Chris M, Member since 2008
If you are looking for the latest elliptical machines to work on, you won't find them at Doug's Gym. Looking for a stairstepper? There's the original stairstepper of wooden steps going up to the second floor. In a town littered with health clubs where people are more interested in what they're wearing and what kind of smoothie they're going to order, it is good to know that a place like Doug's Gym exists.
Imagine your junior high gym, and then fast forward in time about thirty years. That's what Doug's Gym is. There is nothing but old fashioned iron, benches, curling irons, and of course a heavy punching bag. There are no rules, spoken or unspoken, on how to dress... but you do have to wear a shirt. If Rocky had to sign up for a membership in Dallas, Doug's Gym would be his choice.
Doug Eidd is 78, still has biceps like grapefruit, and he has owned the gym for over 40 years. He trains in the old school way and claims to be able to shape any body, male or female, using a specific plan. The gym's members include people from just out of hight school on up into their 80's, and gym members have included Chuck Norris, WWE wrestlers, and even Jack Ruby. Still, on my way upstairs the gym for the first time, I saw a couple in their 60's working out with light weights in the corner.
I sat down in his office on my first visit as he puffed on a tobacco pipe. "What are you looking to do?" I told him I was looking to lose about fifteen pounds and get into shape. "You're young enough that we can put some muscle on you too, no problem!" He put together a list of twelve exercises and showed me how they would target each part of my body.
"I'll train you each time you come in for the first thirty days for $175. After that, you should know exactly what to do, and it will be $250 for six months of membership." $175 included the first month of membership, and Doug has trained me each time I've been in this first week. I haven't lifted weights in over five years, but Doug gave me unintimidating instructions and worked me at an encouraging pace that had me feeling good about getting back in the gym instead of bad about being out of the gym for so long.
In my workout Friday, my left shoulder was giving me some issues after sleeping on it wrong the night before. I didn't tell Doug, but he noticed it as I was working out. "Your left shoulder is giving you some trouble, isn't it?" he asked me. He ran me through a few other exercises, and I was feeling the burn without the pain on my shoulder. "You shouldn't feel these in your shoulder at all," and he was right. The man is a body genius, and I am looking forward to seeing the results at the end of each month.
If you're looking to find your next date at the gym, you should probably pass on signing up at Doug's. If you are looking for a no-frills place where you can concentrate on shaping your body without having to worry about what you look like, Doug's Gym should be first on your list.