Hold Strong! They’re Coming!

If you are regular gym goer, then you understand exactly who and what I am referring to. Every year, without fail, gyms and fitness centers across the country are filled with New Year Resolutioners. These are people that have used the turn of a new year into a good time to make good on promises they’ve made to themselves all year to start “going to the gym and working out”. Along with them, come gym first timers.

Again, if you’ve been a creature of consistency, then you know that almost every piece of equipment on your regular routine are all taken! It’s frustrating, right? Especially, when a vast majority aren’t aware of proper use, etiquette, or consideration. You begin to see bad lifting form everywhere, over-filled parking lots, and there’s rarely enough room to even get in those core lifts (i.e. squats, deads, etc.). Grrrrr!!!

But, relax it’s gonna be ok. Here are a few tips to maximize your time and training.

1. Regardless of the number of Resolutioners there are, the peak hours of most gyms and fitness centers remain the same. Typically, those times fall between 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Schedule your training before or after those peak times, if possible.
2. If you can not adjust your training times, consider supersets and giant sets, find the equipment and stations you’ll need and hunker down and get it done. Get in. Get out.
3. Most importantly, be patient. The good news is, a majority of the Resolutioners will backslide on their new found commitments and bit by bit the normalcy of gym traffic will return. Give it a few weeks.

The bad news is, most of the resOlution crowd will stop coming to workout and go back to unhealthy lifestyles. Personally, I’d rather them be in the gym than riding that couch.

One of the most important things I’ve learned through my fitness career is to offer a lending hand. This can be someone’s motivation and inspiration to keep them in the gym. Although the bombardment of resolutioners can and will be seen as an inconvenience, it is an opportunity to share your knowledge with them. Show someone how to use a machine, correct someone’s form, give a good spot. You’d be surprised at how you can improve a person’s quest to self betterment by the using the simplest gestures.