I don’t really know what to think of this…
Today when I was pondering all of the fun things we could
talk about, I ran across this article.
Apparently, there is a gym in Canada that is banning thin and fit
people. If you’re obese, come on in and
join the party! Otherwise, you just aren’t
welcome.
 |
| When I was bigger, I would have been welcome |
 |
| One year later? NOPE! |
I have a lot of issues with this. I wish I could say “good for them! They want to really help!” But I just can’t. I wanted to write a funny post about
this. Be sarcastic. But this hit a nerve, y’all. So, in numbered list format, I’m going to
tell you why (I know you love that I think my opinion matters this much. It doesn’t).
1. Body mass is a poor indicator of risk of disease or fitness. In fact, there have been studies that have shown it is better to be fit and overweight than it is to be a healthy weight and not fit.
2. Not everyone succeeds in an environment where everyone is at the same place they are. People work out to get better, and they push themselves harder when they are held accountable. AA and all of those types of programs work because they are held accountable by people who are further along their journey than others. Take that out of the equation? Everyone's struggling with the same problems, and there is the opportunity to make excuses.
3. Excluding people makes bad business sense. How in the world are you expecting to build a lasting clientele when only fat people can join? Overweight and obese people do not limit themselves to overweight friends, and if their more fit friends can’t come with them, do you think they’re going to join your gym?
I understand what they are trying to accomplish. It in theory sounds like a great idea. But you know what? You never know where someone is on their
journey. Who are these people to think
that they can judge who belongs and who does not?
I would love your thoughts on this topic, on either
side. I’m totally flabbergasted. Sarcasm is welcome. I really wanted to bust it out, but like I
said, I got pretty fired up on this topic.
Fitness so often times goes hand in hand with being thing...but as you say this is a false pairing. However, if you are very overweight, sometimes working out with thin people in their skin tight workout clothes can be intimidating and then overweight people will not attend. I see both sides and I do not know what the answer is.
ReplyDeleteHmm...I can see what you mean. It is a good idea in theory...I would feel much more comfortable at a gym full of heavier girls than I would in a gym full of people that are very much in shape. And it's somewhat similar to having a women-only gym or a men-only gym. But then if we have a obese-only gym, why not have gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans-gym or a black-only gym or a white-only gym or a hetero-only-gym? Where does it stop? What happened to just ... people wanting to be in shape? Haha.
ReplyDeleteI do feel like working out with a friend or having a trainer does motivate you more but putting yourself around people with the body type that you strive for can be detrimental to your self esteem sometimes.
ReplyDelete-Anna
so once they are no longer considered obese what happens? are they kicked out? i really don't see this idea going very far. it's idealistic and hypocritical at the same time. :/
ReplyDeleteARE YOU SERIOUS?? This is THE. STUPIDEST. THING. EVER!!!!
ReplyDeleteI could rant about it and leave you a novel for a comment, but I won't.
I will say that I agree with everything you just said, comment again on how ridiculous that is, and leave your pretty blog.
That is really stupid, I completely agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThe article is interesting, and I guess I can see where they are coming from though...
I agree with you! I'm not exactly where I want to be in my fitness journey but actually enjoy seeing people of different body types in my gym.
ReplyDelete