One of the main reasons given for avoiding the gym is anxiety or embarrassment about trying to exercise while surrounded by people who are already in shape. But some gyms are now actively marketing their services to the people who need to lose the most weight, and at least one has a policy keeping the fit folks from joining.
The NY Daily News takes a look at a few of these gyms that are intended to provide a place where overweight people can work out without having to share machines with people who are merely maintaining their level of fitness.
“Many of our clients have not had successful fitness pasts so I can see the anxiety before we get started and I can see the relief and happiness after we finish,” says the owner of a Vancouver gym where membership is only open to plus-size women.
“It’s intimidating going into a gym setting,” explains one gym member. “I honestly think some people in a gym setting are judgmental to people who are overweight or have a different body type.”
Meanwhile, one former Biggest Loser has opened a gym in Omaha that doesn’t limit who can join, but does market itself to people who are at least 50 pounds overweight.
“What we have found is that there are some sub-populations who like to work out with ‘people of size,” he tells the Daily News.
And then there is the owner of a Chicago gym who says that the idea of working out with people who are all in the same boat is what’s bring the customers to his door.
“We make it known that our specialty is working with people who have at least 50 pounds to lose,” he explains to the News. “Most people who come here, come here for that reason.”
Gym bans skinny people; More fitness centers move to create friendler environments for larger-size clientele [NY Daily News]
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No? If they only want to take the money of people who want to lose weight, they’re not actually motivated to help them lose that weight, because then they won’t be able to take their money any more. That’s why I didn’t join the gym right next to work, where they have rules against exerting yourself too hard and free pizza (or bagels, if you come in the morning) once a month.
I want a gym that wants me to reach my fitness goals, whatever those might be.
I joined a co-ed gym about 4 months ago and haven’t experienced any of the issues that women often complain about – I haven’t been hit on / leered at or made to feel overweight / out-of-shape.
Honestly, I think a lot of it is in your head. An innocent glance can be interpreted as mean from someone who is very self-conscious. People do look at other people, that can’t be helped.
I don’t know – we have a handful of commenters here who say outright that they go to the gym, at least in part, to look at the women. They aren’t even slightly embarassed to admit this. How many more think it, but just have the decency not to say it out loud?
This doesn’t mean every woman is subject to a gauntlet every time she sets foot in a gym, of course. But it’s not entirely a figment of the imagination, either.
I must not be as fetching as I think then.
That, or I’m just good at ignoring other people. Let’s say that.
I’m overweight and I have never had anyone snark at me, just the occasional rude, judgmental stare (usually from another woman). But I’ve occasionally received the same snotty stare in movie theatres and restaurants. Internally (well, sometimes audibly) I just laugh at the insecure little bitch.
I suspect that people don’t usually mess with me or call me names because I appear confident and have a lot of energy (a brisk walk).
But I just wanted to post to tell those of you who are overweight – if you go to a gym that is kind of a “neighborhood” place, or located near an area with a lot of families, I think you are far less likely to get crap, and far more likely to make friends. It’s the gyms that are “meat markets” that will make you feel uncomfortable. You can usually tell from marketing whether they are trying to sell “eye candy” or a place where you can work hard.
As for those of you who use terms like “fatties” while describing how you don’t care about overweight people at your gym, using a rude term like that puts a lie to your claim.