The Resolutionists are coming! The Resolutionists are coming!

[Bob 1]

They will be in our gyms on Jan 2nd 2007 full of hope and
soon to be broken promises. So while they are there we are to be nice
to them, not kill them, and remember they were once us.

Sure they will unload the bench press that you waited twenty minutes
for while you are wrapping your elbows and getting psyched.

And sure they will ask you a question while you are going for a max rep
on the bench and hoping you don't blow an O ring in your shorts..

They will also probably walk up and start reading your training journal
that was in your gym bag..

Oh, and don't forget they will think that the pec-dec is the
designated place to sit while talking on their cell phones.

As for us we must look at it as a chance to learn to be pious and a
chance to teach gym etiquette to the uninitiated, but once you have done
that and it didn't work remember this.

Sometimes accidents happen.

[namtrag]

I was there myself. I think maybe 5% keep with it and turn into us, but I don't judge anyone, because I could very easily slip back into being a fat slob. It wouldn't take much to do so for me. If I skipped a week or ate bad for a week, it would be all over.

That's why I am glad to be on this forum, it keeps me somewhat accountable.

[sunshine1101]

Oh I hate this time of year. Especially when in contest prep and the machines are all taken.

There is an understanding in the am for cardio...If I decide to get on a treadmill there is only one that I will use and everyone stays off of it. Same with the stepmills and the ellipticals. LOL But also there are others that have their fav's too and we are kind enough to keep their open too.

Now at night for weights...resolution people...OMG I can never get on anything and the rest times are waaaaay to long. But this too shall pass.

Happy New Year everyone

[kimsquit]

I've found that there are three times of year when my gym fills up:

January 2nd: (this is the year I'm gonna get in shape!)

right after Easter: (OMG, summer is right around the corner, I need to get in shape!)

right after Labor Day: (OMG, I looked like crap all summer, I need to get in shape!)

and while each of these alone isn't bad, it's usually the same people every time. Personally, I never bought into the idea of a New Year's resolution. To my thinking, waiting for the New Year is simply another form of procrastination. If a person didn't care enough to make an effort on March 3rd, June 22nd or any other arbitrary day of the year then why is January 1st going to make any difference in their attitude?

[FlyingV]

If a person didn't care enough to make an effort on March 3rd, June 22nd or any other arbitrary day of the year then why is January 1st going to make any difference in their attitude?

Well, I suppose because the New Year is all about making a fresh start and all of that. Whatever it takes to get them off their ass is ok with me.

Except...

...what really makes me grit my teeth is the inevitable disclaimer cop-out "Now, I don't wanna get big and muscular, you see, not like a bodybuilder!...I just want to be toned" God I hate that. It's borderline insulting....as IF it were that easy. As if they actually ran the 'risk' of waking up one morning bigger and buffer than they ever wanted to be! Oh no!

[magnumfreak]

we were just talking about this in the gym today. It's really going to be interesting this year because the gym is undergoing a major overhaul so equipment is stacked in tight and some is missing. I can tolerate it for 4-6 weeks, unfortunately that is all most of them will last. They will get discouraged by those who have been in the gym for a long time that look better than them when they shouldn't. They will get confused by the useless personal trainers we have (not that all are that way, just the ones in my gym) that never show them a routine, they do something different everytime just so they will have to come back to them and pay more money to get more confused.

I wish them all the best. I will help any of them that are willing to listen. Most aren't willing unfortunately. "You mean I have to eat right too???" "I don't want to lift any heavy weights I just want to look like you do.."

Oh well, bring them on. At least it is some new faces to look at.

[kimsquit]

...what really makes me grit my teeth is the inevitable disclaimer cop-out "Now, I don't wanna get big and muscular, you see, not like a bodybuilder!...I just want to be toned" God I hate that. It's borderline insulting....as IF it were that easy. As if they actually ran the 'risk' of waking up one morning bigger and buffer than they ever wanted to be! Oh no!

I find it pretty insulting as well. Hopefully the new folks read this thread

[slackdaddy]

Well, I suppose because the New Year is all about making a fresh start and all of that. Whatever it takes to get them off their ass is ok with me.

Except...

...what really makes me grit my teeth is the inevitable disclaimer cop-out "Now, I don't wanna get big and muscular, you see, not like a bodybuilder!...I just want to be toned" God I hate that. It's borderline insulting....as IF it were that easy. As if they actually ran the 'risk' of waking up one morning bigger and buffer than they ever wanted to be! Oh no!

My cycling club has a message board and one day the subject was recovery drinks. Someone mentioned a protein shake then said that he makes sure to get the protein only powder because some of the powders had creatine in them and he didn't want the "pecs with legs body" that was on the can. As if that wasn't bad enough, a few people agreed with him like a protein/creatine shake was gonna have them flexing and ripping out shirts.

[dartol]

Wait until some of them hit this board too... LOL

"What supplements should I take to get huge?" I am going to post a link to this thread in every one...

Oh and at the gym... "Can I work in with you?" while they change every setting and not put anything of yours back in place. And not wipe the machine off, not that they will sweat anyway.

Cell phones and groups lingering in the path between the machines... I see it coming already.

Well maybe if I keep my headphones on and go around with a crazy look they will stay out of my way...

Darren

[IdahoViking]

Resolve lasts right up to the first hint of DOMS.

[FittyFour]

They will be in our gyms on Jan 2nd 2007 full of hope and
soon to be broken promises. So while they are there we are to be nice
to them, not kill them, and remember they were once us.

And remember this - they sign the contracts that help pay the bills that keep the lights on that lets us train to our heart's content way after they've quit and gone back to chocolate covered potato chips.

Long live the Resolutionists!

[Original Poster]

My gym got insanely busy about 2-3 weeks ago.
All the college kids home and then yes, the out of shapers who want to attone for their nutritional sins. I do NOT look forward to the increased rush after new years.

What I hate is actually having to look for an open treadmill in a gym with probably 100+ treadmills. Thank god most of my cardio is on the stepmill and most of the newbies to the gym are afraid of the stepmill. LOL

[dbx]

I don't do resolutions. I either do or don't do....right here and now.

[Mr.Mom]

Wait until some of them hit this board too... LOL

Howdy ........

[Original Poster]

Wait until some of them hit this board too... LOL

We welcome them here.
We just hope we can help them to change their lifestyle.
You'd be amazed at how many members came here that way.

[jgbuf]

I don't do resolutions. I either do or don't do....right here and now.

Amen to that, I stopped making new year resolutions several years ago. I find the do or don't do thing way more productive......and as far as the onslought of folks in the gym after the new year, at least the high school kids have to go back to school so I don't have to kringe everytime they overload the bench press with weight they can't handle. Ya got to love it.

[c502cid]

I think I get more pissed off at the PT's who really work these resolutionists so hard they quit the first day or two. Some of these people would really make it if they started slow and had the right expectations. However since the rush started about 3 weeks ago at my home gym I've already seen the workouts the PT's are putting on these folks. Some of them would succeed if given the tools. It took a big dose of guts for them just to get to the gym and I admire that.
It became obvious to me a long time ago at chains like 24 Hour Fitness where I work out, the goal for the PT is to take their money and do everything in their power to make sure they never have to give repeat lessons. Hard sell at it's finest and it sucks. My 2 cents.

[Aquilius]

I don't think those will be a big problem at my gym.

The trainers here will have all noobs perform circuits and cardio machines for months on end (provided they stay that long), so I think there's little risk that the benches/squat rack will be more occupied than usual.

Regards,
Aquilius

[Athena]

My gym got insanely busy about 2-3 weeks ago.
All the college kids home and then yes, the out of shapers who want to attone for their nutritional sins. I do NOT look forward to the increased rush after new years.

What I hate is actually having to look for an open treadmill in a gym with probably 100+ treadmills. Thank god most of my cardio is on the stepmill and most of the newbies to the gym are afraid of the stepmill. LOL

Huh. We must be at the same gym. I was there two weeks ago and was SO PISSED at the college kids (not that they're the only ones who do this, mind you) for leaving their toys everywhere -- and I mean everywhere...scattered crap across the dang gym, not just the free weight area but dragged over to the cables as well.

I could probably handle the Revolutionists at this point because I can politely ask them to put their toys away and they won't be offended.

My plan of attack: Workout at 5:15 instead of 6:00 a.m. each morning.

[Bob 1]

And remember this - they sign the contracts that help pay the bills that keep the lights on that lets us train to our heart's content way after they've quit and gone back to chocolate covered potato chips.

Long live the Resolutionists!

Viva La Resolutionists. Ha ha

[Tyrbolift]

I always smile and say hi to newbies at the gym, especially if they are overweight, so they will feel more welcome and not be as self-conscious.

But I have been going extremely early or late to avoid the crowds for years anyway.

[V-240]

...what really makes me grit my teeth is the inevitable disclaimer cop-out "Now, I don't wanna get big and muscular, you see, not like a bodybuilder!...I just want to be toned" God I hate that. It's borderline insulting....as IF it were that easy. As if they actually ran the 'risk' of waking up one morning bigger and buffer than they ever wanted to be! Oh no!

That is a total riot! Like they could 'accidentally' become Mr./Ms. World. *rrriippp* Whoops! (shirt exploding) "Oops, I didn't mean to get this huge!"

The lookie-loos have already started at my gym.

[kimsquit]

Huh. We must be at the same gym. I was there two weeks ago and was SO PISSED at the college kids (not that they're the only ones who do this, mind you) for leaving their toys everywhere -- and I mean everywhere...scattered crap across the dang gym, not just the free weight area but dragged over to the cables as well.

yeah....it's bad enough that people don't unload the barbells when they're done but surely to God if they can carry the dumbbells to the other side of the gym, they can carry them back when they're done

even the little 1-pound pink ones are apparently too heavy to rack after using them

[IdahoViking]

yeah....it's bad enough that people don't unload the barbells when they're done but surely to God if they can carry the dumbbells to the other side of the gym, they can carry them back when they're done

even the little 1-pound pink ones are apparently too heavy to rack after using them

They must have trained to failure!

[empresscat]

Be thankful for the people who join the gym and only use it for a couple of months - they are what keeps them open. If it weren't for them, there would only be a couple of gyms in each town, and we'd all have to drive 30 minutes to get to one.

[fitnessman]

Let's not assume the "I am better" attitude.

We are here to help and it will remain so.

[lukamar]

I've made a point this week to take all the new members around and orient them, it's quite easy in a small gym. I show them all the equipment and explain how to use it. I also make a point of explaining that weight plates sit here on this tree and everyone puts them back when they are finished as a courtesy to others. Everyone has been very cooperative so far.

The one day drop-ins are another story, you feel like a babysitter cleaning up after them and they can manage to drop almost anything on the floor and make a crash that sounds like a meteor just came through the roof, continuously.

[GREENFEATHER]

All I gotta say it I'm glad I have a gym at home and at the shop. No fighting with the n00bs.

[Madfun]

As a noob in my gym (one month) I can say I am glad the 1st of the year babies are coming... maybe I wont get blamed anymore for not racking the weights. Which I always do any way.

On the weekends, I can get to the gym before the crowds but during the week it's after work right in the middle of all the mayhem!

Oh well, I will get my workout in one way or another. If I can't use one piece of equipment, I'll just use another.

If I can train around this job, and effed up schedule I have... I can train around some "New Years" people!

[V-240]

I've made a point this week to take all the new members around and orient them, it's quite easy in a small gym....

Heheh, is that you training one of the newbies in your avatar?