I like my workouts to be really short, preferably under half an hour excluding my warm-up. So naturally I don’t want to be waiting around for exercise machines if the gym is particularly busy. Whilst I am fortunate not to work in a 9-5 job and thus be forced to train during peak times, there are still days where the gym is more crowded than usual.
So, what do you do about this? You’ve basically got to do the best with what you have available. Here’s a few tips that I utilise whenever I run into such a problem.
Avoid peak gym times if possible. Pardon the obvious, but if you can, try to avoid peak training times. These are often before work, during lunch break and after 4pm in the afternoon. Often Saturday mornings are particularly crowded also.
Ask to work in with other people. If the machine you wish to use is in use, ask the person if they mind working in with you. Whilst they are resting in between sets, you can perform your set. This way, no one is inconvenienced. Be sure to return the favour – after all, the gym is there to share.
Be flexible in your weights routine. You may have a great routine, but if you don’t have the apparatus to execute that weight training plan, there isn’t much use now is there? An intense 30 minute session will often be far more productive than a drawn-out 60 minute session. So, find an alternative exercise to perform that utilises similar muscle groups and that is suitable for your goal. A little improvisation can save you a lot of time and frustration!
Perform a free-weights or body weight based regime. Free weights are often far more freely available than machines. A gym may often only have one smith machine, a couple of lat pulldowns or other cable machines. If you try to utilise your bodyweight, dumbbells and barbells as much as possible, you may be able to significantly decrease the possibility of having to wait for any required equipment.
Modify your workout days. If it is really that bad in the weights room (I know it can get quite hectic in there), try switching your days around. You could train another group of muscles that day, which is particularly useful when everyone is training chest on Monday! Alternatively, you could switch around a cardio and weights workout, as cardio often requires far less wait time in a busy gym environment.
Sign up to another gym if it is really that bad. If you can’t get an effective workout completed in a reasonable time, you may be better off finding an alternative gym with more facilities or less people around. You may even prefer to set up your own home gym, which can be done without too much outlay.
Share on Facebook
