WWYD re: gym

[vegas]

Just curious what others would do in my situation.  Last April I bought a Groupon for a gym that has rave reviews from Yelp and was spoken highly of by several friends who went there.  It's 20-30 minutes from my house, so I drive 40 minutes to an hour round trip.  The class I got to starts at 6am and I go 3 times a week.  I leave my house at 5:30, work out until 7, head home by 7:30 to shower, and get to work at 8:30.  I absolutely love everything about the gym--the owners, the size (super small classes, very intimate client base), all of my friends who I met there who help push me, the actual workouts (a mix between crossfit, insanity and boot camp), the actual facility (kinda rugged since it's an old garage turned gym, but I love it).  The owner is also my trainer and he is super involved in his clients' progress.  He know my name,  my husband's name, knows about my kids, knows my struggles, understands my strengths and weaknesses.  His knowledge of my background AND my friends I've met who work out along side me help give me that extra push I need.  I paid 10 months up front after the Groupon expired so I'm committed through March.

Across the street from my house (literally walking distance) is a crazy indoor gym that offers similar classes.  In fact, the classes are so similar that the owner of my current gym promotes his clients going there on the days my current gym is closed.  The facility is definitely nicer--crazy indoor ropes courses, tons of brand new equipment, etc.  But it's much bigger than my gym.  Plus I don't know anyone who goes there.  I imagine based on the size and what I've read that the gym has 5 times the clients of my current gym but it looks like class sizes are the same size as mine.  


So that's a long winded preface to a pretty straightforward question:  how important is gym proximity to you?  Given what I've told you about my current gym vs. new gym, WWYD?  I'm only asking now because they have a groupon that doesn't expire until March, so if I decided to leave I could get a break in the price.  Or try it out for a bit before making the ultimate decision.  I love the fact that my gym is like a little family, but that extra 3 hours a week could really help my family of two working parents and two young kids.   

[runblondie26]

Ooh, I'd be all over that gym across the street.

Proximity is extremely important to me. That's why we put together a home gym When I want a change of scenery, I drive to the gym 10 mins down the road. Finding time to even do that is limited, so walking to my guest bedroom to workout is ideal.

[Deleted]

I would love my gym to be across the street. Proximity is important to me.

[taratru]

I would loooove a gym across the street and would be able to overlook the drawbacks you describe for that. Our first gym was only 1.4 miles away and I loved that. I would just run there and back.

[archaeominx]

I would LOVE to have the gym right across the street. Ours is 15-20 minutes away from our house and the opposite direction of where I work and it's such a pain in the ass.

[pixy0stix]

I'm opposite, I have to love the place and the people so I'd keep going to the farther away gym. However, that's not saying you wouldn't develop new relationships at your new gym.

[MrsE]

Proximity is *everything* to me. Our gym has a much nicer location about 25 minutes away (close to DH's work but the opposite direction from mine) and he goes there all the time but I only go a few times a year. I cant justify wasting an hour of my day round trip to get there and back - even though it is *much* nicer than my gym. Instead, I go to the gym down the street. Sometimes I run there and back (not lately, but before my 2nd knee surgery).

IMO when it's close and convenient, I have no excuse NOT to go.

[Deleted]

Gym across the street hands down.

[vegas]

I figure it's worth at least trying. I'm just worried I won't build the same relationships I have at my current gym and those relationships are part of the reason I go as often as I do. I'm friends with my classmates on Facebook and we regularly text each other to stay motivated and to hold each other accountable. But the idea that I can run to/from the new gym is very appealing. And I work down the street too so everything within a two mile radius is appealing!

[hungrycaterpillar]

For me it's all about motivation. I would choose the gym across the street because proximity is very important to me. If I drive by everyday and see it, I'm much more likely to go.

In your case, it seems like your motivation is the atmosphere and friendships. Maybe keep a membership at both for a short period of time. See if you can build a relationship with the people at the new place and maybe you can have the best of both worlds?

[Deleted]

Gym across the street for sure. You'll meet new people.

My husband goes to a rugged gym 30 drive away that is small and he loves it. My gym is 1.5 miles away and is perfect for me (new gear, pool etc, plus I can run there!)
I would never swap my gym for his, even if I loved everyone who went there. Way more convenient so it requires no planning to go and because it is close I go way more often.

[dragonfly08]

I work out at home, that's how important proximity is to me! But I also prefer working out alone, so the "family" aspect of a gym is meaningless as far as I'm concerned. I'd at least try the gym across the street. If atmosphere matters, that should give you a basis for deciding whether the extra drive time is worth it.

[Deleted]

I would try out the new gym across the road.

[Deleted]

Proximity is really important to me. I think I would lose motivation if I had to drive 30 minutes to get to my gym, hell I have equipment in my basement because I don't even like leaving the house.

[AAM2012]

Dec 28, 2013 12:45:22 GMT -5 vegas said:

I figure it's worth at least trying. I'm just worried I won't build the same relationships I have at my current gym and those relationships are part of the reason I go as often as I do. I'm friends with my classmates on Facebook and we regularly text each other to stay motivated and to hold each other accountable. But the idea that I can run to/from the new gym is very appealing. And I work down the street too so everything within a two mile radius is appealing!

Proximity doesn't mean crap if you hate the gym culture

I recommend buying a week pass to the gym that's close to see how you feel and then make a decision.

[bostonmichelle]

I would go a couple weeks or months to the new gym and try it out. I used to go to a gym a half hour away and could not stay motivated to keep going. I think it would be promising that your current gym's owner endorses the new gym.

[skwcm80]

Another vote for the closer gym. I usually am only using the treadmill if I'm in there and I don't really have close relationships with any one there, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

[emilyinchile]

Sounds like your best bet may be to buy the Groupon (or a one-month membership or similar if that's cheaper than the Groupon) and check out closer gym on the days current gym is closed. Then decide!

[sadlebred]

Can you join the new gym and the old gym? Go to the old gym 1-2 days/week when it's convenient. Go to the new gym on the other days?

[statlerwaldorf]

Having the gym across the street would be very important to me.

[secretlyevil]

Dec 28, 2013 18:47:50 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

Dec 28, 2013 12:45:22 GMT -5 vegas said:

I figure it's worth at least trying. I'm just worried I won't build the same relationships I have at my current gym and those relationships are part of the reason I go as often as I do. I'm friends with my classmates on Facebook and we regularly text each other to stay motivated and to hold each other accountable. But the idea that I can run to/from the new gym is very appealing. And I work down the street too so everything within a two mile radius is appealing!

Proximity doesn't mean crap if you hate the gym culture

I recommend buying a week pass to the gym that's close to see how you feel and then make a decision.

I agree, because of what you've described, I would do a week trial.

In my case, if its not convenient it doesn't work. Your current situation doesn't sound convenient to me at all. If you like this new gym, think of how much time you'll save.

[vegas]

Dec 28, 2013 23:07:58 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Can you join the new gym and the old gym? Go to the old gym 1-2 days/week when it's convenient. Go to the new gym on the other days?

No, they are both pretty expensive as it is, I definitely don't think I could convince DH to let me do two.  

[jamalynn]

Dec 28, 2013 10:45:12 GMT -5 runblondie26 said:

Ooh, I'd be all over that gym across the street.

Proximity is extremely important to me. That's why we put together a home gym When I want a change of scenery, I drive to the gym 10 mins down the road. Finding time to even do that is limited, so walking to my guest bedroom to workout is ideal.

This!  I, too, have a home gym. I have a gym membership but don't get to use it much because it's just easier to go upstairs and work out. I would go across the street if I were you. 

[spunkypenguin]

I would buy the Groupon and try it out...you may like it. I would probably stick with the old gym where I was comfortable and had a good "home group." My gym is about 20 minutes away/opposite direction of work, but it's like Cheers - you walk in and everyone knows one another - they wonder what's up if you don't show up...it's good for accountability. I tried to give it up to save money, but just couldn't motivate myself to do home workouts like when I go there.

[itsme]

That would be a hard one for me! I love my gym because of the people and the workouts (of course) but it's much further from me than a similar gym that is much much closer. I stay because I love the dynamics.

In your case I would give the other place a try for a week or two. You may be surprised and enjoy it and start meeting and making friends there too.