Have you heard about Downsize Fitness? What are your thoughts on it? Personally, on the one hand I'd love to go to a gym without being looked at like my fat is contagious but on the other hand it seems like they're really into the idea of people losing weight as a sign of being fit and healthy which I really dislike.
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I’m not a fan. From their “About Us” page on their website:
Downsize Fitness is modeled after hit TV show,“The Biggest Loser,” yet it is structured to be more realistic, both from a financial and time perspective. Every Downsize Fitness member works with a trainer every time they come to the gym. The trainer not only takes them through their workouts, but also holds them accountable for their diet.
Anything modeled after the torture and humiliation of fat people – aka, the Biggest Loser – is no kind of positive environment. It’s capitalizing on the pain and suffering and public shaming fat people, even if it’s just a marketing ploy.
Also, their “success stories” are weight loss stories, a page of (triggering!) before and after photos.
A place like that should not be patronized. When and if a gym comes along that treats it thin and fat patrons equally, and that actively discourages body shaming, I’ll support it. Most of the “fat people gyms” I’ve seen make their money off selling some form of weight loss and are no better than predatory diet companies.
-ArteToLife
