GYMS for "Fattys" only ( Good or Bad)

BL_Coleman
BL_Coleman Posts: 324 Member
in Chit-Chat
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/nightline-fix-abc-news/gyms-overweight-members-only-154200233.html?vp=1


Saw this today while reading the news? What do you think of this? I have been overweight and uncomfortable in a gym ( mostly because the only size 0-2 girl in the whole gym always seems to be one treadmill away) but once I started working out and got off the sorry for myself kick, I didnt even notice who was next to me..unless they were an extremely attractive guy...

What yall think...Good/Bad/Indifferent?
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Replies

  • Sinisterly
    Sinisterly Posts: 10,913 Member
    It's silly, imho.
    Other people's bodies motivate me to push myself.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    So..... When you are successful at this gym, you get kicked out...?
  • BL_Coleman
    BL_Coleman Posts: 324 Member
    you know I wondered about that too...they never mention what happens when you meet your goal....
  • Dino_bacon2112
    Dino_bacon2112 Posts: 341 Member
    I think it's stupid. Even at a gym for "fatties" there will still be someone thinner than you, more attractive than you, who can lift more, run longer or faster than you. That's the nature of any public setting. And who I'd going to decide who is "fat enough" for the fattie gym? I'm 184 lbs which is fat to me but might be a mini goal of somebody who started out at 300,400 or 500lbs. Just some things to consider...
  • salembambi
    salembambi Posts: 5,585 Member
    Yea lets exclude and single out people for there weight even further

    as if society does not already do that enough

    "fat people gym" no no

    no
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Seems like a terrible idea. When the so called "fatties" get in shape, the new and improved have to find a new gym. Loss of business...fail.
  • Sinisterly
    Sinisterly Posts: 10,913 Member
    Maybe you get your picture taken, it gets put on a wall then you get told GTFO NAO.
    Tsk tsk.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Mmmm. Meat.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Seems like a terrible idea. When the so called "fatties" get in shape, the new and improved have to find a new gym. Loss of business...fail.

    Realistically, so few people are actually successful (especially long term) it's not much of a concern.
  • mmm_drop
    mmm_drop Posts: 1,126 Member
    So..... When you are successful at this gym, you get kicked out...?

    ^This was my initial reaction.

    Also, when I belonged to the gym (I workout at home now), I never noticed "fat" people or "skinny" people. I only noticed people killing it or people effing off and either way, I didn't mind. I was there for me and not for anyone else.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    From a money-making standpoint, it's brilliant.

    $50 per month just to get into the door? F that.

    $250 per month to include a trainer - likely the only person in the entire place that have any idea of what (s)he is doing.

    My god - the guys who started this - in a major city, no less - are geniuses.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    So..... When you are successful at this gym, you get kicked out...?

    ^^^ that's what I was thinking....

    i don't like the idea of "fattys only" gyms.... they should have an atmosphere where everyone is accepted, of every fitness level. Having special gyms for "fat" people just reinforces the FALSE idea that beginners of all shapes and sizes are not welcome or accepted in "normal" gyms. There are a small number of arseholes in any walk of life, but on the whole, people ARE accepting of very unfit and out of shape people in the gym. It's normal to feel scared the first time you go, especially if you're really badly out of shape (which can apply to skinny unfit people not just fat unfit people) but the gym should encourage people to get over that rather than coddling them over it, which actually makes the fear greater, rather than helping them get over it. I'm sure there are things a lot of gyms can do to make very anxious beginners feel more welcome and at home, but "fatty only" gyms is not the answer.
  • emAZn
    emAZn Posts: 413 Member
    Considering that working out is such a minor part of fat loss and that the majority of it comes from nutrition and eating at a deficit this doesn't make sense to me. It's putting such an emphasis on a working out which lets say a moderate cardio session might burn 400ish calories when really that person needs to say no to that second helping of cookies or those 4 extra chicken wings.

    And I agree, I used to feel weird about going to the gym and I still do especially if I'm trying a new compound lift or if there are a bunch of people in the weights area but you just do it and eventually you realize you don't care about what others are doing as much as they don't care about you...

    Except for that blonde hotty who spins, lifts and drives a Prius with a 26.2 sticker on the back... yummm I always care what he's doing :)
  • BL_Coleman
    BL_Coleman Posts: 324 Member

    Except for that blonde hotty who spins, lifts and drives a Prius with a 26.2 sticker on the back... yummm I always care what he's doing :)

    I agree what he is doing is always important...eye candy is always appreciated..( especially if they like decent music) :)
  • MyIdaho54
    MyIdaho54 Posts: 81 Member
    Interesting concept but a bad idea IMO. We fatties do not be segregated! I was intimidated at first going to the gym and seeing all the young/fit gym rats in action. But, most are there to workout and not paying attention to others anyway so no worries. I've also found several to very helpful and encouraging if I had any questions. Course I'm old enough to be their dad which maybe changes some aspects such as "I am not their peer or their competition".
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Seems like a terrible idea. When the so called "fatties" get in shape, the new and improved have to find a new gym. Loss of business...fail.

    Realistically, so few people are actually successful (especially long term) it's not much of a concern.

    So excluding people who have succeeded and want to stay in shape. While only allowing noobs who just started and will eventually quit and won't give them money to keep the business thriving. Seems very bad business practice.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Stupid idea IMO.
  • fallenoaks50
    fallenoaks50 Posts: 84
    So..... When you are successful at this gym, you get kicked out...?

    According to their facebook page, they are allowed to stay and inspire others.

    They also have an @Home program for anyone who wants to pay $20 per month to view their exercise & nutrition advice videos.
  • Dino_bacon2112
    Dino_bacon2112 Posts: 341 Member
    So..... When you are successful at this gym, you get kicked out...?

    According to their facebook page, they are allowed to stay and inspire others.

    They also have an @Home program for anyone who wants to pay $20 per month to view their exercise & nutrition advice videos.

    Meh, being an inspiration is overrated. I'd rather live a life with loose morals and not have to worry about anybody paying attention.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    So excluding people who have succeeded and want to stay in shape. While only allowing noobs who just started and will eventually quit and won't give them money to keep the business thriving. Seems very bad business practice.


    Except that unless the noobs pay an extra $200 per month, they won't have access to a trainer and nutritionist - who may or may not, incidentally, give them good advice - and will likely not succeed, because they will likely have no idea what they're doing. In addition, this is in Chicago - a large city. There will be plenty of new clients pretty much non-stop.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    It seems silly to me. Why would you isolate yourself from the people who are already successful and who might be able to help you? You can't avoid everyone in life who is more successful than you are anyway. The sooner you stop trying the better, imo.

    (the "you" being the generic "you")
  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    It's silly, imho.
    Other people's bodies motivate me to push myself.

    ^^ This. I look to other regulars in the gym as motivation.

    I guess I can understand to a small degree about feeling more comfortable/ less judgments made because everyone is overweight. But what happens when you reach your goal and lose weight? Do they kick you out? That can be pretty discriminatory if you ask me.
  • Thewatcher_66
    Thewatcher_66 Posts: 1,643 Member
    I think it's silly. There's no common sense anymore. If someone is being made fun of because he/she is overweight, the jack@ss who's hurling the insults should be banned. Nuff said. There shouldn't be separate facilities for skinny and overweight people. Ludicrous.
  • doctorsookie
    doctorsookie Posts: 1,084 Member
    bad!!!! what do they do when they become thinner? Leave and start new and lose all the supportive people they met? Ridiculous and discriminating.
  • Candi_land
    Candi_land Posts: 1,311 Member
    Dumb idea. I can only imagine the backlash if this were the other way around. Gym for "fit people" only.
  • ItsMeGee3
    ItsMeGee3 Posts: 13,254 Member
    Some people are intimidated by gyms. If bigger people feel better working out with larger people, go for it. Just do it! From what I've heard, you don't get "kicked out." They usually have a standard, like you have to be at least 30 lbs overweight to join. If you loose it, great. You stay and become a motivator for someone else because they know that you too were once overweight. Makes no difference to me, I would just love to see more people trying to get healthy!
  • wiscck
    wiscck Posts: 185 Member
    The only way I can see this as a good idea is if they have machines that are rated for a higher weight than normal gyms. And, truthfully, there are large people out there who are self conscious of how they look and might appreciate a gym where everyone else is in the same boat as them. I'm not one of them, but there are probably enough that the gym will make money.
  • honeysprinkles
    honeysprinkles Posts: 1,757 Member
    I'm indifferent to it, but it's not something I would have ever signed up for. Seeing thin people at the gym was always motivating for me, but I do get that it makes others uncomfortable/self conscious.
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    "what gym do you go to?"

    "oh you know, that one on the corner of 4th and Lincoln."

    "Is that the one where they only let overweight people in?"

    "Uhhhh, i don't know."

    "I'm pretty sure it is. I tried signing up there, but they said i wasn't big enough."


    Seems like that would be a good idea
  • Lemmynade
    Lemmynade Posts: 160 Member
    From a marketing and profit perspective, it's brilliant. Thing is, gyms don't make money on the people who actually use them, they make the money on the "resolutioners" who are convinced that they'll use it... tomorrow. They're banking on the idea that the majority of their members won't use the equipment, staff, classes, or other amenities. (Electricity, payroll, wear & tear, water, replacement costs...)

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