Another reason NOT to work out

March 23, 2004 -- A Manhattan couch potato got more than he bargained for when a drill-sergeant fitness trainer worked him out so hard that he wound up in the hospital with damaged kidneys and chronic pain, according to a lawsuit.

Fred Widland, a television film editor, is suing Crunch Fitness International for $100,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages for allegedly taking him way beyond his physical limits and ignoring his pleas to go lightly.

But before he so much as touched a dumbbell, Widland told the trainer that it had been years since he worked out in a gym, that he had only recently quit smoking, that he ate with some passion and drank alcohol regularly. In other words, take it easy.

But before Widland could say, "optimum heart rate," he found himself in "an extremely rigorous session that was unsuitable" for his level of fitness, according to the suit, which was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.

According to the lawsuit, Widland launched into a session on Jan. 10 without a warm-up, became dehydrated, and was told to continue despite telling the trainer that his head was pounding. After a round of deep-knee bends in the yoga room, the trainer finally cut the session short, the lawsuit said.

Two days later, Widland said, his headaches were continuing. A day later, he was admitted to Lenox Hill Hospital, where he was diagnosed with "exertional rhabdomyolysis," the breakdown and release of muscle fiber contents into the bloodstream, a condition that is toxic to the kidneys.

Lawyers for Crunch did not return calls seeking comment.

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/21612.htm

I hate these musclehead morons who work at these gyms. Idiots!