reality bites, The Gym RTÉ Two, Monday 11 March 2013, 9.30pm

TheBellJar

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

that's obvious at this stage....what i was saying is in a country with such high suicide rates...what's wrong with people believing going to the gym is helping them?

+1, because it does.

If anything this was the best thing to come across in the programme, whether it was overdone/cheesy/annoying or not; something as small as committing a weekly step class could make a massive difference to someone in that situation.
If I’ve learned anything this past year it’s that even a tiny bit of support goes a long way. What seems pointless or irrelevant to you could be a massive achievement to someone else.

Scuba Ste

TheBellJar wrote: »

+1, because it does.

If anything this was the best thing to come across in the programme, whether it was overdone/cheesy/annoying or not; something as small as committing a weekly step class could make a massive difference to someone in that situation.
If I’ve learned anything this past year it’s that even a tiny bit of support goes a long way. What seems pointless or irrelevant to you could be a massive achievement to someone else.

The only criticism I would have is that if the focus was on suicide and mental health it was handled poorly. I think bit more than "I was depressed but now I'm not because I go to the gym" was needed.

Obviously exercise helps with mental health issues but I got the impression this was an afterthought by the producers. It didn't seem to know what story it wanted to get across and was a bit unfocussed as a result.

Will Heffernan

TheBellJar wrote: »

+1, because it does.

If anything this was the best thing to come across in the programme, whether it was overdone/cheesy/annoying or not; something as small as committing a weekly step class could make a massive difference to someone in that situation.
If I’ve learned anything this past year it’s that even a tiny bit of support goes a long way. What seems pointless or irrelevant to you could be a massive achievement to someone else.

Point well made....mine that is...i.e you made it without people calling you a wanker.

What I saw in the program were trainers and trainees from vastly different backgrounds participating and enjoying vastly different exercise types and modalities. A whole heap of people expressing how exercise and the gym had had and continues to have a positive impact on their lives.

Not everyone wants to do strongman, not everyone wants to do circuit classes, not everyone wants to do aerobics/step classes and not everyone wants to have a personal trainer but how if you are possibly even remotely interested in the area of health and fitness can other posters here be taking a dump on this program and its participants? I just don't get it.

Will Heffernan

Gummy Panda wrote: »

In fairness, a bit of narcissism is needed when a model or bodybuilder.

Do you think it is just models and bodybuilders?

Do you think all the amateur cyclists here shave their legs because they want to make sure they don't get folliculitis from the hours of massage they get every week? That its because they want to reduce their chance of infection when they 'step off' in a criterion? Do you think every guy that wears a singlet to the gym is doing so to reduce his chances of suffering from heat exposure in the gym or to reduce resistance at the shoulder joint when benching. Do you think the girls at the gym are wearing shoes that match their outfits because it improves performance? That they are wearing lycra because it is a superior training material. Give me a break. The point I was trying to make before and what seems lost on people is the sheer hypocrisy of people congratulating someone who pays 250 euro for a pair of Adidas weightlifting shoes to wear in the gym and thinks someone that wears 'skinny jeans' in narcissistic? I could go on and on with the affectations that abound on this site but as with everything else...I'd be wasting my breath. That isn't directed at you....just boards.ie in general....some people get it....the majority don't.

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Haven't watched the show yet. Too busy watching the surprising adventures of Sir Digby Chicken Caesaar

Don't know the program but the one you missed is one to check out if you are interested in the area of health and fitness in Ireland.

Will Heffernan

crusher000 wrote: »

The program gave more of reflection of different types of fitness and fitness programs people can take part in. They used the gym instructors personaliities to show their motivations for being in the industry and the different level of people they cather for. The gym in Limerick had your slim women to your heavy bloke in a Liverpool Jersey. The Strong man gym had a guy studying for exams to the body builders and women in the club. The family gym had 60 year old women to house wives and men in their club. Wheter it inspired people to get active or not is down to peoples own personalilties. It may have inspired some people. It was easy viewing without challenging the brain too much. All in all OK TV , didn't set the world on fire but didn't merit turning off.

I'd agree with all of that...it won't be winning any awards but if I was interested in the Irish health and fitness industry I'd rather see it on TV than not.

Will Heffernan

ferike1 wrote: »

To be fair I'd say a lot of the people slagging Darragh would kill to have a body like him. Not a week goes by when a new 'how do I get a six-pack' thread pops up here.

...and bingo.

Of course all the hardcore posters here criticising him are ONLY training to improve their health and or attempting to reach performance goals.

None of them are doing gunz or bench for any other reason. Darragh's vain and everyone else is just training and dieting to improve their health.

I don't need to post here to make this forum look pathetic....posters do that all for themselves.

...again...not directed at you ferike1....just stating the blindingly obvious.

He might be vain pleb (haven't seen the show, can't comment) but he has put in the graft and enjoying the fruits of his work.

The only reason that Darragh is considered 'vain' is because he's actually HONEST and UP FRONT about what he's doing it and why he's doing it. The majority of people posting on this board are just lying to themselves and everyone else...it just annoys the piss out of me.

Will Heffernan

GoldCobra wrote: »

People seem to be going mad here, and way too harsh against this show. I watched it and thought it was a good show, entertaining. People are acting like it somehow personally offended them.

Again....my point exactly.

Zamboni

It is just the retarded inward bitter Irish perspective.

If you are good looking, you're a wankur.
If you are successful, you're a wankur.
If you are enjoying your life, you're a wankur.

TheBellJar

Scuba Ste wrote: »

The only criticism I would have is that if the focus was on suicide and mental health it was handled poorly. I think bit more than "I was depressed but now I'm not because I go to the gym" was needed.

Obviously exercise helps with mental health issues but I got the impression this was an afterthought by the producers. It didn't seem to know what story it wanted to get across and was a bit unfocussed as a result.

I get what you're saying, but it wasn't a programme about mental health; it simply recognised it as a factor at play, which can only be a good thing.

Will Heffernan

Dubdude wrote: »

Why bother coming back with replies all the time?

I haven't for ages. I just read and laugh and laugh and laugh. If you look at my post history you'll see where I gave up...where the patheticness of boards finally wore me down and I ceased posting here with regard to helping people and believe me I will never ever offer anyone here on boards advice or help ever again...THIS however is different...this is just a case of the idiocy of particular boards posters having me reach critical mass and me feeling that I should just point it out for **** and giggles and because it had me snorting with laughter.

You obviously don't like boards.ie/boards members so why not leave everyone to have there own opinion instead of trying to convert them to your way of thinking.

1. I do like boards. It is a great site and that's why I spend some of my free time lurking.
2. I do like lots of boards members.
3. I never try to convert anyone because a) I don't give a crap what any of them think and b) I couldn't be bothered.
4. These kinds of comments like the one you've made here always make me laugh...people here post absolutely terrible advice and offer extraordinarily detrimental training opinion and that's fine but I am supposed to justify offering mine?

The only thing I take from your posts when I read them is what a w***er,

Well at least you got something out of boards.

sure hey I'm an idiot and haven't a clue what I'm talking about anyway

That is absolutely spot on and completely truthful at least

but hey thats my opinion and like everyone else on here, we're all entitled to an opinion.

Yes, and maybe I'm entitled to my opinion if even you guys can express your idiotic ones?

I am not stopping anyone from commenting....but by extension I should be free to point out when those opinions are wrong, idiotic or hypocritical surely?

Gummy Panda

Will Heffernan wrote: »

Don't know the program but the one you missed is one to check out if you are interested in the area of health and fitness in Ireland.

I'll have a look tonight. This banter has got me intrigued.

arse..biscuits

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

what's wrong with that?

Nothing. It just seemed to focus on people's past if they had a sad story.

TheBellJar

arse..biscuits wrote: »

Nothing. It just seemed to focus on people's past if they had a sad story.

A 'sad story'? That's just not on.

Everyone has their sh1t and these people had the balls to speak about theirs on national TV, with the hope of encouraging others to get fit, healthy and perhaps overcome theirs. Nothing 'sad' about that.

Will Heffernan

TheBellJar wrote: »

A 'sad story'? That's just not on.

Everyone has their sh1t and these people had the balls to speak about theirs on national TV, with the hope of encouraging others to get fit, healthy and perhaps overcome theirs. Nothing 'sad' about that.

Someone gets it.

People here taking the piss out of the guy...I read some of the comments and just shook my head in despair...like I said if I actually took the time to explain to some people how retarded they were here I'd have to quit my job.

arse..biscuits

TheBellJar wrote: »

A 'sad story'? That's just not on.

Everyone has their sh1t and these people had the balls to speak about theirs on national TV, with the hope of encouraging others to get fit, healthy and perhaps overcome theirs. Nothing 'sad' about that.

I think you're taking me wrong on this. I thought, for a program about gyms, there was a lot of time spent focusing on people's depression.

Eustace Fargo

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I disagree, it would be about people who go to the gym but which much needed insight and analysis. Yourself, Will and others have a different opinion obviously - but I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for high standards from publicly funded television.

Yes, but that shouldn't preclude other types of actual documentaries being made that cater to the other half of license-fee payers, like myself, who watch different types of programmes to you and equally have the right to be entertained and given insight. What you're describing is a half-hour/hour magazine programme like Off the Rails or Operation Transformation, not a documentary driven by characters rather than experts, which is how the programme was advertised, maybe you missed that in the ads. A gym is as good a place as any to make a programme like that and doesn't need to be just about the mechanics of such a place but why people go. It could've been set at a race-course or stables but not strictly about horses - it'd be the same thing.

If anything we get far too many publicly funded, ratings-chasing, vacuous lifestyle programmes on RTE selling us a way of living when they should be 'documenting' Irish culture and sub-cultures - RTE's primary remit which they seem to have forgotten - rather than feeding us a glut of TV3 style commercial lifestyle programmes that they've had no problem shoving down our throats for the past decade. It may not have been the deepest of programmes but at least it was trying to show something of modern Irish life.

The boom is over.

crusher000

Eustace Fargo wrote: »

Yes, but that shouldn't preclude other types of actual documentaries being made that cater to the other half of license-fee payers, like myself, who watch different types of programmes to you and equally have the right to be entertained and given insight. What you're describing is a half-hour/hour magazine programme like Off the Rails or Operation Transformation, not a documentary driven by characters rather than experts, which is how the programme was advertised, maybe you missed that in the ads. A gym is as good a place as any to make a programme like that.

If anything we have far too many vacuous lifestyle programmes on RTE selling us a way of living when they should be 'documenting' Irish culture and sub-cultures - which is primarily RTE's remit - rather than feeding us a glut of TV3 style commercial lifestyle programmes that they've had no problem shoving down our throats for the past decade. It may not have been the deepest of programmes but at least it was trying to show something of modern Irish life.

The boom is over.

Agree here 100%. It was based on four main characters, What they put in, what they get out, how good they feel making other people feel good about themselves. To tell you the truth I wish I could earn a living out of something I was passionate about like these people and enjoy it so much. If only I had the yonks to take the step.

Eustace Fargo

crusher000 wrote: »

Agree here 100%. It was based on four main characters, What they put in, what they get out, how good they feel making other people feel good about themselves. To tell you the truth I wish I could earn a living out of something I was passionate about like these people and enjoy it so much. If only I had the yonks to take the step.

I feel people are going in wanting programmes they would make that fit into their 'ideal' lives rather than what was advertised. If it's not what you want, don't watch it, which many seemed to have done regardless. RTE have been very much neglecting their duty in recent years in terms of public service by giving us yet more crap about how we should get our house done or what we should eat and how we should live; programmes filled with dubious focus-group stats, when they should be giving us programmes about actual humans doing things rather than cartoon hipsters and boomers.

ferike1

Hanley wrote: »

For the amount you guys are laughing... I guarantee all these guys benefit financially as a result of the exposure and are happy to take the slagging on the chin.

I haven't watched, and won't be watching the show. It sounds abysmal.

Lol the only reason it sounds abysmal to you is because it wasn't your gym that was picked for the program! :pac::D

LuckyLloyd

Eustace Fargo wrote: »

Yes, but that shouldn't preclude other types of actual documentaries being made that cater to the other half of license-fee payers, like myself, who watch different types of programmes to you and equally have the right to be entertained and given insight. What you're describing is a half-hour/hour magazine programme like Off the Rails or Operation Transformation, not a documentary driven by characters rather than experts, which is how the programme was advertised, maybe you missed that in the ads. A gym is as good a place as any to make a programme like that and doesn't need to be just about the mechanics of such a place but why people go. It could've been set at a race-course or stables but not strictly about horses - it'd be the same thing.

If anything we get far too many publicly funded, ratings-chasing, vacuous lifestyle programmes on RTE selling us a way of living when they should be 'documenting' Irish culture and sub-cultures - RTE's primary remit which they seem to have forgotten - rather than feeding us a glut of TV3 style commercial lifestyle programmes that they've had no problem shoving down our throats for the past decade. It may not have been the deepest of programmes but at least it was trying to show something of modern Irish life.

The boom is over.

The point is that show didn't give any real insight as to why people in general go to the gym. And as for documenting Irish culture, if it comes to exercise culture you can't really defend a show that focussed on places that would be a minority in Irish gym going culture? The majority of the market is not what was portrayed in the show.

Probably going to have to agree to disagree here ultimately, the show got made and put on air so in that sense it is good enough, which is a dreadful shame.

Stench Blossoms

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

The majority of the market is not what was portrayed in the show.

What do you think the majority of the market is?

LuckyLloyd

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

What do you think the majority of the market is?

Commercial gyms.

Stench Blossoms

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Commercial gyms.

Yeh that's what I thought. But I'm not sure how that would have worked in a show like this. Just pick a regular gym go'er and ask them why they go etc?

I think the show was good for what it was. Some bits were cringy alright but you'll get that with everything.

Eustace Fargo

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

The point is that show didn't give any real insight as to why people in general go to the gym. And as for documenting Irish culture, if it comes to exercise culture you can't really defend a show that focussed on places that would be a minority in Irish gym going culture? The majority of the market is not what was portrayed in the show.

Probably going to have to agree to disagree here ultimately, the show got made and put on air so in that sense it is good enough, which is a dreadful shame.

As fas as I could see, it wasn't supposed to give an idea why people generally go to the gym, which is kind of pointless anyway, there in no general reason other than the obvious, surface reasons: losing weight, getting fit etc. You don't need a docmentary to tell you that; that's what the internet is for and it's quicker.

Personal stories and the miinority view within sub-cultures give you a sense of what is going on in the lives of people in the arse-holes of nowhere and the cities, why is that not important too? This is how most documentaries work. Focus groups and opinion graphics are boring and wouldn't sustain an hour.

Again, I say the programme was about the characters and the environments that brought them together not the mechanics of the exercises. Then it would be a different programme.

What was important was they told their story in their own voices without 'expert' opinion.

JJayoo

Surprised at all the negativity. I thought it was a great show and helped portray the "gym" as a place for everyone. I mean if the entire show had been based on the strongman gym everyone on Boards would probably be singing it's praises, but other 99% of tv viewers would be switching off. For feck sake it was on RTE.

COH

I didn't see one single person doing stronglifts, not a gallon of milk in sight and not one single person on the entire show was directed towards the nutrition stickies on boards - therefore the entire thing was a farce

Gummy Panda

Well I just watched it and I actually liked it. I was expecting the daragh fella to be cringe worthy like that bodybuilder of come dine with me who brought protein shakes to the dinners due to posts here but he seemed like a down to earth lad. I expected him to be prancing around in skinny jeans doing bicep poses but none of that came across.

I did like the strongman stuff and would like to see something just about that gym training someone for an event but that's personal taste.

Overall better then the bodybuilding one that TV3 did.

discus

Oi give over you lot, just cause St Will of Gyms has dished it out doesn't mean this forum has to 180!

I didn't watch it but I still think it was ****. Now there's an informed opinion.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

COH wrote: »

I didn't see one single person doing stronglifts, not a gallon of milk in sight and not one single person on the entire show was directed towards the nutrition stickies on boards - therefore the entire thing was a farce

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha :D:D:D:D brilliant.

chriity139

To be honest I found the show a bit boring but as said prior if the programme was just about hardcore gym nuts alot of the population wouldnt be interested but saying this I will watch it again next week

reality25

Will Heffernan wrote: »

What the hell is wrong with you people? Actually...don't answer that because I already know the answer and most of you wouldn't even understand what I was talking about if I told you.

The posts in this thread do more illustrate the problems in the Irish health and fitness industry than this program supposedly does if you were to take any notice of the majority of comments here.

I read every post in this thread and had formed an idea of what I 'thought' the program would be like based on 'commentary' here and then decided to watch it for myself.

The program was fantastic and confirmed what I have known for a long time...1. Many of the posters here are complete idiots. 2. Many of the posters here do not have a clue what they are talking about. 3. The 'opinion' here on this forum is just about as worthwhile as most of the 'advice' on training.

Firstly, it was a documentary exploring the daily goings-on at four Irish gyms, meeting the people who choose to workout at the facilities.

What bit of that 'brief' or 'synopsis' did they not adhere to? The program was exactly what it said on the can...much of the criticism here seems to relate to the fact that it wasn't a completely different program all together.

So they set out to make a documentary exploring the daily goings-on at four Irish gyms, meeting the people who choose to workout at the facilities and did exactly that but the program was 'cringe worthy' and failed to deal with the 'misconceptions' of the gym blah blah blah.

The program showed 4 different types of gyms....in no particular order...the strongman style gym....what I saw was a great facility with good coaching and encouragement from the staff and someone who lead by example and a bunch of guys and girls...young and old having a great time training and the general message that 'the gym and training changed their lives for the better'.

Then the father and daughter instructors....how many people were in that single class? My guess is 70+. 70+ people all training and getting some much needed exercise....yeah, but he's '****' and 'annoying'....well it seems at least 70+ people disagree with some of you. A father in daughter in great shape who love their job...with a couple of basketball courts full of people having a great time and getting some exercise...yeah, but according to some of you...that's **** as well.

Then the lads with the gym in town....focused on a guy who's in better shape than anyone who posted a negative comment in this thread stating how much he loves and enjoys his job looking after a hugely diverse membership group in a busy city gym...the message I got here was once again....like all the others the program focused on....the gym and training in general is fantastic and had changed their lives or made their lives better.

Then the Carrick gym....again...someone who loves their job with a gym full of a diverse range of people who appear to be having a fantastic time training and getting some exercise.

So they set out to make a documentary exploring the daily goings-on at four Irish gyms, meeting the people who choose to workout at the facilities and did exactly that.

They paint a picture of a diverse and varied population enjoying many different styles of exercise in a wide variety of facilities throughout the country and all the majority of posters here want to do is come and take a monumental dump on the program and participants.

Bravo boards Health & Fitness forum posters...once again all many of you have illustrated is how pathetic you are. It was an incredibly positive program that focused on a bunch of successful trainers/coaches/owners providing positive health and fitness to a huge number of people. Well done.

p.s: Hanley...don't listen to what any of idiots here have said....watch it for yourself. It was a good little program that did exactly what it set out to do and for anyone in or involved in the industry it was definitely worth a viewing.

Shouldn't you be looking for a boards.au to cry on instead?

swiftman wrote: »

oh dear, this could get bad for poor 11posts bladed, take it easy on him will

Yeah, intelligence is always related to post counts, how could I have forgotten.............tw@t

Will Heffernan wrote: »

Yes, I am easily pleased. What I was looking for was for the program to be what was described...and it was. It was exactly what it said it would be.

You actually don't know what you are talking about. Like I said...I could tell you what your problem is but I'd be wasting my breath.

I am not sure what you last sentence even means...but I'm sure it was very cutting and if I understood it would totally cut me to the bone emotionally.


The fact that you even mention 'the front row' like it actually means something just shows you don't have a clue what you are talking about...where you are placed in those classes makes little or no difference especially for experienced participants.

High volume low entry cost....LOL. There was probably actually closer to 80 or more when I looked at it again...what I saw was a diverse range of people enjoying themselves doing some exercise. Lets look at it in a couple of different ways...neither of which program accurately reflect reality but just for arguments sake....what do people pay for a casual visit to a class? 10 euro, 15 euro or more? Say we take the middle figure...1,200 euro? Generated in an hour by a couple of people? I think I'd take that all day. At the opposite end of that...if they are ALL members what has it 'cost' the facility to service 70-80 members? I can not see any possible downside for the facility, its management, the participants or the instructors.

As for the whistling that everyone is pissing and moaning about....you know why he was whistling....I'll take a wild guess...it's because he's conducting a class covering a full sports hall the size of two basketball courts with 70 or more participants some of whom due to the fact that his and his daughters classes are so incredibly successful are over 25 metres away from him...that'd be my guess.

Do I want to do his classes? No. Then I don't 'strongman' training. I'd never use a personal trainer and I'd never do a circuit class. That aside I am also not that pig ignorant to think that what I do is the BEST and that EVERYONE in the world should be doing what I do and if they don't they should be looked down upon.


It was a throwaway line...a single line and he's be castigated for it endlessly in this thread. You've said a dozen retarded things in this thread and everyone is laughing at you as well but here I am still willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I think it is HILARIOUS the amount of hypocrisy in this thread and on this board. The number of people who do crossfit for example that wear 'cool' crossfit shirts, the powerlifters that wear their 'cool' powerlifting emblazoned hoodies, the girls that train wearing their 'strong is the new skinny' blah blah blah stuff...I do bjj and I've a heap of Robert Drysdale shirts, I have had a long association with EliteFTS and I've gear that was given to me as gift by Dave and Jim years ago....I wear it because I identify with it....like all the other types of people I've mentioned here....as well as the ones that I haven't...like the cyclists, the runners, the rugby guys, the GAA players in the gym in their club and county jerseys. YOU ALL DO IT. You are all saying 'I am the gym. The gym is me.' You are either just too retarded or too ignorant to recognise it. You are all saying it just not verbalising it. Everybody who bagged Darragh in this thread should of taken a good hard look at themselves before they commented. Including yourself and your whole tough guy internet thing you have going on and the know it all and look down your nose at everything and everyone attitude.


Stunning insight.

Here's a nugget for you although probably wasted on your apparently ill-informed notions on fitness. Mr Model claims, on his site, that he can have any lad achieve a cover model body in just 7wks, significantly reducing BF % and increasing muscle mass.

Now, any decent fitness professional will tell you that this is impossible. If someone has already trained themselves to within 7wks of attaining said physic, then yes (discount the stupid hypertrophy claims and BF reduction), from scratch, not a hope in hell. This would be a major achievement on using the most hardcore PEDs (trenbolone, ECA, etc etc) and only by someone with experience and a solid training back ground.

Will Heffernan wrote: »

It wasn't my favourite program of the week either but the seemingly endless amounts of Irish negativity and self loathing on this board in general and in this thread in particular is just phenomenal.

I read all the comments and had an idea of how bad the program could of been in light of the comments....it just wasn't anything like that.

As for the guy in the skinny jeans...so what? What's he supposed to wear? A tracksuit I suppose? What kind of tracksuit? What about shorts and a singlet? If he is wearing shorts should he be wearing undershorts or jocks? Which 'look' do you think facilitates the best coaching? Maybe he was wearing skinny jeans because that's what he wears? I will even take another guess...I bet he has more than one pair? So what? Should James Fennelly have been wearing a bigger t-shirt? Do you think I'd be right on the money if I was on here bagging James for being a 'poser' because he was wearing a tight t-shirt? On a forum full of posters that spend such an inordinate amount of time videoing themselves or taking 'selfies' or pics of their shoes etc etc I think the comments about Darragh are a bit rich and just make this place look more of a joke.

So see above and then tells us that you fully support rip off merchants, who use the ignorance of the general public to make money.

You'll all jump into your little 'now yer talkin' bum scrum and castigate this, but then the internet and t0ssers was never going to be a good combination, but I know perfectly well that the proper professionals among you will agree 100% with me.

Number 1 rule for anyone (general population) picking a trainer, who has an emphasis on 'quick results' = run a fecking mile.

Big problem is the industry is 90% salesmen..................

Hefferoid, seriously, get a life you dope. What's wrong with you, bullied at school or what? You'd sh1te yourself face to face with anyone on here. Dickhead...................

reality25

Thats all folks.................................LMFAO

btkm8unsl0w5r4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FONN-0uoTHI

Brian?

reality25 wrote: »

Thats all folks.................................LMFAO

Well done on closing one account after a torrent of abuse only to open another to do the same. Kudos. You're permabanned.

I'm also locking this thread because it's a mess and adds nothing to the forum.