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Original poster

What stops you from going to the gym?

62 replies

GymPossibilityFitness · 25/02/2020 23:54

Hi

I'm in the process of setting up a personal training business,
What I'd like to do is work with the people who would like to exercise more but feel unable to do so due to various issues, disability, body confidence etc etc

So, I'd like to ask all of you,
If you'd like to go to a gym, but never do, besides the money/lack of time, what stood you from going or makes you feel uncomfortable!

Thanks

OP posts:
PhoneLock · 26/02/2020 08:48

Thinking about your question again. I'm not sure it is aimed at me as I don't have any disability or body confidence issues. My issues were with the personal trainers themselves.

I do small group training sessions at the gym. Men and women mixed. I'm often the only woman. I used to use personal trainers, both male and female. I had several but found that they just wouldn't push me hard enough despite me asking them to, so I found an environment that does.

coconuttelegraph · 26/02/2020 08:57

For me - cost, not being able to commit enough time, having to faff about with parking as the gyms that are near enough to easily get to are Town centre, conflicting advice on what you should do.

StartupRepair · 26/02/2020 09:01

I go but struggle with feeling old and unco-ordinated. Don't like being patronised by 25 year olds.

WeeNippy · 26/02/2020 09:07

Other people, other people's sweat, travel hassle, time, cost. I prefer to exercise alone at home. There's so much you can do completely free, I don't know why anyone would pay to exercise. Plus I can get a good workout in in less time than it would take me to travel to a gym and back and if you need the motivation of a class there's loads of interactive options out there now.

Ragwort · 26/02/2020 09:11

Too lazy Blush.

In theory there is nothing to stop me going to the gym, we have a very nice one locally, with a pool, not expensive, free parking (or I could walk there), no child care responsibilities, I work flexible hours part time so I could easily go.

My DH goes regularly, but I just have no motivation to get off my back side.

TrophyCat · 26/02/2020 09:19

I used to go to a gym for about 6 months - I'd work hard, attend regularly, eat well, lose weight but once I'd hit my size 10 target I'd lose motivation .... And then the next year the cycle would repeat.

2 years ago I joined a fitness studio - it's all female, small group classes and seems so much more personal than a gym. There are no treadmills, bikes, weight machines, etc. It's mainly all HITT based, with some weights classes, battle ropes, kettle bells, and pilates. Classes are offered very early morning (6.30am) so people can go before work, at 9.30 (after school run), then the daytime is for 1-1PT, and from 6.00pm onwards there are more small group classes (after work crowd).

Because it's really small classes exercises can be tailored to people's injuries and niggles, if I can't do one move then there is always an alternative given.

It's on quite a grim looking industrial estate but there is always parking available.

Mummyshark2018 · 26/02/2020 16:33

Childcare.
I love going to hiit style classes but my dh works away 2 weeks a month so it's impossible to get any routine into my fitness (which I need). We have no local family to sit for an hour. What would really help me would being able to take dc8 with me, or providing a reasonably priced activity which she could do at the same time. She would sit happily in the corner/ next room playing a tablet or reading a book.

Rafflesway · 26/02/2020 16:49

Hate the cliquey women who act as if they own the place and are incredibly unfriendly to anyone new. I would only feel comfortable going if I was with a friend.

I now exercise twice per day at home using YouTube videos and my own equipment.

Gingerkittykat · 26/02/2020 18:20

Anxiety.

Being fat and unfit and not knowing how to make a plan.

Feeling fat and unfit in front of everyone else, I want to wear joggie bottoms and a loose t-shirt and never any kind of gym wear.

The men grunting in the testosterone zone.

I have autism and don't like loud music.

Surfer25 · 26/02/2020 18:21

Long working hours. That's the only issue.

I never do personal training as the cost is extortionate. sorry.

Tangerinesandlemons · 26/02/2020 18:28

I used to go but I am old, overweight, and I didn't like exercising for forty-five minutes which was the length of the class. Just too much for me. Now I try to do a bit of exercise at home.

OhWellThatsJustGreat · 26/02/2020 18:33

I got with dh and I love it now, but I would say the things that could stop me going and how I beat them are:

Childcare - parents and inlaws have ds in the evenings (I know we're lucky) only one gym in the entire city I live in has a creche, the family membership is £150 upwards a month and the creche has set hours and charge £5 an hour too!!!
Motivation - I train with dh so if one of us isn't up for it the other pushes.
Parking - can't combat that really
Busy gym - literally at least once a week EVERYTHING I want to use is in use. Again, can't combat that.
Cost - dh is fussy about gyms, so we're already paying £80 pm, he pays the extra because I refuse to let more than £50 come out of the joint account for the gym as I see more than £25 each a waste.

Dozer · 26/02/2020 18:35

Working full time, commuting and parenting responsibilities.

Personal training is too expensive for most people IMO.

Dozer · 26/02/2020 18:36

I get regular exercise by building it into the commute, jogging before work twice a week and once once on the weekend, and a weekend class. Occasional YouTube yoga session.

CountFosco · 26/02/2020 18:38

I do daily exercise so maybe not your target but I wouldn't join a private gym because I've never found one with a decent pool. Swimming is my main exercise and I should really join a masters club but haven't because I suspect it shall be full of ex-swimming club members who are much younger than me and a few middle aged men but not any middle aged women. I also do yoga but the classes are early evening and clash with the DCs sporting activities so I don't go to those any more, we now have yoga at work at lunchtime and I'm doing that because it's convenient. Otherwise I use youtube videos (but that's not so great if you are a complete beginner). So timing and female spaces are important.

CathyorClaire · 26/02/2020 18:39

Not necessarily being able to use the equipment I want when I want.

The thought of someone else's arse sweat on the bikes.

Hence I use my own equipment at home while watching cheap second hand DVD's. I am becoming quite the expert on crap and/or obscure films Grin

WooYa · 26/02/2020 18:46

Childcare and it's really expensive for PT sessions

Lunaballoon · 26/02/2020 18:54

I agree about the loud pumping music. That would put me right off.

Also, as someone over 50, I’d feel massively out of place if most other gym users were a lot younger than me.

NemophilistRebel · 26/02/2020 18:56

Lazyness which means -

It’s too far to walk, not that I don’t want to as I’d love to swim and do classes

It’s not child friendly - the crèche is too expensive for me to afford to put him in there

supercalifragilistic123 · 26/02/2020 19:01

Childcare is a big one for me. Plus I've found an amazing app that means I can do it all at home which makes it so much easier to fit it all in.

Good luck with your business. It's a very over saturated market. I know a few people who have tried and failed. It sounds like you have a USP which will help. If your aiming at those you described above I think affordability will be a big issue.

Sammy867 · 26/02/2020 19:12

Childcare is the biggest reason. If I’m not at work I have my child with me and no one that could have her for an hour or so for me to go to the gym. When she was little I had PT sessions that allowed you to bring them in their car seats as long as they weren’t too upset about it. This was brilliant and I managed to get up to 6 months when we couldn’t do that any longer.

A gym that had an area - a room with glass so you can see in and make sure they’re okay but they can’t get anywhere near equipment would be my dream. I suppose putting a bit of CBeebies or Netflix on for an hour won’t do them any harm with some basic toys. My daughter’s gymnastics classes have this room for siblings so you can drop off the younger kids in that room and go watch your other do their gymnastics sessions but still be able to see the younger ones so they’re supervised. I’ve always thought it was an excellent idea.

Saying that my husband still has time to go to the gym as I would be looking after my daughter to enable him to do this but if we had an option to take her we could be go together (as well as setting a good example for my daughter)

ILiveInSalemsLot · 26/02/2020 19:16

I just prefer being outdoors and it’s free.
It is hard in the winter when it’s cold and dark though.

Original poster
GymPossibilityFitness · 27/02/2020 00:05

Wow

Thank you all so much for your replies.

To add some context,
I have a disability (visual) and suffer from anxiety. And for years these things, and others stopped me going myself.

It was a vicious cycle, I had anxiety/depression. I was advised exercised and socialising more would help, but of course, needed to overcome to anxiety before I could do the activity that would help me overcome it.

So when I decided to train as a PT myself I decided to approach it different.

I'm hoping in time to have a small private studio, for 1-1 and small group sessions. And I hope to address many of the things raised in this post.

I don't intend to ONLY work with those who are disabled/lack confidence, I intend to work with anyone who can get value from the service, BUT I am conscious not to exclude those with additional challenges also.

Many of you have raised the same concerns,
Cost
Childcare
Lack of knowledge/motivation
Boredom with routines

So I will focus on finding solutions to these issues to create a unique training experience for every individual, rather than a standard 'you want to lose weight so you must follow this diet and routine'

OP posts:
EBearhug · 27/02/2020 01:57

I should really join a masters club but haven't because I suspect it shall be full of ex-swimming club members who are much younger than me and a few middle aged men but not any middle aged women.

Where I go, the masters lot are coming in towards the end of a class I do. Some are younger, but I have definitely seen at least one woman I reckon is older than me (I'm late 40s,) so it might be worth checking out where you are. Maybe they do a trial session to see if it suits you?

bakedbeanzontoast · 05/03/2020 21:55

@GymPossibilityFitness I go because I have to but I hate;

The noise (music too loud)
The changing rooms (often too small)
Sometimes other people lol.

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