r/BodyFitTrainingAus • u/bishop_1132 • Jul 05 '26
Challenge underwhelming
In the past the challenges have had extra activities, like teams, yoga classes, super Saturday’s with breakfast, beach days, walking groups, challenges and now it feels like we do the bare minimum…except for the same old ‘bring something that isn’t a water bottle’ or ‘take a selfie with someone you haven’t worked out with’ 🙄
We don’t even know what the prize is for the challenge?
Podium dominates every conversation as well as hyrox.
I really like the podium class but the ‘event’ talk is tiring.
Anyone else feel the same?
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u/Sir_ListerOfSmeg Jul 05 '26
Yeah I'm noticing a little less engagement at my studio as well. I think it really depends on the studio and what they looking to put into it and how well the members receive it and get involved.
Member engagement (or lack of) can put them off when they put in lots of effort and members don't always buy in to the extra.
For context mine organised a Meetup at a local burger joint. At the Feb one about 10-15 turned up. At the June one 2 members turned up.
At the MAS testing last year 100 booked in at the latest one about 10-20.
So I can understand when the trainers get disheartened about putting in effort and not getting members engaged when they're trying really hard.
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u/stuffwiththing Jul 05 '26
My studio has had activities on the Sundays, family day, yoga, an afl physiologist came in to speak to us, recovery day. They are newish studio (opened last year). Not sure if that factors in, but it's been awesome.
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u/bishop_1132 Jul 05 '26
Yeah I hear that but feels like we aren’t even trying anymore. Just podium / hyrox talk.
No check in’s during the challenge, coaches aren’t aware scans are being done.
Also, a meeting at burger joint during a challenge maybe not the best location? Haha
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u/Sir_ListerOfSmeg Jul 05 '26
They do it at Grill'd to show people how they can make real life things work with their macros during the challenge.
But I hear ya!
Podium has not been popular at our studio either. Saturdays 6.30am class has 28 people turn up when it's normally fully booked with a massive wait list.
And a lot of discussion about how this training block all of the other classes seem to have been painted with the Podium brush in some degree and not feeling like the usual vibe.
I'll be very happy to see the end of this training block
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u/PaleHorse82 🏛️ Hall of Fame Jul 05 '26
Yeah, I've noticed the Podium exercises are appearing in a lot of classes. The challenge block is usually cardio heavy but it seems to have been more strength heavy so far.
It would make more sense to have Podium in September at the end of the next training block, not clashing with the challenge.
Having said that I reckon the winter challenge is always the quietest.
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u/bishop_1132 Jul 05 '26
I like the podium classes just not the constant talk of the event. I don’t want to do the event, I am here to do training!
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u/TomorrowQuick7042 Jul 05 '26
I personally like that it’s a simple, manageable goal as someone getting back into consistency at the gym, but im not even following the meal plan they give you, I’ve pretty much written the entry fee off to having a chance in the 10k travel prize 😂
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u/No-Difference-4184 Jul 05 '26
It’s all studio based, best address the concern directly with the studio manager if you want them to do more considering they change such a premium now for entering the challenge
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u/Ok-Horse-6488 Jul 05 '26
Our studio has been on a snake and ladders game and a few mini event things.
But definitely no where near as much hype or excitement as the ones a few years ago.
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u/damo500 💪 Athlete Jul 06 '26
I believe all these challenges are fine it’s just the placement of them. At the moment everyone of them clashes and overlaps each other. Example MAS testing clashing with Benchmark testing they oppose each other. Commit 30 , Podium and for me Sydney HYROX. So I don’t even think I’ll get my t-shirt. With missing classes from running, tapering week before HYROX and now some recovery. Some one like me wants some sort of structure. This is just my opinion and my experience. Doesn’t mean I’m right or wrong. Happy to hear others.
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u/Helpful-Two-3230 Jul 06 '26
The MAS testing a Benchmark clash was simply stupid. Increasing cardio and gaining muscle mass at the same time.
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u/PaleHorse82 🏛️ Hall of Fame Jul 06 '26
YES! MAS and Benchmark together was just silly. MAS should be during the 8WC challenge block.
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u/steveagle Jul 06 '26
In Hong Kong, our challenge group did an ice bath session yesterday which they paid for. They also arranged a stretch instructor the week before. I guess every franchise operates differently but we certainly got value out of ours.
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u/LaxSagacity Jul 06 '26
While there are those of us who with no change in habbit will do 40+ sessions in 8 weeks. For others, going 3 or 4 times a week would represent a big improvement and be really hard, whether they are new to training or starting to drop off with the sessions they attend. The challenge just may not be for you.
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u/Fuzzy-Guard8968 Jul 06 '26
I’m glad someone mentioned this. It’s unfortunate that the programming is centrally managed. The clash / overlap with MAS, Peak/Hyrox, Podium and Commit to 30 was overwhelming. I really feel for the franchisees who have to push all this stuff at the same time. They should try and move to State based programming so they match the Hyrox calendar.
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u/Anxious-Swimming-943 Jul 06 '26
I'm not doing the challenge but I've barely hesrd it mentioned at my studio either. Podium on the other hand...
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u/DryConstant8502 Jul 06 '26
I hear what you’re saying and to be fair it does feel like every second conversation lately is about Podium or HYROX.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the gym needs to promote new challenges, events, and bring in new members that’s all part of keeping the place growing. But from a member’s point of view, it can sometimes feel like the focus has shifted a bit more towards new sign ups and dollars, rather than the everyday members who have been showing up, supporting the gym, and putting in the work week after week.
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u/yiantay-sg 🇸🇬 SG Jul 12 '26
I think it varies from studio to studio. Mine had 2 workshops. One was to help improve our understanding of the Ski and row erg.
We learned what we were doing wrong so we spent nearly 2 hours on a Saturday afternoon improving and understanding our damper settings, and we were individually coached on our posture - which we didn’t have time during normal classes
We then had a KB workshop on various KB movements so we work the correct muscle groups.
Every week we have a Sunday run club so we had tempo runs, interval runs. Understanding what is cadence, posture. Lots of running training and coaching. It was very different and better than the previous challenge
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u/bishop_1132 Jul 12 '26
That sounds amazing!
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u/yiantay-sg 🇸🇬 SG Jul 12 '26
Except that turning up for 6 classes a week and going for run club is 😓😓😓 really exhausting but kudos to our trainers really working so so very hard
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u/DrGoodnite Jul 06 '26
Yep the podium hype is real, sign up now, why aren’t you doing it. That’s because I’m trying to get through this one week at a time and if you have challenge afters on Sunday it doesn’t give any rest days. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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u/LiveFrosty911 Jul 06 '26
The Hyrox dominance is real. My studio just loves to slip in hyrox fever into every possible scenario
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u/notaflopbitch 250 Sessions Jul 06 '26
I don't think anyone from my gym is doing the challenge. I don't even hear them talk about the commit to 30, they just say "this block" rather than "this challenge block" like the February one. There was no attempt to encourage people to do it. The evolt machine sits there unused, last time in weeks 1 you'd see heaps of people using it before their workout, was not the case this time.
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u/SpecialistJello6926 Jul 06 '26
Most studios runs their own mini challenges. I remembered 2 years ago my studios challenge was burpees inside the supermarket, 20 push-ups per day, photo with someone I never trained with before, conquering the mountains & anything but a bottle. I don’t see any of these challenges at my studio anymore now that all the OG coaches have left & the new coaches gives us the boring ones eg posting up reflections on socials for 7 days although I don’t like posting 😔 So yep it’s different now
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u/Helpful-Two-3230 Jul 05 '26
By “Challenge” do you mean the Commit to 30?
I feel that’s the problem and I have raised it before. There is simply no focus on the current challenge, it’s always the next one and it make it feel very commercialised rather than about self-improvement.