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"Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone?
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An old friend just helped open the new Lifetime Fitness facility in Columbia, MD, and is one of their trainers and a trainer-supervisor.

I'm not big on "fitness clubs" but even this amazed me. I got the good tour...and explanations. My friend is a hard-a$$ when it comes to life, and even HE is impressed with Lifetime.

Virtual tour on their website:

http://www.lifetimefitness.com/clubs/index.cfm?strWebAction=virtual_tour

Any thoughts from others who have been in one? Does it suit your needs?

Lauren



-------------------------

Lauren Muney
certified physical fitness trainer
certified health coach
wellcoach
http://www.physicalmind.com

There is no escape from your life... solve the problems and get on with it.

"Just tell her you love her and you think she kicks ass" ~AndrewinNH

"I'm moving [Lauren] to guru status" ~Last Tri in 83
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I go to two, 170,000 sq feet of gym, two pools etc. it's prety cool here in AZ compared to other gyms I visited and they provide towels (which was the deal maker for me), and actually less than other high class 24hr gyms in the area. I've never waited for a treadmill, and the treadmils go to 12.5mph which is nice.

I am less impressed with some of the trainers. I've overheard them telling clients things that are wrong about exercise physiology, which of course I mentioned to them. Most don't bring clients near me anymore for some reason.

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [desert dude] [ In reply to ]
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[b]the treadmils go to 12.5[/b]

why not just make 10 faster and make THAT the top....

oh wait...I guess that joke doesn't work here :-)

------------------
The world is full of pricks who can only criticize. Are you one of them?

Your time and energy are limited. Are you wasting them by talking shit on the forums? -Dave Tate
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [desert dude] [ In reply to ]
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"I am less impressed with some of the trainers. I've overheard them telling clients things that are wrong about exercise physiology, which of course I mentioned to them"

I understand. Many (if not 'most') trainers are idiots. (Don't go to a trainer conference, you'll want to fake your own death like I did).

Re: waiting for treadmills:

I heard that even in the busiest times with spilling-over parking, there no lines for equipment at the MD facility. Wow.




I was simply impressed with the details:

-Movable jets of air in the spinning room. Cool racing pics on spinning room walls.

-Sound baffling between gym floor and "mind/body" area, plus great pseudo-zen atmosphere in the mind/body area. Area oriental rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. Velvet curtains to cover mirrors. Candle sconces on the walls. Plants.

-wonderful key/ID system for the lockers.

-actual quality, handmade "real" food in the cafe.

-airy spacious feeling

-okay, it was really marble-and-hi-tech-corporate, but at least there was no neon ;)

More comments?

Lauren



-------------------------

Lauren Muney
certified physical fitness trainer
certified health coach
wellcoach
http://www.physicalmind.com

There is no escape from your life... solve the problems and get on with it.

"Just tell her you love her and you think she kicks ass" ~AndrewinNH

"I'm moving [Lauren] to guru status" ~Last Tri in 83
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I have become quiet impressed with the quality of hotties at the LTF in Gilbert, AZ.


**All of these words finding themselves together were greatly astonished and delighted for assuredly, they had never met before**
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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When I lived in Michigan, I belonged to the Lifetime Fitness in Novi. I LOVED!! that gym -- they had tons of spin classes starting as early as 5am. These classes were filled with people serious about fitness. I met more than one ironman athlete there. They also had great strength training and step classes. All of the classes were taught by well qualified instructors and they were tough; no wimpy workouts. The facilities were also really nice; they provided towels at no charge; they had childcare that was free, well staffed, and open all the right hours. A friend of mine once joked that she told her husband he couldn't get transferred because she didn't want to give up her Lifetime Fitness membership.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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My wife and I have been to pretty much every lifetime fitness in the Minneapolis area. The ones actually in the city aren't as nice as the new ones in the suburbs. I do think that they've got a niche figured out. Surprise, people are willing to pay more for a gym that provides laundered towels, doesn't require you to bring a lock, provides childcare, has adequate pools and lots of space to train.

Plus c'mon, they sponsor one of the most expensive triathlons in Minneapolis! $120+ for an Oly is amazing!!

Josh
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I love the whole locker set up. The fact that i do not have to carry a lock (my kids think that these are great toys) is a big plus. I like the fact that they provide towels. After swimming during my lunch hour i can grab a pretty good lunch. I go to the one in Chandler and the one in Austin and i like the fact that they are basically the same setup so I already know where everything is.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Josh_CO] [ In reply to ]
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"I do think that they've got a niche figured out. Surprise, people are willing to pay more for a gym that provides laundered towels, doesn't require you to bring a lock, provides childcare, has adequate pools and lots of space to train."

...and is open 24 hrs. Most gyms here (DC/MD) aren't.

Btw, they creating their own construction company to build their gyms... and I heard the owner was originally an architect.

Interesting!

Lauren



-------------------------

Lauren Muney
certified physical fitness trainer
certified health coach
wellcoach
http://www.physicalmind.com

There is no escape from your life... solve the problems and get on with it.

"Just tell her you love her and you think she kicks ass" ~AndrewinNH

"I'm moving [Lauren] to guru status" ~Last Tri in 83
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I quit going to my local Lifetime. Too much nudity during the overnight hours. I would go into swim at 12:30 a.m. and there would be atleast one girl topless in the hot tub with her boyfriend once a week. I couldn't concentrate on training. It was too much of a distraction so I quit and joined my local Y. Now I get to see a bunch of 80+ year old men naked in the morning. That motivates me to get the hell out of the lockeroom and into the pool as quick as I can.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [mojozenmaster] [ In reply to ]
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really? I'll have to start visiting there more often. It used to be well below the Chandler location.

Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

Last edited by: desert dude: Mar 16, 06 17:23
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [desert dude] [ In reply to ]
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Absolutely. Just this morning I put the moves on a hottie that I have been lusting after for at least 6 weeks. I turned on my superior seductive charm and scored a date with her for next week. The atmosphere/floorplan at LTF makes it easy for me to identify hotties who are checking me out.....and easier for me to go in for the kill.

If it were not for you turning me on to that place, my love life would be a bit boring.

Thank You.


**All of these words finding themselves together were greatly astonished and delighted for assuredly, they had never met before**
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [mojozenmaster] [ In reply to ]
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I've belonged to the Lifetime in Troy, MI since it opened, and that would be one of my two complaints about it. In the evenings, it becomes a social club / singles bar atmosphere, with groups of 16--25 year olds "hanging out" rather than working out. They seem completely oblivious to the fact that at least some of us actually want to USE the equipment, rather than lean on it while flirting.

My other complaint is that the Troy club is way oversold. During peak hours, you have to wait in line to use a treadmill, you have to park across the street, you can't find a locker, they ration towels because they can't wash & dry them fast enough, the trash cans overflow, you have to wait in line with a bunch of naked guys to use the shower, etc. At any given time about 15% of the cardio equipment is broken, mostly from overuse. I work out almost exculsively early in the morning to avoid these problems.

I've been to several other Lifetimes, and they are much better. There is a catch with the different membership types, however. If you're a 'Fitness' member like me, you can't use a 'Sports' club, even if you don't take advantage of any of the 'sports' extras. Kind of pisses me off that the Lifetime on my way home is off limits to me unless I upgrade to a sports membership, which I will get no benefit from.

On the positive side, being able to workout 24/7 is a real plus. They have a wide array of good equipment, and generally competent employees, although there are some glaring exceptions. I travel quite a bit, and it's nice that new clubs are springing up all over the country. Overall I'm pretty happy.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [dbh1] [ In reply to ]
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Troy is a suburb of Detroit, right?


**All of these words finding themselves together were greatly astonished and delighted for assuredly, they had never met before**
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [mojozenmaster] [ In reply to ]
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Yes, north of Detroit. Troy was the first of 6 Lifetime locations to open around Detroit.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I go to the flagship club for the whole chain. Though there are certain things I wish they would change/add, all in all their clubs are really great. What's really impressive is how quickly they have grown and spread throughout the country. However, it's not really surprising if you have ever met the CEO. He really is the driving force behind Lifetime's explosion and also a major reason why the LTF Triathlon is such a great event too. He has the music too loud when he teaches spin classes though... :)
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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The one is North Austin is new. Open last October or so. Great facility, huge. Like others said, lockers and other stuff is top notch. Lots of equipment to use even at peak hours but I can see the potential to get crowded in the future. Spinning room is amazing. Lots of bikes (25-35) or so. They have indoor and outdoor pools. I have only used indoor lap pool and it's OK. Most people are idiots and are unable to share lanes and circle swim. Now that summer is getting near I hope the pool situation gets better. I do not like their lap pool kid policy. My kid is 9 and swims competitively. They have some times when kids under 12 are not allowed in any pool. Even though we were both doing our workouts sharing a lane, the lifeguard came near the end of our session and asked me to get him out. I try to take my kid with me when possible. With training and workout, I try to maximize out time together. I run and he bikes. We try to go swimming together when possible. This issue with the pool could become a deal breaker.

Regardnig the trainers I think you can't just make broad statements for or against. I started working with one of them 3 weeks ago with the specific goal of improving flexibility. I told him specifically that my goal was to be more comfortable in the aero position and have a stronger upstroke in my pedal when aero. It's too early to tell, but I believe him to be very professional and knowlegeable and so far I would recommend working with them.

Regarding membership I have the basic one. I can do all my training and more without the more expensive one.

I think you'll like it. Give it a try. ( the good thing is that there is no monthly commitment.)

Carlos
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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He's a chemist. But, intimately involved in every detail of every club design.

If there aren't enough treadmills, they will buy more. Just ask. They don't get hung up on "trivial" matters like other clubs.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I was a member of the Indianapolis one for a couple of years. I hardly ever went because it was inconvenient for me (situated in area that's a traffic nightmare after work), and it was always very busy. It would absolutely suck to drive over there and then not be able to do whatever it was I wanted to do because of it being too busy. During the winter months it's difficult to find a parking space. The exercise bikes were few and kinda sucked. On weekends, the lap pool was constanly invaded with small children splashing around getting in the way, even though there was a kiddee pool right there. Staff didn't seem to care. Trainers were horrible (from what I could overhear). Lots, and LOTS of posers/socialites/etc after work...though that was sometimes fun to watch. Cost, at $50+/month, seemed really high to me.

Positives...free towels, generally very clean, 24hour access, lot of eye candy, classes looked interesting (never took any), quite a lot of nice equipment.

I eventually dumped it for a $20/month no-frills gym which I also rarely go to. I pretty much like to exercise outdoors no matter the weather. While Lifetime is fantastic facility, I just wasn't getting the value out of it to justify continuing.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Diesel] [ In reply to ]
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K - I'm pretty sure that he's an E.E. from Colorado. Either way, he's making out pretty good!
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [dbh1] [ In reply to ]
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I used to go to the Troy Lifetime fitness but moved house so its no longer on my way home and now use the one out in Shelby Twn.

Overall the facilities in troy are very good, though the chemicals in pool where often screwed up. Just after christmass / new year time the place was overly full in the evenings, at least until the new year resolution effect wears off. The treadmills they had there where excellent.

In Shelby Twn. the place is not as busy, I swim at lunch time and often get the entire pool to my self. There is allways a treadmill free and even parking is not that bad when it is at its busiest.

However the treadmills at this branch suck, and suck BIG time. None of them can I go faster than a 6 min mile, and most you don't want to as they are about to fall to pices. It often takes me 2-3 machine swaps before I can find one that is not going just shut off 2 mins into a run and reset. If they upgraded these the place would be perfect.

The yoga classes are good. The spin classes are okish, more of a cardio workout, if you want to incorporate single leg drills you will have to differ from the proposed workout. I do however get fed up with the constant Polar heart rate monitor sales pitch. The way they go on and on you would think people get FAT by just not wearing a 'Polar' HT monitor.

From what I have seen unless your into beefing up and pushing heavy weights 99% of their trainers don't know anything. One of the sping class trainers tried to convince me that drinking gaterade during one of my 2 hour 2000 calorie sweat'athon brick workouts was actually bad for me.......He didn't have a clue about electrolyte levels.

---------------------------
http://www.nunnsontherun.com
Last edited by: gavnunns: Mar 17, 06 6:25
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I'm in the Mpls area too, and I was actually a member of the very first Lifetime Fitness years and years ago. I rejoined last summer when they opened a new, big facility near my house. I love it. I love how open the workout area is, and the pools are fantastic! We have a 5-lane 25m indoor lap pool (which they tend to keep nice & cold), and an outdoor 25m lap pool too. My main complaint with the clubs, though, is that they do not design them with indoor tracks. I usually do speedwork over the winter, and I prefer to do it on a track. Luckily there is a highschool nearby me with a beautiful infoor 250m track, so I use that instead.

And I too have taken the CEO's (Braham) spinning classes. They're nuts! Loud, with a live DJ, playing the tour de france DVDs on large projector screens. I bring earplugs. :) The guy is one-of-a-kind!
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I go to the one in Columbus.

Pool has always passed the health inspections, one of a very few in COlumbus that has done so. Little wait for a lane. Enough aerobic and weight equipment that there is almost no wait.

The scenery is much, much better than at the Y. And the price is only 20 bucks a month more than for the Y.

I have very few complaints other than the fact that I got moved to the wrong side of town for work so getting ther eis less convenient than it used to be.

I'm beginning to think that we are much more fucked than I thought.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [Fitnesscoach] [ In reply to ]
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I've been to 3 in Plymouth (West suburb),Coon Rapids(Northern suburb), and DT Minneapolis, MN. I liked all three, especially Plymouth they werw well supported, and a lot of nice knowledgable people working there. I would have joined but it would have cost me and extra 100 a month to work out DT Mpls.
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Re: "Lifetime Fitness" facility... anyone? [j p o] [ In reply to ]
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I've been to the Columbus Lifetime, and it has a slightly different format than the other ones I have been to. Columbus is probably the best one I have been to, I was very impressed with a couple of the spin class instructors when I was there over the Christmas holidays.

You mentioned the pool...I took a "masters" swim class in Troy a couple of years ago and the pool was pretty bad (again I think mostly from how many people were using it). It kept getting worse, finally the instructor complained to the club manager, and when he didn't do anything about it, she called the county health department. Within two days, the pool was closed and completely drained for cleaning. Since then they have been much better about it, although it is still closed fairly often for "chemical balancing" whatever that means.
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