Gym Bans Skinny People

[ohiosmith]

One gym in Canada is taking the growing “plus-size friendly” gym trend to the extreme and banning too-trim gym rats from exercising at its facility.

Body Exchange in Vancouver has a strict policy that only allows plus-size women to join their fitness center.

Founder and CEO Louise Green told TheProvince.com last week that the gym is a “safe haven” for overweight people.

“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,” she said. “People are often too fearful to become active. There wasn’t a model that offered camaraderie.”



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/gym-bans-skinny-people-fitness-centers-move-create-friendler-environments-larger-size-clientele-article-1.1098725#ixzz1ySD3NCU3

[woodsprite]

1. The idea is great, but if a heavier person is successful

and gets down to a healthy weight, do they get to stay? I would hope so. I guess you could sell it as a 'weight reducing gym' and it be kind of like Weight Watchers. In WW, you can keep coming to meetings on 'maintenance'. Those people have walked the walk, where people who are naturally active and thin are sometimes not the most encouraging people to have around in the gym where overweight/obese people are trying to exercise. I've run into it, and I'm sure other people have to.

It does tend to cultivate a fight or flight reaction in the overweight person. Me, as I've gotten older if confronted in an unpleasant manner, I'll just put on my "F U" face and go about my business. I have friends who won't even step foot in a gym or pool because of their weight. I think if they thought trainers/equipment/patrons would be more size-friendly, they might join in.

OTOH, my work is installing 4 treadmills and elipticals to be used in a public common area when we need a break, thinking time, or when we're just going through email. Being the heaviest person here at work, I know people are going to expect me to use them. Maybe I'll feel more comfortable about that when they actually get installed, but I'm not feeling very comfy right now.

[4th law of robotics]

2. It seems like the answer would be no

you lose weight and are no longer fat . . well don't let the door hit you on your now normal sized ass.

[MiniMe]

3. It says "skinny people can't join"

I would think that you would join when you were plus size

[AngryOldDem]

12. I think the gym staff needs to have some some sensitivity/diversity training.

I totally agree with your post.

Making the gym off limits to anyone is counterproductive, if you ask me.

I had a membership at a gym when I was a little heavier than I am now. Sometimes my schedule dictated that I went in the morning; other times, it was at night. I definitely sensed a change in the staff's attitude at both times of day. In the morning, when the clientele was a little older (and heavier) the staff was welcoming and helpful. At night, when it was a "trendier," younger, and thinner group, if you were perceived to be the least bit "not cool" you were lucky to get any kind of help from the staff. I asked once for instructions on how to use a piece of equipment and got a 30-second, vague explanation (with no demonstration) because the trainer obviously couldn't be bothered, probably because I wasn't wearing the equivalent of two napkins for an exercise outfit and my abs were less than six pack, and I was "old." I noticed a lack of people like myself at the gym at night, so therefore I tried to go in the mornings whenever possible.

I definitely agree that such a climate creates discomfort among overweight people, which is also counterproductive. Not everyone sees a gym as a "meat market" (as I had heard that place described, but didn't believe it until I saw it for myself). I personally didn't give a flip about whatever anybody thought, but dammit, I had paid for a membership and I expected better treatment from the staff. (BTW -- that gym is now totally out of business.)

Anyone who goes to a gym should be encouraged and congratulated for making the effort to get healthy, and not made to feel different because they don't fit some kind of plastic "ideal." I now go to the YMCA, which is a much better and more supportive atmosphere, because everyone is there with the same goal: getting in shape. You see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, and the whole experience is MUCH better.

[Bucky]

4. As clients find success, they will be banned. Many will slack off & gorge out to keep memberships.

In economics, that's called finding the equilibrium

[Bertha Venation]

6. Oh, BS.

If an obese person is motivated enough to join a gym and go there regularly to work out -- and believe me, that takes some serious motivation -- there is no way in hell that s/he would sabotage his/her own efforts by staying obese just to stay in a gym.

This isn't economics. It's health.

[Bucky]

13. (helpful hint)

please fine tune your irony-detector

[Bucky]

14. (PS)

everything is economics

[rug]

5. Post this in Meta.

[Aerows]

7. That's a good way to start a flamewar n/t

[rug]

8. Carrying a pail of water is a good way to start a flamewar in Meta.

[ohiosmith]

9. Alert!

[Aerows]

11. Badness!

I'm alerting on you for alerting!

[Aerows]

10. LMAO! n/t