“Many doctors believe in a false premise that the patient is king. It’s what I sometimes refer to as the restaurant model of medicine. Well medicine isn’t a restaurant, and the patient is not a patron, and the doctor is not a waiter. … part of the difference in medicine is that we’re supposed to have professional norms, professional values, and professional commitments. If you keep telling people that … autonomy of the patient is what must be served to make them happy customers, then you have a collapse of professionalism in the face of consumer demand.”

The most dramatic shift in western medicine in the past twenty years is the deregulation of prescription drug advertising. It’s nearly impossible to watch television without seeing an ad for a drug promising to cure what ails you. An unintended consequence has been a shift in medicine toward a ‘restaurant’ model of service…i.e. ‘have it your way.’

Why should you have it your way by asking and/or demanding your doctor give you the prescription you want? Instead of self-prescribing, you should listen to your doctor about which course of action is going to make you healthiest. Granted, western medicine is certainly not an infallible answer to optimal health. But the point remains: it isn’t a doctor’s job to give you what you want, it is a doctor’s ethical responsibility to give you what you need.

Fitness faces a similar dilemma. The fitness industry is in the midst of unprecedented financial success, but that success is not correlated with the health and wellness of our populace. In fact, you could contend that as the fitness industry has grown, so have the problems of obesity, diabetes, and sedentary lifestyles. If exercising is an antidote to the dilemmas of obesity and metabolic syndrome, then why aren’t we seeing better results as more people are joining gyms and starting exercise programs?

The problem is gyms that are run like a restaurant rather than a doctor’s office. A restaurant gives the customer what they want. A doctor’s office gives the customer what they need. I certainly do not like going to see my dentist, but I sure am glad my dentist has the best interest of the health of my teeth and gums in mind.

In fitness, giving customers what they want has created an industry hijacked by half-truths and outright lies. Customers clamor for ‘magic’ programs, diets, and supplements that promise quick and easy results, and so those are what the industry provides. Because the customer is not the professional, they are also easy targets for misleading and oversimplified formulas for success (e.g., the calories in calories out formula for losing weight).

Furthermore, the customer-first mantra leads to the falsity of defining fitness by how you look instead the state of your wellness. While ultimately the customer has the right to look any way they like, the reality is that at its core, fitness is defined by functionality and health, not looks. We as fitness professionals have a obligation to promote hard truths and real fitness, not fads and snake oil gimmickry.

Customers in fitness must be treated fairly, ethically, and responsibly instead of being fed convenient, profit-motivated untruths. This means giving the customers results (what they need) rather than what they often want (the path of least resistance). Here’s what every fitness customer deserves and needs:

• To be treated with respect
• To be treated with empathy and compassion
• To be held accountable to themselves
• To be in a safe environment.

A proficient doctor or nurse ultimately cares only about the health of their patients, and similarly, a leading fitness professional cares firstly and immensely about the fitness and wellness of their patrons. It’s a doctor’s job to prescribe and a fitness coach’s job to coach. Results matter. Preferences don’t.

Fitness is about making uncomfortable changes that customers don’t always enjoy or prefer. It’s likely more profitable to tell customers what they want versus giving them what they need, but as Art Caplan’s quote points out, it’s also a question of ethics in terms of professional norms. We need to demand such professional norms from the fitness industry. While the customer is king, results happen by giving the customer what they need, not what they want.

The post The Gym Is Not a Restaurant appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

As I read the familiar story, my mind drifted from recounting the breaking-and-entering activities of a little blonde girl in an ursine domicile, and pondered a question.

The Goldilocks Syndrome

As Goldilocks tries out the bears’ chairs, beds, and bowls of porridge, she finds that Papa Bear’s things are too much, Mama Bear’s are not enough, and Baby Bear’s are just right. In the world of sporting activities, owners, teachers, and members all face a similar question. When is a facility, club, or group the right size? When is it too large or too small?

The answer is different for everyone. While Papa Bear’s bed may have been too hard for Goldilocks, perhaps Papa Bear had a stiff back and needed the extra support. On the other hand, perhaps Mama Bear wanted the extra warmth that a deep, soft mattress can provide. I’m not them, so I cannot say. Fitness is the same.

Let’s talk about some of the potential benefits and drawbacks of groups or gyms of certain sizes.

Papa Bear

You’re big, you’re bad, and everyone knows who you are. In the fitness world, you probably have t-shirts emblazoned with your name or logo being sold at shops all over the place. People who have never stepped within your doors may be rockin’ your gear. You might even have endorsement contracts with suppliers who market clothes, supplements, and perhaps even action figures with your name attached.

For members, the advantages of being a Papa Bear are huge. Members have access to large-scale membership in a wide range of locations. You could get a lift in at home in California on Monday, and get your next lift in on Thursday in Seattle, all on the same membership card. If certifications are your thing, being accepted nationally or even worldwide carries its own advantages.

In addition, a huge gym chain can offer a plethora of options for varying tastes, such as family members who do not all participate in the same activities. When I was a member of a large chain gym, I could lift in one section and do three different types of cardio classes, in addition to training on my own, swimming, and playing basketball, all while my wife enjoyed yoga and Pilates classes. The economy of scale allows such options that may not be feasible at smaller gyms.

On the other hand, Papa Bear groups have disadvantages as well. The first and most damaging is the “trend towards beige” that large gyms or groups have. Once a certain size is reached, the intense passion and the personal connection that fueled Papa Bear’s rise to prominence passes away. Accountants become more important than passion when the bottom line is measured in dollars rather than in pounds, minutes, and seconds.

Secondly, many Papa Bear gyms experience a loss of personal connection. It’s hard to have a commitment to a facility that cannot recognize you by at least your face, and has to swipe you in using a barcoded plastic tag, just like cattle.

Mama Bear

This classification tends to be associated with the boutique gym, especially the “ladies’ fitness centers,” by whatever brand name they call themselves. Of course, there are advantages to such places. I understand it is hard to get a workout in when you’ve got men who treat the gym like a singles bar. And hopefully the staff is attuned to the uniqueness of training women as opposed to men.

On the other hand, the biggest flaw I see with Mama Bear gyms is being “too soft.” Just because your gender is female does not mean that you are physically incapable of lifting more than thirty pounds. While the leverages may be different than a man’s, that does not mean women are confined to hydraulically-resisted pink padded machines, or that working hard and grunting is anathema to the gender. And of course, the lack of results is also a pretty damning feature. I have yet to see anyone who could be classified in the top ten percent of fitness who got there via a Mama Bear gym or group.

Baby Bear

For Goldilocks, Baby Bear’s stuff, much to his disadvantage, tended to be just right. In the real world, being a baby animal is a pretty nasty situation. Only one in about four cheetah cubs survives to adulthood, and the odds are even worse for other species. The same goes for gyms. I’ve lost count of the number of small gym managers who have closed their doors after a few years due to financial or stress reasons. At my own gym, I’m the head instructor, as well as marketing staff, maintenance, janitor, and other positions. The Baby Bear gym you join today just may not be here next year, or even next week.

That being said, there is a passion to small clubs and gyms that larger facilities usually fail to replicate. Gold’s Gym Venice circa 1974 was on another level, passion-wise, to Gold’s Gym Venice 2014. To use another wildlife analogy, lone lions (youngsters without their own pride) are much more aggressive than pride leaders, who tend to let the females of the pride do all the hunting. This sort of passionate atmosphere can definitely provide that shot in the arm, especially if you are passionate about your training.

In addition, the small gym tends to be specialized (for good or ill). You will find the best lifters and most knowledgeable trainers in the world working in relatively small gyms or in niche markets, not at any gym that boasts 100 locations, or has any sort of family discount membership plan. Heck, some of the strongest people I know lift out of their own garages.

Which Should You Choose?

So, what’s better for you? It truly is going to depend on you, your goals, and your life situation. For me, I am what can best be termed as asocial when I am working out. It’s not that I’m going to be hostile to you or anything. I just don’t want to be bothered. I train alone. I want to work out at my pace, with my focus and my intensity. I don’t need to have my groove screwed up by being asked if I have many more sets to do before I get off that bench, bro.

If you are looking for a social group as well as a sporting activity, a larger gym might be ideal. If your pocketbook is your most important consideration, the lower cost contracts that larger gyms can offer will most likely beat your local musclehead factory. On the other hand, if your dream is to eventually be holding UFC gold, you might have to ante up the money to pay for an American Top Team or Jackson’s MMA. I cannot answer to your particular situation. And of course, there may not be a “just right” for your situation, and you might have to make do with “good enough,” at least for a while.

A final word of caution, coming from Goldilocks herself. Remember that she ended up breaking her “just right” chair and eating all of her “just right” porridge. The same holds true for you. What may be just right today may not be just right next year. It’s a normal part of life. In the meantime, evaluate your potential options, and try to select what is just right for you.

Photo 1 courtesy of Jessie Willcox Smith (American, 1863-1935) (ArtDaily.com) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo 2 courtesy of KudzuVine (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Photos 3 and 4 courtesy of Shutterstock.

The post The Goldilocks Question: Is Your Gym Too Big, Too Soft, or Just Right? appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

I often wonder what is the cause of the chaos I observe. The concept of running a gym is pretty simple: train people, get them results, and have them tell all of their friends. While the root of the business problems – hiring mistakes, poor management, lack of business acumen – are best saved for another article, I have an idea for how you can run your gym better. Adopting the habits of our military or paramilitary that will help your gym business operate more effectively and efficiently.

Here are nine tools inspired by the military that you can implement to improve your gym business and reduce the chaos:

Tool #1: Rankings

Every person will be ranked in order of experience and credentials. This means if you are new to the gym, you will be at the bottom of the totem pole. I’m not saying you are not worthy or are less superior, but when it comes to giving advice I can only assume that you have not earned your ability to lead people, let alone give advice to any other member.

In contrast, the unofficial ranking system of most gyms goes as follows: the jacked guy at the gym must know what he’s talking about, I’m going to see what jacked guy does, and I will eventually look like him. Which makes more sense to you?

Tool #2: Chain of Command

Don’t go right to the chief of the gym with a question or problem if you can approach your lieutenant or captain. This will ensure that the chief is tasked with the more important problems and the other officers are given a fair chance to earn their stripes and directly help their men. Or in the case of a gym, potential coaches and senior students gain experience and share knowledge. So, always respect the chain of command.

Tool #3: Roll Call

Every morning the leader of the shifts holds a meeting outlining the action steps of the day and ensures that everyone is dressed properly. This will be perfect since many people don’t actually have a plan when they go to the gym. Every time you go into your gym, you’ll have a quick meeting setting action steps for the day. You’ll have a better plan and everyone will have a common goal increasing efficiency and results.

Tool #4: Equipment Inspection

By going over everything you’re about to use, you’ll have a better plan and use it more effectively. Treat your equipment with respect and it will respect you. This will also free up time for everyone working in the gym and reduce chances of injury.

Tool #5: Uniforms

With everyone in the gym wearing similar workout apparel, people will care a lot less about their new dri-fit shirt or lululemon gear. We’ll then focus more on what matters: working out, getting sweaty, and getting results, rather then your cute new gym attire.

Tool #6: Training

To avoid complacency and to ensure that you are sharp in different situations, you should always be training, learning, and mastering your craft. Each time you go to the gym you’ll either reinforce prior techniques or learn new ones.

Tool #7: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Despite your feelings about Planet Fitness and their rules, at least they have some SOPs in place to maintain order. What if the gym you went to canceled your membership if you didn’t show up a certain amount of times a month? Or they lowered your membership price for each month they didn’t lead you enough to reach your goals? That may sound crazy to you, but the fact that most gyms don’t have any SOP’s in place is crazy to me. To focus purely on increasing membership numbers is a poor job on management’s end and not fair to its members.

Tool #8: AWOL (Absent Without Leave)

Being AWOL means the abandonment of duty without permission. Don’t show up for your training session today? You’re officially declared AWOL.

Tool #9: Assignment

Whether it’s a particular territory or a piece of equipment, once you get assigned to it you will become an expert at it. You’re a powerlifting guy? Great. Bodybuilder? Perfect. Once you master that and become an expert, then keep honing your craft. No one ever became an expert in operating a tank by switching assignments every week. It’s not like the people in the military who operate tanks also fly fighter jets. You shouldn’t do that with your workouts either.

Who doesn’t agree that our military, police, and fire organizations are not only top notch, but are also experts in organizing chaos? Organizing chaos is what we’re really trying to do as fitness professionals, too. We get hundreds or thousands of members together who all have different backgrounds and problems, but they come for a similar goal. The only problem is that in fitness we lack organization. I know that implementing some of these nine strategies will improve things for you.

One last thing: I know you’re wondering if these tools would make for a fun gym environment. You’ll be hitting your goals, but will it be an enjoyable experience? Just look at any of the organizations that inspired these tools. The members of those organizations would take a bullet for the person next to them. Would you take bullet for that dude you always see at the gym curling in the squat rack?

Photo 1 by Official Navy Page from United States of America Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas/U.S. Navy [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo 2 by S.A. THORNBLOOM [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Photo 3 by Sgt Sarah Fiocco [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

The post 9 Military Strategies to Improve Your Gym and Reduce the Chaos appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Yes, that’s right. Here are 21 reasons not to get off the treadmill, office chair, or sofa and join your local strength and conditioning facility.

I mean, you’re not fit or strong enough yet, right? You’d better sort that our first before joining a gym. And that stuff they do is pretty difficult isn’t it? What’s the point in putting yourself through that? Life is hard enough without adding to it. Plus the fact that you’re tired all the time. Speaking of which, you haven’t really got the time anyway, not to mention the money. Let’s face it – you’re not cut out for this functional stuff, and anyway, you just want to tone up a bit.

I’m sorry. You’re right. Here’s a list of 21 reasons not to join the gym (along with considered responses) that you can pick and choose from next time your fitness-mad friend or family member is asking you to come to the next open day or foundations class:

1. I’m not fit/strong/good enough yet

I get it. You’re not there yet. Neither am I! But where is there, exactly? When will you deem yourself good enough?

It’s likely that when you join a gym, your whole perspective on what is fit and strong will be redefined anyway. There’s no avoiding that you’re going to be the newbie here, and no-one will think less of you for being so. They have all been there.

2. It’s intimidating

Yes, it is. But isn’t that the case with most new things? I remember, fairly vividly, being petrified for the first week of pre-school (but it was worth it for the milk and biscuits at break time.) Go at your own pace, scale to your own abilities, no one is rushing you.

3. I’m too old.

Please watch this.

4. It’s too hard.

Yes, it’s hard. Isn’t everything in life that is worth having? Bringing up kids is hard (and there’s no coach to help you there). So if you are telling me you’re not doing this because it’s too hard, you better not ever have any kids.

Too hard? What kind of attitude is that? If it’s because the rest of your life is hard and you don’t need another hard thing to cope with, think about this – overcoming small challenges daily in the gym (yes, they are small compared to the rest of life) builds strength not just in the body but also in the mind. Strength to deal with the real hard stuff in life.

5. I haven’t got the time

I disagree. No matter how busy you are, you have the time. Everyone can get up that little bit earlier, cut out something unnecessary (television?) or find a way (lunchtime?).

Don’t get me wrong, I’m also guilty of saying this, but what I actually meant was I haven’t got the inclination, or motivation, to make the time for this. Not having any time is actually a choice you made to do something else with that time.

6. I need to sort out my nutrition/life/work first

I am sure you do need to sort out those things. But why first? If you haven’t done so by now, what is going to change to enable you to do so? There’s never a perfect time. Take the first step. Make a change that will give you more energy and inspiration to make the other changes.

7. It’s not in the budget

Try taking out the take out meals. Or cut out a night out. That will help you get on track with your nutrition and give you enough cash for your gym membership for a month. Double winner.

8. It’s not safe

That is your perception, not fact. The fact is that most other sports (including most of those sports you played at school) have far worse injury rates than strength training in terms of injuries per hours of participation.

9. That stuff’s not for me

When “that stuff” is basic physical movement, and strength enough to manage at least your own bodyweight effectively, then “it’s not for me” doesn’t cut it. It’s for everyone. It’s for life. It’s for those times when you really need it. You don’t want to be the weakest when the zombies come, do you? Everyone knows the weakest get eaten first.

10. I don’t need to be that fit/strong

Who’s saying you need to take it to the highest levels? You owe it to yourself to be the best version of you that you can be. You owe it to your partner, your children, and your grandchildren too.

11. I’m already fit/strong

Then you have nothing to worry about. Step outside your own definitions of fit and strong and into the definitions of those who are better placed to define these terms than you are.

12. I’m happy with what I’m doing now

Most of the time when I hear this it’s from people who have been doing the same thing for a long time, because they are happy doing it.

Read that again – doing the same thing for a long time, each and every week. Your body cannot adapt and improve through being subjected to exactly the same stimulus over and over again.

13. I have a chronic bad back/shoulder/knee

All the more reason why you should train with professionals who have experience in helping you to work with your injury and improve your movement, performance, and perhaps even the injury itself. This is infinitely better than avoiding it or working around it.

14. I don’t need a coach

Are you kidding me? Everyone needs a coach. Even the best coaches need a coach. Feedback from a good coach improves performance – fact. Unless you don’t want to improve?

15. I am not built for that

We are all built to push, pull, squat, hinge, run, carry, jump, throw, and crawl. If you have lost those abilities then it’s you who has let it slide. You are built for them. Rebuild yourself to be able to perform these movements if you need to.

16. I already do all that

Excellent. Then learn to do it better. Be stronger. Be fitter. Be better.

17. I do it for the social aspect

I agree, socializing with the gym crew is good fun. Some of my best friends are from the gym. Anyone who has experienced the social aspect of a community that trains together, and works against the common enemy of difficult physical endeavour knows that this fosters a community spirit like no other. Work hard. Play harder.

18. I hate (insert fundamental movement of choice here)

All the more reason why you need to do it. Work the things you are worst at for the best and quickest progress.

19. I just want to tone up

Cool. Toning up is losing fat and gaining muscle. Come along and do that and get fitter and stronger in the process.

20. My friend says (insert pessimistic feedback here)

Word of mouth and recommendation from those whom you trust is powerful. It’s what social media is built on. However, nothing beats doing it yourself. Especially if your friend has never done it themselves before and is just going off what they have read from their friends on social media!

21. But (insert other reason here)

If after reading this your next excuse sentence starts with “but” then stop reading this article now. You need to be more honest with yourself.

However, if you are beginning to think that I, and the friend or family member through which you read this article, have a point or two worth thinking about, then do yourself (not them) a favor and email your local training facility now. Make a commitment to attending at the next suitable time and be proud and accountable enough that you have done so to post a comment below.

Good luck and have fun. See you under (or at) the bar!

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock.

The post 21 Reasons Not to Join a Gym appeared first on Breaking Muscle.