Where's the evidence of that?

Looking at the people I know who go to a gym, they're either very sports minded (and rather younger than me), are fighting the same constant battle with weight that I fought for years (and, like me, losing it), or actually like the gym, or are actually panicking about being middle aged.

The ones who stuff the junk food etc aren't likely to be going to the gym (or doing much else in the way of organised exercise).

Seen many cookbooks Coddy?

I don't see the size ( ) of the problem here anyway.
We only have to change a t to an s in the thread title and we are sorted.

I don't have any evidence, just going on my own observations. When I look around the inside of a gym, I see fewer overweight people as a percentage of those present than I see in, say, the supermarket. So, if we have a 'rising gym culture', it's reasonable to suggest that this rise might have mitigated some of the effects of the obesity epidemic. Whilst not compelling evidence in itself, it has at least as much merit as your assertion that gym use isn't part of the solution to these problems.

Not really, since you went to great pains to stress the "some", then went on a little mini-rant about gullible people joining gyms, boy band members and jocks. The subtext was abundantly clear.

...and with you agreeing that many gyms and staff are far from being to the standard that you describe as your "friendly hotel gym"...



For far too many joining a gym is either a hope for a magic bullet with no thought about commitment or a trend that fails on the first cold wet morning or dark winters evening when an extra hour in bed or drinks at a bar in town with workmates seems like a better idea.

I've been a member in friendly hotel gyms (Post House and Seb Coe) and in one of your "commercial" gyms (Esporta), they were useful in their ways but no match for doing it for free in the fresh air with no goal but to stay fit.

LMAO where does a balananced diet with good physical exercise, become a sports pro???? Which sport for a start..... You obviously consider yourself a font of knowledge on this so please digress.

Many are. But we're talking about gyms in general, not all gyms. And even those that don't hit that particular standard are useful to some. My gym is far from the best in terms of staff, and many of the members are half-witted meat heads. In its favour though, it's cheap, well equipped, clean and relatively local. That works for me.



That can be said of any exercise regime or fitness programme. There are many people who won't get off the bus two stops earlier or go for a bike ride when it's cold/raining/dark/windy, either.



For you, and many others, perhaps. But there are just as many people for whom that method does not work, and for whom the gym is a better option. To suggest that one way is inherently better than the other is ridiculous and blinkered. I much prefer training in a gym, but I can easily respect those who prefer to stay fit in other ways. Horses for courses and all that.

Intense-workout.com is not a site aimed at ordinary people. It's a site aimed at fitness/sports buffs.

And when are you going to actually respond to the points I raised to you earlier? You seem to be ducking them at present.

And no, I don't consider myself a "font of all knowledge" and have never claimed that. That doesn't mean that I do not have knowledge and experience, and have not bothered to invest some time in studying some of the issues we're discussing here.

One of the biggest issues for many people joining a gym is education. I've seen many overweight people come into the gym, walk on the treadmill for 10 minutes, move some weight machines around (with minimum resistance), and then leave. They look nervous and lost. They barely break sweat and the heart rate certainly doesn't increase by any degree.

I've buckets of respect for someone entering a gym for the first time - it can be an intimidating place, but being there is pointless unless the person is educated on how to reach their goals. Weight loss? Aerobic fitness? Muscle building? If they're not getting anywhere after a few weeks they lose heart and stop going at all.

The site i posted was a reply for SJ to look at, it was to give them an idea of body type and shape. And reasons why some can eat what they want and not put an ounce on, where as others need to work harder just to stay even. As they raised that particular point to me. Your points, cant say ive read any of any interest to me. A balanced diet with good physical exercise is good enough for the majority of people, anyone looking for something different and lifestyle changing do the Mark Sissons primal (diet) life style.

Translation: you haven't got an answer.