Interesting article on gym geared only for the obese
(deactivated member)
on 1/10/12 10:19 am
on 1/10/12 10:19 am
Oh yeah that might be a good idea. I'm 28 and I do hear the women I work with talking about Curves and they tend to be older than me and larger than a size12 (which isn't even big!). Do they still only do the workouts in the circles? Maybe I am going to look into it. I would really like to go somewhere and do exercises. I already have a giant treadmill in the middle of the living room and it looks ridiculous and I was going to have to get rid of the big couch and the tables to get the home gym thing and it costs wayyyy more than a freakin gym membership!
Thank you so much for the idea. I really don't think the ladies at Curves would look at me crazy. They'd probably end up being my friends!
Thank you so much for the idea. I really don't think the ladies at Curves would look at me crazy. They'd probably end up being my friends!
One of the reasons that I joined the YMCA and keep going despite the fact that it's more expensive than other gyms is because it is truly a place devoted to improving it's members' health and well-being. From day 1, when I weighed 282 pounds and hadn't exercised forever, I felt comfortable there.
There is a vast array of folks who work out at the Y -- from 90-year-olds doing water aerobics to super-fit people who are training for triathlons. No one has ever given me an unkind look. In fact, I've found that people are generally so into their own workout that they don't really even notice what other people are doing.
Sometimes I check people out, but only to try to improve what I'm doing. I've been doing C25K on the treadmill, so I like to watch other people run on the treadmill so I can improve my form. I like to see what kind of speeds and intervals the "in shape" people use, so I have an idea where I can eventually go with my training. Same with weights -- I watch how other people set up their workouts, so I can get ideas on how to improve mine.
I just got brave enough to take a "Group Power" (formerly body pump) class. I was one of three of the least fit people in the class and had to rest a few times, but everyone else was working so hard that they didn't notice. It's not like the instructor will call you out like a junior high PE teacher if you're not keeping up.
Everyone started somewhere. I think that when people see me at the gym, from my fattest to my now-more-fit self, they think "good for her for working out." That's what I think about everyone there. My advice to everyone is to find a place where they feel comfortable and then go and let yourself be inspired, not intimidated, by the fit people at the gym.
There is a vast array of folks who work out at the Y -- from 90-year-olds doing water aerobics to super-fit people who are training for triathlons. No one has ever given me an unkind look. In fact, I've found that people are generally so into their own workout that they don't really even notice what other people are doing.
Sometimes I check people out, but only to try to improve what I'm doing. I've been doing C25K on the treadmill, so I like to watch other people run on the treadmill so I can improve my form. I like to see what kind of speeds and intervals the "in shape" people use, so I have an idea where I can eventually go with my training. Same with weights -- I watch how other people set up their workouts, so I can get ideas on how to improve mine.
I just got brave enough to take a "Group Power" (formerly body pump) class. I was one of three of the least fit people in the class and had to rest a few times, but everyone else was working so hard that they didn't notice. It's not like the instructor will call you out like a junior high PE teacher if you're not keeping up.
Everyone started somewhere. I think that when people see me at the gym, from my fattest to my now-more-fit self, they think "good for her for working out." That's what I think about everyone there. My advice to everyone is to find a place where they feel comfortable and then go and let yourself be inspired, not intimidated, by the fit people at the gym.
" I am not at all concerned with appearing to be consistent. In my pursuit after Truth I have discarded many ideas and learnt many new things." Ghandi 
That's what got me hooked! They're a hoot -- although they are pretty judgemental if other old people don't try hard enough for their liking. They let me go to Sliver Sneakers water aerobics if I want. LOL They like me.
" I am not at all concerned with appearing to be consistent. In my pursuit after Truth I have discarded many ideas and learnt many new things." Ghandi
I think this is a great idea. When you've lost enough weight you can "graduate" to another gym where you won't feel out of place.
I've had experience with gyms that weren't so accomodating. I've had "trainers" (and I use the word loosely - mostly just biffs who work there part-time) act like they have so much better things to do than teach me how to use the machines etc. when I was more than 50 lbs. overweight. And when I was in shape in my younger years I've had people hit on me when I really just wanted to be left alone to work out. I think a gym where everyone is there to lose weight would be wonderful. Lawsuit? Really? It's about damn time us fatties got some preferential treatment.
I've had experience with gyms that weren't so accomodating. I've had "trainers" (and I use the word loosely - mostly just biffs who work there part-time) act like they have so much better things to do than teach me how to use the machines etc. when I was more than 50 lbs. overweight. And when I was in shape in my younger years I've had people hit on me when I really just wanted to be left alone to work out. I think a gym where everyone is there to lose weight would be wonderful. Lawsuit? Really? It's about damn time us fatties got some preferential treatment.
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