Gym - Need to Vent

[Pollytc]

I have a lifetime membership at a gym since I was 18 years old. While the gym has wonderful equipment and a very nice facility, the personnel they have working there is much to be desired. I bought my daughter a membership there for Christmas because she loves fitness related activities and I figured this is something we can do together a few nights a week. So, we go to the gym yesterday. Since it had been awhile since I had been to this particular gym, I told the VERY YOUNG girl that she could set me up with a routine as well (I really wanted to be there when she was telling my daughter about her routine). Anyhow, there were a few things she told us to do that totally annoyed me, and I challenged her on them. Number 1: Because I need to lose weight, she reinforced the high rep/low weight theory with me. I had no problem with that. What I did have a problem with is when she would tell me to use a particular weight, and I told her it was not giving me any resistance what-so-ever. She really hesitated to let me "up" the weights, but I told her I needed to at least feel a challenge so I didn't feel like I was doing something with momentum. I guess because I look fat, she just assumed I was strength challenged. lol. Then we move onto abs. Grant it, my abs are my worst part of my body, especially since they have been cut on so many times. I stressed I wanted to really work my lower abs. She shows us this one exercise, and though I could feel it working, I also mentioned to her that my lower back was coming off the ground. She said "Oh, that's o.k. My lower back comes off the ground when I do this one too." I again challenged her and said that my lower back should NOT be coming off the ground, that I did not feel this was safe. I don't think she liked that. Anyhow, I amused her by doing the routine she gave me, but once I'm on my own, I am going to up the weights to where I'm at least challenged. It just irks me how they are so "seasoned" to tell you certain things and that is it.

Thanks for listening to me vent!!

Kim

 

[Maximus]

Hi Kim--I have to admit your post gave me a chuckle b/c I often watch the (also very young) trainers at my gym setting people up on new routines & sometimes it takes every ounce of discipline I have to bite my tongue & not interrupt. I see some of the most ridiculous exercises being taught. And my biggest beef is many of these clients are beginners who are being set up with an asinine routine that they'll never follow b/c it's overcomplicated & confusing, & therefore they'll give up in no time. Which I guess may be part of their strategy, b/c I know for a fact health clubs make their money on people who sign up for one year contracts & never make use of them. It's exactly the people like us who show up regularly & beat the he!! out of their equipment that they DON'T want as members.

A little o/t, I really hate this time of year in the gym. For the next month the place will be packed w/the New Year's resolution crowd who will drop like flies by the end of January. I guess it's really mean & selfish of me to think that way b/c they have as much right to be there as I do, but I just hate it when the gym is overcrowded w/people who aren't serious about what they're doing! x(

 

[needsmotivation]

Just to chime in....I worked for a while at a one-to-one fitness facility that catered to the "upper-class" and they charged really high fees. They advertised how the trainings were geared toward each individual and their specific needs......However, everyone did the same thing}( I quit after a couple of months because it was such a joke!!

 

[maxwells]

Hi Kim --

I used to be EXACTLY the same way when it came to the gym and trainers at the gym. Until I became a trainer. So, let me give you a different perspective and maybe you can have a little sympathy for the girl

First, I agree that there are a LOT of people out there acting as trainers but don't necessarily know what they're doing. I don't know if this girl is knowlegeable or not. The fact that she's young really has no bearing on the matter.

Okay...you asked her to set you up on a routine. It is difficult when a trainer and client get together for a first meeting for a number of different reasons. First, the trainer has very little idea of what your body can handle. 2nd, clients typically OVERESTIMATE the amount of training they are currently doing. The fact that she started you off on very little resistance is actually a sign of a good trainer. Since she doesn't know what you can handle (in terms of weight and form), lower weight is the right thing to do. Regardless of the weight, you should never be doing anything with momentum. Performing an exercise with momentum has nothing to do with the actual weight and everything to do with your form. Of course, if your form is dead-on and you don't appear to be challenged, then a good trainer should encourage you to increase the weight.

You are right about the ab work -- maybe. If you're doing a reverse crunch, then your low back will come off the floor (because you are pulling it off the floor with your abs). It's only bad when your back is ARCHING off the floor (ie, your butt is on the floor, your shoulders are on the floor, but the low back is not). So it depends on what exercise you're talking about. In general, you are correct and the low back needs to be protected. If you feel pain there -- then something is not right.

It sounds like you'd rather put together something on your own and that is perfectly okay. If you've been doing Cathe videos for a while and maintain strict form according to her pointers, then you will be fine.

Shonie