‘Plus-Size Friendly’ Gym Bans Skinny People

Time ^ | June 21, 2012 | MELISSA LOCKER

[SIDENET]

My gym recently imported a bunch of fatties when it bought out another gym.

Now, the sauna is full of old fat naked guys who wheeze, groan, fart, and take up too much space.

Friggin' disgusting.

[Snickering Hound]

[cripplecreek]

In Michigan, the casinos lobbied for the smoking ban which they got an exemption from.

[publius911]

Hippos and beached whales only, huh?
Works for me.
But I doubt that's a viable business model.

Unless Obummer makes it mandatory for welfare recipients...

[Gabz]

In Delaware, they fought against the ban. In fact the casino in Dover financed a movement to get changes made to it which included exemptions for them and bars.

The only exemptions are for volunteer fire companies and private clubs. The local Catholic Church and a few other churches ended their bingos because while the VFD’s were exempt, they were all denied exemptions. Churches don’t have the political clout in Delaware that the VFDs have.

[Blogatron]

Viva la 1st amendment!

(coming to a neighborhood near me)

[GOP Poet]

Is that a mouse or are you just happy to see me. lol.

[JRandomFreeper]

I weigh 118 lbs. Up from the 107 when I enlisted the first time, years ago.

I don't go to a club. I have a back yard with lots of work to do. ;)

/johnny

[chargers fan]

Average Joe’s vs. Globo Gym

[Caipirabob]

Congratulations!!!

[MD Expat in PA]

I once belonged to Bally’s. And what a crummy gym that was. A lot of broken equipment, smelly moldy shower and locker rooms, a young snotty staff and young snotty self impressed members who where more into primping and preening and grunting and wearing the latest workout fashions just to prove how cool they were and worst of all it was mostly a meat market not to mention that they way oversold memberships so that it was nearly impossible sometimes to even find a parking place not to mention the 30+ minute wait just to use a treadmill.

My then employer offered a deep discount (50% subsidized) to join the not a chain “athletic club” that was across the street. The gym was huge with two separate gyms on either side of a very nice aquatic center with three salt water filtered pools; an Olympic sized lap pool and two heated therapy pools and a whirlpool. The main gym had a combination of aerobic machines; treadmills, elliptical and bikes, an indoor basket ball court, a free weight area and a large assortment of weight training machines with loud music and multiple TV screens. The other side of the gym was smaller and quieter and somewhat more catered to an older crowd but it had a juice bar and internet cafe. I used both depending on my mood on any given day and used the aquatic center often.

Their philosophy was not about “hard bodies” but on fitness and health for all people of all ages, shapes and sizes. The staff was great, friendly, knowledgeable and non-judgmental. And the clientele was the same. There were some serious fitness folks but it was a completely different atmosphere than the Bally’s. I saw lots of folks of all ages and all sizes and even some with disabilities and everyone was made to feel welcome. I’ve since changed jobs and moved to Pennsylvania and I really miss that gym.

… and now, a gym that is for the “average person.” They don’t allow grunting, don’t allow equipment hogging, don’t offer really high weight (fixed) dumbells and barbells, and label themselves as the “Judgement Free Zone.”

I presume you are talking about Planet Fitness. I belong there now and while it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, I like it, I like it a lot more than Bally’s.

[MissouriConservative]

“In fact, healthy people are usually glad to see an unfit person trying to make positive changes in their life and will help if they can.”

Not at FreeRepublic. Here, the fit people tend to make snide comments about those who are larger. Trust me, read down just a few from yours where it begins.

[MissouriConservative]

See what I mean Jonty?

[Jonty30]

Some people build themselves up by stepping on other people. That is life.

I think it’s better to become strong enough to withstand another’s harsh words than to expect decency from indecent people.

[Misterioso]

I cannot believe how many outrageously fat people there are how satisfied they seem to be with themselves.

Do you read people's minds?

[the invisib1e hand]

Do you read people's minds?

not if I can help it.

[JDW11235]

I enjoyed reading your post, and wanted to say thanks for taking the time to reply. I was at a hot dog roast (they say BBQ, but it’s not! LOL) and so just now was able to read it. I was referring to the Planet Fitness. You sound like the kind of person that I would have liked to be at the gym. I used to enjoy talking to other, and I like working out with friends (why I became a personal trainer).

I am currently disabled (MS) and can no longer do any real exercise, but I really don’t understand the reason why some people have such a high horse about their athleticism. I was fortunate that God gave me the genes to maintain a relatively healthy body weight, even if I did get a crippling disease. But some people got the fat genes and still other the smart genes. I moved here from Las Vegas (Where gyms abound), and I found out of all of them, that Planet Fitness was the best and cheapest in the area ($10/month rather than $40-75!). I’m glad you like it and wish you all the best with your health.