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Olympic Health Club Pi$$ing me off

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Started 3 years ago by Rounder
Latest reply from Rounder

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Rounder

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I have been going to OAC for over two years, loved every minute of it. I love mom and pop places and the comfortable feel of OAC, but recently it has gotten SO crowded, I cant workout. If be some chance I get on a tredmill, once I am done with that, nothing else is avalaible, no stairs, eliptical, bikes..its a small place, OAC is letting way to many people in. I am going to go check out LA Fitness to see how crowded they are when I go....grrrrrr

Posted 3 years ago #
elle

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i think what you are experiencing is New Years resolution people at the start of the year. in my experience it dies down around March. but i also don't go to OAC so i may be wrong!

Posted 3 years ago #
Rounder

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Well I also heard that OAC was giving away free two week passes. I understand getting more business, but its a small gym, there should be a occupancy limit. Plus I hate seeing people who dont even workout when they are there..just reading a book and hardly walking on the tredmill..wasting their time and mine..

Posted 3 years ago #
stopthebuzz

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They've given away passes like that for years. elle is right. Welcome to January!

Don't let what others do make you angry. They're the ones throwing their money away to read a book. Be happy it's helping to maintain the gym you go to.

Posted 3 years ago #
AnnaLovesBallard

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Rounder, hang in there. I've been a member for over 10 years and January is always like this. It will die down soon. In the meantime, if you can adjust the time you go to the gym, you might find it a lot less crowded. Mornings after 10am and before 11:30 are generally pretty quiet, as are mid-afternoons and evenings after 7:30. If that's not doable, just know that it will get better in a few weeks, when all those resolutions start to feel less compelling ...

Posted 3 years ago #
ballardmike

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They've oversold memberships for a long time. My wife bailed on them due to class sizes being ridiculous.

Posted 3 years ago #
shallow.end

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OAC is letting way to many people in

I'd be interested in reading the post you'd write if you were turned away from OAC because they were too full.

As others have said, hang in there. New Year's resolutions fade. Vacations that require bathing suits will be taken. Life will return to normal for 9 months.

Posted 3 years ago #
MadHatter

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It would be nice if some of the lycra clad people there on the machines would respect the 30 minute rule, especially when it is busy. I know that I do...

Posted 3 years ago #
Rounder

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Does anyone know the size of LA Fitness? Is it crowded? I dont mind a crowded gym if everyone uses the machines for the right time, be OAC is over-crowded..to many people, and not enough equipment. For me they need more stairmasters, more newer elipticals, Its funny because I do not remember it being this busy last New Years..

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous

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I've been calling around to get info. on the gyms in Ballard in thoughts of rejoining one and at least the sales guy says that LA Fitness does not get crowded (of course he would say that though). It did sound like they had a HUGE amount of machines though and you'd have a better chance of not having to wait. Also, they don't have "open swims" and stuff like that in their pool - it is all lap swim, all the time, unlike OAC (where I rarely ever got a lane within 45 minutes of getting there to swim)

As for people not sticking to the 30-minute rule, years ago when I was a member at OAC if I was waiting and someone was really grossly going over (like getting up around 50 minutes) I would just politely remind them of the rule and say I'd been waiting a long time. The key is to be polite "Oh I know how it is to get in the groove but ..." and there was never a problem.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous

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And I have been one of those people going really slow on a treadmill. In my case it was because I'd just had major abdominal surgery. I applaud anyone who gets out and moves no matter how slow it is. Better than sitting at home on the couch not getting their strength back. And they paid for the membership too.

Posted 3 years ago #
Roadkill

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"Plus I hate seeing people who dont even workout when they are there..just reading a book and hardly walking on the tredmill..wasting their time and mine.. "

This always blows my mind. I see a lot of women at my gym who do this as well. Why waste your time and $ if you don't want to break a sweat at all? I sometimes wonder if it just provides mental satisfaction (because there can't be any significant physical benefits to a very brief, very low intensity "workout"). Like a sugar pill of sorts (placebo effect?) where the brain thinks the body has gotten it's proper exercise, due to essentially just showing up to a gym. But anyhow, not my problem. To each their own.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jules

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If you don't go at peak hours, say 5-7 or at noon, you can shoot a cannon through there. Consider going later at night.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rounder

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Exactly Roadkill, I am all for people going to the gym. More people should, but please workout, dont just take up space. Somtimes I wish I could walk over and press the speed up button. I am studying to become a personal trainer, and I will not put up with half asses. I am going to go check out LA fit at least, I have never beena fan of giant room workouts, but if they have enough machines, I will get over it. That pool thing kinda sucks, my daughter loves to opwn swim..

Posted 3 years ago #
BlackSheep

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I think Jules is right. Somebody shoots a cannon through there just once, and I'd bet it would be a lot less crowded.

Good to know people feel that they should be able to control the speed/intensity of other people's workouts. Maybe google "control issues".

Posted 3 years ago #
allisonw

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Uh oh. So when I had, say, a 16 hour day at work the day before and I want to do something gentle and nice for my body, I'm committing a party foul by going easy on the treadmill? I may not lose weight that day, but it's always gonna serve my cardiac health.

In all fairness, I'm never there at the busiest time of day, but am sometimes guilty of the type of easy workout of which you speak....

Posted 3 years ago #
crownhiller

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Geez - get a life rounder - it's people with your attitude "Somtimes I wish I could walk over and press the speed up button." that keep others away from healthy exercise. A little less judgement and a little more patience will go a long long, should you plan to be a SUCCESSFUL personal trainer. I too have been one of those "going slow" at OAC (no longer member as can't afford). In my case, I have a balance problem and can't go fast on a treadmill without falling down - so tended to I go longer, slower,at more incline and get my "sweat" equity in other ways, other places. People have all sorts of reasons for using the machines in a certain way - especially as they get older. Figure that out and you'll have a longer more profitable career ahead of you.

Posted 3 years ago #
onederfullone

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Clearly Allisonw, and others like her are indeed the problem. How dare they use equipment the way they want? And to just show up anytime they want!!!
*sigh*

Posted 3 years ago #
justcurious

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I go to OAC and to cardio for an hour. I would not be pleased if another member asked me to get off because I had been on the machine for more than 30 minutes. We pay $100 a month to workout there and if I want to walk, run or skip on the treadmill for longer than 30 minutes I will.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rounder

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I have no problem with the people that need to walk, I have seen older ones or really big people who just walk. I dont like the people that just use the machine to feel they are working out. You know you can tell a difference between people working out or just wasting time. I dont need to see sweat, just please use the machine, or get off and let others use it. I guess my biggest problem is the intensity of the workout. While walking does have a ton of benefits, I think its mostly the free pass people that have just made "working out" a casual thing. The OAC is just not big enough to handle loitering..

Posted 3 years ago #
justcurious

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I honestly don't think people go to the gym to waste time. And you are you to judge the intensity of someone else's workout?

Posted 3 years ago #
shallow.end

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you want to be a big tough trainer and you're complaining about a treadmill?

go outside and do it for real.

Posted 3 years ago #
earthwulf

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We were members of the OAC for 2 years, then left for LA Fitness... that lasted exactly one year. There are pluses to LAF, but they are skeezy scam artists who will do anything for a buck (as an example, when we quit, our kid's club membership wasn't stopped because they "have their own membership," which we weren't told about until after we were charged - for the next month, our kids can go in, but we can't)

LA Fitness is just as crowded at peak times, and the temperature in the club is right around 72 degrees - way too hot for me, but some like it. The pool is a lap only pool, but, again, filled during most peak times. They have newer cardio equipment with personal multimedia players and a twenty minute rule that everyone ignores. They are supposed to have some leagues, but I never really found that to be true. Peak-hour classes are completely jam-packed.

Posted 3 years ago #
Anonymous

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I guess I should've caused internal bleeding and gone faster on the cardio machines when I was going super slow after abdominal surgery. Afterall, at the time I was young, thin and didn't look like I had any physical problems on the outside. And it sounds like I really traumatized Rounder by looking like a "lazy ass" to him.

I'm glad he was never my trainer. There are a lot of issues that one can't see on the outside: severe heart disorders (even in young people), multiple sclerosis, cancer, etc. that would cause someone to go slow. I find it sad that there are people who would rather judge someone for being a lazy ass who doesn't want to work out than give them the benefit of the doubt. How many people are really stupid enough to spend hundreds of dollars on a gym membership then have to be embarrassed to be the one "going slow" with all those testosterone jacked up bozos around them - just so they can lie to themselves that they "worked out"? Not many. I would be willing to bet anyone a lot of money that if you went around to the people going slow and reading their magazine and actually asked them *why* they were going so slow it would have to do with their health, not because they wanted to "be cool and work-out" but didn't have the gumption to "break a sweat".

I blame reality tv and people watching too many reality shows with "tough trainers" and trying to be like them when they obviously lack any sort of knowledge and empathy to know what they're doing and are just like little kids pretending to be like the guys on tv.

Posted 3 years ago #
lyl

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Thanks for the warning Rounder, you sound like you'd be a terrible trainer. Being disabled and all I thought I was doing good just to get on the danged treadmill ( my doctor does too)

Posted 3 years ago #
Porter Casey

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i joined OAC as a new years resolution but am embarrassed to say i have yet to officially go in. at least i am not one of the slow movers that you speak so highly of.

Posted 3 years ago #
msballard30

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Rounder, your bedside manner is going to have to improve if you want to succeed. Yes, some people want to be pushed, but others don't. You need to listen to the customer and his/her health issues, physical restrictions, interests and goals before simply deciding YOU know how and what someone should be doing at the gym. Yes, your training will provide you expertise that others will pay you for, but if you take the types of positions that you've shared her, I guarantee you you won't have much repeat business and may chase away customers with the best of intents.

And on a related note, if I'm paying OAC a sack of cash each year to be a member, then who are YOU to tell ME what I'm doing there and how I should do it? If I wanted to sit on their couch and read for four hours or hang out there 15 hours a day hitting every machine three times or never come in at all so that I essentially flush that cash down the proverbial toilet, then fine. That's my decision. I paid for my membership and will use it as I want. You paid for your membership - use yours how you want.

Peace out.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rounder

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You guys really cant tell a difference between the two people I speak of? From what I have seen, the people not really working out are not regulars, but just might be checking things out. Its just us people who go 6 days a week for years, need the equipment. They should be more considerate and honest with themselves.
Thanks for the info earthwulf, I do need to check LA during peak times to compare. No gym is perfect I think. As far as personal training goes, no, I dont think I would work well with 80% of the people. I am not, "oh thats ok, good job, sure, drink a coke while we workout.." No, I believe in kicking ass till it hurts, sweating till it gets in your mouth. Going way out of your comfort zone. I like the Jillian Michaels of the world...

Posted 3 years ago #
plasticbags

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Studying to be a personal trainer doesn't qualify you to diagnose people based on their physical appearance. In fact, doctors can't do that hence the invention of X-Rays and other various scans.

In unrelated news, last time I walked by there a homeless guy had his face pushed against the back window grunting.

Posted 3 years ago #
Linus

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I don't understand, Rounder - instead of people who come in only every once in a while, you'd rather have more committed people, taking up even more of the machines more hours a day for more hours of the week - for over the egalitarian common courtesy time-limits?

I myself have been in terrific shape and in miserable shape; the season, my life/work situation, they all influence these changes. But I didn't get from miserable to terrific by suddenly going and torturing myself by running for 20 minutes.

That said, I wish more people would get out and walk in the streets and meet their neighbors and see the flowers (yes, even in the rain or cold or dark - imagine!) instead of pointlessly walking on a treadmill. I understand that this is probably the only preferred option for some ... but jeepers is it ever depressing to see the kind of Orwellian view of the steamy LA Fitness windows full of spinners - as I cycle across the bridge in the beautiful autumn sunset.

Posted 3 years ago #
luluseattle

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I joined LA fitness four months ago. I am not a huge fan. They have no sanitizing spray at various station areas "because people have ruined machines". You can walk across the room and take a squirt of hand sanitizer and walk across the room again to wipe down your station with it- no one bothers. The cardio equipment has hair, sweat, dead skin, etc. all over the bases. It's disgusting. The place is gorgeous- but filthy. No one wipes down there mats- cause there's nothing to clean with! They also have a policy of no fans in the class rooms- cycling- are they kidding, have they ever taken a cycling class? It's hot- plus it's right on the south windows in the beating sun. The sales are really helpful- the staff not so much. I can't wait to join Denali again next month- where it's civilized and clean. I feel like I need a bleach bath everyday when I leave there.

Posted 3 years ago #
Jules

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Rounder- remind me to never hire you as a personal trainer. I've had some absolutely world class coaches in my life, as has my sister (rowing, kayaking) and your attitude is 180 degrees different from theirs. I've been an instructor myself, and I can tell you that the "hard sell" for students works about 5% of the time as a motivator.

You work out 6 days a week, well, good for you....and the people who go one day a week, or even one day a month and pay to use the gym get exactly the same consideration you do...and no gym Nazi gets to tell me I have to go faster.

And, no, you cannot tell by appearences. As it happens, I worked out at OAC prior to climbing Kilimanjaro WITH a broken foot- and I'll bet you would have thought I was a person going too slow/was too old/too fat on the machines. (and yes, I did summit, thank you very much.)

When in doubt, mind your own business.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rounder

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luluseattle, thanks for the info, thats nasty. I love the fact that OAC is really clean, people for the most part wipe the machines every use. I have only noticed a few older people who dont, but I just wipe it myself. I would not want to workout in a place that does not even offer cleaning stuff..
Yes, I am aggresive in getting in shape. People are to passive in the gym, I fully get that you pay your monthly fees and should be able to do whatever you want for however long you want. But there are time limits which are not adhered to, and people standing around waiting for machines. I heard talks of OAC expanding, hopefully someday.

Posted 3 years ago #

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Olympic Health Club Pi$$ing me off

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