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How Gyms Make Money (2015)

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Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#181

Post by NikolaNovak »

opportune wrote: post #102
NikolaNovak wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>Finally I must add, all the friends (more like acquaintances) you make at the gym are absolutely crucial to motivate oneself Yes, but it's personality specific; the absolute worst part of the gym, to me, is "other people". The sweaty, macho, over-enthusiastic bros with specific kind of humour (you can tell me that's not all or even most of them; doesn't matter, my subconsciousness doesn't believe you! :). The stink…

Not to point out the obvious, but most of this is I think just anxiety. I remember when I first started exercising, I was a fat alcoholic that was usually the youngest person there and had no idea what he was doing. I was very anxious about potentially doing something wrong, or being taunted or judged. I didn’t know how to use a lot of equipment and it took a long time before I even realized kind of “obvious” stuff l…

Oh agree, it's all anxiety and insecurity! It's a catch-22 in that sense :).

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#182

Post by throwaway2037 »

dghlsakjg wrote: post #99
hattmall wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably about 6 cents. Assuming a 30 minute shower with a 2.5 gpm flow rate and 110F average temperature. Maybe less if they have a more efficient water heater than resistive electric at ~11 cents per kwh.

Don’t forget that showers are expensive to build and maintain. I would guess that the amount of labor that goes into keeping the showers clean and running is far higher than electricity costs.

This. 100%. In an developed country, the lifetime labour cost to maintain a clean changing room and shower room far exceeds the build cost. To be clear: A different way to think about this issue: As long as cleaning staff are paid living wages, I think this is a good way to expand your economy. Some people want to use commercial gyms; let's make it the source of good jobs.

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#183

Post by throwaway2037 »

opportune wrote: post #102
NikolaNovak wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>Finally I must add, all the friends (more like acquaintances) you make at the gym are absolutely crucial to motivate oneself Yes, but it's personality specific; the absolute worst part of the gym, to me, is "other people". The sweaty, macho, over-enthusiastic bros with specific kind of humour (you can tell me that's not all or even most of them; doesn't matter, my subconsciousness doesn't believe you! :). The stink…

Not to point out the obvious, but most of this is I think just anxiety. I remember when I first started exercising, I was a fat alcoholic that was usually the youngest person there and had no idea what he was doing. I was very anxious about potentially doing something wrong, or being taunted or judged. I didn’t know how to use a lot of equipment and it took a long time before I even realized kind of “obvious” stuff l…

Thanks for this brutally honest post! We need more of this on HN.

Some advice from a weakling(!): In most gyms where I have worked-out, you can either ask the staff or a super buff lady/dude on how to best use the equipment. Yes, you feel like a complete idiot for about 6 seconds while asking for help. But then, they are so supportive and friendly. It's weird. If you are a tiny nobody at the gym, the super buffs are more than happy to provide advice if you asking respectfully. Note: Do not ask for help when they are in the middle of a set!

EDIT

Big support for going the gym. Your original post sounds like you were going through some big issues.

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#184

Post by throwaway2037 »

iosnoob wrote: post #127
legerdemain wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Finally I must add, all the friends (more like acquaintances) you make > at the gym are absolutely crucial to motivate oneself and also just have > a positive social interaction. Eh, been going to a gym weight room for 10 years and it's damn lonely and demoralizing. I'm sure it's different in tiny one-room Olympic weightlifting gyms or whatever. I'm not in my 20s anymore and I'm not actually that athletic, so 10 ye…

Funny how serious / loner type people often open up when you ask them to help spot your bench press. At least that's been my experience, that moment of them helping you out at your vulnerable time somehow lowers the guard / the friction to chatting

+9000. Asking for a spot on a personal big lift is a huge opening to talk with people. The before and after are a great opportunity to be emotionally vulnerable -- "oh, can I do it?" ... "oh, thanks for the 1kg help on the last rep. I really needed that!"

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#185

Post by doublerabbit »

mnky9800n wrote: post #177
nelblu wrote: post #25

I've been a gym rat for almost 20 years now, and I'm probably the worst customer for gyms. I only workout at 24*7 gyms and being an early bird I get there at 430 and I have pretty much the whole gym for myself. I am there 6 days a week and I always shower at the gym. Further, I use the corporate discounts available to join the memberships. With all that, it comes down to approx. $50 a month for membership and I used…

How do you make friends at the gym? I've been going for years and the only gym friends I have are those from outside the gym that learn that I go to the gym.

It's a tricky one, one which you do need to be very patience for.

Most folk will have headphones, most folk are focusing on their routine / program; themselves.

Being a regular is kind of a must, know that the person you wish to strike conversation with is a regular. Find a time when they're not plugged in to their zone and then start with a compliment. Keep it small and lite, everyone likes to be complimented now on their workout now and then.

Further it on if you've noticed that they've completed a set on new weights, extra speeds et cetera. Then the next time you see them at the gym, make a friendly hello.

Over the periods of small talk and rapport you can make larger gestures such as sharing sets, running next to them if it's a treadmill.

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#186

Post by asylteltine »

klipt wrote: post #42
asylteltine wrote: post #40

The best thing I ever did was invest in some quality gym equipment at home. I have a power rack, tons of weights, bars, etc. treadmill, TVs, speakers, whatever. Never going back to a gym again.

But then you're paying for a big house to fit all that.

Why does your sentence start with but as if that’s a bad thing?

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#187

Post by ryanmartinson »

valec wrote: post #154
nomilk wrote: post #69

A friend asked me what gym I’m going to now days, I was delighted to inform him it’s a globally available 24/7 gym and I never have to wait for equipment. It’s 2 square meters in “the park”. 120 bodyweight squats, lunges, and calf raises, 150 push ups and 200 sit ups, 3km run, and 10 minutes stretching. Challenging, requires zero thought or planning (other than wearing a warm top on cold days) and costs $0/month.

These are nowhere near a replacement for weights or machines. I notice you didn't even mention doing pull-ups, the only body-weight exercise with enough resistance for you to actually build muscle from. Can you point me to a bodyweight exercise that can sub in for 450lb deadlifts for sets of 6? How about for 250lbs bench for sets of 6? While you can build good general health and endurance i n 2 square meters in "the…

Doing bodyweight exercise instead of bench or machines for chest is pretty doable due to the huge number of push up variations. One Arm Push Ups and Planche Push Ups can create strength in even the best athletes with enough reps.

Heavy deadlifts are much harder to replace with bodyweight exercises. Squats can be subbed out for pistol squats but I haven't found a great way to load hip hinge pattern.

I'm curious if anyone here knows of a bodyweight exercise that is a good replacement for heavy deadlift.

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#188

Post by j0hnyl »

brabel wrote: post #170
opportune wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pulling movements in general are pretty hard to do with just calisthenics. Anywhere in that big park, is there a nice sturdy pole or post? If so, you can get an elastic band set, usually very inexpensive and portable, and use that to do rows (and face pulls, if you want). I would also try to incorporate pull-ups (some parks have pull up bars, or you can install one at home) to work your lats. This might be tricky if…

Where I live, they have outdoors gyms at almost every park. I thought that would be common everywhere??!

Not in the US unfortunately.

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#189

Post by prodent »

nomilk wrote: post #75
opportune wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m happy for you, but this is kind of phrased a little overly smugly to me. As someone who lifts weights, it sounds like “I don’t go to the grocery, I just eat potatoes and eggs from my backyard farm”. It’s certainly something you can do and get good results, but it’s also a limitation. If you want to build muscle or strength past a certain point it will be very inefficient not to use free weights. Maybe you don’t w…

It's more relief than smugness. Gyms always seemed to let me down: onerous contracts, complex or buggy booking platforms/procedures, unhygienic, stuffy, rigid class start times and open hours. Gaining self-sufficiency made me incredibly happy/relieved. The final straw was when I wanted to pause the membership the gym required "supporting documentation" (i.e. flight or hotel itinerary). I cringed so hard. When I cance…

> rigid class start times

This one doesn't count. Can't have a class without a fixed start time.

Re: How Gyms Make Money (2015)

#190

Post by cko »

grudg3 wrote: post #151
cko wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I lived out of my Toyota 4runner for 5 months. I would go to the Planet Fitness in the morning, take a long shower using their soap and hot water, do some exercise, and leave. Membership was $5 a month (for a 3-year contract. Now I live in Romania and gym memberships are $50-70 a month but people actually go there

Why would you shower before exercising and not after?

I showered to also wash my hair. Can't work out looking all messy, what would others think?
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