Online Fitness Tribes

Written on September 23, 2024 - 9:19 pm | by Terra

Competition can be a good thing. Sometimes it can be bad too, like two little kids racing to be first in line. Then one trips, falls, scrapes his knee, starts to wail and cry and blame the other kid.

Another not so good situation is someone adopting a favorite fitness program, based on whatever personal preference- it’s simplicity, the equipment used, how little time required, a celebrity’s endorsement, or possible riches from it’s affiliate program- then go on a crusade to bash every other form of fitness or training under the sun. Instead of providing proof of the positive aspects of their program, their marketing is based only on what they consider negative about everything else, usually based on opinion and not scientific proof.

The fitness industry is big business. It’s something where every human on the planet is a potential customer. And like the obesity levels in developed countries, the industry keeps growing. And like the real estate industry a few years back, it’s getting flooded with lots of people trying to make a quick, easy buck. I’m pointing the finger at some online marketers who’ve jumped into the fitness info product business who after using/reviewing (or possibly not) a $29.95 download-able program consider themselves industry experts.

Chances are you’ve come across some of their sites. Most of them follow the same format- quite like infomercials. They start off promising to deliver the greatest weight loss program, or six pack solution on earth. On their about page, or the “my story” page(because some online fitness marketing gurus said to use that title- it works so wonderfully and is so heartwarming people just can’t resist giving you their credit card number) they tell you about how they became sedentary and overweight after years of sitting behind a desk in their corporate job. Then the stress of family life compounded the problem. One day they looked in the mirror and realized they needed to take action. The problem was ALL the information online and in the magazines was total BS. It didn’t consider that they had only a few minutes a day to exercise, what with jobs and spouses and kids and stuff like that. Until they discovered [insert cool sounding name here]. Naturally they felt compelled to spread the word and what better way than by making their situation seem incredibly like yours and telling you why “other fitness programs suck,” why everyone you see in the gym is exercising wrong and that personal trainers don’t know anything. But they want to make one thing clear, they are not trainers, just average guys like you, except they know it all.

I come across these sites all the time. One thing I’ve noticed when I read their blog posts, which often seem very similar to one another, and go to the comments section most of the commentators are members of the same affiliate circle selling the same program(s). Coincidence? Nope, just clever marketing tactics.

Buyer beware!
So what I suggest for those of you considering trying out one of these download-able fabulous fat loss, or hard-gainers miracle muscle building programs is to do more research. If they are selling another person’s or company’s program email them directly and find out if they themselves will provide support to you. Fitness is not a one size fits all approach. Also, be wary of those sites that do not even show the writer/promoter/fitness enthusiast/online marketer. There’s a possibility the person trying to get your money hasn’t exercised a day in the past year.

Fitness Online