New Gym

**.V.** · 16-Oct-07, 07:20 PM

So the county government finally decided to spring for the money to build a recreation center. We've now got 6 ball fields, a soccer field, and a new rec building. With great fanfare they decided to show off their prize creation. The basketball court is great with plenty of bleacher space for parents to watch the kids playing basketball and volleyball. Then I walked next door to check out the new GYM they've built as part of the center.

So much bragging about this new, modern, state of the art facility that's going to improve the health and fitness of the people of our county. They are so proud of their accomplishment. I was interested to see what it was like because back in March and April they'd been talking to my wife about getting me to input into the design. Then of course in May when the time came...I wasn't up to it.

I was so dissappointed. Rows of exercise bikes and treadmills. Neat little computers on them. Big flat screen TV's on the walls and ipod mounts, headphones, the works. Over in one corner was a universal machine and a nice row of dumbells from 2.5 - 50lbs. One bench in the place.

Well, at least there will be no worries about some old guy using little pink dumbells in the squat rack or resting in the power cage. No racks, no cages, no anything. No need even for a horse stall mat to deadlift on...because there isn't even a barbell. Not one olympic plate. Nothing.

I looked around and realized...it's gonna be another miserable cold winter in my gym I put in the backyard shed that's unheated. Hands frozen to the bar for one more winter.

ajarvis · 16-Oct-07, 10:00 PM

That sucks. To most people the more technology the more modern. The gym I'm considering is similar in the weight department. No barbells in the place. They have this funky looking machine with cables hanging off of it that I think you attach weights to to squat.... don't know. It's only 15 a month and is in the same building I work in which is why I'm even considering it!

**.V.** · 17-Oct-07, 01:34 AM

Well, you get what you pay for. And membership+dues here = Free.

Merrida · 17-Oct-07, 06:15 PM

Sounds a lot like my club actually. I work in one of the richest sections of Boston and in a premium club. People like it when they can come to one place, "get their work out" in, and there's three indoor pools, physical therapy, massage, sports club for kids (so they can drop the kids off), five out door pools in the summer with water falls and slides, four tennis courts,....and yes, the large plasma TV screens on the wall and on these new treadmills with more gadgets and programs.

I still do it the old fashioned way: Treadmill uphill and manual. Free weights (at least they go to 100lbs not that I have to worry), but we also have two squat racks, three benches for benching, two incline, plus one decline (total 6), oly-bars and spaces matted off for oly-lifts.

Anyone wanna guess where those who train go, and where those who come in on their own go?

I see so many meandering on their little bicycles or treadmills or side-stepper at a slow rate while watching their soap operas on this massive tv screen (everyone has their own plus we have them mounted all over the walls). The cardio center is massive and packed.

Fine with me, because it just leaves me more room with the free weights!

But money loves technology, and remember, Boston is a haven for technology. People love it and feel the more there is, the more bang for the buck. They'd rather put their money (the club) into gadgets than keeping their employees happy.

**Doc2029** · 18-Oct-07, 12:34 PM

Even worse is they will come in and do their 20 or 30 min on the treadmill and think wow I am working hard. Go home and eat a pizza for dinner and wonder why am I getting heavier, and I am not loosing any weight... working out is about 20% if the equation the other 80% is your diet. which many people just don't want to understand.

I was talking to one of the trainers at the gym I belong to he was said "It's sad. They are throwing away about 1,000 a year and 98% of them will never see any results becuase they don't understand how fitness works nor can you try to educate them."

I find it furstrating when I talk to friends and they are like oh you have to eat well to get in to shape? Then I tell them what I eat and when and they are like sounds too much like work... sigh.. people

Merrida · 18-Oct-07, 02:07 PM

orky, well put. I can definitely relate. It's worse working in the field when you get approached with these kinds of questions several times every day and you wish you had a tape recorder with you and could hit the rewind button because you have to preach the importance of diet.

I've worked with so many people who thought they could just "work off" their weight and eat whatever.

One girl came to me, "determined," she said, to look good for her wedding. She trained with me three times a week and I was pretty hard on her. I'd check in once a week with her re: her diet. She "didn't have time" to keep a food journal for me to see,...but every week she'd be telling me about the pizza they ate (oh but it was home made with organic ingredients on one of those pizza breads you buy,.....<the huge puffy white flour ones!>).....the pasta dish (oh but there was chicken in it so she got protein,....the 2 glasses of wine (she heard it was good for her heart) at dinner.....

I'm busting my proverbial yoo-hoo's, and while she was getting frustrated at no change except she was showing a little more definition and LOT more strength and endurance,....she wasn't listening to a word I said about how TIGHT her diet needs to be.

I think the majority of people have it reversed and think it's 80% training and 20% diet.

It's such a vicious cycle......

**Doc2029** · 18-Oct-07, 03:46 PM

In reality I think some of it is the junk science that is out there. I also think it is simply the culture we live in. Look at the typical Bow Flex commercial, 20 min. a day 3 times a week to look like this. And of course the person is ripped in the commercial. What they don't say is plus eat a proper diet. Somehow people especially American's have gotten the idea that a diet coke and 20 min on a treadmill is enough to undo that 2000 calorie lunch you had, the fact you had 750 calories in one donut and you put splenda in your coffee and the 2000 calorie dinner the will eat made up of mostly simple carbs and fat.

a month a go when my wife and I decided ok enough of this we're going to get in to shape. I told her it was going to be hard work, and lots of craving for her at first because we're not eating junk food any more. Accept for a slip or two for her she's done well and lost a lot of fat. She had gastric bypass about 7 years ago. When she saw her Dr. and he saw the diet and excersise plan I had laid out he was really impressed.

A PT at the gym she talked to also was very impressed at what we were doing and how we had set REALISTIC goals.

In the end most people will want the easy magic bullett or want to blame this or that. Right now I am still in the 230's (232) down from 241. I know what I have to do and how to do it. I did it before and I know I can do it again. It just takes work and dedication.

I guess that is the bottom line, people have forgotten that old saying "Anything worth having is worth working for!" My health is worth having, and frankly who doesn't want to look better? and that is worht working for too.

mangotango · 18-Oct-07, 05:26 PM

I would be disappointed too, but I bet this gym will still benefit a lot of people in your area. Most people are in need of a cardio workout, so it sounds like the gym will meet the needs of the average customer, just not a fitness buff like you. Maybe in time they'll be able to add more once they figure out what the membership really wants!