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When Sandra Ruiz signed up for Mademoiselle Fitness Center in Oklahoma City, she thought she was taking a proactive step to slim down her 385-lb. body and get healthy. But once she got on a stationary bike, a gym employee told her to get off because she was too big. "The lady said I couldn't get on the machines because [I'm] overweight," Ruiz told Newson6.com. "Everybody was watching, seeing what was going on."
As a consolation, the gym told her to use the aerobics room inside. But Ruiz protested, saying if she was going to walk, she might as well do it outside for free.
Since she won't be allowed to make use of the equipment, Ruiz has since tried to get out of her contract without having to pay a cancellation fee. And while it's rare to cancel a gym contract without having to pay the penalty, the gym finally agreed to let it go. Uh, that's a nice gesture, we guess, but shouldn't the gym have told her that she was over the weight limit when she signed up, to avoid this pretty humiliating situation?
Anyway, last we checked, the fact that you're not as buff as you want to be is why you go to a gym in the first place.
Comments:
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Monday 07 June
By Jenn
Uh, 385 lb. and she was being proactive? I don't think proactive is the right word...
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Monday 07 June
By AChes
At least she was doing something about it, instead of sitting at home making snide comments about someone else they've never met before in their life. Just sayin'.
Tuesday 08 June
By allie
well what word should they use, do you suggest that since she is soo big that she just sits on her ass and get bigger? i use to weigh 380 pounds and i lost 100 USING the machines, they should of at least offered her a trainer to help her work out like i did
Thursday 10 June
By Jenn
Yeah, I was referring to the article's choice of word...not her choice to workout. Good for her.
Friday 11 June
By allie
ohhh, got ya now
Monday 07 June
By Linelle
To be fair, a lot of those kinds of machines have a weight limit of less than 300 pounds. For that kind of weight you'd need specialized equipment.
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Monday 07 June
By Lissy
I read another article that said the gym claimed they told her she wouldn't be able to use when she signed up.
If she used the machines and got hurt on them, she could sue the gym. What are they supposed to do?
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Monday 07 June
By Kimberly
...and if she wants to ride a bike, can't she do that outside, too? Fitness equipment, like anything else, has a weight limit. I'm on the gym's side on this one, but they definitely could have handled this more discreetly.
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Tuesday 08 June
By FluffyHairded
I'm pretty sure this is about the weight limit on the machines. I don't know that I've ever seen a (made-for-humans) products that has a weight limit above 300 lbs... I mean, if you need an MRI or something at that weight (almost 400 lbs?), they have to send you to the Zoo. The gym should not have accepted her membership if none of their facilities will work for her.
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Wednesday 09 June
By Viv
I hope she sues them
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Thursday 10 June
By Gordon
Clearly, some people should not own gyms. If they aren't there to help people get fit, what's the point?
Thursday 10 June
By JK
VIV, ..... YOU ARE REALLY an IDIOT !! and you have no idea about the responsibilty of a fitness club. THAT"S exactly why they said get off the equipment. People like you scare me.
Saturday 12 June
By Morgan
I don't disagree that surely the machines have weight limits on them. However the people who signed her up for the (probably expensive) membership contract should be trained to explain this to customers before they sign on the dotted line instead of just seeing money signs flashing before their eyes. She shouldn't have had to get out of the contract; it should have been explained to her beforehand so she could decide whether she wanted to bother signing up or not.
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Sunday 13 June
By Suzieq34
False advertisement on the part of the gym. She should have been told ahead of signing that due to her current weight she could not use certain equipment.The she could have made an informed decision about signing or not signing the contract.
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Sunday 20 June
By KWilli
Ya I think it is just pure irresponsibility, so someone wants to be active and change their lifestyle, good for them they should be inspired, not looked down upon especially with the level of obesity in this country. The regulations should have been clear as well as the intentions by those who join such an establishment. Good for her for trying. When the media and odds are against her.
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Thursday 26 August
By kgrissom
You all need to get your facts right. I saw another report on this and everything has been worked out and has gotten out of her contract with no fees. Also, she was told from the beginning that her wieght exceeds the wieght limit a lot of the equipment can handle when on sit on them. She should be able to use most cable machine, free wieghts and treadmills. I just about as big and for most equipment the limit is 350. IT has to do with the size on structural material and welds that hold equipment together.
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