Libby Heath
General Manager, The Firm
1101 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29205
803-799-FIRM
Proponents of using supplements like that (Ephedrine), I know that within the industry of
training and physical fitness there are people who are not credentialed to be making
suggestions like that. A large group of instructors here are APPA certified personal
trainers, but we preface any conversations that we have saying we are not nutritionists or
licensed dietitians. This is something that if a personal trainer does not have a license for
then it is not a place they should go. I think it is a terrible thing, because the body does
not need that kind of chemical stimulation.
I’m sure some of the people that come in here have taken it. The whole nature of the
fitness industry has a lot of scams out there and people are looking for the shortest path,
and they think “well if I do this or if I do that then it might elevate some of the work I
might have to do”. You are going to find people that are gullible in anything, especially
in the weight loss realm. In the promotion of our product, in the infomercial which we
released last year, is new for us in terms of a media marketing approach. The whole
message is there is work involved which you have to do and no one can do it for you.
You have to come out exercising and eat a sensible diet. It is common sense which has
been the message throughout and it has been well received. That is a unique approach for
some of these mass markets that introduce these diet aids.
From the organizational point of view, our expertise absolutely centers on the exercise,
correct form, importance of correct timing during the week. Having a program with lots
of rest is part of the strategy as a whole. When people have questions about the diet
component we refer them to people who are qualified or programs that have qualified
people. For example, when people tell me, “I don’t know even how to eat well,” you
realize how little people know about nutrition. This is when I mention Weight Watchers
which is a favorite, because it is sensible with real food and low costs. So when people
ask me, I refer them to a program like that which has a history of experienced
nutritionists.
Right now people are trying to lose a lot of weight because it is swimsuit season?
There are seasonal variations in our business mix. January 1 is always a huge one,
because it is cold outside and people have made this resolution to get in shape.
Interestingly enough here in South Carolina when the weather is nice people want to do
stuff outside, but then when it gets so hot outside they will come back inside. All of our
facilities are within a climate controlled setting. Many of our clients do this as well as
other activities.
I can’t imagine that anyone of our staff people would espouse that kind of thing, because
that is not The Firm.