This is going to be a long, rambling post but here goes:
I recently joined a gym and feel uncomfortable there. Not by other members but my management.
When I first signed up they asked what my goals were. I told them I lost over 100 lbs, have more to go, want to develop an exercise routine for maintenance, tone up, etc. I wanted the regular $30/month plan but they tried to sell me the personal training program for almost $250/month. I told them I wasn't interested and just wanted what I originally came in for.
They asked why I didn't "value my health" enough to sign up so I told them I felt pressured and he backed off.
I went for the "free" assessment which ended up being 30 minutes of someone showing me how to use the machines and then trying to sell me training sessions. Flat out told them I was not going to.
However, when I go, every evening after work, the personal trainer comes over to me to tell me I'm not jogging fast enough, not smiling, not drinking enough water, etc. I smile back and tell them I'm happy with what I'm doing. I'm feeling judged every time I go.
Then he had the nerve to say to me today "I know you don't care what I have to say." I told him, yes I did care but I was currently satisfied with what I was doing.
Just getting my frustrations out. Normally I would cancel and find another gym but this one is super convenient to my office and I pre-paid for an entire year's membership.
Geez ridiculous. I think I would just firmly tell them one more time you appreciate it but you do not need any more help and want to enjoy your time at the gym without the interruption smiling sweetly. Make sure you have names of the annoying ones. And if that doesn't do it then it's time for a complaint letter.
I joined Crunch Fitness over the winter and there big motto is no judgement and everybody has their own way to work out. I got a free personal trainer session with my membership which I declined the gal said that's fine and if you want to use it later just let me know and that was the end of it.
Its a slow time for gyms right now... they are probably getting told by higher ups they need more training sessions. I know at the gym I used to work at March April May were slow. people getting off there new years res. people starting to work out outside more etc.
If you are stuck with a one year membership, I hope that talking to management will improve your situation. The last gym I joined, there was a trainer who constantly reminded me about my weight and pressured me to sign up for training. During a yoga class, an instructor looked at me and, in front of the entire class, said. "If you are obese, this is how you should modify the pose." I could have figured that out by myself. After I had been out sick with the flu, another trainer lectured me about the importance of never missing exercise and my need to lose weight. I complained to management and nothing happened so I left that gym.
I work out to relax and I want to be left alone. I was going there 3-4 times per week. I believe it was the management's policy to pressure members, but it just became too difficult for me to take their crap every time I walked in the door. Instead of encouraging me, they humiliated me. I didn't need that. I also don't need to be lectured like a child.
If you speak to management and nothing changes, I hope you eventually find a better gym.
Last edited by doingmybest; 04-15-2014 at 11:55 PM.
I have a similar situation. The gym costs $80 a month but they want me to sign up for 1-2 personal training sessions a month at 40-90 per hour. Had I known that I would become an outcast after signing on for 18 months, I am pretty sure I would not have invested here. They were so nice and supportive and instructed during the initial classes, and I had watched a lot of Youtube videos.
I got a deal by signing up for 18 months, 80 instead of $150, the classes are wonderful so I do get my money's worth that way, but I don't get that instruction that I heard everyone rave about on the youtubes. The missing information is that you have to do the personal training sessions to not be considered a piece of you know what.
Once you have prepaid or signed a long contract - do not give them the satisfaction of chasing you away - that just benefits them by giving them more room to lure the next sucker, + all that money.
I agree about speaking to an owner and be honest about how this is making you feel. Maybe even start with an honest chat with that one particular trainer. This is just ridiculous and rude.
If someone said that to me I'd tell them to f&@k off and write scathing reviews online of the gym until they refunded me my year's membership. Unacceptable to insult members, and counterproductive since it makes them want to avoid the gym.
Talk to the Gym manager. The last gym I was a member of was very similar (they sound identical actually) but the personal trainers were not gym employees. They were private contractors that made their money off the clients they got at the gym. I had one seriously tick me off when they came over to a machine I was using (cable machine) and took one of the handles off one of the cables even though I was *actively* using the machine. I was furious. I confronted the trainer (who gave me the handle back) and then spoke with the gym manager later because the trainers there had a habit of treating gym members who weren't their clients as though they were second hand citizens. Ultimately I dropped my membership entirely because it was just getting ridiculous with the trainers.
I have a membership at Planet Fitness since 2012 and never once did anyone come up to me or ask me my goals at sign up. I just canceled my membership because the park district is more convenient and all they did was ask my reason for leaving to document customer feedback and that was that. They didn't pressure me to stay or anything.
Unsolicited weight loss advice (you'd think they would know) is a touchy subject especially when some people feel uncomfortable being in a gym in the first place. They must be VERY hard up for money or pressured by management. I would definitely find a way out of that contract and leave...then leave a review on Yelp.
I don't think you're being 'too sensitive' at all! They are the ones who are being
totally out of line and super annoying. You have shown alot of restraint and class
Quote:
Originally Posted by MauiKai
Can you wear ear buds so that maybe they aren't so eager to try to talk to you?
I love this visual..."I ... Can't....HEAR.... you..." (in annoying sing-songy fashion)
Gym Rant
