What I love & hate about the gym

LauraMax

LauraMax

Cathlete
Besides the wide variety of equipment & exercise options, that is.

I love the friends I've made. They're such a great bunch, & there's a different weekday crowd than on the weekends so I've met a variety of guys & girls I'm actually willing to socialize with outside of the gym. I didn't make it in last week so when I went last night I was swarmed, everyone making sure I was OK. So nice!

I hate the friends I've made. Love the people, hate the fact that my 1-1 1/4 hour workout has turned into 2 hours b/c everyone wants to chat for a few minutes, which adds up until I'm there much later than I planned.

Any advice on how to stop the chatting without offending anyone or being rude?
 
Hey Laura,
Not much advice but wanted to let you know I have the same problem and it's one of the main reasons I know longer have a gym membership. Can't stand the chit-chat and gossip.

Maybe you should just wear headphones! haha. Maybe then people will leave you alone....
Or you could tell people you've had a change in your schedule and need to get in and out of the gym---you've got no time to talk. Sorry I can't be more of a help. I eventually just gave up but I know you're not willing to. I hope others can help!

Allison
 
Hello Laura,

Lucky you to have made friends at the gym. When I was going to my own gym, everybody seemed so serious and no one approached me, so I did not make any friends at my gym. This could be due to a number of factors:-

1. I used to NOT wear glasses or contact lenses so I could not see anyone's faces when I was there i.e. no eye contact, no friendly glances thus no friends. You could try this if you are short sighted.

2. You could change the workout hours to an unsociable time like early in the mornings or late in the evenings when only die hard gym fanatics go.

3. The people at my gym were there to work and not chat, so that is what everybody did. I didn't see many people standing around chatting to each other when I was there. You could try keeping your head down and get on with it. People will think that you are blanking them, which you are. Eventually they will get the message and leave you alone.

4. You could just say 'I'll call you later and we'll go for coffee and a chat'.

Not much help for you here, but just wanted to tell you my experience.


Yen
 
I keep my headphones on and my ipod running. I stay "zoned" in my little world and only chat here and there momentarily. People are less apt to bother me when I'm into my music.


Debbie


Brain cells come & brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.
 
I hate that too ...

My way of dealing is keep answers short .. and to the point .. no open ended sentences .. don't make eye contact and look down or at the machines/weights .. people usually will get the hint .. LOL ..

the head phones also work ... put your ipod ear buds on and act like you don't hear them ..
:7
 
>4. You could just say 'I'll call you later and we'll go for
>coffee and a chat'.

I agree with this one. Or set up a time after your workoout to go out?

Wearing obvious headphones and making it clear that you are there to workout is also a good idea.
 
I was thinkin' a pre-workout meal - a bowl of chili with a side cup of Kashi!

Sorry Laura - couldn't resist!

Diane
 
Shelley, you are so bad! But in a good way. :)

I can't do the headphone thing. Those stupid wires get in my way. Maybe I'll try the coffee idea, except I don't have much free time for coffee. :-( See, that's the positive & negative of the gym--for people like me, who spend the majority of our waking hours at work, the gym is a nice social release. But it also cuts into what little free time I have to decompress at home & spend QT w/the pug.

Oh well, one of life's little give & takes I suppose. I need to find a happy medium.
 
Can you set aside 10 minutes at the beginning of your gym time (or at the end) for socializing? Then get your game face on and avoid socializing during the actual workout?

If you use cardio machines, you can talk to someone while on the treadmill, etc, and get your gym socializing done there.
 
Not really. I get there fairly early b/c technically my hours end at 4:30. So the problem is, as people arrive they have to stop & chat. 10 minute chat here, 10 minute chat there, if you have 5 friends you pretty much kill an hour.

And I only do cardio there on the w/e. Plus, I don't want to chat when I'm doing cardio, it takes away from the intensity.
 
Maybe wear a watch and while they start chatting look at your watch and say "Uh oh, I've need to be done in such and such time. Can I get with you later?"
 
That is what I would do, I used to hate talkers at the gym. I wear my headphones and smile at folks, but that was it.:)
 
>Shelley, you are so bad! But in a good way. :)
>
>I can't do the headphone thing. Those stupid wires get in my
>way. Maybe I'll try the coffee idea, except I don't have much
>free time for coffee. :-( See, that's the positive &
>negative of the gym--for people like me, who spend the
>majority of our waking hours at work, the gym is a nice social
>release. But it also cuts into what little free time I have
>to decompress at home & spend QT w/the pug.
>
>Oh well, one of life's little give & takes I suppose. I need
>to find a happy medium.


Laura,

If you hate the wires from the ipod like me, check out the website isoundcap.com. I have four of these hats, 3 visors and 1 baseball cap. They are great and you won't have to mess with the wires. I hated that to when I would go to the gym after getting mine for christmas. I especially use the visors when I run outside, it has made a huge difference. Just my $.02 worth.

Annette
 
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