Gym

I think my ideal, if slightly sad, solution would be to get a peloton bike at home but I don’t really have a space for it.

I can only speak for myself but I prefer to exercise alone most of the classes in my local gym cardio and I’m not too impressed with that. Prefer to do things at my own pace.

that said my experience of the gym started after Covid. I do find it frustrating waiting for weight machines as it happens I’m in the gym right now waiting for weight machines. but the convenience of a 24 hour gym and my limited funds far outweighs that concern.

I think all gyms underinvesting weight machines largely because they’re actually pretty expensive to maintain. they seem to break quite regularly. And obviously if you’ve got one machine but you need to use in your routine and that you only have one copy of that machine well there’s a lot less flexibility than with a running machine where you can have six of them and they’re all the same as each other

Have you tried free online exercise classes?

Thanks Iain. That’s a good idea.

Deleted User said:

Most of the time they haven’t, but the reception people pretty much always start the class without the sound switched on

I'm a problem solver by nature so apologies if I'm always trying to find a fix - feel free to ignore me.

For this issue it may be worth having a check list to run through with reception rather than letting them just deal with it. Maybe also get their phone number and call from the room of the class rather than wandering back and forth to sort it.

I'm only pointing this out as I know it can be hard to change the way we routinely do things - others are not as thorough as us so sometimes they need micromanaging until they get it right, to get us off their back if nothing else.

I always have a good attempt to fix the problem before giving up on something but that is only my approach. It may not work for others.

They haven’t always started. Most of the time they haven’t, but the reception people pretty much always start the class without the sound switched on, which entails me going up and down to reception for help, which stresses me out.

Sorry. I haven’t been clear. I think i just need to give up on the gym.

Deleted User said:

They only start them when someone comes in and asks them to start

The point I made was that is the classes always seem to have started when you arrive then ask when they started - there is probably someone starting them 20 mins before your normal arrival time (as people are creatures of habit) so this has become the unofficial schedule.

I would speak to reception to find out if it is always the same people asking for the classes at this time and  arrange to speak to them to see if this is a regular thing so you can adjust your timing slightly to be there for it.

It means changing your schedule with you only have to do once to align then it becomes the new normal for you. Least hassle and you get to have others you will become familiar with alongside you in the class.

This is the problem - they aren’t scheduled any more. They only start them when someone comes in and asks them to start. I find it very stressful having to engage often multiple times with the reception people to get it started and if one has already begun I have to wait around which is socially uncomfortable and knocks out my own schedule.

I think I’ll have to figure out a non-gym way of getting exercise.

Deleted User said:

They always cocked it up or there would already be a class in progress and I’d have to go back and forth to reception.

It sounds like your timing is off - I would ask them when the classes normally start and get there in time for these.

People are creatures of habit so it is highly likely that the earlier class is going to be on routinely which is why you have problems with the timing - one change to your schedule should fix this, remove all the faffing about and you may find the regulars for that class become familiar to you.

Personally I prefer working solo in the gym so I go at quiet times (10am or 3pm) when most people are at work or school. It helps that I am my own boss these days and can choose when I work.

I think that a lot depends on where you go, or rather, how much you pay.
The cheaper gym chains (PureGym, The Gym Group, etc) tend to have much higher number of members than the more expensive ones that charge £30+ per month.

Having said that, even the more expensive ones can and do get busy at peak times.
I really am not a morning person and I work 9-5, so evenings / weekends are the only viable option for me.
During the week I tend to go around 8PM which is when the gym I attend starts to get quieter.
Between 6PM and 8PM seem to be the busiest - especially on Mondays.
At weekends the gym is usually more or less empty whatever time you go - sometimes there is only 1 or 2 other people there.

What I would recommend is to go and try out as many gyms in your area. Most should be happy to give you a free day pass or even longer. Check out the facilities

• How much kit do they have?
• How old / what condition is the kit in?
• Ask them about busy / quiet times
• Are there any additional facilities (pool, sauna, etc)?
• Do they include assessments, free PT sessions, etc
• Opening times - 24HR, earlier closing on weekends

Try and get a general feel for the place - go at both busy and quiet times.
Observe other members...

• What is the demographic of the members?
• Is the place full of "wanna be gangsters"
• Is the place full of pumped up steroid munching meatheads ?
• Do they members appear to be friendly / chatty? 

For me my gym is next to an office so avoiding peak times is key - afternoons (2pm onwards) and evenings (after 6pm) tend to be quietest. 

I rotate round different stations but also have to accept as well that I might get to popular kit and find it being used. If that happens I'll shift my schedule (i.e if I planned a run at the end I'll do it now until the equipment becomes free, then move onto another exercise if the equipment doesn't become free)

That said, if your gym is so busy you're routinely not able to use the equipment you want - consider leaving for another gym. You don't have to put up with bad service.

I also recommend going to a gym that has a PT session included monthly - I personally have found these really helpful! You could maybe ask staff there about quiet times during the session too

I find that evenings tend to be quiete at my gym.  I use various items of equipment whilst there, but sometimes have to accept that I won’t get to use everything as they are already in use.