Agreed on the shyster / snake oil point. The fundamental business model of most gyms is to sign up as many members as possible, irrespective of whether those m

Agreed on the shyster / snake oil point. The fundamental business model of most gyms is to sign up as many members as possible, irrespective of whether those members then attend (that is why you have membership 'contracts', direct debits, etc...) Hence, gyms are optimised for increasing sign-ups - not for getting you fit. So things look shiny, modern, relaxing, appealing to some imagined lifestyle. Then in reality you end up sitting on your couch eating crisps ('chips' Americans) and feeling guilty.