Empty Gym vs. Medium vs. Crowded?

[x-trainer ben]

So in the big misc a guy posed this question and I was honestly surprised that by a margin of 3 to 1 most people favored an empty gym to work out in. I chose the opposite because I feed off of the energy, like the feeling of a night club.
What do you prefer?

[mtpockets]

So in the big misc a guy posed this question and I was honestly surprised that by a margin of 3 to 1 most people favored an empty gym to work out in. I chose the opposite because I feed off of the energy, like the feeling of a night club.
What do you prefer?

Empty, I go when it opens in the morning it's just me and a couple of ladies for most of the week, one other heavy lifter that trains Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday that comes in half way through my session.

[LWW]

IT all depends the type of folks in there?

There is nothing to feed off of in gym full of machine users who aren’t even encouraging.

Squat and Deadlift with stronger folks, now that can be bring out the best in others.

[Karl_Hungus]

I used to go at about 1 am so that I could avoid as many people as possible. There would usually be only 1 or 2 other people there and sometimes I would be the only person in the weight room. I loved it. The fewer people, the better.

IT all depends the type of folks in there?

There is nothing to feed off of in gym full of machine users who aren’t even encouraging.

Squat and Deadlift with stronger folks, now that can be bring out the best in others.

It could be that, but it might also be that some peole are just more socially-oriented in general.

[Jtbny]

My gym has great energy in the evenings so I prefer that time. I really don't like to lift so that adds a little fire in me.

[bodyhard]

I rather it empty so I don't have to wait for sh!t, but the music means a lot to me, I hate gyms that play low music or no music at all. I've been trying to find earpods that don't bother me, have yet to find them.

[Plateauplower]

Empty, I go when it opens in the morning it's just me and a couple of ladies for most of the week, one other heavy lifter that trains Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday that comes in half way through my session.

This for me as well. Prefer 5am open time-slot. Same small group of regulars who are serious enough about getting there they wake up that early, and we stay out of each others way.

I was going in early afternoons for awhile due to starting work early, and it was more crowded with high school kids. They had been on lockdown for a year so they were just awkwardly staring at each other and taking up space.

[weiss1967]

I like social part of going to gym, but equipment availability is a bit of an issue. Feeding on someones energy, well for the most part there are slackers, nothing to learn or admire. There are exceptions though.

[ArchAngel'73]

When the jabronies know their role and don't get in my way, I don't care how many of 'em there are.
But, even if one mutherfukker in an otherwise empty gym comes anywhere close to interrupting my training I'll go off on them.

I don't feed off of anyone's energy because it can't match mine (in my gym anyways).

[x-trainer ben]

Let me clarify, i love the gym so i bring high motivation but after 1hr 30 min, working out alone at a fast pace, high volume, 20-30 sets, the supps start to fade.
If the gym is rocking........ and there are pretty girls and good energy, i just keep pushing and can stay for another hour.
If the place is boring, quiet and slow( Sunday) i just do my stuff and leave.
It is about a feeling while exercising and varies from gym to gym as well.

[Corbi]

I prefer empty but am ok with 3-4 others who are just doing their thing and everyone is ignoring the others.

[TheEndlesschase]

One of my favorite feelings in the world is getting there before anyone else. My gym has 6 areas to lift and I know which light switches go to which room. There is nothing like leaving with that good pump and still having the day!

[Fishman15]

I like the medium amount of people. Too few people and it brings my energy level and focus down not sure why. If it's too busy you can't use what you want and when. Also, lots of people just standing around and bsing in everybody's way. The more people there the more I feel obligated to talk to which slows me down and ends up being a distraction. I prefer to just give someone a nod or fist bump and just keep on moving. Some folks you can tell are just there to socialize.

[LWW]

I used to go at about 1 am so that I could avoid as many people as possible. There would usually be only 1 or 2 other people there and sometimes I would be the only person in the weight room. I loved it. The fewer people, the better.




It could be that, but it might also be that some peole are just more socially-oriented in general.

This is the environment I like, I've been in a handle or more of environments like this and my current gym is damn close. Who cares about social stuff and women, unless they are training like us!

[quicksand jesus]

Mine opens at 0500. Only a handful of bodies around . And since I'm not a lover of most people ... I love it that way.

[lsiberian]

Empty for sure. I love being able to lift in piece

[marinevet63031]

I don't mind a few people around, I go probably about 9 am and it is hit and miss on how many people are around.

[Gabbar99]

My wife and I go to a college gym and in the summer we often have the place to ourselves. It's awesome. During the academic year, it's way too crowded at times. You have to learn when the more open spots are. I prefer it empty, but the energy of the crowd is fun sometimes as long as you can get to the benches and racks and stuff that you want.

Question: when it's empty do you
a. do your normal thing
b. try heavier weights and try stuff (assuming safety) you wouldn't normally attempt if someone were watching because you'd be afraid you'd look bad
c. do lighter weights with more control because there is no one to egolift for

I think most of you wouldn't admit to b or c, but I will admit to b.

[isaacr65]

I used to like empty gyms because I can use everything that I want any time I want.. but now I miss the people... I noticed that on average, my workouts when there are people around is better than when I'm alone.

[Cass40]

I thought I'd like an empty one but one time I was a member of this Jewish gym and they had some holiday and the whole place was empty. It was scary and I didn't like it.

I am in LA so nothing here is ever empty, too many people everywhere.

[ChazWood]

I thought I'd like an empty one but one time I was a member of this Jewish gym and they had some holiday and the whole place was empty. It was scary and I didn't like it.

I am in LA so nothing here is ever empty, too many people everywhere.

A member of a Jewish gym? Never knew there was such a thing as a Jewish gym. But I assume they didn't invite u to their holiday gathering, despite being a member of their gym. Was that kind of awkward, like when they came back after the holiday? That must have been a tad awkward.

[Cass40]

A member of a Jewish gym? Never knew there was such a thing as a Jewish gym. But I assume they didn't invite u to their holiday gathering, despite being a member of their gym. Was that kind of awkward, like when they came back after the holiday? That must have been a tad awkward.

Lol it was owned by them and I guess most of the members were also.
This is LA, a lot of different communities. They take their religious holidays very seriously.

[LWW]

Question: when it's empty do you
a. do your normal thing
b. try heavier weights and try stuff (assuming safety) you wouldn't normally attempt if someone were watching because you'd be afraid you'd look bad
c. do lighter weights with more control because there is no one to egolift for

I think most of you wouldn't admit to b or c, but I will admit to b.

I have my routine in mind and would do that, which is closer to A.

B?????? What is this "looking bad" thing? C. Hell NO, NEVER!!!

Here is what could happen and does happen in my gym, I walk in and see two or three dudes testing each other in some type of lift, yelling at each other or something, could be a log, overhead press, squat, or Dead, depending on what I did the previous day (heavy deads, well I ain't dead lifting) but I'll join in, they may or not (depending on who comes in that day) kick my azz in the lift. We have lots of random faces come and go, we may get a pro strongman come in for just one workout due to traveling, ya never know who's gonna be there. It's a hell of place!!!

[charlievanriper]

Privacy hence I built my own Gym

[OldFartTom]

For me, it depends if the area with the racks is busy or not.

Gym I usually go to has 4, but the early morning crowd are squat rack and notebook type people. Since Covid people don't work-in, this particular gym has always been strangely like that too, odd because in previous gyms I found that very sociable.

Getting a rack or not greatly impacts my workouts, so I vote empty


This is a cheeky comment intended as good natured ribbing, so please don't get offended

Privacy hence I built my own Gym

You build your own gym for privacy --> but you video and post a lot of your workouts?

[ConcertinaWire]

Let me clarify, i love the gym so i bring high motivation but after 1hr 30 min, working out alone at a fast pace, high volume, 20-30 sets, the supps start to fade.
If the gym is rocking........ and there are pretty girls and good energy, i just keep pushing and can stay for another hour.
If the place is boring, quiet and slow( Sunday) i just do my stuff and leave.
It is about a feeling while exercising and varies from gym to gym as well.

I agree with this up to the point where I have to wait for equipment. Plus if I go when it’s quiet, the cleaning is ongoing and the sound of a vacuum cleaner sucks.

pun intended

[x-trainer ben]

I agree with this up to the point where I have to wait for equipment. Plus if I go when it’s quiet, the cleaning is ongoing and the sound of a vacuum cleaner sucks.

pun intended

I just returned from there and it was dead...6.5/10 workout with masks and no girls or energy.
It felt like a Sunday afternoon and was hard to get into it today.

[Oceanside]

So in the big misc a guy posed this question and I was honestly surprised that by a margin of 3 to 1 most people favored an empty gym to work out in. I chose the opposite because I feed off of the energy, like the feeling of a night club.
What do you prefer?

definitely empty which is why I get up at 5 am...

I've lost all interest in training for strength so I'm happy with just supersetting my way through whatever body parts I go in for.

[ectoBgone]

I've lost all interest in training for strength so I'm happy with just supersetting my way through whatever body parts I go in for.

I was surprised to hear this. Was there a particular reason for losing that interest?

[Oceanside]

I was surprised to hear this. Was there a particular reason for losing that interest?

I go through periods of a lot of travel for work...

At 61 I'll take consistency over ego

I just got tired of getting dinged up stopping and starting trying to get numbers back .