Diary of an ExSloth

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5 reasons a full gym in January is a good thing

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December is almost over which means one thing and one thing only, the gym is going to be ridiculously full in under a week.

Every year around this time I see tonnes of memes, articles and social media posts about how unhappy some people are with all the ‘noobs’ taking over their gyms. I understand that it might be hard to give up your regular parking spot or have to wait to use the machines you want to. I really do.

But that doesn’t mean that it is a bad thing that more people are turning up at your gym in the new year. Nor should you be openly treating it as such.

5 reasons to celebrate when your gym is full in January | ExSloth.com

As you know my fitness has been off and on over the last year and I’ve set a goal to recommit to hitting GoodLife Fitness 4 times a week after the holiday craziness. So this issue hits a little close to home for me.

I’ve been through the whole ‘getting used to the gym for the first time’ thing and I gotta say it sucks. As a beginner, chances are you have no idea what you’re doing and the last thing you need is someone moaning and groaning about how you’re inconveniencing their life by being at the gym.

That alone should be enough encouragement to handle the influx of newcomers with patience. But for those of you who need a little more convincing, here are a few reasons why a full gym in January is actually pretty awesome.

1. That ‘noob’ is actually a goal crushing rockstar

So many people have ‘joining a gym’ or ‘working out more’ on their New Year’s Resolutions list but the majority of them never follow through. Getting to the gym for the first time ever or in my case, after a long absence, is hard. If we have the courage and drive to make that healthy lifestyle change, don’t punish us for it. It’s a good thing.

2. We all have to start somewhere

Most of us didn’t drop from our mothers’ wombs with the ability to log multiple miles a day or lift heavy. We all had a first day. I’d actually had my gym membership for 4 months before I started going regularly. It wasn’t until I made one of my New Year’s resolutions in 2013 to get to the gym more that I gave it a real go. And I kept at it consistently for over almost 3 years. I maybe be basically starting over next year but those three years are proof that hitting the gym in January isn’t just a fad for everyone.

3. It’s a chance to be an inspiration

There were so many people at the gym when I first started who pushed me to do more. The ladies in my group classes like BodyPump, BodyAttack and BodyStep, were a constant source of advice and inspiration. When I had no idea how set up my risers for Step or my bars for Pump, they were happy and willing to help. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have the chance to pay it forward and inspire or – at the very least – assist some of the newcomers?

4. The #fitfam just got a little bigger

The world of health and fitness has exploded in the last couple years. It’s amazing to have thought provoking conversations about nutrition, exercising and healthy living with people – sometimes virtual strangers – who are just as passionate about those things as I am. And knowing that there will soon be even more people sharing this movement with the world? Well, that’s freaking awesome.

5. They’ll probably be there anyway

Okay, this one isn’t really a reason to be happy about noobs but rather a reason not to get worked up about their presence.

Sure some people may leave before January is over but there are still going to be a lot of new people at the gym in the first few months of the year. Working yourself up about it isn’t gonna change much, except your attitude at the gym. If you resolve to just enjoy your workout regardless of who’s there and what their level of fitness or commitment to getting fit is, everyone will be much happier.

What about you?

What’s your take on the influx of gym goers in January?

New to the gym? Here are a few tips to help you enjoy it:

5 easy changes to help you enjoy exercise more via @ExSloth | ExSloth.com

This post was written as part of the GoodLife Fitness Blogger Ambassador Program; however all opinions expressed are my own.

Originally published in January 2015. Updated in December 2016.

Photo Credit: By S Pakhrin from DC, USA – NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo 2015, CC BY 2.0, Link

Comments

  2. Gosh, I’ve been so annoyed at everyone whinging about the gym newbies. You know why? SO SO SO many of my friends whinging on facebook or twitter about this were newbies once. ANd not just newbies, but seriously overweight and endangering their health. It’s like they’ve forgotten where they came from!
    jess meddows recently posted…Pine Scones

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    • As someone who knows how hard it is to get in the gym after a lifetime or a long period of inactivity, I HAVE to respect anyone who makes the decision to get active, regardless of the time of year. And if they don’t keep up the habit, I just hope they find their way back eventually, but I can’t think badly of them, because I’ve been there.

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  5. Love this post!! It breaks my heart when people judge the newbies at the gym. We were all them at one point or another! I went to Bodypump this week and it was PACKED there were no bars left. This one girl was complaining OUTLOUD and being super rude about new people being there. I was shocked, we all need to be supportive of those trying to make lifestyle changes!!
    Whitney recently posted…Popular Posts in 2014

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    • It’s insane how rude and territorial people can get about the gym! I’ve seen the same things happen on release week when the regulars get angry that ‘their’ spaces are taken. Where’s the support & sense of community?

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  6. Like everything else, if you don’t want to deal with the influx of people, adjust your schedule or learn to deal with it! It’s like traffic at the mall around the holidays, people grocery shopping on Sundays, or people eating Mexican on Taco Tuesday! It’s not that big of an inconvenience… and if it is to ya, time to readjust your priorities! Me, I’m always happy when I don’t have to look like the “worst” in the gym!
    Chris recently posted…2015 – No Fear

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    • This is spot on! Just change your schedule a little to compensate. Additionally, I see it as an opportunity to make new connections and hopefully inspire one or two people to change their lives for the better. Think of the beginning of the year as your opportunity to grow from ‘gym member’ to ‘fitness mentor’. Imagine if all of us regulars would aspire to help at least one of those people to stick with it and make it more comfortable for them. We can’t complain about the health status of our communities when we aren’t willing to be a part of the solution.
      Saguren Redyrs recently posted…Use exercise to improve your sleeping habits

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    • I’ve never encountered it on my own, but I have friends who stopped gymming because of the way they’re treated by some regulars. The world (or at least the gym) would seriously be a better place if people were a little more encouraging!

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  10. I think it’s awesome! I don’t currently belong to a gym, but I remember the January joiners from the days where I -did- have a membership, and I honestly liked seeing more people trying to get healthy… and that’s not even taking into account some of the other things you mentioned here! Sure, some people may not stick with it, but maybe next year will be their year… or the year after that. As long as they’re making the effort, I think it’s great.
    Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. banana bread granola bars .

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  11. LOVE THIS. I do sometimes get annoyed by how crowded the gyms get this time of year but then I remind myself how great it is that people want to get fit and moving and healthier! I love your comment about inspiring others — I hadn’t ever thought about it like that but just being at the gym could motivate someone to keep on trucking! Great post.

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    • Even now, when I go to the gym and can usually motivate myself, there’s always someone who inspires me to do more. So I like thinking that I’m that inspiration for someone else 🙂

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  14. This is all so true. There’s a lot of hate going on with regards to the January gym crowd, but I agree that at least they’re there and giving it a shot! If we were all a little more encouraging and welcoming maybe they wouldn’t all drop like flies within a week or two. I do have to admit though, I get a little annoyed with the young kids who go there because it’s the cool thing to do in January and hang around on their iPads and iPhones 😉
    Ariana recently posted…26 Things I’d Like to Learn During My Next 26 Years

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  16. I’ve belonged to my gym for over a year, but after being gone for the summer and coming back home to an extra-demanding new job, I hadn’t been going. I started back to the gym after the kids went back to school after winter break….very hesitantly. I knew I wouldn’t be recognized. I feared that the gym would be overcrowded or that I would stand out as one of the newbies. Luckily, my gym hasn’t been overcrowded at the time I’ve been going (8-9 am) and everyone has been friendly. Thank goodness! I doubt I would have gone every day this week if I had felt the glares or disapproval of the regulars. My biggest fear was standing out. I’m grateful that I seemed to fit right back in.
    Laura “Lolli” Franklin recently posted…Veggie Crunch Salad {Weight Watchers 2 PointsPlus}

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  17. I agree. My Zumba class was a mob scene this morning, but I just take it with a grain of salt. They’ll be gone in a few months, although I’d be happy enough if they’d stay. Towards the end of the year, the classes aren’t as much fun because they’ll only have a handful of people in them. #SITSSharefest

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  18. Ah so true! I actually just wrote about this in my email newsletter – this week I noticed the hoards and I instantly got frustrated when my ‘usual’ locker was taken, and I had to wait for some equipment… but then I thought – hang on. It’s motivating to see all these new comers take control of their fitness and get to the gym in Jan. It reminds me, like you said, we all start somewhere – it’s the showing up and getting started that counts! So props to those who at least give it a go. (Looking forward to March though 😉
    Cat recently posted…50 Pushups in 50 Days

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  19. I would never be annoyed at individuals for trying to do the right thing, but I have to admit that collectively it does drive me nuts how there are hoards and then not. On a good day I had to wake up at 5:15 to get a bike at my popular 6am spin, and January is worse. Call me selfish, but I’m darn tired! But it’s nice to be reminded of a positive attitude I could have. And I will def always smile and help a newbie on a bike beside mine (but I just may curse them if I’m forced to do a treadmill and they leave the full class early! Ha!)
    Ann recently posted…Abalone is nothing like Beefaroni

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  23. Just signed up myself! I’m afraid I’ll be in with the rest of us noobs 😂😂

    Happy New Year everyone and good luck with the fitness!

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