Anyone belong to a gym?

[Jennasis]

I have been toying with the idea of joining a gym for some time and think it's finally time to take that plunge. For those of you who belong to gyms (be it a national chain, a private local one, or the Y) what is included in your membership? Are classes (spin, step, aerobics, kcikboxing etc) included? What is your monthly fee? I only have two options here in my lil' town. The YMCA and a local 24 hour place. My main interest is the treadmills and other machines as well as the weight machines but I'd like to partake of the aerobics classes. I have to actually go to the gyms to see what they include in their memberships and I want to be armed with some info before I get the "hard sell" by the gym staff. Here's the breakdown:

YMCA- $49 joining fee and $40/month. Seems STEEP to me, but they have a pool (not that I'll use it) and offer a lot of classes (which are included in the membership).

Local Gym- $50 joining fee and $27.50/month. Requires a one year contract. All th equipment. Open 24 hours. Not sure of their class offerings yet. Will have to stop by.

I just want to feel fit and strong again. I feel so soft (and not in a good way!)

 

[rgf207]

I belong to Gold's Gym and have for years. I pay 37.99/month

All classes are included and they have tons. I don't do classes though my wife does and she loves them.

I would suggest taking a tour of the gym you plan to join before you sign up. Take the tour at the time of day you would most likely be working out so you can see how crowded it is. Our local YMCA has a lot of members and not too many machines so they are always filled especially during peak times (evenings)

Every year in January our gym is jam packed. Every week it dies down until late February when the people have finally given up on their New Year's resolutions and it's just the regulars that are there. It's actually quite amusing.

 

[AustinTink]

We go to 24 hour fitness. We did the special where you pay two years upfront and get one year free. Then when those first 3 years were up we moved to $9 a month forever!! It includes everything... classes, access to all their gyms, etc. We are very happy with them.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We go to a local gym called Aspen Fitness.

They have about 20 Ellipticals, 40 Treadmills, Free Weights and Circuit Machines (no clue how many different ones, but its a lot). They also have three class rooms. The first class room is used for movie and a workout program and they have a huge video screen and projector, the room is dark and there is about 40 different treadmill/elliptical type machines (I never use this room). They have a spin class room and then an open plan room for things like Zoomba, Step, etc.

They also have 5 tanning booths, one of which is a stand-up. They offer child care during most weekday/weeknights and Saturday mornings (there is a small cost for this - but I don't know what they charge).

For me, I paid $50 up front plus $99 for unlimited lifetime tanning ($149 total). My monthly cost is $15/month for life plus a $16 annual charge (it's like a annuity they use to help offset increasing costs). I avoid the gym in January because its crazy crowded with "newbies", that usually stop coming after the first month or two. We've been members for three years, so if you divide the inital cost and the monthly fees we're paying around $20.50 a month.

This compares to our original membership at Bally's which was a $500 initiative, $49 a month for three years and tanning was not included. After the 3 years the price went down to $25 a month with an escalation clause of 3% cap per year. For the same three year period it would have cost around $63.00 a month.

 

[Jennasis]

We go to a local gym called Aspen Fitness.

They have about 20 Ellipticals, 40 Treadmills, Free Weights and Circuit Machines (no clue how many different ones, but its a lot). They also have three class rooms. The first class room is used for movie and a workout program and they have a huge video screen and projector, the room is dark and there is about 40 different treadmill/elliptical type machines (I never use this room). They have a spin class room and then an open plan room for things like Zoomba, Step, etc.

They also have 5 tanning booths, one of which is a stand-up. They offer child care during most weekday/weeknights and Saturday mornings (there is a small cost for this - but I don't know what they charge).

For me, I paid $50 up front plus $99 for unlimited lifetime tanning ($149 total). My monthly cost is $15/month for life. I avoid the gym in January because its crazy crowded with "newbies", that usually stop coming after the first month or two.

Well, I used to run...actually started training for a half marathon, but injured my hip. Then when i started to run again, I just lost my mojo. I want it back!

 

[AKL_Megs]

DON'T JOIN BALLY'S!!!

That is all I can say.

Once you sign that contract, you absolutely CAN NOT get out. They report on your credit, and one Internet search will show you how they mess up people's credit... even when their contract is up!

Of course, once your contract is up, you can be a member for $4 a year... for the absolute rest of your life they will be reporting that $4 to your credit.

My DH used to belong to Powerhouse... I wish he still did.

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

I joined the local gym in my town that has 5 different locations and one is just down the street from where I work. I pay about $45/month, which is not bad for all the perks we get. They have a pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam room, plus weight room, elliptical machines, bikes and treadmills. They also have trainers, for an extra cost you can work with a trainer for a specified amount of time. They have classes that are available that is included with the monthly fee, and also some that are outside of that if you want to pay extra for yoga and stuff like that. But the basics, such as Lifting, spin, aqua aerobics, step aerobics, they are all part of your monthly cost. They provide towels, and I know in the women's locker room they have a whole set up with hair dryers, curling irons, hair spray, lotion, etc. And that is all included as well.

 

[ckay87]

I used to belong to a local place (called Body Zone) for about $55 per month, but I now belong to the local Y and Planet Fitness for $40 per month.

The Y only offers resistance-type classes. I love to take classes, but that's not enough for me, I need boatloads of cardio.

For cardio, I hit the machines at PF - got a deal there for $10 per month, ability to cancel anytime. I'm surprised how much I like it there. It gets crowded, but there are somehow always plenty of machines available.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

For cardio, I hit the machines at PF - got a deal there for $10 per month, ability to cancel anytime. I'm surprised how much I like it there. It gets crowded, but there are somehow always plenty of machines available.

We have PF's here in Syracuse, they are pretty much a gay guy mecca, but they are SO CROWDED, and I don't have the patience for it, but they do have low prices (thus why they are so crowded).

 

[OK!]

I belong to the Y and pay $32 a month, courtesy of a corporate discount. I've never done one of the classes (mainly use weights, cardio, and the track, though the pool is nice, too), but everyone who's in them seems to have a great time during them! (I use the elevated track a LOT, and it encircles the top of the gym where the classes are held.) They even have classes like Latin dance; that one's always packed.

 

[mkel34]

$40 is a pretty good deal. I'd say try both places for a week and see how busy they are during your workout time. There is a cheap place in my town that is only $20 a month which is packed to the gills for the after work crowd and nothing is worse than waiting for equipment in the middle of your workout. The gym/healthclub we have a family membership costs roughly 10x that a month but it would be like comparing apples to oranges when comparing the amenities of the two.

 

[Jennasis]

I don't worry about crowds. I work from home so I can go at off hours...or pretty much anytime I want EXCEPT after work/school because that's when I am teaching. So my schedule is pretty ideal for avoiding crowds.

I went to visit the local gym today. It was all right, but a few things gave me "pause".

1. Owner was away and left her BFF in charge (I think she is the assistant manager), and she had her tow young kids there, kind of running around. They were in an area away from the machines, but they were pulling out the yoga balls and trampolines and goofing around. She looked at me and said "I usually don't have the kids here". Maybe...maybe not. But I really want adult time.

2. No seperate class room for aerobics and such. There is a huge area for it with mirrors and such, but it's carpeted floor and visible from the entire gym with no wall.

3. No real schedule of classes. They have cardio twice a week, but not with an instructor. It's just a couple of regulars who meet up, pop a video in and follow the video. When I asked about other stuff (spin, step etc) they don't have them but the owner would be "happy to try to put something together if there is interest".

4. You CAN find a massive selection of classes and such at their sister facility two towns over. For and extra $5 per month you can use that facility and all the classes too. But I am lucky I am even a little motivated to do this...driving an extra 20 minutes isn't going to happen.

It's a nice, relatively quiet, small town facility. While I WANT to be left alone while doing machines and such, I also want to be able to "melt" into the background in the classes.

Tomorrow I will check out the YMCA. Maybe I qualify for a reduced rate. Stupid small town living.

 

[Straitlover]

Here's where I go:

http://www.rexhealth.com/Services_and_Wellness/Index_of_Services/Wellness_Services/

The fee includes most classes. Swim lessons are extra as rea TRX Suspension classes. Here is a listing of the next week's class schedule:

http://www.rexhealth.com/_documents/Garner02222010_000.pdf

 

[PatriciaH]

Celebration has a beautiful gym in the hospital here. 50,000 square feet and 3 floors. Nice pools, basketball court, top quality weights, bikes, etc. What I go for are the classes though. I thought I might like to take up running but everyone we know that runs or long distance bikes has/gets bad injuries. No thanks. Have read a lot of articles lately saying running is really bad for you. Yoga, swimming, walking and hiking are great. I take the Les Mills classes a few times a week-BodyJam and BodyFlow are my favorites! I pay $35/month with a corporate discount.

http://www.lesmills.com/
http://www.celebrationfitness.com

 

[eliza61]

Planet fitness. 10.00 month $1.00 joining fee. love it.

http://www.planetfitness.com/

No classes but great equipment, huge gyms. clean and friendly.

 

[lil mermaid]

We pay about $60 per month for a family membership at our local YMCA.

Really, the monthy fees at the two places that you considering are not that far apart. Can you get a free trial period of some guest passes for both of them? I'd do that and then go with the one I liked better. You may find that you like the "vibe" of one of them better than the other.

Good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

Currently we go to the Y. Family membership is definitely more than $40, but it pretty much includes everything we want. Swim, weights, free weights, machines...and tons of classes. DS is taking swimming, gymnastics, and homeschool PE, all included. We could take tons of aerobics, spin, etc classes, all included (though that never happens b/c we're happy with the ellipticals for now).

I like it there b/c there are people of all ages and sizes, and I have never once felt judged for being blobbier than I'd like to be.

DH didn't have to pay a joining fee b/c of his work, though I did have to pay a joining fee.



I've also belonged to 24 hour fitness, which was not pleasant, smelled icky, and was a total bear to cancel.

When I lived in the Fairfax area of VA, I belonged to a Golds Gym. It was owned (at least at the time) by the parents of a male figure skater just coming up at the time (he never went terribly far, but he made a great effort!), and if memory serves, his dad had been an Olympian in something like weightlifting. The place was dedicated to being healthy. Whereas the Y I belong to now has a Subway (sure, healthier than a McD's, but they still cook cookies and some of their bread has junk in it), this place sold green juices and whatnot. The classes were GREAT, it was in an historical building so it wasn't all glass walls and people ogling.

However, when I went to Atlanta on a conference, I tried two different Gold's Gyms, and they were entirely different, just one big square room, filled with hardbody men grunting their way through weight workouts. A much much different experience!


So it's definitely good to really look around the gyms. Make sure you know what you're getting.

 

[Jennasis]

Currently we go to the Y. Family membership is definitely more than $40, but it pretty much includes everything we want. Swim, weights, free weights, machines...and tons of classes. DS is taking swimming, gymnastics, and homeschool PE, all included. We could take tons of aerobics, spin, etc classes, all included (though that never happens b/c we're happy with the ellipticals for now).

I like it there b/c there are people of all ages and sizes, and I have never once felt judged for being blobbier than I'd like to be.

DH didn't have to pay a joining fee b/c of his work, though I did have to pay a joining fee.



I've also belonged to 24 hour fitness, which was not pleasant, smelled icky, and was a total bear to cancel.

When I lived in the Fairfax area of VA, I belonged to a Golds Gym. It was owned (at least at the time) by the parents of a male figure skater just coming up at the time (he never went terribly far, but he made a great effort!), and if memory serves, his dad had been an Olympian in something like weightlifting. The place was dedicated to being healthy. Whereas the Y I belong to now has a Subway (sure, healthier than a McD's, but they still cook cookies and some of their bread has junk in it), this place sold green juices and whatnot. The classes were GREAT, it was in an historical building so it wasn't all glass walls and people ogling.

However, when I went to Atlanta on a conference, I tried two different Gold's Gyms, and they were entirely different, just one big square room, filled with hardbody men grunting their way through weight workouts. A much much different experience!


So it's definitely good to really look around the gyms. Make sure you know what you're getting.

I'll definitely need to check out the Y. I don't want to be working out if there are going to be kids running around the gym, goofing with the equipment.