Aug 09
21
Days of the week
A lot of people coming to this site are either new to the gym, or are not there very often. In consideration of this I figured I would pass on a bit of knowledge about the crowds at your local gym. Aside from the typical cast of characters you will see, there is a fundamental similarity in when the crowds come and go:
Mondays: These are your absolute busiest days. On top of the people who are there daily, most people you will see are being motivated by the extra large eating they did over the weekend. You’ll find the cardio and lifting machines to fullest they will be all week.
Tuesdays: Typically people will do a Mon/Wed/Fri workout schedule. This leaves any day other than those much less crowded. Tuesday is still pretty busy in its own right, but you will find the crowds tend to be more around the free weights, since Tuesday goers know enough to avoid Mondays and have altered their schedule, or work out every day.
Wednesday: The “hump” day. Expect a fairly diverse crowd. The Monday crowd is back so expect the machines to fill up again, but nowhere near what it was on Monday.
Thursday: All the folks who filled the gym on Tuesday you can expect to see again. Expect to see more of a blend in usage of equipment since, more than a few of them are realizing their next day to workout is Saturday and they are thinking the trip to the lake may take precedence over their workout and are going to compensate for it.
Friday: Fridays are my absolute favorite day to workout… If I can talk myself into going. It seems I’m not alone in this because you can expect to see the gym be nearly deserted. You may get a few extra people try to get in a few quick reps before a date, but after 7, expect to have the place to yourself. No waiting for even the most popular of equipment.
Saturday: If you’re showing up on a Saturday, you deserve a medal! All but the most hardcore exercisers can be found in the gym anytime on a Saturday. That being said, Saturday workouts definitely take on a more relaxed feel, since the atmosphere is quite, and most people there tend to know each other to some degree.
I highly, highly recommend getting to know the regular gym attendees. Try to nod and saying hello to the people around you. You will find that physical fitness level doesn’t really matter. People who see you coming regularly will admire that. In addition to a few smiling faces, this is a great way to learn new lifts, techniques, and pick up some pointers (Hey, I can’t tell you everything), and gain a network of people to help maintain your motivation.
If you’re not careful they can even turn into friends. The scary massive guy benching 400lbs? He’s got a tiny wife, 2 kids, and a poodle. The hot guy/gal you always see around but figure they already have a significant other? They do, but they’re still a really nice person who is good to chat with between exercises. The creepy guy in the 70’s style shorts and leer… yeah, better just to leave that one alone.