yes...but give it a couple weeks and the new years resolution people will clear out. my yoga class was WALL to WALL. ugh.

ditto tsp- it'll clear out by the end of the month like every single year at this time.

A little bit, but nothing unmanageable. I really wish people would stick with these resolutions though and make them be lifestyle changes rather than an all-or-nothing approach.

The only real reason I wish ppl would stick to their resolutions is because newbies who don't know how to use the gym (wipe down equipment please, and SHARE, for goodness sakes) can be sooo aggravating.

It was PACKED last week, but good to know I still have it pretty much to myself on a Sunday afternoon - guess the resolutions don't stretch *that* far then...

My gym was packed on the first Monday of January, but it's already started to clear out a bit. What I can't stand is the fact that lots of new gym goers just sit at the weight machines, do one or two lifts, and then sit and watch the TV the rest of the time, while I'm waiting for machines. I can't wait until they give up and sit on the couch the rest of the year. Just because you go to the gym doesn't mean you're doing anything good. Work out or go home!!!

Sorry, I'm frustrated today.

I just switched gyms because of this.

i figured it would be but it seems totally empty

My gym has been incredibly crowded and I agree with other posters that it's not just the crowds but the obnoxious, inexperienced gym goers that drive me nuts. I'm pretty flexible with my workouts so I'll adjust based on what isn't being used but I cannot stand the people that use weight machines/benches as chairs, don't put equipment back where it belongs (what is so hard about putting weights back in the tree in order??), chat on the mats instead of stretching, and just basically annoy all of the gym regulars. February will be mostly back to normal as everyone gets lazy again.

I've been sick since New Year's, and haven't been to the gym. My gym is always packed on Mondays, and by Friday it's a ghost gym.

its jammed packed but it will lighted up as the month ends...as usual.

yes and i HATE it. i know that it's a great thing that people are working out more and i love it in theory, but it's really a pain in the ass for those of us who ALWAYS work out. it's like i have to wait for machines while people are 'dilly dallying' on them...and i know that it's mean to say - but that's kind of how i feel sometimes.

Oh yes, I cant even find a parking spot!!

I go to the closest lake near me to exercise. (Hey its free AND beautiful!). I have noticed more people walking slowly at the lake. AT the end of December its always the serious runners and bikers since its so cold.

yes, all the gyms that I've ever belong to usually experience a spike in attendance b/c people are trying to stick to their New Year's resolutions. I feel the same as you ilanac13.

I go in the mornings after most people are at work, or like me, after they've dropped children off at school. I haven't seen it any busier than normal during this time frame since the New Year started. Although I have been to our gym during other times and it has never seemed crowded to me. Busier than normal sometimes (especially after the work crowd gets out of work), but not crowded.

yes, even on sunday afternoon! it is a bit of a pain... so i decided to avoid it all together. i got a balance ball and dumbbells and dusted off the recumbent bike and started a home mini gym. my brother noticed and donated a bowflex he had in his garage! so.. the good part, i now have a little home gym and haven't gone out to the regular one in about 3 weeks. im loving eating a little lunch and then doing a quick weight workout.

I work out at home, but there is a 24 HR gym just down the road from where I live. I have noticed lately that it is packed. Normally from 3-6 PM it is always packed, but I have noticed lately that is stretching into 8 and 9 PM. And on the weekends, the parking lot is always full. I'm sure it'll die down in a few weeks.

I haven't been to mine since we returned from vacation for this reason, I just don't want to run into a crowd, it is a really small workout room and the fact that it is free just adds to it but I guess I will just have to deal with it...sucks.

My gym is usually packed this time of year too. Espeically Monday's...yesterday was horrible!!! I can't stand all the people lol! Oh well, soon I know it will be empty again

It's miserable! 15 minute wait for lockers!!

My Pilates and Bootcamp classes have been PACKED compared to before and some were packed to begin with!

Honestly, as an instructor, we love this as it gives us extra motivation to go teach the class and make the members WANT to stay. However, realistically about 25% of them will not continue through.

I go to the Gym everyday around 5:40am, and normally I can find a parking space close to the entrance. But for this month, I have to park far away from the entrance, there is definitely a lot more people in these few days. Also, I just came back from the bike class, we have only 2 bikes left today, and the instructor said that we have an all time high

I love my gym but yesterday was the first Monday I was there in the New Year. Holy wait for machine batman. I know Mondays are usually bad anyway but this seemed ridiculous. There was even a wait for the showers. Crazy!

unfortunately. it's hard for me to find parking at my gym.

Yesterday was so crowded, today less so. By the end of the month, blessedly, it should be back to normal.

it's been so crazy that there haven't been any lockers available and there is a line for the showers. i hope people start to clear out soon.

I see more people in the beginners classes at the martial arts studio. Luckily, not my class.

Definitely more people. Usually there are only 4-8 people in the cardio room with me, but there was at least 25-30 when I went back to it yesterday. Can't wait until the people give up.

Yes, it's like that every year. And just like last year, they have the National Body Challenge with free 30-day memberships to Ballys. I guess that's good for the people who need to get started on workout programs, but it makes the gym ridiculously crowded.

Wow this is really making me love and appreciate even more my small, private gym. I'm very grateful.

It's soooo packed right now. It's always been really crowded there from 5-7, but now it stretches into 8-10pm sometimes, which is when I usually work out. I can't wait for everyone to give up and go back to watching TV, as awful as that sounds.

Since I'm home on break I haven't gone to my gym since the beginning of December, so I can't say. I wouldn't be surprised if it was more crowded than usual, but we'll see.

I can't really fault people for at least taking the first step to getting in shape; I'm glad for them. I WAS NOT glad when it was my turn at an elliptical machine and the previous user made a huge, wet sneeze all over the handles and computer. Did he use his bounty of hoarded paper towels to wipe down? Did he look for disinfectant or at least give me a sheepish apology? Heavens, no!
NASTY.

Lack of gym manners in newbies (and some olbies) is the absolute WORST.

Oh yeah. I walked into the gym yesterday a little before 6pm and it was packed! A bunch of the treadmills were taken such that you couldn't get one where there is no one on either side (which I like to have). An acquaintance of mine informed me that at another location, she saw loads of people at the gym as early as 4pm, in the beginning of the week.

I just joined a gym in December and am noticing a drastic increase in the number of people who now frequent the gym compared to last month. Parking is a nightmare now! I also notice that Mondays are the most crowded days, but by the time Thursday rolls around, the crowds have somewhat dissipated. I can't wait until this month ends! I hate hords of people, anywhere.

Yup mine is more crowded too but I try not to get too frustrated because I think it is good that more people are hitting the gym and being healthy. Selfishly though I do kinda wish it was back to just the regulars because newbies can be pretty clueless and I like to do circuits, which is pretty impossible with a lot of people in the weight room.

I actually haven't been to my gym for that exact reason the past couple of weeks. Been running outside which is slightly harder with dark nights but ho hum.
Venturing back to the gym tomorrow in fact. I'm not even going to attempt evenings though as it's generally busy enough then as it is! Gonna be there at 7 for when it opens before work

I'm still in college, so the gym here's unbearable the first few weeks of august and january. All the little freshman go home and discover that the freshman 15 isn't a myth It's actually pretty amusing... they skip in in cute little headbands and booty shorts, get on an elliptical for 5 minutes, then collapse and complain to their friends about how gyms are stupid anyways. It clears out in a week or two

it's not more crowded because times are hard and I don't think as many people can afford to get a new membership . Speaking of that, where are the cheap/free gyms? I need to go to one of those.

My gym is actually PACKED right now, and it does drive me a bit crazy. I really can't hate too much though, because I'm glad people are taking an interest in their health, and I live in the Northeast, it's really hard to exercise outside in the winter unless you ski, which is more $$ than a gym membership. Also, I am starting Taekwondo classes tonight, and it would be pretty hypocritical for me to hate on other people who are trying new things in the new year.

The one thing I hate? Hey new gym members, not sure if the signs saying "no cell phones" or "clean the machines" is for real? They are. I could not believe it the other day when a girl on the cross trainer next to me decided to get into a 20 minute fight with her bf on her cell. I probably should have said something, but I just shot her really passive aggressive glares. Ack.

Ugh, YES, our gym is crowded and I freakin' HATE IT!! Mostly because people don't know the rules and they don't sign up for the equipment or they sit there and bug you during your workout and ask you how to use the machines (hello, that's what the gym staff is for) and don't clean the machines when they're done. I try to think altruistically and think of how many people are trying to get healthy, but I know that they all only stay around for a month (or less) and then the gym's back to being deserted again. Sorry if that makes me sound like a gym snob, but it's sort of not fair for the year-round gym-goers to have to deal with the huge influx of people who don't know what they're doing for a month.

oh yeah, it's packed! i teach a cycle class once a week, and last week i had to go around and teach everyone how to set up bikes. but the good thing is they showed up again this week! soooo awesome!

the bad thing is the parking lot. now it's packed.

Actually, I am in the military and I always noticed that by the end of the year that the ;post gym is always packed with people in it. I guess that yes the gyms on post will get a bit overcrowded, but that is ok because it is as long as I get my work out on then I am ok.

on my blog geared towards men: threedayrule.blogspot.com, i mention how frustrating it's been for me to get on a treadmill at 6am!
i have been going about 4 days a week like clockwork for two years and i have never had to wait in line. come 2009 my wait time is as long as my three mile run.
i am happy to see that more people are staying healthy and keeping fit by working out, but maybe those resolutions should be made possible and pleasant for everyone with the addition of more treadmills/machines...

kudos to those who are making the gyms crowded...i just don't want to wait in line anymore!!!

Cannot wait until all the stupids yacking on their cellphones and whining about how HAAARDD it is to list a couple weights are gone.

Also, DON'T THROW ON MORE MAKE-UP AND FRAGRANCE! SOME OF US DO NOT WANT TO CHOKE!