5 Annoying Problems in Gyms Across the US

[etothepii]

Originally Posted by standAPART

Here is a quote from an article that featured a study regarding TV and cardio intensity. (Pay cloase attention to the bold face type)

As reported in today's LA Times, TVs are becoming the most common piece of equipment in many fitness centers.

Some experts say that entertainment helps people exercise longer while others say that this is leading many gym-goers toward relaxed, low-intensity workouts.

Research conducted by Jim Annessi, Director of Wellness Advancement for the YMCA, and published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, found that those who combined their exercise with watching TV had lower dropout rates than those who didn't.</SPAN>

Annessi also said "we must recommend that beyond the first six months people should become more attentive to how long they're exercising and at what intensity. (END)

TV's in gyms are a commodity to help boost member retention. Great for manager and gym-owners, but detrimental to the general population that approaches exercise programs with unrealistic goals.

So tell me what's better, long slow exercise that you can stay committed to, or exerciise that you quit, or never begin in the first place?

[standAPART]

Read the quote from the article....

"beyond the first six months people should become more attentive to how long they're exercising and at what intensity."

There is nothing wrong with steady state exercise for individuals "trying" to adapt a healthy lifestyle. BUT...when they have adapted a healthy lifestyle (hopefully within the first 3-6 months) and experience the initial effects of some cardio vascular exercise (increased VO2 max, more energy, and confidence), they need to conentrate on what their goals are. Steady state in front of a TV wil get you a some fat loss if the nutrition is good. In general population, nutrition is not that good, so at the end of the day, they are just breaking even with calorie expenditure. This is where a higher intensity (or HIIT) is appropriate.

Originally Posted by etothepii

So tell me what's better, long slow exercise that you can stay committed to, or exerciise that you quit, or never begin in the first place?

[etothepii]

That very article states, "those who combined their exercise with watching TV had lower dropout rates than those who didn't."

So, without the TV's, drop out rates would go up, and fewer people would make it to that 3 to 6 month mark that you mentioned.

Just think about that. TV's in front of the machines make the experience more pleasurable. It gets more people to be less sedentary, and it reduced drop out rates of exercisers.... doen't sound like a top 5 gym problem to me. Yet you state:

"It is to no surprise that many of the people I witnessed still look the same year after year."

Has it occurred to you that looking the same is great for these people. How would they look if they spent those years on the couch eating bon bons? The fact that they stick with their exercise for years, compared to the rest of overfat America is simly outstanding! But here's what you recommend:

"Fitness centers need to get rid of all these TV’s and cardio theater systems in front of cardio equipment ..."

Yes, take away the one thing that keeps them coming back!

[Psicosis]

Originally Posted by Brat

One really annoying aspect of gyms is that their staff and personal trainers do not have the depth of knowledge on how to really train an individual who is beyond basic conditioning. They also do not know how to train someone who is not overweight or underfit. Try going in and responding to the question, how much weight do you want to lose by saying "none, I love my body. I just want to stay healthy and get ahead so that I can enjoy a higher quality of life year to year." You will get blank "stare" in return.

Try asking a gym employee for information on how to properly use the pre-programmed features electronic cardio equipment for a non- weight loss workout. Try getting programmable cardio machines to preset for linked dual timed intervals so that your high and low interval times are input so you don't have to rely on the clock at any point.

Try asking a gym employee how to make the best use of functional equipment new to the facility. You'll likely get a standard body building exercise.

There is still a long way to go to get the service industry to understand and cater to the whole fitness market and not just buff guys and overweight people.

If you have good body and/or know what you're doing and just want to stay healthy than why consult a trainer in the first place? Didn't think of that did ya.

Originally Posted by Psicosis

If you have good body and/or know what you're doing and just want to stay healthy than why consult a trainer in the first place? Didn't think of that did ya.

Wow, man, you really missed the whole point of her post, didn't you?

Originally Posted by Brat

There is still a long way to go to get the service industry to understand and cater to the whole fitness market and not just buff guys and overweight people.

[etothepii]

StandAPART, upon some reflecting, and I see that I am coming off very harshly. Sorry. I've been debating on a different, political forum all day, and my ire is up, I guess. I just disagree on one single point. Really, I appreciate your writing.

Again, sorry about my tone.

[standAPART]

No offense taken....I love debating and I am known to challenge others. I know my articles don't appeal to everyone and I write them to purposely not...but I do advocate readers to open their minds a little and "unlearn".

See you on the next thread!

Originally Posted by etothepii

StandAPART, upon some reflecting, and I see that I am coming off very harshly. Sorry. I've been debating on a different, political forum all day, and my ire is up, I guess. I just disagree on one single point. Really, I appreciate your writing.

Again, sorry about my tone.

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by Psicosis

If you have good body and/or know what you're doing and just want to stay healthy than why consult a trainer in the first place? Didn't think of that did ya.

Yes I did as a matter of fact. You can never know too much and there has to be someone who is supposedly keeping up on changes, trends and new knowledge from research studies. I don't mind paying, I just find that not many young, fresh PT's know much more than how to do gym introductions and put together weightloss plans. Then there are the strength and conditioning coaches who are available to competitive athletes.

I pay for SME's in other areas of interest. Why not in fitness too?

[etothepii]

Yes I did as a matter of fact. You can never know too much and there has to be someone who is supposedly keeping up on changes, trends and new knowledge from research studies. I don't mind paying, I just find that not many young, fresh PT's know much more than how to do gym introductions and put together weightloss plans. Then there are the strength and conditioning coaches who are available to competitive athletes.

My guess is that trainers with the knowledge base you're talking about have better paying gigs. You'll prolly never see them as hourly paid trainers in the local gym.

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by etothepii

My guess is that trainers with the knowledge base you're talking about have better paying gigs. You'll prolly never see them as hourly paid trainers in the local gym.

You're probably right. The research into adult recreational fitness is only beginning to be done so there is little to promote as a "need" or a "desire" from a marketing POV. Being a pioneer sucks sometimes.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by etothepii

So tell me what's better, long slow exercise that you can stay committed to, or exerciise that you quit, or never begin in the first place?

I'm going to play devil's advocate now.....

Long slow exercise is better than nothing, the same as having a Big Mac and large fries is better than starving to death. My analogy is a bit extreme, I realize, but something to ponder none-the-less.

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

I'm going to play devil's advocate now.....

Long slow exercise is better than nothing, the same as having a Big Mac and large fries is better than starving to death.

I agree except that if it's a choice between starving and eating McDicks I'd say you'd be OK with just the Big Mac, skip the fries and do yourself a little bit of a favour!

[Vas85]

Squats are the only exercise with 4 sets performed heavily enough but safely, that literally shock my muscles every workout, I dont believe anything else comes close...

After all Upper leg = biggest muscles, biggest bone composition/structure and strongest by far.

[AndrewH]

something i hate, that is kind of irrelevant, is that i always get wierd looks shot at me because i look like a scrawny teenager. yeah, i know i'm scrawny, and pretty little, but i don't need a death stare, bro!

but, sometimes ill sit next to a guy who shot me one, and if its the right day for that certain muscle group, i'll sit there and ask for his weights, rep it, give it back, then grab heavier ones that he couldnt lift then rep those. who's the bi*** now? haha...

just my input of the day.

[Maxgain]

Originally Posted by AndrewH

but, sometimes ill sit next to a guy who shot me one, and if its the right day for that certain muscle group, i'll sit there and ask for his weights, rep it, give it back, then grab heavier ones that he couldnt lift then rep those. who's the bi*** now? haha...

just my input of the day.

Fair play to you nothing better