Has anyone cancelled a gym membership to walk instead?

[Hillbeans]

I've belonged to a gym for about 2 years. In that time, I lost quite a bit of weight early on, went from a 12 to a 6, however the gym to me is sort of a waste of money at $72 per month since I only either do the treadmill or the ellipse.

A friend moved close to my house and we've been walking in the evenings about 4 miles a day (about 4 nights a week, sometimes 5). Granted, in a few months it'll be getting colder here, but I think the walking alone is keeping me in good shape since we do somewhere between 16-20 miles a week.

I want to cancel my gym and i'm just wondering if anyone else cancelled their gym and did it well on their own?

 

[CEDmom]

Walking has never been enough for me. My heart rate just doesn't get high enough. I either need to run on the treadmill or take a spinning class to stay in shape. I also use the gym as my escape. It's a chance to get away from the pressures of home, family, job etc and do something entirely for myself. Luckily, I only pay $20 a month at NYSC so there's no chance I'd cancel. Do you do weights or other thing that would make your membership worthwhile? See if your gym allows you to freeze your membership. That way you could try out your new plan but still have that fallback if you needed it.

 

[Jimbo]

I used to walk in the evening, but it was tough for me to motivate myself. Once you're at home, it was just too easy for me to make a phone call, check email, watch a little TV, etc. Then it'd be starting to get late, and I'd often just call it off.

So we joined a gym 1.5 years ago, and now I hit it on my way home from work most days. I don't seem to have any problems making myself go. Occasionally I'll stop home first, though, and then it's another story. I'm just not disciplined / motivitated enough, I guess, and need a routine.

It's really made a remarkable difference in both of us. We both sort of hit plateaus lately, so we're scheduling a personal trainer appointment every two weeks. That got us going again.

We've never felt better and wouldn't change a thing. Course, our membership is only $45 per month. Maybe I'd change my tune if it was $72.

 

[Hillbeans]

CED mom - I belong to NYSC as well, but my membership is much more costly than yours is??????

Anyway, I have a toddler, and I like to get him to bed or at least in PJ's so my Husband can put him to bed. I generally don't walk or work out until it's late and I know it'll soon be getting dark, which doesn't bother me since where I walk is well lit and i've been going with someone.

I like the gym, but I see myself working out more now on my own than before. I also walk on the fast side and while I may not sweat like I do on the ellipse, I find that the 20 miles I walk a week keeps the weight down.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by Hillbeans
CED mom - I belong to NYSC as well, but my membership is much more costly than yours is??????

I lucked out that NYSC bought the gym I belonged to and had to keep all the existing contracts as is. Mine is $20 for life. Most people don't have this.

 

[CamColt]

Not exactly what you were asking, but I much prefer to work out alone and therefore never have joined a gym. Ive lost the weight from both my pregnancies(and then some) by jogging & walking on my own and doing ab crunches. I know if I joined a gym I would waste a lot more time getting ready, driving there, driving back, etc... Plus Id hate working out with other people around and I probably wouldnt go every day. Doing it my way I just roll out of bed and go.

 

[kaseyC]

If there is anyway for you to keep your membership while you try out the walking. I would try that first.
I love the gym because of variety. I find when I do one thing for too long, I get bored and it is harder to get my heart rate up to that Cardio Zone. I am always trying different classes or taking personal training sessions to keep my workouts exciting. It is also the 2hrs of the day that I do something for me.

I pay $90 a month. $55 for my membership and $35 for Babysitting (up to 3 kids)

 

[Pin Wizard]

I have a 6-month membership at the local Y. Nice facilities!! I was really surprised. I only use the treadmill and the raquetball courts. Have been slacking. LOL! But this past week I've started my walk/run outside again in the evenings. Dropped 4 pounds so far this week. But seeing on here that winter weather will be coming up in a few months, I'll keep my membership and have to go.

 

[grinningghost]

I quit my gym and bought a good treadmill and some weights. It works much better for me. In the gym, I always felt kind of "old". I'm not that old, but my gym was filled with young hardbodies who only seemed to go to the gym to meet men/women. Just not my thing after a while.

Now, I jump on my treadmill, watch what I want on TV, I can pause it whenever I want to go to the bathroom or throw in laundry, or DIS.

It's MUCH nicer. And the money I spent on my treadmill will more than make up for the money I spent at the gym within 2 years. Plus no more driving to the gym in the freezing cold and all that nonsense.

So yes, I did quit to walk (at home).

 

[princess pooh]

I quit the gym for the summer to do walking and winsor pilates. My legs are more toned and my butt got smaller