All Gyms Are Not Created Equal. Does Yours Suck?

Shortly after I started working at my first gym, I took a part-time job at another fitness center. I always remember the owner saying he disliked "negative" ads because it made the entire industry look bad. Although, as I remember it, the ad he was referring to didn't really say anything bad about other gyms. I don't remember the specifics but it was something like, "at our gym we'll help you get started / you won't feel intimidated / it's not crowded"- rather vague general statements like that. I guess he disliked the implication that all gyms weren't like that.

For a long time, I thought my old boss had a point and I didn't want to do anything to discredit the fitness industry. It's too important for people to exercise and, for most folks, I think the right gym is the best option. However, the key phrase in that last statement is "the right gym."

I've decided that we're actually doing a disservice to the industry by not acknowledging the shortcomings of too many gyms. There are way too many people who've had a bad experience and then paint all fitness centers with the same brush because they think we're all alike. It becomes, "I tried joining a gym but it didn't work" or "I joined a gym but I didn't like the men staring at the women doing step class" or "I hurt myself on one of the machines."

It may be good for my business but I'm tired of hearing how a woman joined a gym but did nothing but cardio because no one ever showed her how to use the strength equipment, let alone set her up on a proper program. (This happens to men, too but I own a women's gym.)




It upsets me that members of a certain chain are told they can do the same circuit day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, and still get significant weight loss results.



You can't. Your body will adapt to doing the same thing over and over but they don't want to admit that because you'll end up cancelling your membership and going where you have more options.

  

I'm appalled that people actually get injured during a TRIAL workout because of the incompetence of a big box gym's trainer. I'm not making that up; it happened to one of my boot campers and you can read about it here ==> Becky's Big Gym Experience

It bothers me that woman (and probably some men who aren't muscleheads) are still made to feel like an annoyance in some gyms.

So what brought all this up?

I had asked one of my long-time members to make a video about why she liked Body & Soul Fitness Studio. (You can see it below.) When it kind of turned into a litany of what she'd experienced at other gyms, it was the final straw. Between Barb's video and the things listed above, I decided it was time to get real about what was happening in the fitness industry.

The important thing to know is that there are gyms out there with qualified instructors, that care about whether you actually use your membership, that keep up on the latest research and that teach you how to exercise correctly for your goals. Here's one ==> 

There are gyms where members are expected to return their weight plates and dumbbells when they're finished and they are not allowed to leave puddles of sweat on equipment for someone else to clean up.

I will be writing more about the differences in fitness facilities but, for now, don't give up. If you're thinking of joining a gym, get my free report, "How To Choose The Right Fitness Center For You" at GetFitLancaster.com

Here's Barb's video. She does talk more about Body & Soul in another video :-) . I'll post that soon.





Leave a comment below and tell me about your good or bad gym experiences.



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