10 secrets about your gym

by Jonathon Morgan (Subscribe to Jonathon Morgan's posts)
Dec 12th 2006 5:00PM

Categories: Fitness

I've recently arrived at an age where if I continue to eat whatever I want without ever exercising, I will no longer stay miraculously trim. But I've yet to join a gym, and, according to this article on SmartMoney.com, maybe I shouldn't.

Among the "10 Things Your Fitness Club Won't Tell You," are that increased January memberships (due to New Year's resolutions) lead to long-lines, and a 20 to 30% dropout rate, the place is crawling with bacteria, the trainers need no standard certification (and are subsequently very hit or miss), and it's nigh on impossible to cancel your membership.

While regular access to a pool, classes and fitness equipment sounds nice, I think I may stick to jogging in my neighborhood.

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Comments (6)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Patty 12-12-2006 @ 6:25PM

Unless you are in the Hamptons where personal trainers are NASM certified and MUST also have current CPR/AED certification.

R. 12-13-2006 @ 8:26AM

I dont know what gym you work out at, but there are many fitness centers that are immaculate. And personal trainers must be certified in almost all places. I have yet to find a gym that does not have properly trained staff. Furthermore, the atmosphere will encourage more working out by having a support system. Weight training is just as important as cardio, so if all you do is jog, you may need to add to your routine for better overall health.

Jackie 12-13-2006 @ 10:28AM

I am unsure where you have received your information regarding fitness centers. There are four types of fitness settings (Commercial, Corporate, Clinical, and Comminuity). I am assuming you are not talking about a Clinical (cardiac rehab) or a corporate site (only for employees of a corporation). I work at a Gold's Gym and a YMCA as a personal trainer. I have a degree in Health and Wellness promotion. I hold an ACE and an ACSM HFI certification. Both places I work at are extremely clean. All employees have certification in CPR and First AId. All trainers have Personal Training certifications. I would suggest you do more reasearch before posting ignorant comments.

Howie Jacobson, PhD 12-13-2006 @ 9:54AM

Even at gyms where such horrors are not occurring, there are a couple of huge glaring problems.

First of all, most gyms encourage two types of interaction between patrons: flirting, or none. In our isolated lives, why not try to get our exercise through the time-honored tradition of playing with other people? Why not work out in a setting where folks are helping and teaching each other, not putting on headphones and tuning out the world, or preening and strutting to get attention?

Second, most gyms make money by trading their floor space for your dollars - as in, you work with machines that are designed to return maximum dollars to them, not maximum fitness to you. When you have to adapt to a machine, you're developing useless strength that has no applicability in the real world. You won't get better at lifting heavy objects out of your trunk, or push the car up the hill, or withstand a toddler hurling herself at your patella in glee and wild abandon.

Third, most gyms isolate your mind and body. The popular ones are entertainment heavy, so your mind gets to check out while your body goes through the boring unpleasantness of a workout. The more we practice being absent from our lives, the better we get at it.

So what's the alternative? Games, sports, yoga, dancing, playing with kids at the playground, martial arts - once we let go of the Matrix-induced idea that fitness is a commercial product sold to us by big companies, we're free to take back our own fitness, our own bodies, our own time, our own minds.

Cliff 12-13-2006 @ 5:55PM

Most gyms will offer month to month memberships if you ask, or wait for the inevitable promotions. You don't need a trainer if you can read and/or are self motivating. Almost all clubs offer at least 5 different kinds of cardio machines, and a huge assortment of free weights and nautilus type equipment. I might add that jogging, especially on city streets is horrific on your shins, etc. Maybe actually go try a few gyms before you cast them off. I have belonged to a couple over the last 13 years (LA Fitness and Gold's) and found both to be wonderful. I might add I work out in the morning when the crowds are much less.