anti-gym snobbery

hamlet1222

Does anyone else find, that if they mention they go to the gym, some people will respond by taking on a superior air and say things like "I prefer to exercise in the fresh air" or "why waste money on a gym membership when all you need is some running shoes and the great outdoors", or "I find treadmills so boring - can't understand why anyone would want to do that"

Nothing actually wrong with these statements - but the way in which they are said I find irritating, as if they are questioning one's good taste and intelligence.

anyway, I don't mean this thread as a rant, just as an observation. Anyone else notice the same?

azulvioleta6

No, never.

Kind of ironic since I am from the running capitol of the world.

Most people who are serious about fitness do a variety of different things, some of which involve going to the gym.

snowflake954

Nope

LKArgh

Yes, but it applies to all sorts of exercise. There are lots of people on here who believe that you absolutely need to lift weights or you are never going to look good. If you talk to my favourite pilates instructor, she will tell you that only pilates and body weight training will work your core properly and help with posture, so if you are not including it in your routine, you are doing it wrong. My friend who is a swimmer, will tell you she cannot understand why anyone would choose any other form of exercise and then spend the next hour listing the benefits from swimming. My coworker who is a runner is convinced that if he ever enters a pool he will die from some weird skin infection and that weight lifting is for crazy people on steroids. My other coworker who loves his bike and uses it to come to work wonders why anyone spends time for exercise, when biking to places instead of using a car or the bus is so much fun and helps you get all the physical activity you need. And so on

azulvioleta6

aggelikik wrote: »

Yes, but it applies to all sorts of exercise. There are lots of people on here who believe that you absolutely need to lift weights or you are never going to look good. If you talk to my favourite pilates instructor, she will tell you that only pilates and body weight training will work your core properly and help with posture, so if you are not including it in your routine, you are doing it wrong. My friend who is a swimmer, will tell you she cannot understand why anyone would choose any other form of exercise and then spend the next hour listing the benefits from swimming. My coworker who is a runner is convinced that if he ever enters a pool he will die from some weird skin infection and that weight lifting is for crazy people on steroids. My other coworker who loves his bike and uses it to come to work wonders why anyone spends time for exercise, when biking to places instead of using a car or the bus is so much fun and helps you get all the physical activity you need. And so on

Interesting. I do all of these things, and the only area where I notice that there is very little crossover is with weightlifting/swimming. The more serious weightlifters tend to sink.

ALL of the dancers that I know also run, lift, walk or do some other major physical activity.

blkandwhite77

I pay for a gym membership because I know I will go if I'm paying. No way am I wasting $70 a month and not using it! Lol

hamlet1222

aggelikik wrote: »

Yes, but it applies to all sorts of exercise. There are lots of people on here who believe that you absolutely need to lift weights or you are never going to look good. If you talk to my favourite pilates instructor, she will tell you that only pilates and body weight training will work your core properly and help with posture, so if you are not including it in your routine, you are doing it wrong. My friend who is a swimmer, will tell you she cannot understand why anyone would choose any other form of exercise and then spend the next hour listing the benefits from swimming. My coworker who is a runner is convinced that if he ever enters a pool he will die from some weird skin infection and that weight lifting is for crazy people on steroids. My other coworker who loves his bike and uses it to come to work wonders why anyone spends time for exercise, when biking to places instead of using a car or the bus is so much fun and helps you get all the physical activity you need. And so on

Great point, I guess we're all evangelists of our own preferences - just some more vocal than others.

yogacat13

Judgmental people will be judgmental. Stating a preference is one thing, but denigrating someone else's choice is quite another. I find that if people make that kind of comment about exercise, they carry that attitude into the rest of their life as well, so I avoid them. The "best" exercise routine is the one you actually do consistently and enjoy.

Mycophilia

I do not listen to cardio plebs. Nature does not have barbells and squat racks just lying around.

middlehaitch

My mum thinks if everyone had to do house work like she did when young there would be no need for gyms.
She's 88, so that's ok.

I do a bit of anything and everything, but running, so I can't be a snob.

Cheers, h.

KameHameHaaaa

middlehaitch wrote: »

My mum thinks if everyone had to do house work like she did when young there would be no need for gyms.
She's 88, so that's ok.

I do a bit of anything and everything, but running, so I can't be a snob.

Cheers, h.

Ahahah...if only housework kept someone in shape. I come from a large family, we had daily indoor/outdoor chores that were posted on the fridge. Lots of housework...and I still ended up over 400 lbs... lmao. If only.

KateTii

I think the "anti-gym snobbery" has come as kind of a "return pendulum". Gyms (and the media) have pushed so hard that you need them if you ever hope to get in shape, that I think a lot of people reacted pushing back just as hard "actually, no you don't".

I like my gym, I use the weight machines and enjoy the environment it gives me. I won't go cycling outside at 8:30pm but i'll get on a stationary bike at the gym at 8:30pm.

refuseresist

I don't care. I do what I want, you do what you want. Not you- I mean whoever the other person is that doesn't want to do what I do.. oh never mind..

PinkPixiexox

I've had people kind of snigger at me and say "you're lucky you get the time!!! *Eye roll* Wait til you have kids".

This annoys me HUGELY! I work full time, I have a house to run, food to cook, clothes to wash, bills to pay and I FIND the time because my health is important to me. No -I don't have kids. But I also know plenty of people that do have kids and still find time to get a couple of work-out's in a week..

refuseresist

PinkPixiexox wrote: »

I've had people kind of snigger at me and say "you're lucky you get the time!!! *Eye roll* Wait til you have kids".

This annoys me HUGELY! I work full time, I have a house to run, food to cook, clothes to wash, bills to pay and I FIND the time because my health is important to me. No -I don't have kids. But I also know plenty of people that do have kids and still find time to get a couple of work-out's in a week..

All this tells you is that kids are a convenient excuse

hamlet1222

The people that do have kids and also find the time are those with a supportive partner, or extended family on hand to help. I can understand why it would be impossible to get to the gym if you don't have either. At the opposite extreme, I know guys with kids who spend most of their leisure time in the gym or doing some sport/hobby that doesn't involve their kids - seems sad to me.

misskarne

*shrugs* I don't go to the gym, not because of any snobbery, but because I don't really like it. I get nervous and generally feel intimidated. Of course, it probably doesn't help that my only experience with a gym was the one of the university campus, and it was FULL of super-fit guys and girls. I seriously don't think I ever saw anyone else in there who looked even remotely close to overweight.

I did get a kick out of my session with the personal trainer, though. I said "figure skating" and his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He'd never had one before and I could see his mind going into overdrive.

Unknown

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ohmyllama

I sure have noticed it! Any- and I mean any- time that I say I'm going to the gym, or have been at the gym, I get an attitude. I think it's kinda funny though, so I make sure to mention the gym regularly!

The only explanation I can find is that they're just jealous...

Nuke_64

I went to the gym for years. Eventually, I stop going but kept paying for membership for while. When I did go, I did so because I know I should do it, not because I enjoyed it.

Before I had kids, I had so much disposable time. Now, I challenge the need for every minute I don't spend with them that they are awake. That is not to say I don't, I just have to have a damn good reason. For my exercise now, I mountain bike, something that I love. It gives me the cardio benefits I was getting from the gym but now I want to do it. That time I can use multiple justifications for it: exercise, me time, stress relief, and more. Gym time only fills one of those buckets for me--exercise.

It won't make sense till you have kids how much time that can or that you want them to consume. When I read about people on MFP working out 6 days a week for 1-2 hrs, I do the typical parent thing and think either they don't have kids, don't work, or have different priorities than me. Still, one should manage their time and take care of their health, if not for themselves, then for their kids.

Optimistical1

I'm guilty of taking the superior air. Anything I find out that someone is paying $100+ a month on their gym membership. I pay $10 a month at my gym for all the same gym equipment, childcare, personal trainers and group fitness classes that every other gym has.
Why the heck would anyone pay $100+ just to go to a gym that has a cafe, nail salon, gift shop, etc...seems like a terrible waste of money.
There I go again, me and my superior air......

Sabine_Stroehm

I've seen folks comment here when someone posts that they do "cardio" on a treadmill.
And I've seen folks mock the specific gym others have chosen/have access to.

SingRunTing

Sometimes I'll mention that I work out at home when people start talking about gym memberships. I've heard "I can't work out because I can't afford a gym membership" as an excuse way too often. You don't have to pay money to work out and I just like to remind people of that.

I don't judge you if you do have a gym membership. I have had a membership in the past and am looking into getting a new one because my strength training has outgrown my home equipment.

JodehFoster

I have a bunch of my own personal reasons for not chosing the gym for myself, including being unsociable (I enjoy working out alone), cost savings, time savings (I don't want to have to drive anywhere after work, before work, etc when I have the park right outside of work or my treadmill & weights at home...I work long hours).

...but I'm not going to snob when someone else chooses it.

Leyshinka

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

No, never.

Kind of ironic since I am from the running capitol of the world.

Most people who are serious about fitness do a variety of different things, some of which involve going to the gym.

Is the running capital you are from somewhere in Kenya or Jamaica? Just curious. I have done a quick google search and found different opinions....

OP... Yes I have had similar experiences.

Need2Exerc1se

I might be one that answers "I prefer to exercise in the fresh air". But I'd never suggest that it was wrong or bad for others. I have had people on this site insult me for sharing that I prefer not to go to the gym, but never IRL.

Alidecker

I have had similar experiences too, but I ignore them...or I add to the fire and explain my two gym memberships, depends on my mood. They can preach the benefits of working out outdoors (which I do walk and hike outside) and the fact that you can workout at home. I just know I won't, I tried that, I sat on my couch, I'll keep the gym.

Just to calm the money issue, my gym fees for both gym memberships is $50 total.

DaddieCat

Mycophilia wrote: »

I do not listen to cardio plebs. Nature does not have barbells and squat racks just lying around.

I like the way you think.

Graymanstole

I like running outdoors and personally think treadmills suck. But that's just my opinion and if you happen to find treadmills work for you, then great! I don't expect everyone to do what I do, that would be creepy. I get told from time to time I can't run outdoors in the rain. Sure I can! And I have. I don't run in thunder storms, but that's only be cause I'm highly allergic to lightening, otherwise I would consider it.

If the gym works for you, then by all means go to the gym. Do what works for you!

ohmyllama

Optimistical1 wrote: »

I'm guilty of taking the superior air. Anything I find out that someone is paying $100+ a month on their gym membership. I pay $10 a month at my gym for all the same gym equipment, childcare, personal trainers and group fitness classes that every other gym has.
Why the heck would anyone pay $100+ just to go to a gym that has a cafe, nail salon, gift shop, etc...seems like a terrible waste of money.
There I go again, me and my superior air......

$10 a month? With personal trainers?? What kind of gym is this?

I think mine is $70. I'm just lucky that my dad pays it for me. Now if only I could get personal training... it's so expensive at my gym.

msf74

Leyshinka wrote: »

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

No, never.

Kind of ironic since I am from the running capitol of the world.

Most people who are serious about fitness do a variety of different things, some of which involve going to the gym.

Is the running capital you are from somewhere in Kenya or Jamaica? Just curious. I have done a quick google search and found different opinions....

OP... Yes I have had similar experiences.

They do have broadband in Iten you know!