"Don't fear failure. Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail"
Bruce Lee
Hey all,
Many of you know I use the above quote often, but I thought it most apropos to this third installment of this topic. We left off discussing The Bad - how the health club industry has made billions off of creating machines that essentially do more than 50% of the work for you. But that's not the worst thing they are doing.
Which brings me to the Dirty - Health clubs, or the health club industry has zero interest in your health and fitness. Zero. Health clubs are basically the fitness equivalent of a casino- yeah, they may comp you a massage, a t-shirt, a personal training session, but you end up paying for the building, the new, shiny machines, and end up leaving with less than you entered with. Let me explain.
Health clubs are a business. That's not a bad thing; people need to eat, personal trainers need to make money, the health clubs aren't getting donations from philanthropists to keep the doors open. So there's no fault in making money. But when that is the main goal of a health club, then there is a huge disconnect between the members getting fitter and what the health club is doing to achieve that end. Health clubs of the modern era are not designed to get you fitter - with the machines they offer, the classes they offer, and the lack of any movement towards functional fitness, you aren't gaining any more strength, mobility, agility, endurance, etc than what you initially had prior to joining. Yes, a sedentary person may experience some initial weight loss, a bit more energy, assuming they don't get hurt, and feeling good for about 5 weeks. Then the plateau hits. Its no different than New Year's resolution members - yeah, the first 5-8 weeks its all good, then comes the realization that no more weight is coming off, they don't feel any better, they may even begin experiencing pain that they didn't have prior - thanks to taking classes that work the same muscle groups day in and out, with poor form, and in the same plane of motion, eventually causing the member to stop going. Not to mention, the monotony of the same machines, the same classes, -(yes, I know that most clubs change classes every quarter, disguising them as something new and different, but if you look closely, its the same shit, different name), makes it easier to have an excuse to not go to the gym.
Even worse, is the fact that most big box health clubs perpetuate a societal imbalance that needs to stop, that being the notion that women MUST only do cardio. And LOTS of cardio. For decades society has told women, through advertising, social media, any outlet you can think of, that the best way to stay in shape is to get back on that treadmill, or elliptical or go to that step class, and stay in your "Fat burning zone", for the best results. Its so ridiculous its offensive. Weight rooms seem to be reserved only for men, who spend a significant amount of time talking and working their glamour muscles - you know who I'm talking about - the guys who walk around with their cell phones, do about 20 bicep curls, and then drink a gallon of water without a drop of sweat. The gym dynamic is almost purposeful, keep women thinking they need to keep burning fat, and men should be lifting. Its so ass-backwards that its no wonder that women who do nothing but cardio end up skinny-fat, no muscle, no flexibility, no strength, leading to decreased bone density, erratic menstrual cycles, fatigue, craving carbohydrates, mainly sugar, and worst of all, ruining self confidence and keeping a very skewed view of beauty. Lets be honest most "fitspo" is thinly veiled "thinspo". Its only in a few areas, Crossfit comes immediately to mind, where women are made to feel good about having muscles, about lifting weight, about EATING. Its not just encouraged, its required in that realm, and not simply to say you can deadlift 200 lbs. Women need to lift to improve health and fitness, to undo all the years of damage that a steady cardio diet left them with; in short, to triage the body from the bullshit that they have been told. But health clubs thrive on waiting lists for stair climbers, and treadmills, because that means business is booming.
The thing is, health clubs don't care if you are coming or not. Unless you actually quit the club, your dues keep getting pulled from your account every month. Machines get polished and look great! New classes pop up! And you, the member, are going no where fast. But, you got your 30 minutes of cardio in 3 times this week, so all is good! Umm, no. See, the health club doesn't want you to get too fit, because once you do, your eyes will most likely be open to the fact that there is nothing left there for you. Every machine is designed for the person using it to succeed. To hit a home run. The fitness equivalent of every kid gets a trophy. As long as you do your 30 minutes of cardio, does it matter what machine its on? Nope. You get a gold star because you did it. You get a pat on the back, and off you go. No one understands what it means to fail. The health club is designed to keep you at about 50% of your real capacity, because they are afraid if you fail, you'll quit. Thing is, they're right.
See, I can't get upset at the health club industry, like I said, its a business. They create an environment of minimal success so you keep coming back, even after you have realized you aren't getting fitter. Its safe, and easy. So here's the tough love - if you don't like it, then you must be the one to change. Don't get mad at your health club for not offering more, they have no reason to. Its up to you to make the change. You don't like being just a number, stuck in a place where mediocrity is the highest you will get? Then you have to leave. Because they aren't changing for you.
Its why I love INTENT and all that we do here. I won't lie and tell you that every day will be a success. Because it won't. That's just like life. In failing, we learn, we see ourselves in the clearest of light - will we get up and fight again, or will we allow ourselves to be defeated? I know the environment at INTENT allows you to fail, but the support system is such that there is someone there to pick you up, dust you off, and encourage you to go at again, harder. Its not easy, and that's the point. If it was easy, it would be an elliptical machine. We don't let you get comfortable, because if you do, then you aren't growing, in any aspect of life - physical, mental or spiritual. And that's the biggest gift, to have a safe place to fail, in a group where others have failed, including the coaches, who will be at your side reminding you that those are your moments to shine brightest, when things are the toughest.
I can only speak for myself but I will say, I would rather fail beautifully 1000 times, and know that without question, I will get up 1001 times. Don't you owe it to yourself to see what's really inside you? Aren't you sick of the bullshit ads, the media that makes you feel bad for wanting to lift, to have muscle, to reach new heights? Don't you owe it to yourself to have more, to be able to ask more from your body, the most amazing machine around, and know that it will respond? If you don't think so, then prepare for regret, disappointment, and lots of money spent on a health club membership that took more than your money. It took your health, your passion, your ability to become fitter and healthier than ever. Think about it.
Stay strong.
Guy
