Gym just for wls patients

[happy days]

Hi guys
Iam seriously thinking of opening a gym for pre and post op wls patients. Just looking for some feedback really on weather you think it would work. If it was a option for you would you use it.

 

[Bellydancer57]

What a fantastic idea. There is no real help for us pre & post op WLS people & I feel we need specialists to work with us.
I went to my hospital's PACE classes with the physio team for 8 weeks support but that's all they give you. My local gym trainers re all about body building coz that's their clientele. No good for me!
My only issue with is it a good business idea would be are there enough clients in your area or near a hospital that would cover the overheads & make a reasonable profit? A business plan would at least sort that out. You could extend it to encourage overweight people even if not contemplating surgery. A joint venture near a private provider may be an idea. Symbiotic relationship & all that. Good luck.

 

[chrisa]

What a fantastic idea. There is no real help for us pre & post op WLS people & I feel we need specialists to work with us.
I went to my hospital's PACE classes with the physio team for 8 weeks support but that's all they give you. My local gym trainers re all about body building coz that's their clientele. No good for me!
My only issue with is it a good business idea would be are there enough clients in your area or near a hospital that would cover the overheads & make a reasonable profit? A business plan would at least sort that out. You could extend it to encourage overweight people even if not contemplating surgery. A joint venture near a private provider may be an idea. Symbiotic relationship & all that. Good luck.

Thats good idea, excellent idea for those who live in or close to that area luckily the gyms or people who have led classes wether it b pilates or boxercise have all dealt with wls patients so have always been most nhelpful and encouraging just the others that attend the sessions think they are a cut above. So i think this venture in the right area would be great and also a good place for encouragement and maintenance for wls patients both post and pre op. I have filled this little survey in on the fb site too so hopefully mor ewill give their opinions to xx

 

[Bella'sBand]

I think it is a great idea and would definitely use one in my area. I have several gyms in my town but I do not use them. But I would feel more comfortable using one full of people in the same position as me. Its not about a regular gym being full of skinny people, I know they are not but for excusive WLS people we are all in the same boat and can feel comfortable and at ease around others in the same position.
Personally I think it is a fab idea

 

[happy days]

I just feel that no body wud judge anyone as we are all going down the same journey. I've put the feelers out to a few places to seek opinions. Could open it up to overweight aswell.
Just have to wait and see how much feedback comes back. Sunderland has one of the biggest waiting lists for wls so think I have a captive audience x

 

[Bellydancer57]

Go for it. But make sure it's a commercial venture. Good luck.

 

[happy days]

Thanks Hun, I have alot of research to do still. But interest seems good so far. Can get qualified in two weeks if I do crash course. Had a business before and hubby has his own business so ok with plans etc. Just need to see what grants I can get to help with rates etc.

 

[Bellydancer57]

Sounds like you have the credentials. I jut see so many friends who have good ideas but don't approach the business part in a correct way.
Maybe approach the NHS or PCT for direction on grants. Also if here seems to be such a waiting list in your area maybe lobbying your MP or local councillors.

 

[LondonIrish]

That is a fab idea. Have you thought about making it a 'size acceptance' gym incorporating 'health at every size'. You could have specific training for the trainers on working with clients who have had WLS as well as working with people either before surgery (to make them healthier for the surgery) as well as people who are fat and just want to be fitter / healthier.

There are a few in the US that are 'size acceptance' gyms where there are no snarky comments allowed and no advertising for weight loss products. It is purely about feeling good in the skin you are in and getting fitter for life.

On a personal note, I would LOVE to join a gym like that. Hurry up and be really successful so you can open a gym near me too!

 

[Bellydancer57]

Hear hear.

 

[brollie]

I thinks it's a brilliant idea and would love somewhere like that to go as I think we could all motivate each other....wish it was nearer to me...good luck. Liz xx

 

[shelleymarie]

I agree I think it's a fab idea and the idea of getting healthy no matter what size you are is so inviting. Everyone there knowing that everyone there has struggled with their weight is really inviting. I would be first to sign up if it was in my area.

 

[Maphillips]

I am part off a program in Rotherham called rio and they have a small gym arms are trying to get funding for a larger one
I think it's a great idea

 

[happy days]

Thanks for everyone's feed back it certainly seems that people would use the service.

 

[Dinda]

I never ever, ever, ever thought i'd join a gym and actually enjoy the exercise - but I have. Gymophobics is a women only gym that is full of all ages and sizes. I've met a few WLS patients there too, as well as a couple who are looking into or waiting for surgery. There is such a friendly feeling of acceptance and friendship there - plus the free fruit, papers and hot drinks (Skinny Latte on tap!)

Your idea sounds a good one, but I'd consider making it openly 'bariatric friendly' as opposed to being exclusively for those on that particular path. I wish you loads of luck with it x

It is amazing to see surgery opening whole new lives and opportunities for us in our brave, bright new worlds!

 

[Karlos]

If you've got 250 grand plus you don't mind losing then go for it.

There simply is not the market or demographic in a single catchment area for WLS patients. Your gym would need hundreds of members to make it viable and you would not get anything like that if you restrict it to WLS patients. Add in the current economic situation and you see open access gyms closing not new ones opening unless they are the big brand gyms. The Olympics will result in a surge of new members who will sign up and go for the obligatory month before they lose interest but it will not be enough to sustain a new gym, and certainly not wLS post oppers.

Gym quality equipment pieces are around £500 each and you'd need plenty to stock a gym. Add in weights and racks and mats etc and your start up costs could be fifty grand for all the new kit people want to see. Add in premises, staff at £!5,000 plus each, insurance, rates, utilities, and you can see where the money goes in the first year. In the second year you have to have kept up the membership replacing the drop outs from year one.

Gym ownership is a tough business in any application, to try to restrict it to just one very specific member type is just not viable. Sorry to rain on your idea, which is a great concept but one that would lose you a shed load of money

 

[Maphillips]

In Rotherham they are setting up a gym for overweight people not just wls people but will be good
It's part of the rio programme they run which is very good

 

[happy days]

If you've got 250 grand plus you don't mind losing then go for it.

There simply is not the market or demographic in a single catchment area for WLS patients. Your gym would need hundreds of members to make it viable and you would not get anything like that if you restrict it to WLS patients. Add in the current economic situation and you see open access gyms closing not new ones opening unless they are the big brand gyms. The Olympics will result in a surge of new members who will sign up and go for the obligatory month before they lose interest but it will not be enough to sustain a new gym, and certainly not wLS post oppers.

Gym quality equipment pieces are around £500 each and you'd need plenty to stock a gym. Add in weights and racks and mats etc and your start up costs could be fifty grand for all the new kit people want to see. Add in premises, staff at £!5,000 plus each, insurance, rates, utilities, and you can see where the money goes in the first year. In the second year you have to have kept up the membership replacing the drop outs from year one.

Gym ownership is a tough business in any application, to try to restrict it to just one very specific member type is just not viable. Sorry to rain on your idea, which is a great concept but one that would lose you a shed load of money

You havnt rained on me at all Karlos, this is the feedback I wanted. Both positive and negative. I've been getting some prices myself over the last few days. Alot of equipment can be hired but as you say it's a lot of risk. Think it was a nice idea while it lasted. Maybe I shud do a bootcamp for instead that way it costs nothing just take them all down the sea front. Lol

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

the feedback ive collected also seems to be about price to the member its self and the location, humans are selfish and will only do things to "benefit them" rather than being loyal to you for setting it up for them, i still think its a good idea in principle but as Karl has said its alot of money to put at risk, maybe look at a trial thing on a smaller basis of hiring a gym for wls people only for say an hour, they get a cut and you get a cut for bringing them business, that can be a taster to see what actual interest there is out there for a service like this, it maybe popular the 1st few sesions as people are always curious/ nosey then get bored, if that happened on a bigger scale in your own gym where would that leave you ? skint it would, ive been thinking lots about this as i still think its a fab idea in principle xx

Liz xx

 

[happy days]

Back to the drawing board liz. In principal the idea will work but I need to find a way round the obstacles. I know of a fitness studio that is closed on a Sunday so thinking I may approach them to hire it from them
On that day. X