URGENT - kicked out of gym for the way i look!

[sarahm19]

This is sooo crazy. The gym director at my college just sent me an email that said because i look like my body weight is so low, i cant come back to the gym any more.

#1 i have tons of health problems (rsd, fibromyalgia, digestive disorders) which is why im a low weight but i still need to exercise to make the rsd/fibro feel better
#2 i AM steadily gaining weight
#3 they have no legal documentation that says they can kick someone out for weight
#4 why dont they kick everyone on steriods out, i could literally name members but they dont care
#5 IM STILL PAYING

WHAT THE CRAP!

[Nicashel]

Go to your doctor. Get a health statement that it is OK for you to work out. If they deny you then, get a lawyer.

[sarahm19]

my general doctor just left kaiser. my gastro isnt answering his messages.

[mybigbutt]

WOW! Sorry No advice other than above poster's advice. But, man that is just wrong.

[LauraFL]

I have fibro too and exercise really does help tremendously! What is rsd?

Are you sure about #3? I used to go to a gym where there was a member there who obviously had anorexia. (I'm not saying you do.... I'm just saying in her case she had it.) Her bones were sticking out everywhere. She was about 5'6" and maybe weighed 90 lbs. She came in twice a day. Eventually she got so sick she had balance problems and sight problems, had a bad fall and seriously injured herself (which, for a healthy person wouldn't have been such a bad fall,) lost control of her bladder, it just went on and on. It seemed like things kept shutting down on her. She had to stop coming because of her poor health. I don't think the gym would've ever asked her to leave. That's kindof drastic.

What are you going to do?

[suzanna1]

Sarah,

I would call and ask for an appointment to speak with the gym director in person. During your meeting, ask all your questions, explain your situation, and find out what documentation is needed to reinstate your membership.

Like Lowcarbcontender, there was a girl with a pretty obvious eating/exercise disorder at my university gym. I was so worried about her, but never knew how or if I should approach her. So, I am glad there there is some "safety net" for users of your school gym.

I hope it turns out well for you.
Suzanna

[Salty]

Don't waste your time with the gym director...go directly to the head of student affairs or to the president of your college. Maybe the gym director will then use better discretion the next time they feel like they need to make someone's decisions for them. If there isn't anything in what you have to sign to be able to use the gym...they have no right to deny you your priviledges. Isn't it amazing how so many people think it's their business what you do or don't do? This is still a free country, last time I checked...don't know for how long, but it is for now.

[AllieCat0817]

You need to fight that, no matter what. Don't just let it be.

[thediva]

Hi Sarah! Sorry this happened to you today. I have to agree with Suzanna - I would call and have a meeting with the gym director. I would approach it in a professional manner - a fact finding mission, so to speak. I'd ask your questions and find out what you need to be reinstated. I would keep the focus on Your issue - not about others in the gym, on steroids or whatever. If after the meeting, this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, THEN you go up the chain and keep on going til you get what you need! Give the director a chance to verbalize the concern to you one-one-one, and then respond accordingly. Good Luck!

[nonstickpam107]

Did you sign a 'no liability' statement?

Autoimmune disease is the pits..I know...I've got ya by four more of 'em. I had to change the way I was eating when I went to the gym. I HAD to put a little more carbs in there (not a ton...like sweet potatoes warm mixed with cinnamon and cottage cheese around my workouts).

I think they are afraid they may be sued if something happens to you. Wow, you're tall (well, everyone in my family is very short). Tall people always look 'thinner' than what they really are to ME.

Pam

Pam

[Denise85]

I think they can do this. My dh's cousin was kicked out of college. Before that she was kicked out of the gym. She did have anorexia, and they said she needed to get her health in order before going back to school. They didn't know for a fact that she was anorexic, but she was pretty skinny so they put two and two together. I would say get a doctors note when you can and then see them. The school will want proof. They are doing it for your own good. They believe you have a problem and want to make sure you don't make it worse. It could be a liability thing. I'm sorry this is happening to you. They don't know you personally so can only assume things. By providing documentation from doctors that should help.

[christi0469]

I would definately fight this. Hopefully one of your docs will show up soon and give you a note OKing excercise and explaining the situation. I can see the gyms point of view from a liability stadpoint but that should not be an issue if you have a doctors note saying you are fit to excercise. If the gym truly is banning you just because they don't like the way you look- well, that's just so wrong! Personally I think there should be a protocol in place to approach people they suspect of harming themselves and giving them a chance to state their case before summarily banning them. I know that when I was recovering from an Addison's disease crisis I certainly looked anorexic but really needed excercise to build up my muscles again.

[Dantesmama]

Sue them.

[goofball]

Do you go to a state school or a private school?

Although there are exceptions to this rule, the constitution's protection of individual liberties applies only to government action (state schools) and not private conduct.

[Emily Rose]

They wouldn't tell a fat kid they weren't allowed in the cafeteria.

Why is it okay to tell a skinny kid they can't work out? That's absurd. It'd be different if the director requested a doctor's statement to protect himself from liability before allowing you back if he was really that concerned.

I'm all about avoiding confrontation, especially with ignorant people. My 2 cents is that I think you should get a doctor's statement outlining your ailments and your fitness, desire and necessity to stay active and present him with that. THen if he refuses, go up the chain. But you should make student affairs aware of the situation one way or the other.

Good luck.

[rsrmjs]

Sarah

Does your school have a department for Services for Students with Disabilities? The university that I work for does. Try to get them involved, after you get a statement from a doctor saying that you need to excerise to improve your physical condition.

I joined a gym on my dr's advice after having mono and at that time my weight was down to 89 lbs ( I'm 5'5") no one ever said that I was too thin belong to the gym. I even worked there for a bit as a lifeguard.

Hope this all works out for you.

Becky

[sarahm19]

Originally Posted by goofball

Do you go to a state school or a private school?

Although there are exceptions to this rule, the constitution's protection of individual liberties applies only to government action (state schools) and not private conduct.

sorry, could you explain that in dumb-peoples terms? thanks!

i go to a state school: san diego state university

[sarahm19]

Originally Posted by Emily Rose

They wouldn't tell a fat kid they weren't allowed in the cafeteria.

hahah yea or as my boyfriend said, they dont kick all the people out who are bigorexic and doing steriods. They wouldnt kick a fat person out even though they could have a heart attack...

[sarahm19]

Originally Posted by rsrmjs

Sarah

Does your school have a department for Services for Students with Disabilities? The university that I work for does. Try to get them involved, after you get a statement from a doctor saying that you need to excerise to improve your physical condition.

I joined a gym on my dr's advice after having mono and at that time my weight was down to 89 lbs ( I'm 5'5") no one ever said that I was too thin belong to the gym. I even worked there for a bit as a lifeguard.

Hope this all works out for you.

Becky

yes, we have disables student services and i used to be registered with them. I didnt renew my disability status cause i didnt feel i need the services anymore. Im pretty sure i remember they get rid of all the old paperwork but i will look into it. Right now ive just gotta see about finding a doc who believes me. I dont have a doctor treating my RSD or Fibro anymore, but they do have it on file, all the old paperwork and diagnosises. Hopefully someone would believe me? Ill keep ya posted.

[LaJavaBleue]

While it is unfair, it does sound like they are concerned about your physical health....they aren't banning you out of malice. On the other side of the coin, I have known people to be anorexic and exercise-bulimics (an obsession where the person tries to work off every calorie they consume) and collapse at gyms and people wondered why the administrators didn't take more responsibility.
Everything should be straightened out once you have the doctor's note.....I would be concerned if they were denying you after that.

Good luck to you!

[teachlady]

I'm sure if you get a doctor's note, they'll reinstate you and you'll have full use of the gym again. If you've been diagnosed with both fibromyalgia and rsd and other problems, that will definitely be on record (wonderful world of computers) and even if you get a new doctor, they shouldn't have any problem finding those records, especially because you're not that old, so the records can't be that old!

I'm curious, how long have you been working out at that gym? Have you always been low weight? If so, why are they suddenly concerned, especially if you said you are steadily gaining weight? Also, do you go more than once a day, or do you work out for extended periods of time? Just curious what alerted them in the first place. I've been to lots of gyms in my time, and there are always LOTS of skinny people there!

Weird, I just read an article about this...about how college gyms, their students services, etc. are trying to become more aware and more helpful (for lack of a better word) to their students' health. The article reported that eating disorders are at an all time staggering high at colleges right now and college campuses are becoming more aware of their responsibilities to their students' health and safety and in some cases, also their liabilities in certain instances; like their gyms, their dorms, etc.

In this same article, the same exact thing happened to a college girl they'd interviewed. She was working out in her college gym more than once a day, and finally they told her she couldn't work out there anymore because they were concerned for her health. Turns out, she actually was suffering from anorexia and, although it didn't stop her from exercising (anyone can walk or jog or any number of other activities outside in the free world), because she didn't work out there anymore, the gym was no longer considered liable if something did happen to her.

I'm going to go and try to find that article that I read about all this and if I find it, I'll post it here....

[tiggerr]

How much do you weigh then.
I've seen people at the gym that are 5-7 and maybe 100 pounds wet.

Hey I was 5-6 and 118, is it illegal now to be thin?

[teachlady]

Well, this isn't the exact article I read (darn it, my obsessively clean hub threw out my stack of mags, and I'm sure it was in there!), but it basically says the same thing, except it doesn't have the 'personal touch' of the article I read with actual interviews of people that this has happened to.

Here it is:
http://www.fitnessmanagement.com/FM/...vfeat0704.html

[teachlady]

Oops, forgot to mention in last post, that article is from an industry magazine for fitness clubs, gyms, etc......so it's written to inform the owners and employers of the places.

[emijan]

Sara, first of all God bless you for your sig. I have shared it with friends and they love it.
Second, you know that when you porclaim the truth the devil will try to shut you up.
Third (and I haven't read everything people wrote) I say call the person incharge and say "who should my lawyer contact" make sure they know you need a name and #. It works!
I will pray for justice for you. Tali

[Denise85]

Originally Posted by Dantesmama

Sue them.

I think that's going way too far. To me they are covering their own butts. If they think she is under weight then they have a legitimate concern. I don't get why people are so quick to sue. I would just be happy to get a doctors note and let them clear me to work out there again. It's nice to know they are showing concern for a potential problem (In their eyes). ED's are so common these days.

[goofball]

Originally Posted by sarahm19

i go to a state school: san diego state university

Basically, the fact that you go to a state school gives them less leeway to discriminate. This is because they recieve government funds to run the school so they can't discriminate based on categories such as sex, age, religion, or in your case, body type. Everyone, at least in theory, should be able to use the gym because the government paid for the gym.

When private schools discrimate against certain classes of people, they can often get away with it because they don't receive government funds.

[goofball]

Yikes...my computer froze so I hit send several times and posted multiple times in the process. Sorry guys...