Why I Hate Box Gyms
16 04 2008I don’t know if i mentioned this, but since im going out of town, i wont be able to post friday-sunday.
RANT TIME
I DID go to the gym last night amidst my busy schedule, which I was quite proud of. I think i really only went to procrastinate about my packing, but a work out is a work out. I stupidly went around 6 when the gym is just jam packed full of people that just got off of work, which I really hate. I just want to do my workout and get out. There weren’t even any mats left to stretch so i spent a lot of the time wandering around waiting for some spot somewhere to open because i didnt want to start lifting before i stretched. Finally, some big sweaty dude returned a mat so I grabbed that one and nabbed a spot by the front desk.
Im stretching, listening to atreyu on my i-pod, already peeved at the occupancy, watching the goings-on. A middle aged woman walks up the counter and a scrawny pip-squeak 16 year old boy walks around the side and leads her right next to me. It was her first workout at the gym and was using what I would assume to be 1 of her free personal trainer sessions you get with certain packages.
Im an excellent eavesdropper. Even with earbuds in.
The boy sits on a stability ball and instructs her to do pushups, crunches, etc. And by instructs, I mean he says, “now, do 20 pushups.” 20. for her first workout. This woman, judging by her appearance and horrendous form, which the boy did not correct once, was not accustomed to exercise. The boy bounced up and down on the ball silently as she went through what he told her to do. They then disappeared to some machines for what I am sure was much more of the same “training.”
They appeared again a bit later, and the boy led her to the Wall O’ Supplements and proceeded to tell her of all the things she needed: creatine, protein powder, herbal enhancer (which i thought was for penis enlargement….i get emails for it every so often) Thankfully, she kind of brushed him off, saying she didnt need anything and left.
I was appalled.
I honestly almost said something the manager that was at his desk next to me, who is a character in and of himself. Overweight, over-tanned with a shaved head to mask his balding. Being bald is fine, but dont mix it with a fake tan and a douche-bag, holier than thou attitude. not so hot.
i was thinking to myself that there are two possibilities here, both of which make me mad. The guy doesnt know the first thing about training, so he must not be certified. If he is not certified, he should not be leading people through a workout. Its unsafe, unethical, and cheating this woman out of a real chance to learn and get results. He looked way too young to be 18, but what do i know. He very well could have been. So if he was certified, he CANNOT push supplements. Its in most certifications code of ethics. Sales people can do that but certified personal trainers are not allowed. Our advice is taken as gold from people that don’t have experience with fitness, and telling them they should take something so you can make money, instead of advicing them to get their nutrients through a well balanced diet is pretty low.
So I sat and stewed about this, instead of saying anything of course, which made me increasingly mad, so I finished up my workout and left.
So this is what I do. I complain here, because you are a captive audience. Well, I guess you can easily hit the back button or the little X in the corner to leave so you aren’t exactly captive, but if you are thinking about doing that, I don’t want you here anyway. Get out. Go on, GIT!
wow, what an experience! I have seen these things happen as well, but since I’m not a PT I didn’t know about the rules and all that!
In case I forget, have a good trip!
Have a good/fun/safe trip!
Uh, that would make me so mad and I’m not even a trainer! You should write the manager a letter. Do you not work out at the gym you work at?
So, I go to a “box” gym. Cough-Golds-cough cough. We have that same deal with “one free training session” whatever. And we also have the “wall-o-supplements.” I avoided my training session for about 2 months into my membership. I think i’ve told this story before, so I’ll stop. Anyway, she pushed supplements. Or at least, asked if I took a multi vitamin, and if I didn’t I should consider “these because of your weight and weightloss goals.”
So…..I find it interesting, that it is most trainers code to NOT push supplements….I’m pretty sure she is certified as well.
hmph.
She still calls me to get me to train with her. And he’s loud and nasaly…ick.
I would have gone nuts on that teen trainer.
Here’s something: how about personal trainers who are in worse shape than most of the people who go to the gym? There’s a PT at my gym who has a huge beer gut.
Something is wrong with that.
Kelly L- I dont work out where i work because 1) i have been there for 8 hours and dont want to be there any longer 2) dont work out before because i dont want to be all sweaty for my shift and 3) there are only teo suites (its a private studio) and the schedule constantly changes so i dont want to take up a suite if someone is scheduled. I do, however, do some lifting if i have a pretty long break or nothing else to do. or ill hop on a cardio machine and talk with a client if i like them and its open.
allison- i got one of the free sessions too. i told them i didnt want it but they kept calling. i started to recognize the number after hanging up on them half way through their schpeel (because i am bad at being assertive and just telling people no) and literally saved it as “do not answer.”
Chris- thats totally this manager guy. HUGE stomach that hangs over his belt. I dont get how anyone can find that persona credible. I think the fitness industry is one of the few where you KNOW you are going to be judged by how you look. Its like you yourself are your best advertisment.
i meant *person*. didnt want you guys thinking i used persona wrong in a sentence.
The other day someone posted a comment about losing an inch. It got me wondering, how long does it take to lose an inch (safely)? Roughly, how many pounds do you need to lose to lose 1 inch.
Hey Kelly,
I go to Gold’s, and it seems to just all depend on who owns the particular franchise. A gym I belonged to about 10 years ago got bought by Gold’s, and it was terrible. “Trainers” would just randomly approach you and start hassling you about what they could help you with, and really wouldn’t leave you alone. There was also the “wall of supplements”, and the gym just had an awful, meat-market feel. Well, that particular chain of Golds ended up being bought out by someone even worse, and eventually just went out of business. Getting closer to my point, a new fleet of Gold’s opened here a few years ago, and they are just fantastic. That’s where I go now. There is no supplement wall…just a fridge of water and other energy drinks. There are trainers, but none of them have ever approached me (except one time when my knees were going past my toes during squats). The equipment always works, all of the class instructors are great, and since it’s kind of pricey (I pay $60/month for the gym and the awesome childcare), the clientele is a little older. I never thought I would love a chain gym, but the Golds here are really good.
Trish-Inches and pounds dont have anything to do with eachother. People can drop inches like crazy and not lose 1 pound. It happens all the time, especially when they start replacing muscle for fat. It all depends on your body.
Carter- thats encouraging. I know they arent all bad. I like when the clientele is older, too. I dont feel like i am getting gawked at or have annoying 14 year old boys yelling, swearing at eachother and taking up space. Thats why people really appreciate working out at my work, its completely private and one on one. Theres never more that 2 other people, besides trainers, in here at once, and no one can see you. Its pricey, though, so i get to hear about people’s boats and summer houses and maids. then they complain about how expensive we are. I dont see any of that money so SHUT IT.
my golds experience is far more your than like carters…although Im not gawked at unless my Tornado is having a terrible twos meltdown which I guess is a bonus?
people seem to think they can work out a few times
enjoy it
and BINGBANGBOOM become a trainer
because, you know, it is SO easy like that!
have a good trip!
Even if he is certified, he should care enough about what he is doing to pay attention to her form. I would have been fuming if I witnessed that.
I have a question: i usually workout 6 days a week four of those days doing workout videos. How often should i change them up? and if i do change them will i lose the muscle or tone that i’ve already gained from them? and do i really need to do each 3 times a week at least?
Janine- the only way you lose muscle is if you stop using it. as long as you keep working out, you will be fine, even when you change what you are doing. changing your routine keeps the muscles guessing and fires them in a different order/way so it actually increases your muscle.
wether you need to do them 3 times a week depends on what you are looking for. weightloss? health benefits? increase muscle? increase performance? it all depends on what you want from them. but, generally, 3 times a week strength training is recommened to keep the muscle you have, increase it slowly, and get the health benefits from your exercise.
i’m reading back entries and see you referenced 24 hour fitness (my current gym and where i used to work as front desk staff).
you’d think personal trainers wouldn’t be allowed to push crap, but no, it’s all part of the 24 hour apex training crap. well that, and the need for commission on supplement sales. i worked out a lot while working there (okay, part was tri training) and even though i know what i’m doing and was fairly successful doing it, some of the trainers still tried to push training and other supps on me. no, thanks, i’m fine. i know you’re generally a nice person, but back off.
oh, and the new club manager we got? he was actually in shape, but also bald and a complete douche. when he was just a random corporate guy, we got along fine. but when he became my actual manager? yeah, we didn’t get along too well. “get happy or you’re fired.” “you didn’t get happy within the last week? well, that’s just unacceptable.” you know what? screw you and your unreasonable expectations – i quit.
sadly, though, when it comes down to it, i prefer 24 over my rec center. it’s got an atmosphere more conducive to working out (as opposed to the carpeted softness and mostly old people of the rec center) AND is open 24 hours a day … key to people like me who have weird sleep schedules. oh, that, and the pool is always open for laps except twice a week when there’s the aqua24 classes.