I’m directly asked. Someone dropped out of my power yoga class tonight. Hint: if it says “power yoga”, do you think you should go?
But here’s the think - you’re generally a straightshooter on the board. Yes, some resolutions stick - stats show between 10-20%. But that leaves us hating this time of year. Congrats on making it a year! You’re not in the army, either.
I spoke too soon - my yoga class was packed tonight. Half new people, two very special people were FOB’s who have yet to learn to use deodorant. That slicked-back hair wasn’t from product…
They don’t wanna look like me, my BMI is still in the 29 range. 
If they look at me at all it’s all about them thinking they don’t want to lift less than the fat girl. I had a kilo and a half on each end for weeks when I first started. I do the five kg challenge now each time.
There have been some ridiculously large weights going around. Mostly you hear them say they used to lift weights. Pump ain’t like that. I lift, too, and I lift heavy when I’m doing regular sets. Pump, I’m happy with my lighter weights cause I can walk the next day. I lift enought to get my heart rate up.
Most of the packing up here seems to be to beat the rush for the door. I just don’t appreciate weights being carried over my head while I’m setting up for stomach tracks. Our instructor actually says that if you have to go, just go, he’ll pack up for you. I’m happy to pack up other people near me if they don’t drop a 5kg plate on my head please.
This one, for me. I remember in past years that things have always been really crowded the day after New Year’s, and I was dreading it as always, but last week wasn’t that bad. But today I could barely find an open locker, and I squeezed in to the last available elliptical. No offense to those legitimately making an effort, but February can’t come soon enough.
(Of course, for those legitimately making an effort, you’ll still be here in mid-Feb, so hey! Hello, new gym buddy! Need a spot?)
I go to a Y as well, and our gym definitely gets more crowded during school holiday periods. I’ve noticed no glut of new adult members in January, though.
First of all… congratulations, MsWhatsit! If only more resolutioners were like you. It sounds like you actually tried to educate yourself somewhat upon starting out. If so, then that alone sets you apart from other resolutioners.
On other matters…
Very true, and not just with regard to bike users. So many of the resolutioners do things that are just painful to watch… whether it’s moving frenetically, exercising with terrible form, or whatnot.
Another poster asked why one should care, if these people don’t affect us directly. The reality is, however, is that sometimes it’s hard not to notice and cringe. I’m not talking about beginners who have to take it easy at first. Rather, I’m talking about folks who either risk hurting themselves or who are clearly wasting their efforts. It can be difficult to watch indeed.
I’m going to a university gym, so it’s less the New Year’s crowd and more the new semester. It’ll be bad for a couple weeks, and then back to normal.
Ugh, they’re still there, though thinning a bit thankfully. I notice more heavily of what I did last year: Monday is CRAZY, Tuesday is crazy, Wednesday has more people than a typical May, Thursday is barren and Friday I can practically hear pins drop.
I’m super excited though, I got new shoes!
My rule of thumb is that the RA avoids the free weights, and hogs the machines. But they are easily intimidated, so no harm.
The herd is thinning already where I work out. But as ever, there are a couple of those who are sticking around. Pretty soon they will be asking timidly, “Can I work in with you?”
As long as they don’t mind that I don’t wipe down the equipment until I am done, sure, jump in. And another gym rat joins the pack.
Regards,
Shodan
I dont have a problem with people caring. Doing it by looking down your nose isnt my idea of how to do it though, comes across more as chestbeating than a sincere concern.
One of the biggest problems with gyms are the cliquey aspect, and the reformed smoker phenomenon.
Otara