I went in to inquire about memberships, and ended up getting a very affordable price. First couple of times I worked out alone, then was approached by the manager who suggested I get a personal fitness program. I agreed to an expensive program thinking it would be a customized program, tailored for me - isn't that what most personal trainers do? He did inform me that I might be working with different trainers, but I don't have a problem with that if they are qualifies.
I have a hectic work schedule, but we set up an appointment for the first session. When I arrived, 'Carl' the manager had to be called to the front of the gym, and seemed unprepared to work with me. He turned me over to a kid and told him to measure me.in the most blase manner possible, the kid ran me through some 'fitness tests' and took some measurements.
I am 57 years old, but I'm pretty athletic and in relatively good shape. I had informed Carl that my goal was to be a bit more toned. He bragged that he could get my body fat down to a certain amount, and take inches off my entire body. When I later looked up the body fat index vs age appropriate, the number he had given me was equal to that of a 21 yr old.
At no time did Carl or anyone else at LA Fitness take a health history, ask any questions about injuries, illnesses or anything you might expect a professional to do.instead, Carl recommended that I immediately go out and buy some health supplements that would cleanse my system. I suffer from severe diverticulosis, which Carl had never heard of. I suppose that might not be considered unusual, but as a non-medical professional I think it's dangerous that he is prescribing supplements that could be harmful to someone's health. Fortunately I am self educated enough to know the difference but some poor unsuspecting person might not recognize the danger.
I also have two metal rods fused to my spine, with some limitations on my mobility. Again, I had to volunteer this information as I felt it was mandatory to designing a fitness program.
Right from the start, I was immediately put into boot camp, and quickly realized I had been tossed into a generic program for several individuals working out at the same time, all of various ages, weight and fitness levels. I expect some soreness with any new routine, but I literally couldn't stand up straight for a week after each session.
Each time I came in for my 'appointment', I was given to different kids that looked like they were of college age, all of which looked bored out of their minds, staring off in another direction or checking their cell phones while counting off the repetitions. One even cut my session by 20 minutes because he 'had a date'.
I told Carl on several different occasions that none of this was working for me, and specifically told him I was concerned that this wasn't the right program for me. Each time he would say something condescending and he was way too familiar with me in his mannerisms and manner of speech, which made me even more uncomfortable. Highly inappropriate.
I know of two different trainers who quit because they said he was a liar and a cheat. That's hearsay, but fits the profile. I complained to the corporate office in CA, but they took no action. I did get one phone call from Carl, with a mumbled message about coming in and working with some of their 'excellent' trainers. I suspect corporate took no action due to the fact that he's signing up tons of new members then pawning him off on incompetent kids who have had the title of 'personal trainer' bestowed upon them.
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