Gym memberships

[steph96]

I need some opinions. I have a treadmill at home, but I'm thinking about getting a gym membership.

i don't regularly use my treadmill. I just get bored with it and it is hard with my dogs (they either want to try to climb on, they start chewing things since they know i can't stop them, if they are crated they bark and howl). I want to start doing some toning in addition to cardio.

My job has a fitness center for $38 a month. No contracts. They are open from 5:30am-9pm. They offer some classes and have lots of equipment. The only downside is that I would be around a ton of college students and it does get pretty busy. I could work out after work and miss rush hour traffic. My dogs would have to spend 1-2extra hours crated. I wouldn't want to drive all the way there during weekends or breaks.

My health insurance offers a $25 membership at 2 gyms close to my house. I could go home, let the dogs out, change, and then try to talk myself into going to the gym.

Gym 1 is the place FI has a membership to so we could maybe motivate each other into going when he is home. They don't offer any classes and have limited equipment (everything you would need, but no duplicates and no frills). Open 24/7. Have to sign 1-2 year contract. Seems like normal people go there. Very small gym.

Gym 2 is bigger. They offer a lot of classes and have lots of equipment. They have a reputation of juice head members (aka buff, tan, 'roids type guys). Seems like all the fitness fanatics go there. Also open 24/7 and require 1-2 year contract.

I'm not sure which I should join or if I should just try to stick it out on my treadmill. 

[chessie]

Well what are you looking to do at the gym, be the first question classes, weights, mix of cardio equipment? If its classes, obviously you would go with GYM 2- If you aren't concerned with that, and are weight lifting, basic cardio GYM 1.

Personally I have one membership near work and at home for the convenience to be able to work out.

[fuddyduddy]

I would be inclined to join Gym 2, but classes make a huge difference for me. I find that they keep me accountable and motivated.

Can you get a week-long pass to Gyms 1 and 2 and try each of them out before making a decision?

[steph96]

I'm not sure if I would actually do the classes. I have always wanted to try the spin classes, but it seems like they are only offered in the middle of the afternoon and then early on the weekends (which probably fills up really fast). The option would be nice, but I'm not sure if I would actually utilize it.

[keweenawlove]

I like having a gym membership to the same place at H so I would probably pick gym 1. I only need basic equipment and don't take classes so that woudln't be important to me. It just depends on what you want more.

[Deleted]

See if they will give you a few free passes so you can try them out for yourself.

Personally I would pick Gym 2 but classes are a deal breaker for me.

[steph96]

Jan 21, 2013 16:26:18 GMT -5 fuddyduddy said:

I would be inclined to join Gym 2, but classes make a huge difference for me. I find that they keep me accountable and motivated.

Can you get a week-long pass to Gyms 1 and 2 and try each of them out before making a decision?

My work gym offers daily passes for $5-7 a day. Gym 1 offers a free week long trial. Gym 2 offers 10 visits for $25.

[chessie]

Jan 21, 2013 16:29:02 GMT -5 steph96 said:

I'm not sure if I would actually do the classes. I have always wanted to try the spin classes, but it seems like they are only offered in the middle of the afternoon and then early on the weekends (which probably fills up really fast). The option would be nice, but I'm not sure if I would actually utilize it.

I would try both gyms and then make a decision.  Try the classes, all the weights, machines and go from there.  DH and I go to to the gym near us prior to work (mostly a muscle gym)..but it works for us and our needs. 

[steph96]

I'm leaning towards the gym at my work, but I feel bad have the dogs crated for even longer every single day.

[cricketwife]

Jan 21, 2013 16:19:50 GMT -5 steph96 said:

 I could go home, let the dogs out, change, and then try to talk myself into going to the gym.

This statement makes me think that you're better off with the gym at your work.  And I relate because once I get home it's really hard to talk myself into going back out to the gym.

I would start with the one at work and see if the "gym thing" works for you before paying for a contract of any sort.  It may also help you figure out what it is you want in a gym.  Even if you try the other gyms, see if you can get them to extend the promo period before you have to sign a contract. You really can't figure out it one week if you're going to stick with it.

[chessie]

Jan 21, 2013 16:34:39 GMT -5 steph96 said:

I'm leaning towards the gym at my work, but I feel bad have the dogs crated for even longer every single day.

IDK could go both ways with this.  Could go  before work, or even after, do a split workout.  I actually find it easier, let the dogs out in morning,, go to gym, work come home, etc.

[rfs13]

Is working out before work an option?
I get my workouts done early in the a.m. and then it's not hanging over my head. If I had to go home and let my dogs out/entertain them before re-crating, I would never get back out the door.
what helped me in choosing my facility was that they had to be close to my office and have a decent locker room for showering/getting ready for work.

[steph96]

Jan 21, 2013 16:48:51 GMT -5 rfs13 said:

Is working out before work an option?
I get my workouts done early in the a.m. and then it's not hanging over my head. If I had to go home and let my dogs out/entertain them before re-crating, I would never get back out the door.
what helped me in choosing my facility was that they had to be close to my office and have a decent locker room for showering/getting ready for work.

I love the idea if morning workouts, but it will never happen. I struggle waking up in time to make it to work on time. Plus I shower at night, so I would also have to be able to shower and blow dry in the morning after I work out. There is absolutely no way I can wake up that early and still function.

[ohbirdie]

I agree about trying them both out. I would vote for number one. I am very afraid of meatheads. My fat butt doesn't like to be near them.

[sunnydaze31]

Jan 21, 2013 16:41:50 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Jan 21, 2013 16:19:50 GMT -5 steph96 said:

 I could go home, let the dogs out, change, and then try to talk myself into going to the gym.

This statement makes me think that you're better off with the gym at your work.  And I relate because once I get home it's really hard to talk myself into going back out to the gym.

I would start with the one at work and see if the "gym thing" works for you before paying for a contract of any sort.  It may also help you figure out what it is you want in a gym.  Even if you try the other gyms, see if you can get them to extend the promo period before you have to sign a contract. You really can't figure out it one week if you're going to stick with it.

I agree with all of this. Once I get home, I lose all motivation and never go back out to the gym.

Starting with the non-contract gym sounds like a good option to figure out what you enjoy doing at the gym before you commit to a contract you may not use.

[RoxMonster]

I would probably go with gym 2 for myself but it's all about the fitness classes for me and having a good variety/lots of times offered. If that's not priority for you, then maybe you're better off with the gym at your work, which would also be more convenient.

[IrishBelle]

I would pick the gym at work since I like to workout after work.  If I go home first, I'm not likely goung back out fir the gym.

[Deleted]

I don't think I'd pick any of them, honestly.

Gym 1 sounds like you won't get much from it that you can't get at home. They don't have classes, what exactly are you going to do there? You have a treadmill and could easily get some weights, resistance bands, etc for a low cost and then work out at home. It sounds like you are skeptical you'll actually leave the house again in the evening so when are you going to use the gym? Working out with your FI might be nice but doesn't he work a billion hours anyway?

Gym 2 sounds great if you were going to go to classes, but it sounds like you don't plan on actually utilizing them so there is no benefit to joining that one over another.

And the one at your work sounds like it would be great except the dogs are crated too long. I think that's probably ok sometimes, but a few days a week probably won't work.

So I'd just work out at home if I were you. Get some DVDs or Wii games if you want some variety.

If I had a treadmill I definitely would NOT have a gym membership.