If you’re one of those people that absolutely hate going to the gym, know that you aren’t the only one feeling that way!
Although there are people who really love the gym, there are plenty of people who despise it.
We’re on the other side of the spectrum in that we love the gym so much we build one at home – though this is also an ideal option for people that hate gyms.
How you feel about the gym can also change over time. You might’ve liked it in the beginning, but started to dislike it as the novelty has worn off.
People hate the gym for various reasons. For most people, it’s not that they hate exercising or working out (although this is definitely the case for some!). Instead, a lot of people hate the gym itself, like the atmosphere and music or the fact that it’s always busy with other people.
The gym can also be an intimidating space, especially if you’re a beginner or you’re feeling self-conscious. Going to the gym can also feel like a chore, rather than an activity you actually enjoy doing.
So if you’re looking to understand the main reason people hate going to the gym, keep reading this article!
Hate Going to the Gym?
People hate going to the gym for different reasons. Some of the top reasons people hate the gym include feeling intimidated or self-conscious, not having the time or motivation, as well as the fact that it’s often busy with other people.
In the next section I’ve covered 10 of the main reasons why people hate going to the gym:
Why do People Hate Going to the Gym
10 reasons why people hate going to the gym are:
- The gym is expensive
- Gyms are busy
- Other people
- It’s intimidating
- You feel self-conscious
- Lack of time
- It’s not convenient
- The music/atmosphere
- You’re doing the same thing
- You don’t feel motivated
1. The Cost
Gym fees can be super expensive. On average, gym memberships are around $30 to $70 dollars a month, but they can be higher at around $100 per month or even more. Watching this amount of money leave your bank account every month is depressing.
So spending a lot of money on the gym each month is a major reason why people end up resenting the gym.
Also when you’re paying a lot of money for the gym, this can make you think that you have to go a few times a week for it to be worth the money. This is obviously true, as the more you’re actually using the gym then the more you’re getting your money’s worth.
However, feeling obligated to go to the gym just because you’ve paid for it, rather than because you actually want to go, can be demoralizing and can make people hate the gym.
The emergence of a budget, 24/7 gym introduced so many new people to the gym and the popularity of these gym chains just goes to show the appetite for a budget-friendly option for people to exercise.
2. It’s Busy
Another top reason people hate the gym is that it’s busy.
How busy the gym is generally varies throughout the year, with many gyms getting busy in January and those early months of the year, and then progressively less busy throughout the year.
How busy the gym is also varies depending on the time of day. Because a lot of people work 9-5 jobs, it’s common for the gym to get busy early on in the morning and during the evening.
It can also vary depending on what gym you go to. Not every gym is the same and busy hours will vary depending on where you go.
Although having other people in the gym can be great as it can create a good atmosphere, no one wants to go to the gym when it’s super busy. When it’s busy, most gyms are hotter and sweatier which makes them uncomfortable to try and work out in.
If it’s busy you’re also going to spend time waiting to use the equipment. There’s arguably nothing worse than waiting for a piece of equipment because you have it programmed into your routine.
It’s even worse when you are waiting for equipment that’s being used by the same person for multiple exercises and sets. Worse still is when you need to wait to use the squat rack but someone is curling in it… But that’s a whole other issue!
You might also not be able to attend the gym when it’s busy if there are restrictions on occupancy numbers. This is especially the case with popular classes which fill up quickly.
3. Other People
Another reason that people hate the gym is because of other people. Unfortunately, there are plenty of annoying people at the gym.
Almost everyone who uses the gym regularly will have stories about annoying people there. Whether it’s people being really loud, people hogging equipment or people approaching you to offer advice, the gym really does seem to bring out the worst in some people.
Having to deal with annoying people each time you go to the gym is a common reason why people end up hating going to the gym itself.
I like to get in the zone when training and there’s nothing worse than someone trying to make conversation or comment on your routine – regardless of your experience level.
4. It’s Intimidating
The gym can be an intimidating place, especially when you first start going or start doing something different. Some people call this ‘gym anxiety’, basically a feeling of worry that people experience about potentially uncomfortable situations at the gym.
You might worry that you’re going to be judged based on your workout performance, or because you’re unsure about using equipment, or what to do during a class. This feeling is incredibly common and is experienced by most people when trying something new.
It’s also interesting because the people you think you’ll feel intimated by are actually the people who don’t even notice you are there.
Serious trainers are focused on their own session and you might think that people are looking to see how much you can lift or judging you but the truth is that in 99% of the instances, it’s just in your mind.
I’d go as far as to say it’s the opposite and that even if you’re weak or out of shape, people in the gym will respect you showing up to make a change rather than thinking you don’t belong.
5. You Feel Self-Conscious
A lot of us start going to the gym because we want to improve our fitness and change the way we look, whether this is losing weight or gaining muscle mass.
When you’re starting out at the gym it’s very common to feel self-conscious about how you look, especially when there are people in the gym who are bigger and more muscular or people who are thinner and more toned.
Feeling self-conscious about working out in front of other people is also very common as a lot of people worry they’re being judged for what workout they’re doing or how they’re doing it. As mentioned above though, this is usually a misconception and people in the gym are more focuses on themselves than those around them.
** The exception to this is the know it all people who love to comment on other people’s workout but these are few and far between.
6. Lack of Time
Another big reason people dislike the gym is that they don’t have the time to use it.
Pretty much all of us will have other commitments which means we don’t have as much free time as we would like. As a result, trying to find the time to go to the gym can be difficult, and fitting it into your schedule can feel like a big chore.
This is especially the case if you’re having to commute to the gym because it isn’t somewhere nearby. Having to factor in additional time for travelling to and from the gym can really feel like wasted time and can put people off working out.
7. It Isn’t Convenient
People can also hate the gym if it isn’t convenient for them to use. For instance, if the only time you have to go to the gym is first thing in the morning this isn’t ideal as it’s usually when gyms are busiest.
Also, class times are inflexible. If classes you want to attend aren’t at a convenient time then you’ll either have to miss them or reorganize your schedule around them.
So not being able to use the gym when it’s convenient for your routine is another reason people end up hating the gym.
8. The Music or Atmosphere
When you go to the gym you can’t control the music that’s playing. Although some people wear headphones to listen to their own playlists, headphones can be uncomfortable and get sweaty when working out. Wireless headphones can also fall out. As headphones aren’t always practical to use, that means you’re stuck listening to gym music.
Listening to music you don’t like can be off-putting and make you feel less motivated to workout at the gym.
As well as the music you also can’t control the atmosphere like the temperature or use of air conditioning in the gym, so you might find that the gym is too hot and humid or too cold and dry for you to feel comfortable working out.
In honesty though, it’s harder to control the temperature in a garage gym which is why we have guides on how to heat a garage gym and how to cool a garage gym. It’s usually the more old-school or budget gyms that don’t create a good training atmosphere due to budgets.
9. You’re Doing the Same Thing
It’s pretty common for people to fall into a rut with what they do at the gym. Doing the same workouts week in and week out get’s boring after a while. You might also stop seeing or feeling progress from doing the same thing each week, which can make you feel unmotivated.
Having variety in your workouts is important. However, this can be difficult to do if you’re worried about trying something new or if doing something else, like trying a new class, doesn’t fit into your schedule or if the gym is limited on what equipment and classes are available.
So falling into a rut with your workouts is another reason people can end up hating the gym.
It’s also interesting to know that getting bored of the same workout could be ingrained in your DNA. Famed coach Christian Thibadeau discusses training for your neurotype in a video series (linked below).
10. You’re Not Feeling Motivated
Another reason people hate the gym is that they aren’t feeling motivated to work out. Going to the gym each week or each day and doing a workout takes a lot of effort and determination.
Motivation levels naturally vary for everyone and it’s hard to stay motivated especially over a long period of time. If you’re feeling a slump in motivation then going to the gym can start to feel like a chore and make you resent the place.
Final Thoughts
You might be reading the above and thinking – “yes, this is me” for most of the points.
Even if you only relate to some of them, it can still be enough to seriously de-motivate you from going to the gym and impact your health and fitness goals.
Therefore, stay tuned, we have another article coming soon to show you what exercises and routines to do specifically for people that hate going to the gym.
