Women transform their lives through workouts

Similar problems

About three years ago, Kong Meiying launched a career and became her own boss by opening a gym exclusively for female clients.

The 34-year-old, who comes from Tianjin, started as a private coach at local gyms, where 90 percent of her clients were women.

She soon found that many of them experienced similar problems with workouts.

"Even after they acquired strength training and fitness skills, they went to the treadmill first every time they came to exercise, but they never walked into the strength training area alone until I went with them," Kong said.

Many clients told her the weight training area was a man's world, and they felt self-conscious being there alone.

"If I hadn't come with them, they might as well have stayed on the treadmill for ever," Kong said, adding that she wanted to give strength back to women.

In 2021, she opened the first women-only gym in Tianjin, where she arranged everything based on the special needs and preferences of female fitness enthusiasts.

For example, climbing and rowing machines, which are more suitable for women's hip and leg training, are set up in prominent areas.

For common workout classes such as boxing, Kong asks her coaches to tailor them specifically for women, as the training methods and progress made by men and women can vary.

Translucent white curtains hung next to the Pilates room give privacy to clients performing a range of body movements.

"I like to avoid my clients being disturbed when they practice Pilates," Kong said.

Plants placed throughout the gym emit a faint scent, endearing the business to female coaches and students.

Previous female clients have helped Kong. Some have invested in her business, while others have introduced new clients to her.

The personal service and good reviews from clients have made Kong's gym popular among local female fitness fanatics.

She not only survived tough times during the COVID-19 pandemic, but last year also opened a second gym, which is about 30 km from the first.

Explaining why she opened the second business, Kong said, "Many of my clients traveled a long way to my first gym, and I want to make life more convenient for them as best I can."

She added that she is just an ordinary woman who loves what she is doing and is not in it for the money.

Kong now has more than 1,300 clients committed to both gyms.

"They contribute to maintaining a pleasant fitness environment and have given me feedback for improvements," she said, adding that she is now seeking a site for a third gym.

"Many young women have contacted me on the Xiaohongshu social media platform, asking when I can open a new business near their homes," Kong said, adding, "As long as I don't suffer a loss, I will try my best to satisfy their needs."

She said her clients have become more aware of the need to keep fit.

"Most of them now know clearly what they want before they come to my gym. They also pay great attention to the quality of the equipment and services," Kong said.

Scientific methods

With a rising desire among women to lose weight, an expert said scientific methods should be applied.

Chen Zongtao, a doctor in the health management department at Southwest Hospital of Army Medical University in Chongqing, said it is important for people to determine if they need to lose weight before doing so.

In medicine, obesity is generally measured using the body mass index (a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters). If the BMI exceeds 24, the person is considered overweight, and if it exceeds 28, this is considered obesity, Chen said.

It is also important to consider whether there are obesity-related conditions such as a high blood sugar level, high blood pressure, or fatty liver, whose presence means it is even more important to lose weight, he said.

Chen added that it is vital to adopt an approach of gradual progression during exercises, and if any discomfort is experienced, the person should stop and rest immediately.