I am more of an outdoor exercise person, but in the winter, I frequent the gym. I belong to the gym on our local university campus, so I’m usually one of the old guys. It has made me more aware of my surroundings. I sometimes feel uncomfortable, like everyone is thinking “Who’s the old guy?”.
Recently I started observing the different type of people who come to the gym.
Here are 7 types of people I’ve found at the gym:
Stalkers – They scope out one person and always seem to use the equipment next to them. They are at the gym to make connections, for one reason or another.
Walkers – These people belong to the gym only to walk around a small track. It seems to work for them, but they could just as easily be mall walkers. 
Gawkers – They are just here to stare and they do it well.
Talkers – The gym is their social place. They do more socializing the exercising.
Balkers – Balkers are still not sure they’re into this gym thing. They move from machine to machine quickly, never landing on one they actually want to use. They may or may not be back.
Clockers – These gym people are just doing their time. They may or may not want to, but they know they need the exercise. They do their business and they’re gone.
Bulkers – These are the ones who seem to be at the gym every time you go, regardless of the time of day. They are serious and they seem to look at their muscles a lot too.
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How about the blockers. These are the people who just sit around on the equipment either talking texting or doing anything but working out! They have no sense of gym etiquette, and they seem oblivious to the fact others would like to use the equipment.
Yea, I've seen those.
Thanks for this hilarious post. I like your observation and analysis style.
Awesome post! I'm a clocker rocker. If I could live a long life and fit into my fav jeans by eating Twinkies, I'd do it. But I love my run and really get into it –as long as I have my iPod. If I forget my iPod, I turn around and go back home.
Thanks Babe for the encouragement…as you know I'm a walker. Prefer to walk outside but temps won't allow it these days. Just remember – it's a lot cheaper for me to go to the gym than the mall to walk. I know I just can't pass up a great deal at the mall!! hehe
You're my favorite gym walker.
Twitter: KariScare
says:
Obsessers – Exercising is an obsession and very serious. They talk about it, live it & eat it. I know a lot of people who are obsessed with exercising. Which one am I? Right now, I'm a "Sideliner" because I have an injury and it stinks that I can't exercise; otherwise, I tend to waffle between and obsesser and a clocker.
Yes, there are lots of those. I just came out of a boot from a hairline fracture. It was miserable.
Count me as a clocker. Everything is like clock-work. I bring a banana and two small dinner rolls, each time I hit the gym which is about 3 times per week. I really don't enjoy going so I don't think about it too much, but after my workout I'm pretty happy. I guess the reason I don't like going is that as a kid I was never that athletic but now that I'm older (42!!!!?) I don't really have choice, not unless I hate being alive. So I go. Each workout is about 2 hour, broken up between cardio and weights. Correction, the part about the gym which is the least onerous is the sauna at the end. hehe. Thanks for a great thought inspiring post.
FB liked.
I'm with you….on all accounts.
I'm a clocker…. gotta exercise and don't want to talk to anyone!
I'm with you.
There is one you forgot to mention: seekers. They come looking for women! Showing off their "guns", in front of the girls in the really small outfits!
Yes, I've seen them.
Personally, I loved the gym! I guess that would make me a rocker. The one problem I had was when I lost my job and could no longer afford the dues, when I started working again, I started building my own mini gym on my back porch; works like a charm! The best part is no lines, no waiting for the machine I want! Great!!
That's a great idea!
That is as true as funny! I can not stand the Gawkers, they make me feel so uncomfortable!
I'm a clocker, but I am as serious as a bulker when I'm there!
Me too Amy!
Twitter: raystrauss
says:
It seems that gyms can be like church sometimes where there are those who train for the mirror while others train for the mission.
btw, I'm an Oughter. I ought to go to the gym.
Oughter. Good one
Twitter: BLichtenwalner
says:
Combination Clocker / Rocker as well, though, my iPod is always playing audiobooks. Does that make me a Clocker / BOocker? I'd love to spend more time at the gym, but FT job + blog + 2 kids under 3 = ZERO time. So gym is a great way to get some "reading" done while working out.
P.S. Anyone ever been to a "LORD's Gym?" Would love to get impressions of it – none here in SW Michigan yet.
I should have listed Rocker.
I'm an oldie but goldie at the college gym as well….I'm gonna try it all from zumba to the polar plunge, but my push up won't lower…my crunch not as bad (like these better than old school sit ups)… my mile is slow (11:22) but I am very, very thankful my body is moving at all.
I motivate by thinking of those that cannot walk without assistance. I motivate thinking of those that cannot go to the gym, but taking a chemo treatment instead and those that simply are not physically able to work out….so I guess I count my blessings with every bead of sweat! That thought process has helped me through the mental part of the gym workout.
That's true Melissa. That motivates me too.
It doesn't rhyme but "phoners." They're on the treadmill talking on their phone. Can you say, "Annoying!"
Yea, I've seen them.
It seens that some of them are church goers as well lol
and can be spotted at any church Sunday service.
That's a great observation.
Don’t forget the grunters, who make lots of noise so everyone knows how hard they are working. And meeters, who are there scout out the opposite sex.
Funny and true!
Clocker. I like Cassandra's gym. LOL
Me too!
Twitter: _cassarchut_
says:
This definitely sounds like a college gym. I used to frequent my college gym when I attended and those types were all over. However, now I have joined a gym chain and honestly I don’t see any of those types here at mine. I rarely ever see stalkers or talkers, most people come in and get there work out in say hi to everyone along the way and get on with business.
Sounds like a great gym!
Twitter: BLichtenwalner
says:
Sounds like a good one. Which chain?
Rockers – these are the people who are more into their iPod (iTunes) than into the gym. They are driven by music more than fitness.
I've seen them too! Now there are 8
I am a total rocker, it helps me not be a clocker! I preferred my university gym to Gold's because I always felt self-conscious with all those types. At my school gym, if you went early enough, it was a lot of older people socializing and trying to stay healthy. I didn't feel like they were judging me like the people at Golds. Now I work out from home or outdoors… and yes, I am still a rocker!!
I am a clocker ~ enjoy the gym most of the time ~ Smile:)
Me too, Cindy.
Twitter: bdentzy
says:
When I went to the gym, I was a “clocker.” Not my thing and it was hard to sustain because my heart was never really in it. I wanted the results but that was it.
That's my category too Bryan. I wanted to say a Bulker, but that would be a lie.