I normally just browse the cathe forum, but I think this is the only place that will understand my problem. My husband, mother, sister and myself belong to LIFETIME FITNESS CENTER. My husband is extremly fit. So my mother suggested that maybe we can have my husband train us together and give us some pointers on what we want to accomplish in our fitness goals. We all went to gym yesterday and my husband decided he wasnt going to workout so we meet him a the gym. He wear his jeans with gym shoes. My mother is extremly organized she had a clipboard with her to record what exercise we did and record weight and reps. We were in the gym for about 45min when one of the personal trainers approached my husband and asked if they could talk. I guess they thought my hubby was a personal trainer (which is not allowed unless you pay for a personal trainer from the gym -very expensive). He asked my husband what was he doing there and that he looks like a personal trainer. My hubby told him he was here with wife.sister in law and mother in law. The pt told us that unless my hubby changes his clothes and workout he couldnt coach us, because it looks as if we have brought an outsider (non-member)to train us. He even had the nerve to look at our clipboard has if he didnt believe us. My hubby offered to show our membership card but he didnt seem interested. So needless to say my husband and I left the gym. When I left I wasnt sure if my husband should be complicated or insulted. When we checked on the prices for personal trainer, to workout 3x week for 3months the fee was a whopping $1200.00!!!!! The only reason the pt approached us was because he wants us to sign up with them, which he gladly mentioned if we need help they do have personal trainer on staff. I later thought about it and should have complained to a manager, because if my husband was fat, he never would have approached us. I promised my hubby never to sign up for any more programs they may have to offer. I do like this gym because it is open 24hrs and they have great machines and treadmill with huge tvs set to different channels that you can set your radio too. However they will never get anymore money or recommdations from me again. Sorry for the long post. But I am upset. and thanks for listening.... chapplin
Lifetime fitness
- Thread starter chapplin
- Start date
honeybunch1
Cathlete
That's too bad! It reminds me of my recent bad Bally's experience. I must say, however, that my ex-husband trained me 13 years ago at a Bally's and they never said a word.
I, for one, would do some serious complaining starting with a phone call, and continuing with a letter to the home office. You are all members, so what that trainer did was uncalled for, and you're certainly right that he was out for money.
Just Do It!
I, for one, would do some serious complaining starting with a phone call, and continuing with a letter to the home office. You are all members, so what that trainer did was uncalled for, and you're certainly right that he was out for money.
Just Do It!
Aquajock
Cathlete
Lifetime Fitness is not the only commercial club chain that has that rule about no outside trainers in their facilities; the club chain where I teach aqua has that same rule. Although I've never researched it nor had to encounter a controversy around it, it could very well be that not only is the club trying to protect its profit centers (not hard to understand if you're a business owner), it is highly likely there are some significant safety and liability issues around non-certified, non-insured trainers who are not in the employ of the facility whose equipment and environment are being used.
It could very well be that your husband is fit and trim, and it could very well be that he has some training capabilities. However, one does not necessarily lead to the other, and my guess is that had your husband been fat but also acting like a trainer, he would still have been approached.
There's always two sides to a situation, even when one feels short-changed personally.
Annette Q. Aquajock
It could very well be that your husband is fit and trim, and it could very well be that he has some training capabilities. However, one does not necessarily lead to the other, and my guess is that had your husband been fat but also acting like a trainer, he would still have been approached.
There's always two sides to a situation, even when one feels short-changed personally.
Annette Q. Aquajock
honeybunch1
Cathlete
My question is: if a member is merely helping another member, ESPECIALLY one who is family, if that constitues an "outside trainer." My significant other is a Y member, and I see no problem with taking him into the Cybex area and helping him use the machines, even if I were not a staff PT.
I'll have to ask the Y what their policy is on that, given the exact same circumstances.
Just Do It!
I'll have to ask the Y what their policy is on that, given the exact same circumstances.
Just Do It!
kisuzu
Cathlete
Hi Chapplin
I had a very bad first experience in a gym ten years ago.The Step aerobics instructor told me that I was so off beat that I was even confusing her.I never went back to a gym to step again.In fact I concentrated on weight training,running & kickboxing and excelled in all.I finally got the courage to start stepping again after having been introduced to Cathe's weight tapes.I knew I could learn from this excellent instructor. I am now stepping with style.My bad gym experience turned into a very positive experience.Gym's have rules and the individual is just doing his / her job.I now prefer the comfort of my home gym where I often workout in my underwear and no shirt.I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Ki (one of the male cathe fans)
I had a very bad first experience in a gym ten years ago.The Step aerobics instructor told me that I was so off beat that I was even confusing her.I never went back to a gym to step again.In fact I concentrated on weight training,running & kickboxing and excelled in all.I finally got the courage to start stepping again after having been introduced to Cathe's weight tapes.I knew I could learn from this excellent instructor. I am now stepping with style.My bad gym experience turned into a very positive experience.Gym's have rules and the individual is just doing his / her job.I now prefer the comfort of my home gym where I often workout in my underwear and no shirt.I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Ki (one of the male cathe fans)
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Oct-25-02 AT 08:13AM (Est)[/font][p]I think if that is the club policy then you should abide by that or ask permission for yourself. They might say yes to you as long as your husband comes in fitness attire or they might just say no. However, if they refuse then you either find another club where it's more flexible or accept it.
I find it quite annoying too when you can't do what you want in places like that, but you have to respect that they have a business to run and they are out to block any potential competitor. Sometimes they can get too aggressive and in this case I do think that they are out of line: you are a member already and will continue to be a member and they should view your long term membership as more important than trying to get more money out of you short term. I think you should have a word with the manager and point this out to him, but try not to be too aggressive in your complaint.
Yen
I find it quite annoying too when you can't do what you want in places like that, but you have to respect that they have a business to run and they are out to block any potential competitor. Sometimes they can get too aggressive and in this case I do think that they are out of line: you are a member already and will continue to be a member and they should view your long term membership as more important than trying to get more money out of you short term. I think you should have a word with the manager and point this out to him, but try not to be too aggressive in your complaint.
Yen
Aquajock
Cathlete
I posted a question on this topic on the Turnstep forum for fitness professionals, and it appears that marketwise it's a mixed bag: some facilities allow trainers from outside the facility to train within it, and some don't. And yes, there are significant liability issues for the facility if a member is injured during a training session and under the care of a person not in the facility's employ.
I do agree that if one is a member of a facility s/he should abide by those rules. Chapplin, it may be worth your while to find another facility. Not to fan any flames, but I can see Lifetime's (and my own club's) point of view on this: a business is a business, and each has the right to define it. I liken it to going to a restaurant, using a table and plates and napkins and glasses but bringing in your own food and / or chef. Wouldn't work very well, would it?
Annette Q. Aquajock
I do agree that if one is a member of a facility s/he should abide by those rules. Chapplin, it may be worth your while to find another facility. Not to fan any flames, but I can see Lifetime's (and my own club's) point of view on this: a business is a business, and each has the right to define it. I liken it to going to a restaurant, using a table and plates and napkins and glasses but bringing in your own food and / or chef. Wouldn't work very well, would it?
Annette Q. Aquajock
Just so you all know, I did talk to a manager. He says that once the personal trainer was advd that we were members, he should have left us alone. However what he pointed out was that it was the clipboard that alerted them that we may have a outside trainer. He basically told us to be discreet when using a clipboard because members who sign up for a personal trainer all have clipboards. I asked if clipboard were allowed he never said yes or no. But that to some members it looks as if we have personal trainer. Go figure! He also mentioned that if my hubby gives someone else (other than myself and family members) and the advice is wrong and someone gets hurts that they can be sued as well as my hubby. That is why the have personal trainer on staff. I advised him that I know all fitness gym have rules and guidelines, but they should stressed somethings before they sell you a membership. No were in the rules does state another member (especially family members) can not assist someone. Nor does it state that outside clipboard are not allowed. I advised him that we will attend the gym together without the infamous clipboard and that my husband will workout with us again and will continue to give us some advice and if this situation occurs again he doesnt have to worry about pulling our membership, we will cancel on our.
Funny that it was the clipboard that caused the whole problem. In the gym I went to for years, everyone used a clipboard! They had a stack of them sitting there and you'd just take your log (which the gym supplied for free) and grab a clipboard and a stub of a pencil and be on your way. They seemed to feel it was a good practice to track your own progress whether or not you had a personal trainer. (And they did have a rule of no outside personal trainers.)