Wanted: Canberra's least confrontational gym or health club

Hey mate,
I’m pretty much in the same boat as you. I’m really over weight as well and really self consious of the way I look.
I joined Fit n Fast recently and been a couple of times. They don’t seem to be too bad. They don’t have a pool but heaps of cardio equipment. Best of all they’re really cheap!! With my membership, I can also bring a budy to train with me. If you’re interested the offer is there to come along with me and try them out.
Cheers,
Athryn

Mothy said :

Shared the OP’s apprehension initially about being judged by jocks and yuppies (read: people who “belong” in a gym to the fat-man’s mind), but was pleasantly surprised to be left well enough alone. I don’t know what caricature of human interaction my paranoid mind thought was going to happen, but think of it as the gym equivalent of having sand kicked in your face and you’re there.

The jocks and body builders are mostly focused on how they personally look. They only care about you if you might look better than them (or lift more or whatever). The smart ones then might admire or ask you about training; the dumb ones scowl hard at you and pretend they havent seen you.

If you dont challenge them, they honestly will not care at all – some might try to help you out, but thats it.

I forgot to add in my earlier post two things:

1. weights/resistance exercise is pretty good for losing weight as well, dont focus on aerobics

2. get a PT to explain everything to you first, dont just rock up and start lifting stuff. The ANU has (had?) a few classes eg strength and flexibility, which took you through all of the lifts

Good luck and go for it.

I go to Energy Fitness in Kippax, the staff are really friendly and genuinely interested in the people that go there. Whenever I’m there it just seems to be normal people working out, no jocks or yuppies! When I signed up they gave me a health assessment with a PT who wrote me a program based on what I told them. They could be worth a call, from memory they do a free trial to get started.

Good on the OP for having a go and being willing to change.

I used to go to Club Lime. It was ok, but very expensive. I switched to Body Blitz in Belconnen a few years back and I love it. It’s a 24 hour gym, with more (and better) equipment that the other 24 hour gyms in Canberra. More importantly, the owner (John) takes great pride in the place and is usually there from 8am to 6pm, 5 days a week. He’s friendly, helpful, and great at showing you proper technique and tailoring a workout plan for you.

If you are self conscious about the commencing at a gym, 24 hour access can be very useful as you have the opportunity to pick quiet times for working out until you feel more comfortable. There are a mix of people who use Body Blitz, but they are all there to work, not to fluff around, so I don’t think you’ll feel judged or out of place.

Hi OP

I don’t have any advice on a gym for you but I can help you quit smoking if you’re ready to do so.

We have a 96% success rate on the first session and we back it up with a lifetime guarantee – you start smoking again we’ll do a back up session free of charge.

More info is at http://www.onehourquit.com

Cheers

Gigantor said :

People laugh and make fun of fat people eating a BigMac, however they admire and respect fat people for making and honest effort into changing there lives.

As a fat man who has done both, I concur.

Been a member of CISAC Belconnen, advantage of that one is it is big enough to walk in, find some equipment, and do your own thing.

Shared the OP’s apprehension initially about being judged by jocks and yuppies (read: people who “belong” in a gym to the fat-man’s mind), but was pleasantly surprised to be left well enough alone. I don’t know what caricature of human interaction my paranoid mind thought was going to happen, but think of it as the gym equivalent of having sand kicked in your face and you’re there.

Thanks also to the OP for reminding me that my membership (and attitude) had lapsed.

I agree with the comments that no one looks at you. Well, lets be totally honest – you walk into a gym and people will look at you. If you are ‘hot’ (either sex), they will probably sneak more looks at you (all the mirrors help). If you are not ‘hot’, then you will generally just be completely ignored. So much like the rest of the world. I have never seen anyone suggest someone shouldnt be at the gym – although if you are a skinny 19 yr old guy doing bicep flexes in front of the mirror I will look at you with disdain. Everyone starts somewhere, whether its to lose weight or to progress from bench pressing with 5kg on the bar.

The key to a gym is going. So above all you need to pick 2 (or 3 or whatever) times a week and say ‘this is my gym time, nothing else’. So pick the times you can make it and will make it. After a month you will start feeling edgy if you skip a session.

Then pick a gym that you can access at those times. eg: if you hit the gym at 7am before work, you need a gym that is between you and your workplace and has good showers and somewhere to park out front. If you go at lunch, it needs to be walking distance to your work.

Also, have a look at the ‘fathead’ website; agree or not with it but it gives you some interesting discussion around diet.

Gungsuperstar, 4 years ago I was in mid 20’s and 185KG and about 45% body fat. My doctor was extremely blunt with me and said your most likely going to die young of any number of illnesses/ diseases unless I did something about it. Currently I am between 105 – 110KG with approx 10% body fat and perfectly healthy and Id like to share my knowledge to help you, cause from experience it will change your life immensely.
First things first you will never out exercise a bad diet, as said previously its an easy 80/20 split diet to exercise. You work that part out and the battle is almost won.
Next, if you are self conscious about going to the gym, you really dont need to be. People talk about gym junkies as”crazy eyed roid munchers” and such, however this is all a stereotype and far from the truth in my experience. I have found people that fit into this category do not care about what others look like or how much they lift, its all about effort.
People laugh and make fun of fat people eating a BigMac, however they admire and respect fat people for making and honest effort into changing there lives.

Good luck and stay with it, its so worth it

Disclaimer – I am not a qualified/licensed fitness professional, and I also have no affiliation to any fitness business. I pay my weekly fees like everyone else and this information is based all on personal experience

I’m at Active Leisure Centre in Erindale, which has a pool, fitness centre and personal trainers. I also go early – I’m there by 5:45 most mornings. There are plenty of less-than-fit exercising;it’s friendly and non-judgmental. I have 25+ kilos to lose and I’ve never felt anything but support. (Actually, most people ignore each other as they listen to their music – and there’s nothing wrong with that.)

However, you should go to a centre that is close to you. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but at one point I saw a study that shows if a gym is more than 17 minutes drive from your house, you won’t use it.

Have you tried Weight Watchers? Eating is 90% of weight loss. I burn about 500 calories in an hour of hard exercise at the gym. That’s about 2 lattes. I love Weight Watchers because it’s about developing a better relationship with food, about developing healthy habits that will last a lifetime. It’s definitely not a quick-fix but it works over the long term, if you are willing to put in the hard work. One of my favorite sayings, “You can’t out-exercise a bad diet.”

That said, I do think exercising helps with losing weight beyond just the calories burned. I feel better, more energetic, happier. Also, I think more carefully about what I put in my mouth, because if I go to all the trouble of getting up before dawn, working out like crazy, etc., then I don’t want to eat it all away in a few bits of a Krisy Kreme.

Best of luck and keep us updated!

ummmm_no said :

LSWCHP said :

I’ve been going to the Kaleen gym (now Club Lime) for about 6 years.

It’s not super duper in terms of size or equipment, but there aren’t too many dicks, and most people just get on with lifting their weights, using the machines or participating in the classes.

I stopped going a few years back after repeatedly being called “gook” by tattooed patrons with an apparently strong affiliation to a certain Croatian-speaking nation, but had a good stint for a few years before that. I’d imagine those sort of problems can probably be mostly averted by choosing the right time of day…

Seriously?? I’ve been a Kaleen regular for 6 years and have never seen anything like that. Main reason I’ve stayed is there are zero pumped up goons. Well, none in the mornings.

Flames Fitness is the least confrontational gym in Canberra and I am ready to fight anybody who says otherwise.

I’ve just changed gyms to anythime fitness. They offer a 7 day trial which is worth giving a go. Look you’ll find fit healthy people in every gym you visit. Most of the time, they couldn’t care less if someone obese is in the gym. I’ve been there and half the hassle is getting your head around the fact that people are actually not staring at you. Many if they look at you think, good on them for making a change.
The reason I say this is because I didn’t lose any weight until I sorted out the mental aspect of how I viewed myself. Can I suggest asking your doctor if its worth seeing a psychologist? I think the reason most people fail is because of whats in their head.
This is all based on my experience. There are a few antigym people around who say just do it yourself, but they don’t have the same issues that obese people may have. Losing weight is like giving up smoking.
Anyway just go see if the gyms have trial periods nearby. Then you can see how busy it is at certain times (Sundays seem to be a good quiet time in most gyms!).
I changed to anytime fitness, because there is a gym near home and near work and no excuses that it is closed 🙂

gungsuperstar said :

Thanks for the advice everyone. Just to clarify a couple of things:

– I’m well aware that diet and lifestyle is a bigger factor than going to a gym – but I’ve already tried that. “The Gym” needs to form part of a complete lifestyle overhaul that I really think I can achieve. I’m not thinking that I can go to a gym twice in the first week, once in the second week, then once a month and get results.

– I’m really overweight. It’s important to go to a non-judgmental gym because any looks of horror or anything along those lines are going to make me not want to go. Yes, that’s really soft – but that’s the reality. Confidence is a big thing.

– On top of swimming being the one bit of exercise that I used to engage with as a kid, I’ve been smoking a pack a day for 20 years, and the extent of my exercise is literally walking 5 minutes to the shop or the bus stop. My doctor says that at my current weight, swimming might be the only exercise that I can do for long enough to achieve anything.

To those who were critical of my generalisation, of course it’s a broad and inaccurate one. But as I say, I have never even been inside a proper gym before. The extent of my experience of gyms is a former friend who became an insane gym junkie, and walking past posers exercising by the window in the Canberra Cenbtre.

You know, you could start with something gentle – like aquarobics as that is low-impact, weight-bearing and will start to get some improvement in your cardio-vascular fitness (the AIS does it if you don’t want to join a gym for that). And also walking. Once you have got started, you might find you have more confidence to face a gym. If you could find a good personal trainer, it could help a lot.

It is really hard to come from a very low fitness level, so good on you for making a start.

Few gyms have pools so that will limit your options. I would suggest calling a few local gyms and asking about their programs and facilities. Speak to the trainers first, tell them about your situation and ask what they can do to help you. You should be able to tell pretty quickly which trainers will be helpful and patient.

A friend of mine is having great results with Func Fitness at the stockade in Dickson, her trainer Dave adapted the workouts around her knee surgery. When i checked it out the participants were of a variety of ages and fitness levels.

Going into a gym can be intimidating at first but try to remember that everyone is there for the same reason. Many gyms offer free sessions, that could be a good way to suss out the vibe of the place too.

LSWCHP said :

I’ve been going to the Kaleen gym (now Club Lime) for about 6 years.

It’s not super duper in terms of size or equipment, but there aren’t too many dicks, and most people just get on with lifting their weights, using the machines or participating in the classes.

I stopped going a few years back after repeatedly being called “gook” by tattooed patrons with an apparently strong affiliation to a certain Croatian-speaking nation, but had a good stint for a few years before that. I’d imagine those sort of problems can probably be mostly averted by choosing the right time of day…

I’ve been going to the Kaleen gym (now Club Lime) for about 6 years.

It’s not super duper in terms of size or equipment, but there aren’t too many dicks, and most people just get on with lifting their weights, using the machines or participating in the classes.

How long would it take you to cycle/run/walk to work? (or even part of the way).

You could save an absolute fortune in parking/gym/fuel fees.

I’ve been a member of Club Lime since they bought Bodyworks, which I was previously a member of. I mainly go to the CISAC location now since they have the most extensive class timetable, however I’ve been a regular at the Belconnen, Kaleen and Kingston locations at various times and have felt comfortable at all of them.

Pluses:
– CISAC has a pool
– I think you can have a program prepared for you and regular assessments
– there personal trainers available
– many locations (there are separate membership levels that allow you to go to just one location or all of them)

My suggestion, whichever gym you choose, is to try everything that’s available, as you might end up enjoying something you hadn’t even thought about. I originally joined intending to use the weights equipment, but tried out the group fitness classes and ended up loving BodyAttack. I’m in my 7th year now and classes have really helped keep me motivated and exercising regularly; doubt I would have kept it up so long if I was just working out by myself. Try different instructors too, as you’ll probably click with some better than others and I’m always more motivated to turn up to classes with my favourite instructors.

I agree with the advice to choose a gym convenient to your work or home, or that’s on your commute – it will be much easier to make it part of your routine.

gungsuperstar said :

My doctor says that at my current weight, swimming might be the only exercise that I can do for long enough to achieve anything.
.

Cycling would be another option. Who cares what you look like? Its been established that unless you are a hot chick in lycra, you shouldn’t exist. Reality Fail.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Just to clarify a couple of things:

– I’m well aware that diet and lifestyle is a bigger factor than going to a gym – but I’ve already tried that. “The Gym” needs to form part of a complete lifestyle overhaul that I really think I can achieve. I’m not thinking that I can go to a gym twice in the first week, once in the second week, then once a month and get results.

– I’m really overweight. It’s important to go to a non-judgmental gym because any looks of horror or anything along those lines are going to make me not want to go. Yes, that’s really soft – but that’s the reality. Confidence is a big thing.

– On top of swimming being the one bit of exercise that I used to engage with as a kid, I’ve been smoking a pack a day for 20 years, and the extent of my exercise is literally walking 5 minutes to the shop or the bus stop. My doctor says that at my current weight, swimming might be the only exercise that I can do for long enough to achieve anything.

To those who were critical of my generalisation, of course it’s a broad and inaccurate one. But as I say, I have never even been inside a proper gym before. The extent of my experience of gyms is a former friend who became an insane gym junkie, and walking past posers exercising by the window in the Canberra Cenbtre.

I go to UC Fit, think it’s great, A few jocks but they stay away from the cardio machines – I must admit i did see one on the treadmill one day and looked like he was going to die after a short jog – I spend 40-50mins on it (off peak times) and am happily sweaty!

I use Edge in Weston Creek – I like them, seem to be a lot of “normal” people there also…

Sounds as if you’re in a similar situation to the one I was.

Flames at North Lyneham has been excellent. They set you up with a program designed for you and their trainers lead you through it. They were completely non-judgemental about a fat old bastard who’d never done any exercise in his life and they’ve been great. I’ve never felt intimidated by the trainers, all of whom have been friendly and supportive. Can’t recommend them highly enough.

No pool though.

I’ve been doing some research on gyms recently too.

The new gym downstairs at the Hellenic Club (Results Personal Training) looks the best so far – only $25 a week for full coverage during opening hours, $50 a week if you want a personal training session in the week too. You only pay the weekly fee if you actually use the gym in a week, and they have deliberately kept their membership levels low so it’s not completely crowded. Focus on martial arts training, but they have all the machines you would need. Benefit out of the personal training sessions is that you will always have the same trainer for each session, so there’s a continuity in your program and it’s not just a “one size fits all” program that they give you. There isn’t a pool on the premises though.

Southern Cross Health Club was nice, but I found it looked pretty crowded. Heaps of machines, heaps of instructors, heaps of plans/contracts. The first level (the weights machines) is a nice space with lots of windows and light, but downstairs I felt pretty claustrophobic. Classes on offer in the adjacent building looked pretty good and offered a range of different things all day seven days a week. Staff couldn’t guarantee that PT sessions would be with the same trainer each time though.

If you particularly want to exercise in the water for resistance and low impact training, maybe you could just have a single PT session with someone and ask what workout you could do in the pool?

Have to say though, when it comes down to it it’s what you put into the gym/fitness that you get out. As Postalgeek said once you arrive at the gym for a workout, just put your headphones in and get to business.

take it from someone who has had umpteen gym memberships… dont say you will travel anywhere… because you wont. It will get too hard and you will stop going.

I used to think like that. “Oh god, people are going to stare at me! I don’t belong! They’ll laugh!”. Step inside and after about ten minutes of working out, your fears are dismissed. Any gym is just a place where people are exercising, not standing around passing silent judgement. They’re paying good money to work out. They don’t want to waste time standing around analysing what you’re doing or what you look like.

Even if you did by chance get a ‘look’ from someone. Shrug your shoulders and move on, chances are you’ll never see that person again not to mention they’d have no social connections to you at all. Are you that precious that someone looking at you causes you to wilt?

Its not highschool.

just go to any gym. Keep going. Don’t think of what others are thinking. They are not the barrier to you looking after your self. That is you. Take some music , podcasts or radio, then concentrate on what you are doing. After a few months you’ll release that you worried about nothing.

If you do the run from the yacht club towards yarralumla there’s a whole pile of “excercise points” with a basic piece of equipment and instructions on how to use it. Completely non-confrontational, easy on the wallet and no lock-in contracts.

My 2 cents is forget the gym, or at least don’t make it the be all and end all. And I say this as a gym member of over 10 years. In my opinion it’s about 20% exercise and 80% diet and lifestyle when it comes to turning things around. I’ve been very active for many years but never really lost weight until this year, when I ate the same as my wife on the Michelle Bridges 12 week Total Body Transformation. Not a super blokey thing to do – but even cutting corners lately (beers on the weekend) I’ve lost 30kgs since January.

I hate the perception that people who go to the gym often are gym junkies n roid freaks n whatever else.i can assure you that there will be idiots at every gym because they seem to be attracted there but they won’t be the ones your scared of,they’ll be the dumb ones who sit in the weights area looking at themselves in the mirror doing sweet f&$@ all n have no interest looking at blokes train,they’ll be annoying all the young girls while they r attempting to training without idiots trying to pick them up.
Plus it’s all about timing,you go at 530am,it’s full of public servants who don’t care.pick the one closest to you cause I can guarantee you won’t want to drive across Canberra early in the morning to go to the gym

SnapperJack said :

Southern Cross Health Club is the best gym in Canberra. Very few roid freaks, helpful instructors, a large range of equipment and classes and very reasonable rates.

What price are they charging new members?, can’t find it on the site.

As for the O.P, if you are going into a gym worried about what other people are thinking, you’ve failed already. Your attitude sounds like you’re making excuses before you even start.. “I don’t go to the gym because it’s full of wankers, jocks and yuppies”.

The reality is your health problems are probably better solved by diet and lifestyle changes anyway… sort that out before you go drinking the kool-aid from a PAYG PT that a few limp wristed bicep curls twice a week will solve all your ailments.

With a nod to postalgeek, who I think has a good point, if you are in Tuggers Active Leisure Centre in Erindale is very good value. It has a 25m indoor pool, lots of machines, large weights gym, seperate stretching area and a wide variety of classess. Personal trainers are also available to help get you started by designing a program for you etc. From my recent visits there, many of us are in the same situation as yourself.

BWobbly said :

I use Anytime Fitness in Tuggeranong. It’s basic, no screaming instructors, very reasonable rates and you can visit whenever you like. I recommend them.

Except for the loud TV’s constantly tuned to ChannelV and the equipment that seems to take weeks to get fixed when broken!

Element’s Fitness on Moore Street in Civic – http://elementsfitnessact.com.au/

Big focus on martial arts there however they do have PT, boot camps, etc. The weights area is relatively small but has everything you really need (you don’t need five different machines for various renditions of bicep curls right?).

Having the martial arts focus means that the people using the weights area are only interested in improving their fitness rather than body building. Plus, the owner has and will kick out douche bags.

No swimming pool however.

You’ve never set foot inside a gym, but you think most are full of yuppies and jocks and you’re prepared to travel across Canberra to avoid them. And you’re concerned about judgemental people. Riiiight.

My suggestion is that you drop your judgement about who goes to gyms and go to one close by, or one that offers programs or classes that will work for you. Then stick your ear plugs in and get to work.

Northside Fitness Centre is very low key with nearby health shops and cafes nearby for after exercise refuelling.

Or ANU Sports Union – lots of equipment and sporting teams and no pressure.

Lake Ginnenderra walking track…

Southern Cross Health Club is the best gym in Canberra. Very few roid freaks, helpful instructors, a large range of equipment and classes and very reasonable rates.

I used to be a member of club lime. It was slightly confrontational but that could be because I’m a rather sensitive person.

Lime Belconnen has a swimming pool. The staff there were fantastic, I met up with a trainer each month (sometimes different, sometimes the same one) and they adjusted my workload according to my availability and needs. They even helped me out with my diet which was also pretty bad at that point. None of this cost any extra than the monthly rate It wasn’t cheap though. I think I was paid $140 sign up then $80 a month and that was the student rate. I stopped my membership after 12 months as I no longer had the time or motivatino to go. The other good thing about club lime is they have locations everywhere.

My friend goes somewhere in Queanbeyan. I am unsure of the name but she loves it there. Really friendly atmosphere and she really gets along with the staff and other clients.

I use Anytime Fitness in Tuggeranong. It’s basic, no screaming instructors, very reasonable rates and you can visit whenever you like. I recommend them.

northside gym in dickson