Out goes a squat rack, in goes more cardio.

[jcool20010]

My YMCA (I know, I Know) has now decided to take out a squat rack, and to put in about 12 elliptical trainers in the weight room.

We only had 2 before, and now we are at 1, gotta love it.

I saw all the open space today, and started thinking "more racks, an olympic platform maybe? Open space for doing cleans?"

So I asked a trainer, and "More ellipticals and bikes"

But they are leaving the smith machines in there, and they left every single Nautilus machine.

But one of the squat racks??? Why??? Why????

[Mon]

Why can't they take out the smith machine instead of the squat rack? Free weights are much much better. I heard a lot of negative things about the smith machine because you are limited on range of motion.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Why??? Why????

Because more people use the machines then the squat rack. At one of my gyms, I was the only person that squatted--it was not really a "useful" piece of equipment from the gyms perspective. It's just business.

But putting on the lifter hat, that sucks, man. My gym only has one rack and its a PITA to wait for someone to do their curls inside.

[jcool20010]

Yea, I know it really is just supply and demand.

I just wish there was a Gold's or some real gym I could join.

[dmw]

I told my wife I'd love to open a gym with an olympic lifting platform / area, several power racks, open spaces for deads, tons of free weights, etc.

She told me no one would come if it didn't have treadmills.

[Mahler]

Y.M.C.A.
YAHOO
MORON'S
CARDIO
ASSOCIATION

[karky]

¤#%¤#&"#¤"#%"#%)¤&/%")(=#"%"#%"#¤%¤"#Y%")/#)¤/"#)%/"#%)/!"#)/%#%)/#)¤/#)/¤#)%/"#)%/!)/#%)"/#%)/"!!!)#/%!)"/%=¤&?)=#)&?=%%)(¤?="?#¤=!="/)/)%/!#%

that's all I've got to say..

[dmw]

Originally Posted by Mahler

Y.M.C.A.
YAHOO
MORON'S
CARDIO
ASSOCIATION

ha. And I have to go because we have a family membership basically to use the pools!

Our is good for our kids though, with soccer, basketball, etc.

The biggest downside (though it sounds good if you don't know the background) is that I'm one of the stronger people there. I had to get a buddy to join to have a strong dude to work out with. Not a good environment to improve.

[liftintexas]

Originally Posted by dmw

The biggest downside (though it sounds good if you don't know the background) is that I'm one of the stronger people there.

you're such a braggart

[dmw]

Originally Posted by liftintexas

you're such a braggart

haha. If you saw the people there, you'd know I wasn't! It's a damning indictment of the crowd if I'm the strongest one there.

[Mahler]

Not the Y, but possibly better. My humble dungeon.

[castufari]

I was trying to get my Y to put in a squat rack, they're looking into it. The new one - that's farther away - has one. I go to the older one since it's close to home and I like the people there.

The Smith machine gets hammered on a daily basis, this am there were 2 people on it doing pullups.

Oh...saw something amusing today. I'm doing bench presses and get up to get some water when I see a red binder on the floor that says "TOP SECRET". I'm thinking "the Y...Asheville...top secret?". I pick it up, open it, it's a "US Navy Seals training manual". I open it...it's a US Navy Seals "training manual". Funnily enough it had a watermark from a pirate site on it. The owner walked over and grabbed it. I had to laugh.

[Phaedrus49er]

That's funny

My gym recently removed an incline bench station In its place: two--TWO--medicine ball throw stations (with spring-loaded reclined seat backs, which kinda defeat the purpose).

[Biskit]

Sigh. I'm about to cancel my Y membership. Recently, they renovated, added room and installed, wait....wait....BRAND NEW NAUTILUS EQUIPMENT!!!! It's everywhere! They added a couple of new benches, incline press and flat press, and a nice cable machine. We do have a squat rack and a smith. They added at least 3 new leg presses! There is no room now, and they expanded the area!

Also, they added Expresso bikes. These have a monitor that is a virtual scene depicting your chosen program. Oh, the handlebars move too. Needless to say, these are stupid. They added treadmills and ellipticals too. So many I can't even believe it. I thought they'd sell some of the old treadmills. Nope.

Thing is, it's a Y. They have to cater to the crowd that predominantly uses the Y. I guess serious weight training doesn't fit that bill.

So, long, long story. I found another gym near me that has every weight and bar and squat rack I could ever want and more! It's a super place. Same price basically.

Bye bye Y.

Deb

[Tom@foresight]

It seems to be the same at gyms across the world! The problem as I see it is the vast majority of people using the gyms do not have an idea of what is effective exercise.

Smith machine v's squat rack should be no competition. But many clients do not have the skills or confidence to use free weights effectively, dispite the obvious advantages of them.

This leads me to say that until gyms commit to educating members as to more effective methods of exrcise, and gym staff are better trained to provide effective training. We will continue to see the demise of the machines that take time to master but are more effective. In favour of the easier to use/learn.

TOM

[Mahler]

Originally Posted by Tom@foresight

It seems to be the same at gyms across the world! The problem as I see it is the vast majority of people using the gyms do not have an idea of what is effective exercise.

Smith machine v's squat rack should be no competition. But many clients do not have the skills or confidence to use free weights effectively, dispite the obvious advantages of them.

This leads me to say that until gyms commit to educating members as to more effective methods of exrcise, and gym staff are better trained to provide effective training. We will continue to see the demise of the machines that take time to master but are more effective. In favour of the easier to use/learn.

TOM

Tom,
Some very good thoughts.

People, unfortunately, do not want to work at anything, including exercise. We live in a world of instant gratification and one in which, on a daily basis, we are seeing needless, yet highly coveted, work and time saving devices.

Hence, exercise has to have these qualities:
1) It must be easy to do with little exertion.
2) It must be comfortable with no stress on the body.
3) It must be painless with no strain or soreness afterwards.
4) It must not require any kind of learning curve so that accomplishment is instantaneous.
5) It must not require any kind of adaptation, so the machine is the device of choice to force your body into a specific motion.
6) It must be fun.
7) It must not occupy all of ones time or effort, so must be able to be used while a)reading b)watching television c)listing to an iPod d)talking on a cell phone
8) It must conveniently simulate something that I would never take the time to do in the real world

And the list could go on, but I think you get my point.

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by dmw

She told me no one would come if it didn't have treadmills.

So include treadmills, ergometers, steppers, all of that.

Mahler/John, I'm almost totally jealous of your home setup.

What's that area across from the VKR station? A deadlift platform?