Crowded Gym? How to Stick to Your Fitness Goals

New year, new resolutions! For many of us this means eating right and upping our exercise game, which often means crowded gyms and possibly frustration if you can’t work out how and when you want to. Whomp whomp. January is most definitely a busy time of year for health clubs, but instead of getting upset about the crowded gym, here are 11 ways to make your workouts happen!

crowded gym problems

Sign up for a few personal trainer sessions or small group classes

Ok, you might have to pay a little extra money, but this is a great way to invest in your health! You get one-on-one attention, new ideas for workouts, plenty of motivation, and your choice of equipment in a busy gym. Boom.

Pre-register for a class

Many gyms offer pre-registration for group exercise classes to prevent overcrowding or running out of equipment. If you want to secure your spot and avoid the crowds, be sure to take advantage of this service and register ahead of time. Plus, once you commit, you HAVE TO go! 🙂

Get to class early and do your own workout 

If the studio for your group exercise class is empty before it starts, take advantage of the space (and possibility equipment) to squeeze in a quickie workout away from the crowds.

If you’re not a class person…

Time your workouts around busy classes 

Some group classes are totally packed, but if you’re a fan of the treadmill and free-weights instead, plan your workout during class time when a number of gym members will be occupied.

Avoid peak hours

Ok, this is probably a duh tip, but can you switch around your schedule this month to accommodate exercising at a different time of day? For instance, if you always exercise after work, what about doing an early-morning or lunchtime workout when the gym isn’t as crowded? Even moving one or two workouts might make a difference with sticking to your routine!

Use high-intensity intervals

A lot of gyms have time limits on cardio equipment during peak hours, which usually isn’t a huge deal unless it’s January and it’s packed. Even if you’re limited to 20-30 minutes, you still can maximize your workout with some high-intensity intervals, which push you out of your comfort zone and torch some serious calories in a short amount of time. Need some ideas? Check out some of my Pinterest boards: CrossFit-Inspired Workouts, No-Equipment Required Workouts, Treadmill and Elliptical Workouts.

Try a new machine 

That SkiErg in the corner of the gym? Hey, give it a try! Instead of just waiting around, try something new! You’ll burn some calories and you might even find a new machine/exercise to incorporate into your exercise routine!

Pick full-body exercises 

With the gym being so crowded, you might not have the luxury of using multiple pieces of equipment at once, so pick full-body exercises that work several muscles at once. Some favorites: Burpees, kettlebell swings, and push-ups. The more muscles you can work at once, the more calories you’ll burn, too!

Work out on the weekends

Saturday and Sunday mornings are the perfect time to fit in a workout while the gym is quiet. A lot of people like to sleep in on the weekend, but you can jump-start your day (and get your favorite treadmill) before the gym gets too busy.

Always have a backup plan 

Before you head to the gym, make a Plan B for yourself. If you can’t run on the treadmill, what will you do instead? You can even Google/Pinterest a few workouts to have on-hand just in case you can’t do the one you had planned.

And when all else fails…

Work out at home

If there’s a will, there’s a way! Here are some of my favorite at-home workouts: Naptime Workouts and No-Equipment Required Workouts.

Happy sweating!

Question of the Day

How do you deal with crowded gyms? 



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