How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?

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  1. Movember's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Posts: 604
    How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    i find that gyms can get very crowded (up to the point where everything is in use and there are people waiting for things to become free) between about 4pm and closing time and also during the lunch hour (12pm-2pm). for me i couldnt do heavy exercise very early in the morning (i have tried it before and it makes me feel awful). i dont work full time yet so i can go whenever i get a free hour during the day but i know most people dont have this luxury and are forced to go in the evening.

    how do you deal with a crowded gym? i think many people are put off by crowded gyms esp. in the weights areas and so they dont go. i certainly know several guys who are put off by big groups of guys hogging all the benches for 45+ minutes and cancelled their gym membership as a result (they are busy with classes during the day so cant go then).
  2. Soph1990's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
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    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    I just tend to stay on the machine I'm on and constantly scan around looking for the next free machine and as soon as one is free I run for it!
  3. RawJoh1's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    • Location: -
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    (Original post by Movember)
    i find that gyms can get very crowded (up to the point where everything is in use and there are people waiting for things to become free) between about 4pm and closing time and also during the lunch hour (12pm-2pm). for me i couldnt do heavy exercise very early in the morning (i have tried it before and it makes me feel awful). i dont work full time yet so i can go whenever i get a free hour during the day but i know most people dont have this luxury and are forced to go in the evening.

    how do you deal with a crowded gym? i think many people are put off by crowded gyms esp. in the weights areas and so they dont go. i certainly know several guys who are put off by big groups of guys hogging all the benches for 45+ minutes and cancelled their gym membership as a result (they are busy with classes during the day so cant go then).
    Typically I train when it's not busy (I work evenings so train at lunchtime). But if I have to train at peak hours due to different shifts it's only an issue with the flat bench. If flat bench is taken up by someone who's not at a similar strength level to me, I just **** it off and use DBs instead.

    If I want to press and rack's taken up, I just clean it. If I want to squat I'll ask to work in or just wait.
  4. TheInformer's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
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    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    I try to avoid peak times, usually go before 4pm or at weekends. You could try going on Sat/Sun as two of your days as these are typically less busy for obvious reasons.

    If you can try going during the morning after 8am even if you find it hard to train then...it's better than waiting around for a bench/rack, just get up earlier or take a PWO, that should help with the early morning.
  5. The Troll Toll's Avatar
    • Peer Of The TSR Realm
    • Posts: 1,679
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Just have to talk to more people. A slight downer but sometimes they're nice, so whatever.
  6. Mechie's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Posts: 6,526
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    (Original post by Soph1990)
    I just tend to stay on the machine I'm on and constantly scan around looking for the next free machine and as soon as one is free I run for it!
    Imagine of everyone did that :lol:
  7. Besakt's Avatar
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    • Posts: 4,318
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    I avoid peak times.
  8. sexbo's Avatar
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    • Posts: 340
    • Warning points: 1000
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Go at the end of the year. Most people tend to slack with their New years fitness plan by then and don't show up.
  9. zjs's Avatar
    • TSR Idol
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    (Original post by sexbo)
    Go at the end of the year. Most people tend to slack with their New years fitness plan by then and don't show up.
    So, just wait 9 months for the gym to be less crowded.

    What a clever strategy.
  10. TheInformer's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Posts: 1,031
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    (Original post by zjs)
    So, just wait 9 months for the gym to be less crowded.

    What a clever strategy.
    Beat me to it.

    Another option would be cancelling your membership and making your own home gym, that is if you have the money/space.
  11. Jtking3000's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Location: Naaaaaaarich/Bath
    • Posts: 1,208
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
  12. HighwayUnicorn's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Posts: 510
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Stretch! Go to the gym mats and just stretch for a while.
  13. Miracle Day's Avatar
    • Little Lion Man
    • Location: Cardiff
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Do some star-jumps until their free.
  14. SirMasterKey's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Location: Where ever the wind takes me.
    • Posts: 6,290
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Start using other people waiting as weights? It's what I do......it isn't. I just tend to go to the gym at less busy times (when I do go at all).
  15. McHumpy92's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 2,904
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Intimidation
  16. andyp2's Avatar
    • Full Member
    • Location: Wales
    • Posts: 145
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    I cry and then run off....
    but seriously, if theres a group of you, and you said canceled memberships, possibly buy a decent bench between you guys with dumbells as well etc. (thats if you know them well enough etc) Can sometimes be better then standing around not doing much if you always have to wait. Can do almost all (if not all) muscles groups with free weights. Cardio, nothing beats jogging outside... unless its pissing down.... Just a suggestion, defo don't have to take it at all.

    But for over crowded stuff, just be confident and use machines that are free until one you want is available then go use it straight away, don't hover.
  17. MancBoy's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Location: Manchester
    • Posts: 2,962
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Go to a gym that isn't popular. Simples. I did this. I also go on off-peak times and I only rarely have to wait for anything. There has to be a gym in your area what noone knows about lol
  18. chrislpp's Avatar
    • Overlord in Training
    • Posts: 3,308
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Go at 8am

    Seriously, most people in the gym are there for show and only the hardcore dedicated go at this time, same 15 people for 6 months at my current gym. They won't bother you at all, it's perfect.

    It's in the evening when all the cardio bunnies arrive and the machines get used up.
  19. BKS's Avatar
    • Exalted and Worshipped Member
    • Posts: 1,284
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    I don't do mornings either so I am to go at 2 or 3. Even if I finished classes at 1 I'll hang around wasting time for an hour before I go. Busy gyms annoy me too much for me to bother try to put up with it. It was all right when I was doing a program that was more along the lines of '2 back exercises' rather than specific exercises but now I do specific things, I can't change the order that much so busy gym would make me take ages.
  20. SEHughes's Avatar
    • Benevolent Member
    • Posts: 657
    Re: How do you deal with (over-)crowded gym?
    Go to bed earlier, and go in the morning.
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