Evaluating a gym for a family membership or Individual membership can be daunting.
You have to figure out if the gym is quiet enough to get on the equipment, but active enough to be staying in business. The cleanliness, condition of the equipment and how it is used can throw many people off. But there is one more thing should be noticing when you are doing your the initial tour and taking advantage of your 10 day cooling-off period.
How muscle-bound are the employees? How about the other members?
At first glance, this may sounds like an odd concern. After all, bodybuilding is a lifestyle choice that some consider healthy and someone choosing to make that choice may be deserving of your admiration.
But if you join a gym where there are a large number of people engaged in bodybuilding, it could be dangerous for you or your family.
The average person is not aware of how pervasive illegal drugs are in the bodybuilding community or how dangerous they are. For the most part, the occasional violent incident will reach the news media but the association is usually to professional athletes and not people in our immediate community.
Imagine going into your gym and having the owner or employee act rudely to you for no immediate reason. Or having a rather imposing bodybuilder grunting and groaning so loudly that it is heard across the entire gym.
Or worse still. Imagine your son or daughter befriending one of these people and being lured into a culture of drug abuse, eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
The drug component of the culture is complicated, contradictory and pervasive. As widely used as steroids are, the perspective by most bodybuilders is that they are minimally effective as they attribute any gains to hard work. It is also generally accepted that anyone who competes at a provincial or national level can only do so because they are using performance enhancing drugs. Further, the associated personality changes, the highly sexualized behaviour, the eating disorders, the masculine traits in the women and the overall body dysmorphia are regularly dismissed as being non-existent or unrelated to the drugs. Users ignore the published health implications of using the “sauce” and openly discuss and downplay the side-effects and risks on bodybuilding forums. The fear of losing mass is greater than the concern for self-harm, causing the drugs to be psychologically addictive. In combination, these traits of dependency, denial and rationalization are very much the same found in any drug addict.
Supporting this addiction is the intense peer pressure within this group. The tight bonds are self-sustaining as the gym becomes a social encounter with regular attendance. This also extends to social media as Individuals post pictures in order to seek and receive reassurance from their peers. Romantic partners are usually found within this community or are compelled to join in order to maintain the relationship. Because this is an all-encompassing lifestyle, individuals will have difficulty creating or sustaining social relationships outside the community.
This is not to say that all bodybuilders are drug addicts. There are a growing number of bodybuilders who are trying raise awareness and train or compete clean. I respect these people immensely. What they are taking on is no small task. They have to work much harder to compete against the users. It is harder for them to find sponsors and they can find themselves ostracized from the community if they are vocal about their choice.
For the average person looking for a gym to work out in, all of this may be an overblown concern. Most adults can focus on their routine and avoid anything that might distract them.
However, for anyone with a teenager who is joining a gym, it is important to be mindful of your child’s needs, goal and vulnerabilities. Young adults are surprising fragile and easily influenced. Boys are naturally competitive and will be encouraged to become larger. Young girls will have to manage the compliments on their increased sexual attractiveness. It is inappropriate for the 40 year old personal trainer to call a 14 year old sexy, but in the wrong gym, it happens. The child wants the praise, not completely aware of the motivation. Both genders can be easily lured into the false sense of support in this community.
Take the time to visit the gym with your child. Work out with them and support them as they work towards a healthy mind and body.
And take advantage of the 10 day cooling off period on a new membership. If the facility and staff are providing an unhealthy environment and cannot support you towards your goals, withdraw your membership in writing and consider community or not-for-profit facilities.
Above all, keep working out!!