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Has Your Gym Been More Crowded Since New Year's?

January 13, 2009

The month of January is typically like the Superbowl for gyms. New Year's resolutions tend to get more people off the couch and into their workout clothes, which creates a more crowded gym experience than usual (especially at peak times). Have you noticed a difference in the number of people at your gym or in classes since Jan. 1?

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46 Comments

socktree 4 years 17 weeks

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!

shaunarae 4 years 17 weeks

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!!!

0fashionqueen 4 years 17 weeks

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.

katie225 4 years 17 weeks

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. :(

Spectra 4 years 17 weeks

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.

snowbunny11 4 years 17 weeks

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.

TADOW 4 years 17 weeks

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.

graytb2 4 years 17 weeks

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

Sugar_Rush 4 years 17 weeks

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 :)

kclulu 4 years 17 weeks

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.

bibliophile 4 years 17 weeks

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.

teegaall 4 years 17 weeks

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.

misskacie 4 years 17 weeks

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.

bethinabox 4 years 17 weeks

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.

mondaymoos 4 years 17 weeks

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.

Kimpossible 4 years 17 weeks

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

supercoolnat 4 years 17 weeks

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.

wickedlanie 4 years 17 weeks

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.

Chaoticfury 4 years 17 weeks

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

saraeliz 4 years 17 weeks

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.

Linda McP 4 years 17 weeks

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

classysassy 4 years 17 weeks

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

sunshinepointe 4 years 17 weeks

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!

lydialee_home 4 years 17 weeks

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 :)

redsilkshoes 4 years 17 weeks

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.

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