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Bad gym experience

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  1. #1
    tabletop

    Unhappy Bad gym experience

    I went to California Fitness, since I got nfi what to do in the gym they sold me some special deal for four personal training sessions, and also because I refused to buy many sessions since I'm skeptical about any specialist services in HK(had too many bad experiences).

    Idk what is supposed to happen on the first session, but my personal trainer sat down with me and kept asking whether I will continue or not, and that 4 sessions are useless, I need to keep doing it for a long time to see any results. I told him I'm not sure whether I will continue or not because I need to see if I like it first. He asked me to do some exercises to see what I can or can not do. Then he totally gave up or something and asked me to run on treadmill for 30 mins. As soon as I got on a treadmill he went away to talk to some other people and I didn't see him for 30 min. When I finished running I went around the gym looking for my personal trainer. When I finally found him he told me to run on an elliptical machine for 20 mins and he went away somewhere again. On the next session he asked me to run 30 min on a treadmill and 30 min on the elliptical again while going to talk to some other people.

    So I thought why I paid all that money for a personal trainer when I can just run on a treadmill by myself, I don't need help for that. Also, shouldn't a personal trainer stay by your side while you are running on a treadmill, since you've paid him for 1on1 for an hour?

    Last edited by tabletop; 04-09-2014 at 11:30 PM.

  2. #2

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    Yes, a PT is supposed to work with you, but if you've read anything about gyms on this forum you should have a pretty good idea that many of them are not worth your money.

    Count yourself lucky that you only signed up for four sessions.

    Maybe ask if you can get another trainer for the remaining sessions, but if the sessions are tied to the trainer, just write it off as a lesson learnt: Never use a PT in any of the big chains (not sure about Pure, maybe they are okay but I've heard that their PTs also have tough sales quotas).

    bibbju, hongkong7 and HK_Katherine like this.

  3. #3
    tabletop
    Quote Originally Posted by jgl:
    Yes, a PT is supposed to work with you, but if you've read anything about gyms on this forum you should have a pretty good idea that many of them are not worth your money.

    Count yourself lucky that you only signed up for four sessions.

    Maybe ask if you can get another trainer for the remaining sessions, but if the sessions are tied to the trainer, just write it off as a lesson learnt: Never use a PT in any of the big chains (not sure about Pure, maybe they are okay but I've heard that their PTs also have tough sales quotas).
    I don't really visit the fitness forums. Do PTs in HK need to have a qulification or anyone unqualified can be a PT?

  4. #4

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    Not sure if there is a 'qualification', but even if there is, I wouldn't put too much credence in it unless it was from another country where sports qualifications were taken more seriously.

    Just because someone holds a 'cert' doesn't mean they are any good.

    shri likes this.

  5. #5

    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by tabletop:
    I don't really visit the fitness forums. Do PTs in HK need to have a qulification or anyone unqualified can be a PT?
    There is absolutely no need for you to visit any fitness forum.

    There is a great website set up specifically to help clueless expats find their way around and avoid some of the common pitfalls of HK Life.

    Oh, you are on it! Now use the search function on the top right of the page, tip, it says Search, and key in California Fitness.

    Once you have finished reading the ten pages of threads on this topic, you will be fully up to speed on the wonderful sales practices of one of the most disreputable companies in HK.

    As has been mentioned before, cut your losses, thankfully they are small.There is enough free info online for you to be able to work out what sort of exercises are suitable for you, and also how to operate the machines.

    My wife had exactly the same experience as you on her one PT session, with the "trainer" refusing to show her how the machines worked unless she signed up for more sessions.

    CF at $3xx a month is a pretty good gym if you know exactly what you want, and don't mind telling the PT's who pester you regularly to piss off.

    P.S. How much did you pay for your sessions?
    Last edited by Cwbguy; 05-09-2014 at 09:14 AM.

  6. #6

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    Wasn't there an apartment advertised with no lift for 2 months? That would be a good way to avoid gym fees.

    shri, Zero Gravitas and jgl like this.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by drumbrake:
    Wasn't there an apartment advertised with no lift for 2 months? That would be a good way to avoid gym fees.
    Doesn't work though, you end up eating at fast food places all the time because by the time you walk up all the stairs, you're too tired to cook dinner.
    shri likes this.

  8. #8

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    I agree that personal trainers are rubbish but this guy seems to take it to new levels. Surely he should see it as an opportunity to impress you and earn more sessions as a result.

    Instead it seems he is so sure of failure that he'd rather invest his time conning people with verbal diarrhoea than do his job properly.

    My advice would be to find a program that suits you and search internet fitness forums for advice. Of course you'll have to sift through a fair amount of bullshit there too. If strength is your aim google starting strength or stronglifts, and most importantly read the material and watch videos regarding proper form and technique.

    If your goal is weight loss or fitness, try playing sport or get out and about. Nothing is more boring imo than jogging on a treadmill!

    Sent from my GT-S5301 using GeoClicks mobile app


  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by jgl:
    Never use a PT in any of the big chains (not sure about Pure, maybe they are okay but I've heard that their PTs also have tough sales quotas).
    I've been using PT's at Pure for the last two years, it's expensive but i know i wouldnt motivate myself to go to the gym if i didn't have an appointment to keep.

    My own trainer is pretty good, and from looking around i think the majority, if not all of the PT's at Pure (CWB branch anyway) seem to know what they are doing and always stay by their clients.

    They do have targets to meet of course and will naturally encourage you to renew but they don't pressure you into it.

    I hear on the grapevine that the price of their PT sessions may be increasing soon (their membership fees already have) so i doubt i will renew again after my current package has run it's course as i just can't afford it.

    So basically Pure isn't cheap but isn't a complete waste of time/money.

    They must be doing something right as they are opening new gyms in Repulse Bay and Lan Kwai Fong with a third to be announced shortly.
    jgl likes this.

  10. #10

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    Remember one of my classmates from Secondary school went to work at California as a PT right after school without an training. This was years ago, not sure if things have changed.


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