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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate these “fitness groups”

48 replies

2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 09:59

I’m seeing more and more “fitness groups” pop up on social media that on the face of it seem professional but actually what they are all suckers that have been sucked into MLM schemes and now think they are fitness professionals. They just meet up in local park. I doubt they have insurance in place. What training to they have? They do it so they can increase their reach and try to sell you shitty shakes and pills.

They dress it up as “fitcamps” “boot camp” or “pram boot camp” and “fitness for mums”. There are so many in my local area and I hate the way they all hide what their real motive is.

These people are all the same. Sharing really cringe inspirational quotes on Facebook, making out they earn loads and loads of money, not bloody realising that their weight loss is down to reduced calories not some crappy pill they spent money on.

Aibu to think there really should be more regulation in the fitness industry and these trainers should not be allowed to operate.

OP posts:
Zarinea · 19/04/2021 10:02

As long as they're not doing anything dangerous, and as long as they're being honest about what people are paying for, I don't see the problem?

Original poster
2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 10:04

What if I injured myself based on something they told me to do? Are they insured? What are their qualifications?

OP posts:
Blankspace101 · 19/04/2021 10:05

Unfortunately this type of thing is only going to get bigger. People really are like sheep!

Original poster
2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 10:07

They are completely sucked in too. They are inaccurate and there is no scientific basis. Would you feel comfortable about visiting a doctor that wasn’t insured, had no training and had strange views like being anti vaccine?

OP posts:
Original poster
2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 10:07

You can always tell them a mile off as soon as I look at profile. They really are like sheep. Embarrassing.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 19/04/2021 10:08

I’m not sure what you are talking about as a I’ve never seen anything like that myself but you are making assumptions about insurance etc

Nothing wrong with holding boot camps etc people like them - magic weight loss pills obviously not so good but not illegal

SisterAgatha · 19/04/2021 10:09

I don’t know any like this, the only ones I’ve seen are professional PT’s. They don’t advertise any foods or supplements. Is this on FB?

ShirleyPhallus · 19/04/2021 10:09

You sound very angry for something that is entirely voluntary to take part in.

Everyone should thoroughly research what they’re going in to. If you choose to take part in a boot camp and they don’t have the correct health and safety procedures in place then it’s your choice to walk away.

If you’re serious about fitness then get a PT and check they’re qualified / insured etc.

Being angry at mummy pram sessions is an odd life choice to make!

Original poster
2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 10:10

I’ve been to one myself. It was dressed up as a boot camp for new mums and babies. She asked for our email addresses to sell us some “nutritional” items. I refused to give it. Never went back.

Also it I was a fitness professional that had worked hard to set up a business and my career these cowboys would make me so angry

OP posts:
Floweree · 19/04/2021 10:10

What fitness groups are you on about? Here PTs have been doing outdoor classes to keep afloat, they are insured, it's not that expensive. I've seen one MLM one, questionable business practice of course, but also insured. Exercise is beneficial to weight loss and overall health, for some people the structure of a class and the social support also helps create positive behaviours around food.

Why do people exercising bother you? Confused

FortunesFave · 19/04/2021 10:10

I'd be really interested to hear more about this OP....a friend of mine joined a weird fitness group a while ago and shared loads of videos....I was thinking it was odd but never thought it could be an MLM! Makes complete sense now!

Can you PM me with any names of these groups at all? I want to look into the companies behind them and see if they are properly training their "reps" or not.

warmandtoasty2day · 19/04/2021 10:11

can't argue with the sheep, people can make their own decisions whether they get involved but there's no point crying over it, when it goes toes up either.

Floweree · 19/04/2021 10:11

@2021ismyyear

I’ve been to one myself. It was dressed up as a boot camp for new mums and babies. She asked for our email addresses to sell us some “nutritional” items. I refused to give it. Never went back.

Also it I was a fitness professional that had worked hard to set up a business and my career these cowboys would make me so angry

Not everyone needs a fitness professional though, and not everyone can afford one. You could have done the exercise part without giving your email over or ordering anything, very odd reaction.
EmeraldShamrock · 19/04/2021 10:12

It sounds like a good social event too, they shouldn't be training without a qualification. We have/had a walking group it was a good way of meeting people, you could fit as a fiddle or slow as a snail it encourages friendship and fitness.
If it gets people out why not?

B33Fr33 · 19/04/2021 10:13

I don't know if it needs more regulation, just more intelligent purchasing of products, why pay to work out at a park? A lot of these dodgy fitness trainers post images over and over of weight loss pictures but can't even quantify any improved fitness, which is what a personal trainer is for. People always get suckered in by weight loss. So it's not a new angle.

Mankyfruitbowl · 19/04/2021 10:14

I get what you mean, op. So many new fitness groups have started up near me - Great! I thought, maybe I'll join one! But scratch the surface and very often the group leader's main business is trying to flog Juice Plus, diet products or similar MLM scams.

I'm sure there are legit exercise groups too, but these bad apples make me wary.

Mymycherrypie · 19/04/2021 10:16

All our fitness groups here are based out of a gym, it’s the instructors who lead the camps and they are part of a business. You join the camp like you would a gym, you can’t PAYG, and you pay for a term and do an induction etc. If there are groups like this, I’ve obviously just seen them and thought they were friends meeting up.

How very strange.

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 19/04/2021 10:18

This is why I only do boot camp classes with registered gyms.

It's the same for beauty "experiences". About 4 years ago a friend told me she was having some girls over for a "pamper night" where we'd all get facials done by her colleague's sister and drink Prosecco. I thought she'd hired a beauty therapist and asked what I owed her and was pleasantly surprised when she said "nothing!".

Should've known - it was a Tropic 'ambassador' (lol) who did 2 hours of excruciatingly boring passing round of overpriced products (and that was after spending 20 minutes gushing about the company's owner to the point where I wondered if she actually fancied her). Then the 'facial' was her putting cleanser on our faces, washing it off with a flannel, then putting moisturiser on us. THAT'S NOT A FACIAL! And then we're we're expected to put an order in for the overpriced products, which would take 2 weeks to arrive. I ended up £40 down with no facial as I expected, and my friend somehow got £80 of free stuff because of it. It was so weird. I felt like piping up and saying "sorry, but does anyone else think this is weird? What is actually going on here?".

But never mind, lesson learned. I've turned down 4 of these kind of 'experiences' since and said to friends exactly why and what they need to expect and how I feel about the 'parties'

CarmelBeach · 19/04/2021 10:18

@2021ismyyear

I’ve been to one myself. It was dressed up as a boot camp for new mums and babies. She asked for our email addresses to sell us some “nutritional” items. I refused to give it. Never went back.

Also it I was a fitness professional that had worked hard to set up a business and my career these cowboys would make me so angry

What was the class like? Do you know if she had insurance?
Original poster
2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 10:22

The class was walking around the perimeter of the park. A few squats and leg kicks etc. It was crap.

These people realty are sheep they all gush over the products and other sheep!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 19/04/2021 10:31

@2021ismyyear

What if I injured myself based on something they told me to do? Are they insured? What are their qualifications?
As an adult that's something people should be asking before they join.

Other than that, I've never heard of these particular groups you're talking about.

Original poster
2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 10:36

The one that popped up today is

Tomorrow at xxx
Fun Fitness session message for details 😀 Fitbody for Anybody 💪

It’s £6 a person and scratch below the surface this lady is of course selling stuff from a scam that begins with “h”

They never say this up front and they ALWAYS say pm me for details? I want to bite and ask her if she has qualifications and insurance.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 19/04/2021 10:38

I want to bite and ask her if she has qualifications and insurance.

Why haven't you then?

Original poster
2021ismyyear · 19/04/2021 10:39

Because I know what the answer will be “I’ll pm you” 😂

OP posts:
JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 19/04/2021 10:40

OP PM her to ask - just say "Thinking of signing up to fitness classes, before I do can I just check what your qualifications are and do you have public liability insurance cover?" - then report back to us Grin

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