Men @ the Gym

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Lucky13MN

IWhat I got out of it was that there's a sudden burst in members

I don't go to a gym but I know what you're saying. But doesn't it happen every year right after new years? Is it possible to change workout times to a time when the gym will be less crowded until things return to normal? If not, it seems like we would just have to adjust to the situation until it returns back to normal. But I know it's easier said than done since I don't go to a gym. Perhaps I should just keep my mouth shut on this one
It just appeared on the surface that these people are being judged for their lack of effort. Even if they have minimal effort, at least they are there doing something instead of laying around watching tv. A journey of a thousand miles starts with just one step.

[ajarvis]

I too applaud the newcomers at the gym. The only problem I have is when they are taking up equipment and not doing anything on it. Like reading a book on the leg raise machine. Walking at 2.0mph on the treadmill - you would walk faster outside! If someone is giving it their all then no matter what machine it is, what weight their lifting then great. But if they're just there to be there then it is annoying! Why go to the gym if you're not going to try hard to get better at whatever you're doing?

[mrzool]

I am starting to see a six pack ...nice

[candyass]

Dont get me wrong, its great that people are getting off their respective asses and coming to the gym. What bothers me are the people who are not serious at all about what they are doing. They show up to talk, or sit on a machine for an hour. If the gym is a social outlet for you thats fine, just try not to get in people's way.

If people learned some simple rules, such as not doing curls in a squat rack, everyone would be much more happy.

[Todd]

I agree... the gym is a place to go to lift weights, do cardio, and other exercise related things. If you are not there to do those things, you shouldn't be there at all. If you want to talk with your buds, go to a coffee shop and have at it, otherwise get off the machines, get out of the way and let others do what they are there to do! That's my attitude anyway!

[RichUK]

See, now this is why I'm converting to a home gym! I'm so sick of all my local gyms, I've been a member of them all at some point in time and you can guarantee that around New Years and (to some extent) Summer, it becomes packed with people who really go because they feel that they should, but they have no idea what to do once they're there.

I think this is in large part due to poor quality exercise programs worked out by instructors. I often overhear conversations between new starters and gym instructors and some of the rubbish I hear is often beyond belief!

Also, the regeimes which are planned out for them are often too demanding for new starters. I remember at my first gym, my exercise plan consisted of 40 minutes cardio THEN a full-body weights workout with about 30 sets in total! It was insane and almost put me off the gym straight away until I educated myself and made my own plans.

I honestly believe that if the general public were a little better educated about exercise then we would live in a healthier world! Everyone should visit this site - 6 billion members anyone? :

[rbuchman]

everyone started somewhere BUT I when people
1. Change my wieght and setup just to do five pound chest presses while carrying on a full conversation and asking "how many am I supposed to do" when 100 would not be impossible at that wieght.
2. Walk on the treadmills
3. do assisited dips or pullups without moving their arms.
4. are (and probably always will be) too fat to ever see abs yet do set after set of crunchs (THERE IS NO SPOT REDUCTION!!!)

Go hard or go home is my thought on the matter.

[SurfinAmy]

Originally Posted by sooner_ed

....most will eventually go back to the house because they do not have the intestinal fortitude to continue.

why don't we be an example for them and work hard in the gym.

Perhaps our efforts in the gym will either shame them into going back to the house or inspire them to work even harder than they were.

take pride in the fact you will have better results than they will.

It's too bad though that people can go to the gym and just because they don't work out as hard as someone else feels they should, that they should be judged.

Oh Please Pompous One!!!! Do you hear yourself? I'm judging, huh....whatever dude.......

-Amy

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by SurfinAmy

Oh Please Pompous One!!!! Do you hear yourself? I'm judging, huh....whatever dude.......

-Amy

Now I'm pompous? Yea, I hear myself. You must not be hearing yourself. You were the one judging.

[Pelon]

Gym courtesy is waning just like courtesy in most other activities. Here's a list of things that annoy me at the gym:

1) People sitting on equipment that they don't plan to use

2) Weight droppers - we've probably all dropped weights by mistake, but if you are doing it on every exercise, you need to get a spotter or lower the poundage. Half the weights over 80 lbs are mangled at my gym due to the weight droppers.

3) Dumbells spread everywhere. Why is it so hard to put dumbells back in their rightful place?

4) Weights left on machines / barbells. I actually pulled over 20 weights off a back machine the other day. Over 2/3 were 2.5 and 5 pounders.

5) Weight room employees who do nothing to correct 1-4.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by Pelon

Gym courtesy is waning just like courtesy in most other activities. Here's a list of things that annoy me at the gym:

1) People sitting on equipment that they don't plan to use

2) Weight droppers - we've probably all dropped weights by mistake, but if you are doing it on every exercise, you need to get a spotter or lower the poundage. Half the weights over 80 lbs are mangled at my gym due to the weight droppers.

3) Dumbells spread everywhere. Why is it so hard to put dumbells back in their rightful place?

4) Weights left on machines / barbells. I actually pulled over 20 weights off a back machine the other day. Over 2/3 were 2.5 and 5 pounders.

5) Weight room employees who do nothing to correct 1-4.

I agree with all of this and everything everyone has said. I've done the gym thing before and it's why I prefer my home gym now. When people go there they should be working out. No time or room for just sitting around while others are trying to use the equipment they're sitting on. How hard or intense they are working out is a personal decision. While those of us here put out 110% when we work out, there will always be some people who don't put out as much effort as we do. But that's their decision. They just won't see the same results as we do.

[ajarvis]

There was a guy sitting on the floor reading a paper the other day. The whole time I was in there (half an hour)!! Why bother going. Why not read your paper at home? Just being at the gym does not build muscle or burn fat.

[candyass]

I think the problem is the instructors, at least at my gym. They're clueless, thats all there is too it. I dont claim to be a fitness expert, but it wouldnt be a strecht to say that I know more about fitness and nutrition then all of them combined.

They seem to fall in love with an exercises and tell every hapless newcomer that if they do that exercises they'll look like Arnold in no time. Right now its Smith machine Lunges. I see, on a daily basis, at least 6 people doing this stupid exercises. I really wish more gyms would invest in some competent employees that knew a thing or two about working out.

[Tuna Fish]

Originally Posted by Todd

I agree... the gym is a place to go to lift weights, do cardio, and other exercise related things. If you are not there to do those things, you shouldn't be there at all. If you want to talk with your buds, go to a coffee shop and have at it, otherwise get off the machines, get out of the way and let others do what they are there to do! That's my attitude anyway!

Whoah there, cowboy!!! You're crossing the imaginary line with that one!!

I can't tell ya how many times I've been to the Starbuck's and all these pansy, candyass fools are taking up all the tables and chairs for the sole purpose of....... TALKING of all things!!!

Dang it, I go there to DRINK COFFEE. If those "other people" want to talk, they should get the frick out of the coffee shop and talk somewhere appropriate- but not at a place where people come to ***DRINK COFFEE*** and eat "muffins" and "scones" and such.

Can't the "talkers" take it outside, maybe go home and just talk like the pathetic bunch of ninnies that they truly are???

God I'm so sick of those people!!!!

(End rant, haha!)
Tuna

[jgriffith]

I dont have any problem with people dropping weights, try doing some incline presses with 120's and tell me if you can just set them down. The shoulders take a lot of abuse when setting them down in a slow controlled motion, I'm sure everyones felt that strain before, and even with a spotter its hard to get them down slowly once they fall from a secure position in your hands. Obviously theres a difference between a somewhat controlled drop and rolling them across the gym, but a thud on the floor doesnt bother me one bit.