Gym Membership worth it?

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cadpro78
cadpro78 Posts: 125 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
How many people have tried or on a gym membership program? Is it worth it?
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  • SarahPeters3
    SarahPeters3 Posts: 100 Member
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    Yes! You'll have access to so much more equipment and the trainers can help if you have questions about using it safely and correctly it's one of the best investments you can make in yourself!
  • slimzandra
    slimzandra Posts: 955 Member
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    It's worth it, If you actually go.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
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    I don't have one and have workout consistently for 3 years.

    I have weights at home with the weight I need and my husband and son built me a squat rack.

    I bike, run, walk, swim. I use fitnessblender.com just bought a weighted skipping rope at winners...

    No gym membership required to get in shape and be fit.

    I wouldn't waste my money to be honest...I thought about it...walked into a gym and the front desk clerk looked at me when I asked for a tour and his response was "cardio is upstairs"...

    I looked at him and said do I look like a cardio bunny to you? he still wouldn't give me a tour and didn't know what a power rack was and pointed me to the smith machine...smh. He is lifter too...
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,442 Member
    edited April 2016
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    I think the answer is individual to each person. I personally love my gym membership. Unlike super-lucky @SezxyStef, I don't have any weights at home. I haul my rear to the gym four days a week to lift. I do have an elliptical at home, so I don't cardio at the gym much.

    I also joined an Anytime Fitness because I travel some for work and I love being able to have access to a full gym when I am on the road, unlike the hotel fitness rooms which are usually just a treadmill and a bike.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
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    Totally depends on your goals and what you want.

    @SezxyStef has a home set up. That works REALLY well for some people.

    I personally hate it- I LIKE going to the gym- I work 4 jobs- and that's one of my few times where I feel like I can socialize a little bit AND accomplish my task. On top of that- I'm SUPER inconsistent with working out at home. I'm more than capable of doing so- I have the skills and technically the discapline- but there is always something else to be done. So my consistency drops of the face of the earth.

    For me- the consistency of my schedule, getting out of my house AND the fact there is a wood floor and mirrors there so I can have dance time to myself for rehearsal or practice- is priceless. Well worth the 420$/year I shell out.

    But it's not for everyone- you have to do what works for you.

    Is it needed to get in shape? absolutely not.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
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    a gym membership is worth it if you go. you going to the gym is determined on a lot of things though. what are you interested in? lots of cardio equipment? a pool? weights? classes? if classes, are they at the times you'll be able to make it? is it close to home, or close to work? does it have good hours for you?

    many gyms offer a week long trial before signing up. you could probably try a few different gyms for free before committing to one or any.
  • kathryn2130
    kathryn2130 Posts: 13 Member
    edited April 2016
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    It all depends on what your needs are. If you are paying for a membership then make sure you can go so you are not wasting your money. If you can get the same workout at home then I would say not to do buy a membership. If you can afford something like a bow flex or something else like it then that and maybe some cardiovascular DVD's are all you need. Plus you don't need a treadmill to get a walk in. Just step out side.
  • yusaku02
    yusaku02 Posts: 3,476 Member
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    SezxyStef wrote: »
    I don't have one and have workout consistently for 3 years.

    I have weights at home with the weight I need and my husband and son built me a squat rack.

    I bike, run, walk, swim. I use fitnessblender.com just bought a weighted skipping rope at winners...

    No gym membership required to get in shape and be fit.

    I wouldn't waste my money to be honest...I thought about it...walked into a gym and the front desk clerk looked at me when I asked for a tour and his response was "cardio is upstairs"...

    I looked at him and said do I look like a cardio bunny to you? he still wouldn't give me a tour and didn't know what a power rack was and pointed me to the smith machine...smh. He is lifter too...
    I wouldn't call a gym membership a 'waste'. A home gym isn't viable for everyone. I'm an apartment dweller on the 3rd floor and I'd be kicked out faster than I could finish my first set of deadlifts.
    I'd love a home gym someday but until then the gym is great!
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,268 Member
    edited April 2016
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    yusaku02 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    I don't have one and have workout consistently for 3 years.

    I have weights at home with the weight I need and my husband and son built me a squat rack.

    I bike, run, walk, swim. I use fitnessblender.com just bought a weighted skipping rope at winners...

    No gym membership required to get in shape and be fit.

    I wouldn't waste my money to be honest...I thought about it...walked into a gym and the front desk clerk looked at me when I asked for a tour and his response was "cardio is upstairs"...

    I looked at him and said do I look like a cardio bunny to you? he still wouldn't give me a tour and didn't know what a power rack was and pointed me to the smith machine...smh. He is lifter too...
    I wouldn't call a gym membership a 'waste'. A home gym isn't viable for everyone. I'm an apartment dweller on the 3rd floor and I'd be kicked out faster than I could finish my first set of deadlifts.
    I'd love a home gym someday but until then the gym is great!

    Oh I understand that...some people don't consider it a waste...that's why I said...I wouldn't waste my money.

    not sure why deadlifts would cause an issue...I've never had my weights slam on the floor doing my deads.

    I should have added I have been a gym member...I enjoyed the social aspect but found it was intrusive for me...or the equipment I needed to use was not available...

    But like @quiksylver296 said it's a personal thing really...

    ETA I am lucky to be able to have a weight workout room at home...lucky my son is a welder and husband is an engineer and the squat rack that they built me is great....their next plan is a power cage
  • LazSommer
    LazSommer Posts: 1,851 Member
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    Lol
  • Mike02209
    Mike02209 Posts: 301 Member
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    Still costs money, but you may want to check out a local YMCA as opposed to a commercial gym, they often have pretty decent gyms for relatively little cost.
  • dolliesdaughter
    dolliesdaughter Posts: 544 Member
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    slimzandra wrote: »
    It's worth it, If you actually go.
    ITA, the long and short of it.

  • MelissaPhippsFeagins
    MelissaPhippsFeagins Posts: 8,063 Member
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    I have a family membership at my local YMCA. It has great child care options, plus a pool and basketball court my teens like to use while I lift. It's definitely worth it to me.
  • yesimpson
    yesimpson Posts: 1,372 Member
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    I like my gym. It is expensive, but I like having people around me (not necessarily socialising whilst working out, but I quite like exchanging hellos and good mornings and occasional chats, and my gym hosts barbeques, comedy nights, stuff like that which is quite cool), I like the variety of equipment, and if I have to leave my house to exercise in a building I've paid to have access to it feels more like an appointment or obligation I have to keep, therefore I'm less likely to tell myself 'Oh I'll just do it later'. Plus it removes the excuse of not wanting to go out for a run if it's hammering it down or in the winter when it's dark or icy.
  • prettygirlstorm1
    prettygirlstorm1 Posts: 722 Member
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    I belong to the YMCA in my neighborhood. I love it. It seems to be a bit more personal than Planet or LA fitness. I can do classes, cardio and strength as well as get help from the trainer if I need it. I don't like to work out at home.
  • StacyChrz
    StacyChrz Posts: 865 Member
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    It's all about personal preference. I have been a member of several different gyms over the years and am now trying out Anytime Fitness and planning to switch from Planet Fitness. I have a barbell and some other free weights at home for when I don't have time to go, and I love to get outside and walk or hike, but I find I am more consistent if I am paying for a monthly membership fee.
  • coreyreichle
    coreyreichle Posts: 1,039 Member
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    slimzandra wrote: »
    It's worth it, If you actually go.

    Final answer.
  • ashishtk22
    ashishtk22 Posts: 12 Member
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    Definitely worth it! Besides the extensive workouts that we can hope to just "replicate" at home, you have access to trainers & also people who're on the same path. Nothing beats that!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,874 Member
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    It depends on what you want to do. 99% of my gym use is the weight room...if I didn't need the weight room I wouldn't belong to a gym. Cycling is my primary cardiovascular exercise and I don't need a gym for that...just my bike and the road.

    Also, there's a pretty wide variety of gym types, so you'd likely want to do some looking around to find the setting you'd be most comfortable with. I've been in and out of gyms for the better part of my life and there are some that I have always felt right at home in and others I have not.
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
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    THE GYM IS ALWAYS WORTH IT. I pay $40 x month to have a gym that is both by my work and home (I have a 1.5 hour commute each way so I need this option) and I never for a second would consider this something that I would give up. Once you dedicate yourself to the gym, you will have success and feel that it is a necessary way to spend your money. Plus, if you go every day it really isn't that much x day if you think about it that way!

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