Now that the season is winding down, it’s time for me to start thinking about joining the local gym. Although, the gym that’s close to my house is more like a country club for fitness folks - 2 pools (with Masters classes daily), tennis, squash, racquetball, 3 spin classes per day, yoga daily, 2 full court basketball courts, daycare for the little ones, a full restaurant, weight room, etc, etc, etc…I’m sure you get the picture.
My dilemna (sp?) is the cost…Are you sitting down? Try $160 per month for my wife and me with a whopping $1,100 initiation fee. WOW!
Yes, there are other gyms here that cost less, but they are inconvenient…so my only option is to keep training as I have been or bite the bullet and suck up the $200 per month (after $25 fee for unlimited Masters swims classes, the occasional smoothie from the restaurant, and $5/hr for baby daycare while the wife and I workout).
Also, I’m thinking that training for IM’s will limit my trips to the gym because I’ll be out running and/or riding. Who has time to go to the gym when you’re already running and riding for 10-14 hours a week. The other point that I have to bring up is that I’ll be a new dad come February, so I definitely will want to be spending time w/ the baby and not so inclined to working out. What should I do?
Some other questions for you:
What do you get at your gym?
How much does it cost?
How many times a week do you go during the “season”?
I pay close to $100/month in gym fees just for me. I go about three times per week, probably more in the dead of winter. I swim, run on the treadmill, lift and do yoga. (Take advantage of the yoga, it will help you a LOT in your training, especially if you’re…well…not 19 years old). If they have good spin classes, that can also be a great way to maintain bike fitness when you’re short on time.
I wil pay a premuim for a good gym…a place I look forward to going to, that’s convenient, where I can get in a decent workout without a lot of hassle. (Hassle=scary men trying to chat me up, a too crowded weight room, a weight room where nothing gets put away).
It’s a question of priorities, as a former bodybuilder I have always had an active gym membership and I think its money well spent. I get a lot of physical and emotional benefit from that 100 bucks.
Also, FWIW, going to the gym was ESSENTIAL for my sanity when I was a new mother. Really.
Wow, that’s steep. Our local YMCAs have a cooperative membership that allows my wife and I access to around 17 different facilities for less than 100 a month. The sign-up fee was free with a coupon. At our local Y we have free master swims, free organized runs, free spin classes, free child care, and a very decent nautilus and free weight section.
I don’t know how much you can afford to spend on these luxuries, but If I were in your shoes I’d seek out a cheaper strength facility and perhaps a standalone pool membership somewhere, especially in light of your projected use of the facilities in the coming months. Congrats on the little one.
Heck for that much, you could finance several machines and a pool in your backyard!
The gym that me & my husband go to is actually located at a hospital - a new though limited trend in this area. When I first went there I was bowled over. There is, starting from the top level to the bottom level: an indoor track that has 5 laps to a mile (not bad!) which surrounds a bunch of full size tennis courts - 6, I think; another area with treadmills, elliptical machines, stair steppers, stationary bikes, etc; a well equipped weight area, a bunch of full size basketball courts, squash and racketball courts - 3 of each, a spinning room, a full sized pool with 6 lanes, a therapy pool, a spa (massages & stuff), and a huge carpeted locker area with a lounge and tv. Also in the locker area are a steam room, sauna and hot tub - each hold at least 10 people comfortably. There is also a masters program, baby sitting, and there was a running clinic for a while, too. I’m sure I’m missing stuff - I don’t take advantage of even half of what’s there.
I think it costs about $150/month for both of us (he pays). The initiation fee was steep, but you can get free services up to the amount of the fee, a massage at the spa for instance, plus personal trainer evaluation, etc.
It’s about 2 miles from home. During the summer I’ll only go there a couple of times a week, but last winter with all the snow and ice on the ground I was there almost every morning. I even did an 18 mile run indoors preparing for Boston, half on a treadmill, half on the track.
I sometimes feel I’m not there enough to justify the cost, but I would go nuts if I didn’t have it available when I need it. It’s an indulgence, I guess, but it’s worthwhile.
i’ve been a member at my gym for 5 years now. with an initial $250.00 fee then $25 (plus tax) per month.
gives me access to 2 different locations. one has a great cardio and weights area. the other has spin classes, tennis courts, 25m pool, massage and physio thearpy on sight. (and a salon that offers waxing that more men should take advantage of)
during the tri season i’m not there very often…maybe 2-3 x month when i sleep in and miss swimming with the group. off season i’m there 2-3x a week.
My gym is 145/mth with an initiation of $2000. I consider it money well spent. We have a 4 lane 25 yard pool, a fully equiped gym, squash courts, spin classes and there is an organized masters group that swims at lunch (the gym pays our annual masters dues so that we can race in the club’s name).
The gym is close to my office. I ride my bike to and from the train station and then take a train to work. I use the gym as a place to change and store stuff. It actually allows me to spend more time with our little one and to stress my wife a little less as without the gym she would have to drive me to and from the train (only one car) and I wouldn’t be able to sneak workouts in here and there during the workday.
The pool was obviously the critical factor for me. My suggestion is that a gym close to work is more practical than a gym by the house. If I tried to work out at home I would make it a lot less.
I pay for unlimited usage of my local Bally’s club for $24 a month and the first month was free.
I swim there in the summer 2 times a week and 4 times a week in the winter. In the winter months I run on the track or treadmills and sometimes use the weights.
I am increasingly appreciating that I live in a low cost-of-living area!!! WOW!
I pay $250.00 a YEAR for full gym membership that includes: 6 lane 25 yd. pool., great weight room, aerobics room (treadmills, stationary bikes, and ellipses), huge gym, and classes for everything under the sun! I go 3x/week for swimming and weights while tri training… I’ll go a lot more when I’m done with an upcoming marathon.
Just got back from signing at the gym down the street where I live. I just moved back to Brazil and I pay a whooping US$ 20 (R$ 65) for unlimited usage Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturdays 8am-1pm. What do I get? A weight room. Complimentary towel, water fountain, and locker room. Sounds very good to me. A trainer is there for whatever questions I may have, and would even help me sketch a training plan if I didn’t bring one with me, made by my coach.
A fancy gym in the same neighborhood with yoga, aerostep, power-this and jump-that, spinning and the like costs about twice as much, but it’s too much hype for me - I’d rather go in, do the workout, and leave.
In Germany I used to work out at the very popular McFit chain - 15 euros/month for unlimited 24x7 access to their 20+ locations. Amazingly large weight rooms, a locker/shower room, bring your own water, and that’s it. Never needed anything besides that anyway. I think they had spin classes but I never checked them out.
Last winter I worked out up to 3 times a week - as I will be doing all my base training in summer this year, I’ll keep it to 2 times and ride a lot more outside =)
If you are close to a Y - join there. I find when in full training mode I only need a gym to swim. The free child care is a plus. You won’t find a better value out there.
I set up a “home” gym in my basement with treadmill, bike trainer, free weights, multi machine and a TV/DVD for less than 2.5k (may seem steep - but oh it’s nice to just hope down there and workout whenever - especially for a new parent)
Have you asked if they will waive the initiation fee? Most gyms that I have been a member of waived the initiation fee as a “favor” to a new member.
My fiance and I currently pay $90 per month for spinning, yoga, pilates and stretching classes. Free weights and machines are also available. As the weather gets colder i will be at the gym 6 days a week, with runs thrown in as the weather allows.
I swim at the Jr high for a buck a swim $12 a month and the weights are free. Isn’t that a song ? I run in any weather .Bike when the snow isn’t to deep then a mag trainer . $160 a month. Wow ! I might be sick !
I pay $65/month for a full membership at my Y - that includes two gyms, two basketball courts and a pool. The only downside - the pool often has teams working out, so I’m best swimming at 5:30 AM. On the plus side, they offer cheap babysitting. I go 4 times a week during the “season” – but since Ironman Canada, I haven’t been on the inside of the gym except to play basketball.
these are excellent points. with that type of initiation fee, you could quite a bit at home. I’d consider that before joining up–long term it’s a better investment. (but, not everybody digs the home thing…just doesn’t work for some).
Which Bally’s do you go to? I’ve been a member of the Bloomfield ‘Executive’ club for a long time, so it’s about $12 a month for me. I also joined The Sports Club of West Bloomfield since it has a much better pool. I hardly go to Bally’s anymore, but I since the membership is so cheap, I keep it for convenience.
What do you get at your gym?
A) 8 Lane, 25m swimming pool. Outside during the summer, ‘bubbled’ during the winter.
Good sized weight room, free weights, machines,etc.
Decent number of aerobic machines. A few new treadmills, some are older.
Spin, yogo, aerobics classes.
Numerous tennis courts, indoors, outdoors, and bubbled.
Towels, soap, hairspray, and other junk.
Carpeted locker rooms with TVs.
How much does it cost?
A) $85/month for a couple membership.
How many times a week do you go during the “season”?
A) I swim 3 mornings a week throughout the year.
Have run from the club to the track a few times.
I’ll be hitting the gym for weights and treadmill work more in the winter.
Gym is full service with two 25 yd pools and a good masters coach - can swim just about any time and it is 5 min. from the house. Tennis/squash/raquetball for cross training.
140 per month for 2 - other masters was 45 each and was a 15 to 20 min drive with more limited time so the extra cash is worth the convenience and extra ammenities.
Damn…I get all that and more for less than $90/mo for family at LifeTime Fitness (can use any of their clubs). All the classes are free including spin, pilates,and yoga and the child care area is fantastic and free as well. www.lifetimefitness.com