Anyone else avoid the gym in January
 

.. when the resolutioners come flocking in? I have been in and around gyms for 20 years now and got smart about 5 years ago and began avoiding the gym for the first 4-5 weeks of each year.

It usually takes that long to weed out the flock that pours in every year. This year has been especially frustrating as I was excited to spend my mornings doing nothing but cardio. The first week of the year we had rain and cold weather, so this morning was my day to begin I was only going to run about a mile or 2.

I ended up pulling a back muscle and now I walk around looking at the floor, so now I have a few more days off as I recover from this blunder. :mad:

The first 2 -3 weks in Jan is a nitemare in the gym. Little by little you see the newbies dropping off when they realize exercise take some exertion. I usually go after 8:30 pm. so its not that bad anyway.

Jim--
I just time my workouts a bit differently for the first few weeks to avoid the hoards of resolutioners (like waiting until after 1pm instead of noon).
No question that January is a PIA. I've been away and/or sick for the past two weeks so I'm really looking forward to a workout this afternoon.

Hope your back is feeling better soon - remember - stretching is your friend.

No, I don't avoid it.

I just power through the crowd.

I've been working out for 12 years with nothing longer than a 2-week break. Taking even a week off takes me 2-3 weeks to get back to where I was...

It's not too bad where I go, but I now go to the Gold's in Fairfax where all the old foggies go instead of to the super crowded, trendy, young folks' one closer to Falls Church. I always find that Mondays after work are the worst. In fact, the one I go to has such a crowded parking lot, that I can only ride the motorcycle there if I want to park there. My biggest pet peeve are the idiots who use weight machines like home furniture - set your gym bag down on one you want to reserve while you sit on another and read a magazine while people line up and wait to actually exercise. And why in the world do people bother walking on a treadmill with no incline at the same rate as walking? Why not just do that outdoors for free and get some fresh air?

Yes, I avoid the gym.

Period.

Can´t really focus training around other people. People shouting, loud awful music and mind side tracking string out fits. When I work out I like to find my inner center, focus, close out the environment. Like meditation. I prefer my own basement.

Yes, maybe I am just forty plus..

That's one reason I've been out biking/running. I do it on my own and don't have to compete for equipment or trip over a bunch of fat guys to get my heartrate up a bit.

Free Weights at home to good music.

Work out for free at home and jog outdoors 2X/day.

The irony where I go is that a lot of these guys who use weight machines for resting themselves or other stuff on look to be in serious shape. My guess is they just want away from their wives for a while. I can get a weight workout done, in and out, in 45 min. But I don't do anything but go straight from machine to machine, no chit chat or reading. Some of these guys don't make it past two sets in the time I go through 10.

My workout is 2-3 hours. No chit-chat or reading. (I do watch TV while on the treadmill.) Situps are kind of the zen part of the workout, where I just close my eyes and tune-out the outside world.

Monday, about this time is prime if you like to check out the chicks. The women are all there this time of day, particularly on Monday. Very crowded with lots of sweaty dudes all over the machines and benches though. :(

I go later at night though, between 10 and 11 pm... there will usually be less than 10 people in the gym, not too many hotties, but thats ok cause Im there for serious bizness anyway. ;)

I am limited to time, on non cardio mornings my weight lifting time is 1.5 hours on cardio days my weight lifting time is dropped to 45 minutes and I run for 45 minutes. BTW- I try to be in the gym by 6:00 sharp in the morning.

I have considered setting up a home deal but I like getting out in the morning away from the house, it forces me to commit. Otherwise I could see myself getting distracted at home and not getting through my workout.

Steve911 - I did not stretch like I should have this morning, I woke up stiff from a weekend on bad hotel beds and my back did not feel right to begin with. I should have just busted out my bike and rode for an hour but I really wanted to run. I am taking off tomorrow and then switching to the bike on Wed. If I am not feeling better its off to the LMT and Chiropractor.

I do what Chris does: Power through the crowd. It’s really crowded, but I can still get my workout done. I have to be less picky about what exercises I do. I pick whatever machine or bench for the body part(s) I’m working that happens to be free at the time. I can’t do what I want in the order I want, or as much as I want, but I still get a good workout in. Plus, you can ask someone if you can work in, and share the machine with them, or ask how many sets they have left. If someone leaves a towel or bag on a bench, I won’t hesitate to ask them “are you using this?”

But I still want to post a big sign on the gym door: NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS DON’T WORK

What - and miss out on prime hogging season?? This is the only time I go to the gym.

;)

I've thought about going to the gym.
But I just lay down on the couch and wait until the feeling goes away.

Ha, ha.
home gym for me.
One in my residence and one in my cabin, but I much prefer physical activities to working out.

I'm currently reading the book "YOU"; its a great read.
People that don't take the time for their health will be forced to take time for their illness.
That sayings always stuck with me.

Every month is January.

I am in a new town and am currently AVOIDING to sign up with a gym. Early February will be much better. In the meantime, running shoes are cheap.

George

I just saw on the news that around this time of year gym membership spikes. The problem is that a lot of people sign on to contracts and then fall off the program 6 weeks later. I joined the Y years ago. It's not the cheapest, but no contracts and I can work out all over the country which is nice as I travel a lot for work.

My local gym requires 12 month contracts (not a problem for me). If you sign up in January and last until the end of February and fall off the face of the earth (and stop paying your membership fees), and then show up the following January, they will make you pay 10 months of back dues to sign up again. Despite this, people still show up every January in droves.