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traineo Community / Exercise & Training Tips / Worth of a Gym Membership?
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Monique Kamosi
Fitness Guru
Posts: 246
Post History
 # Posted: 1 Feb 2008 20:54


Question: I currently am able to work out at my university's gym, but the equipment is limited and I'm finding that I can rarely get an effective workout with all the waiting, broken machines, and insufficient weight training equipment. I've been planning to buy a gym membership after I graduate, but I don't want to wait around to exercise properly for the next three months. Is it worth the 60 or 80 extra dollars to buy the membership now? What benefits would I find in a gym? (BTW, the gym I would go to would be 24 Hour Fitness, if anyone is familiar with it).

Thanks!
Chris H
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 81
Post History
 # Posted: 1 Feb 2008 20:58


I was actually in the same situation not long ago. I had access to the school gym but the weight machines were few and far between. Once I joined the gym by my house I had financial motivation to go. If I'm paying for it, why not go? Also, being in the company of those who are "serious" about getting into shape is a big boost and will push you to do better. When I see all those guys with ripped chests and arms as big as my head I aspire to be as vigilante as them. The array of equipment and resources available at a gym makes it worth the price as well.

Good luck,
Chris
Kevin Le
traineo Newbie
Posts: 1
Post History
 # Posted: 1 Feb 2008 20:59


24 Hour fitness is great! Except during primetime (around 5pm-7pm). It gets packed and it's hard to get any equipment especially cardio machines. I used to work for one so I would know.
Ara Bruno
Fitness Guru
Posts: 774
Post History
 # Posted: 1 Feb 2008 21:03


I currently belong to a 24 hour fitness gym and it is great because no matter what time I can go work out. Late at night when I feel like snacking I can instead get in the car and go workout. It gives you more options about when to go workout. I would personally pay the extra 60 to 80 bucks for more equipment and less "breckage"
Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
Post History
 # Posted: 1 Feb 2008 21:18


That's so crazy to me! My school's gym was awesome! I went to the University of Alabama and we had tons of equipment and free weights. Plus they had some great classes that they did there. I really miss the yoga.

Anyways, I would say a good gym membership is worth it. I'm not familiar with 24 hour fitness, and definitely check it out and make sure, but I would say it will probably be worth it if you are serious about getting a good work out.
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 1 Feb 2008 21:55 - Edited by: nicholman


I'm with a version of 24hr fitness (they are/were Cardio Express out here in CT). I really like them, but warn that they don't have the best reviews from anyone trying to get out of the contract - read it well! Mine is only $20/month and well worth it (I would pay 40).
Xyba Dog
traineo Regular
Posts: 43
Post History
 # Posted: 1 Feb 2008 22:45


Hi. I'm not familiar with 24 hour gyms (don't know if we have any in the UK), but I don't like the sound of it myself.
Body clocks are strange animals and messing about exercising your body when it's supposed to be asleep, regardless of what shift work you may work, is detrimental to your own internal wellbeing.
As for the benefits of gym membership I can fully endorse it.
I get all the equipment I would need, without exception, it's well maintained and the number of each machine means I don't have a problem getting a machine I want when it's busy.
I also find them a great place to socialise and exchange fitness ideas and just general chat.
THE NEW ME
The Master
Posts: 2856
Post History
 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 01:01


why dont you ask them when their busiest times are and see if you can get a free weeks pass and go during the busy times and see if they have what you want/ need and see whats available? most gyms give you a free pass for a week if you say you are interested in joining. if not, try it out for a day. also, when you are in the locker room or on the machines, talk to other people and ask them if they like it etc.
Monique Kamosi
Fitness Guru
Posts: 246
Post History
 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 01:16


The New Me, I think that's what I'm going to do -- get a week pass and see if I even like it.

Xyba Dog -- 24 Hour Fitness is just the name of the gym -- I go to bed at 9pm and get up at 5am every day -- there's no WAY I'll be there at odd hours.

Thanks guys!
THE NEW ME
The Master
Posts: 2856
Post History
 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 02:03


ok let us know what happens.


Itadaki Mouse
Fitness Guru
Posts: 813
Post History
 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 09:20


Busiest gym hours seem to be pretty standard: 12pm to 1pm for the lunch hour crowd, then 5pm to 8pm for the after-work crowd.

Gyms are also overcrowded between January and April with the New Year's Resolution crowd.

If you want to get a feel for how well your gym manages membership size, these are the times and dates to visit. This is the perfect time to use a trial membership.
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
Post History
 # Posted: 2 Feb 2008 11:12


The convenience of having a membership to a 24-hour Fitness is hard to pass up, especially a multi-location membership, and now would be a good time to try to negotiate membership fees I'd imagine since the New Years resolution folks are probably starting to dry up and they're going to want to keep enrollment numbers high...

OR they could be content with the sudden influx of folks they got during January and not budge on numbers... I guess it could work either way...

Or if you're willing, you can just prepay for a year of membership and a few training sessions and they'll almost always throw you a deal for that. I'm not a big believer in hiring trainers in the long run, but having getting another set of eyes on your diet, exercise and really prioritizing your goals now and then isn't a bad thing, as long as you take it with a grain of salt: remember these guys are paid the longer you work with them, and I'm sure there's trainers out there who would slow down your progress just to see a few extra bucks by forcing extra sessions (not ALL, but I've definitely met a few).
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