Why You Shouldn't Be Mad if Your Gym is Crowded in January

The gyms are about to become crowded, my friends. For some, a new year means resolutions, change, and the commitment (though often short lived) to a healthier lifestyle involving exercise.

Look, I get annoyed too if the gym is crowded and I can't get to the exact equipment I want to use exactly when I was to use it. I understand. No one likes a change in routine, least of all me.

But some regular gym goers look at all of the new members with such disdain. They feel like the new members have no business being there, as they simply make the gym more crowded. Some regulars have the attitude that the new members are going to quit soon anyway, so why not save the rest of us from being slightly inconvenienced for a few weeks and just stay home.

You know what I have to say to the people with that particular attitude?

GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!

When I see the surge of new members in Planet Fitness, I am slightly inconvenienced, but I also am inspired by those who are at least attempting to live a healthier lifestyle.

And yes, most of these new members will fall by the wayside and never follow through with their commitment. But do you know how hard it is to make a change? Are you perfect? Do you follow through with everything you set out to do? My guess is you don't. So then stop judging others!

People tell me I am so disciplined. But I didn't get that way overnight. And yes, I am disciplined with my training, but there are a BILLION other things that I am not disciplined with or rarely ever follow through on. Here are a few things I can think of just off the top of my head...


1. Biting my nails <---- been doing it my whole life

2. Flossing <----- only do it when I have a piece of food stuck in my teeth

3. Learning to play the guitar <-------- been meaning to for years

4. Giving up ice cream <------- every couple months we try

5. Diet soda <------- gave it up for the most part, but probably had 6 cans of diet on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day

See? I can't follow through with a lot of stuff!

Remember, the new members are not there to ruin our day. They are not purposefully breaking gym etiquette (they're most likely unaware, as most of us were when we first started out). They are actually probably very nervous to be in a new environment and may be intimidated by those of us who walk around like we know what we are doing. (Not that we walk around like we're awesome, just that we literally know what we are doing.)

So if you are one of those regular gym goers that simply can't be happy and supportive of newbies who are trying to change their life... If you are too wrapped up in the fact that they do not yet know all of the gym etiquette... If you are pissed that you can't get a weight bench because someone "new" is on it... Just do everyone a favor. Build yourself a home gym and leave the rest of us alone. We don't need your negativity while we're trying to better ourselves!