Looking for feedback regarding a gym start up I am thinking about.

[elshaffer 0]

Hello!

I was banded back in June of 2011 and am considering opening up a gym that would cater to weight loss surgery patients. I was hoping to get some feedback about an idea I have for a gym. You can reply here or you can email me at isoneedisagenix@gmail.com.

My idea is to create a gym catered to weight loss patients and those individuals who need more assistance than what a typical gym membership may provide. A membership at my gym would give clients access to individual and class (class size of 20 or less) run training sessions, nutrition counseling and access to a licensed counselor to handle the mental component of weight loss and what causes people to gain weight in the first place. My belief is that as we undergo change from the surgery, our mindset isn't often as prepared to make the changes as we hope. This can cause individuals to have a difficult time losing weight, or even more likely, gain the weight back that an individual originally lost. I've talked with and worked with countless people in this same situation over the last three years and have personally experienced this as well. A counselor could provide that missing component and would work closely with the nutritionist and the training specialist on staff to ensure (as much as possible) that a client would experience weight loss with lasting success.

If you had something like this available to you, would you be interested in using the service? What would you pay as a monthly membership fee to have access to a service like the one I have described?

Any and all feedback is appreciated. I thank you for your time and consideration in advance.

Be Well,

Erenne Shaffer

[Ginger Snaps 1,323]

It's an interesting idea but you'd obviously have to do research into your target population in the area where you are.

I've kind of pieced together my own team like you're talking about. My gym is affiliated with the hospital where I'm having surgery done. They have lots of nutrition and healthy eating classes and seminars on other health related topics. My WLS support group also meets there. They have nutritionists there you can meet with who are trained in bariatric nutrition, too. There are fitness classes for all levels with special classes for arthritis, MS patients, etc. I bought sessions with a personal trainer and have been meeting with her once a week. She isn't specially trained in exercising after bariatric surgery but she told me she would research some to help make sure I'm staying safe. My doctor gave me the ok to work with her after 4 weeks.

So, my gym offers a lot of the services you are describing -- not always specifically for bariatric patients but in a well-controlled medically supervised program.

Of course, it's all pay as you go -- training and nutrition appointments are extra -- some of the seminars and classes are free and some are a small fee ($5-10).

[greensleeve 457]

I think it's a great idea!

[LumpySpacePrincess 594]

I think hiring a full-time therapist might be a bit too expensive at first. If you want a psychologist who actually specializes in helping people with eating disorders and overeating you'll want someone with a PhD and that can get costly. What I would suggest (and you'd have to check the regulations in your state) is to sort of rent office space within the gym for an eating disorder specialist that would be affiliated with your establishment but bills separately. That way they can charge clients what they need to and you don't have to worry about dealing with insurance. Another idea would be to pay a couple of therapists to come in and run group therapy a few times per week for different issues such as body image, overeating, handling relationship stress, etc. The pay for hiring a therapist for one group session would be considerably less than having one around all the time, and they can always be approached by your clients if anyone wants individual counseling.

Hope this helps!

[Fiddleman 4,376]

I have seen this sort of program with large corporations to help overweight people get healthy (not just WLS folks). For example, Microsoft had a program like this through their health plan that was provided for employee or spouse, if they met the pre qualifications (my sister in law did the program). The program is catered for each individual and includes dietician, psychologist and gym trainer with scheduled appointments every week for 1 year. I am not sure of the cost, but imagine it can be quite expensive (e.g. 1000s of dollars) if an individual had to self pay it. Unfortunately, in the end, my sister in law did not succeed with it even though the plan was customized specifically to her as an individual. Regardless, I think it is a great idea if an individual can commit to it completely.

Edited June 4, 2014 by Fiddleman

[aroundhky 1,174]

Sounds good in theory and may end up being good or even great in application. As Ginger stated, I think some market research would be one of the first things to do, if not THE first...which your post shows that you're heading that direction. I'm not sure what the demographic is for WLS patients, but my guess is that it's growing and may be even more appealing down the road as perhaps the number of people who have had these surgeries increases. Alex here on this site may be able to give some useful information about this or at least point you in the right direction.

I may be chiming in from way out there with this one and there may be a zero chance in haites here. But I'm wondering if some insurance companies could be brought in with all of this. I can't believe I'm actually promoting insurance companies, but some may be willing to approve this as follow up and long term treatment for patients after the surgery. They obviously know the benefits of exercise as it pertains to our health, so maybe this could be something like a co-pay for membership on the patient's part. Insurance companies may also be helpful as far as giving out some demographic information in regards to the market research component....if they give out that kind of info.

"Elshaffer", sure can't hurt to follow up with this idea as I'm sure there would be some demand for WLS patients to have a place of common ground to meet and exercise alongside with other WLS patients. Like the Planet Fitness approach....a "judgment free zone". But just like PF, just excluding other "types" implies all kinds of judgment....maybe more of a "selective judgment free zone". I'm really interested now, so please let us know if you go further with this idea....sounds like it has potential.

Edited June 6, 2014 by aroundhky

[labwalker 1,177]

Planet Fitness charges ten bucks a month, and has free training sessions.... the good thing is there is NO pressure, and it is a pleasant and clean place.

A lot of the more expensive gyms have high pressure sales pitches for personal trainers. I'd research the issue carefully. My weightloss clinic reccommended a few gyms, but they were to far and a bit out of my budget.

The biggest thing with gyms is being motivated to go on a regular basis and listen to the trainers. A good one should be able to guide you.

[greensleeve 457]

I'm also wondering if the YMCA couldn't be brought into it. I don't know how you would make money at it though. They have a program for cancer survivors, you would think they could have programs for people who had WLS too.