Fall and Winter are typically the season for this, but I’ve noticed more people than usual have taken up interest in what amount to gyms. These very, very expensive gyms, which market themselves as almost exceptional in how they can help you regain yourself. All the while these “miracle body regimes” are advertised everywhere. Suspicious industry much?

Some neighbors of mine were headed there. I remember this because they were about to get into their vehicle, and I asked “the location is right around the corner, you don’t want to walk and maybe save transport money” and they responded “no, we’re old, we can’t do that” before they rode there and gained entry so they can run on the machine, and returned having used their whole wallet due to the journey/destination. Though not as memorable as the fact they came back with a brand of potato chips with the same name as the place they went to. Nothing like feeding into what you’re there to fix.

How about you though?

  • medgremlin
    12·
    9 hours ago

    I’m not outright trying to be contrarian, but for some older people or people with things like arthritis, foot injuries, hip injuries, etc. walking or running on a treadmill is vastly less painful than walking or running on concrete.

    There is absolutely a huge commercialization problem with fitness and health in the western world (and in America in particular), but if going to a climate-controlled gym and getting your steps in on a treadmill or elliptical is what it takes to get you to exercise, I’m all for it.

    For the potato chips, that’s really sleazy of the gym, but I do want people to know that even if you don’t/can’t make a bunch of changes to your diet and you don’t lose weight, getting exercise of any kind as often as you are able is still a positive thing for your heart and metabolic health. Please don’t let being fat, or out of shape, or an inability to overhaul your diet prevent you from doing something positive for your health. Losing weight and keeping it off is really only possible through major lifestyle change, and, for a lot of people, the only sustainable way to make the necessary changes is one at a time.

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
      8·
      8 hours ago

      I agree. Potato chips and a workout is better than nothing.

      Also, for old people and others with painful feet, crosswalks can really suck. One who drives to the gym and then uses a treadmill gets to control their speed during the physical activity. The car can go fast enough to keep up with traffic without stressing the person’s body.