Choosing a gym

MaitreyeeMAYHEM
MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
What you do you look for when you choose a gym? In the past I have always been on my parents membership but I moved. I want a new gym but I don't know what I should look for in a good quality gym.

Replies

  • chunky_pinup
    chunky_pinup Posts: 758 Member
    I think it depends on what you are interested in! Like varied classes? Find a gym with a robust group class schedule. Cardio lover? Look for one with high end cardiovascular machines? Look for one with a pool if that is your thing. Weights? Lifting heavy? Look for one that has a large weight set up where you're not going to have to wait for equipment. Do you work weird hours? Look for a 24 hour gym. It's really entirely up to what you want to get out of it!
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    chunky_pinup wrote: »
    I think it depends on what you are interested in! Like varied classes? Find a gym with a robust group class schedule. Cardio lover? Look for one with high end cardiovascular machines? Look for one with a pool if that is your thing. Weights? Lifting heavy? Look for one that has a large weight set up where you're not going to have to wait for equipment. Do you work weird hours? Look for a 24 hour gym. It's really entirely up to what you want to get out of it!

    I work early and late so I need something that is open really early. I can hit the treadmill, weights and bike and be good. My parents suggested a place but its far drive for me to go, I want to find a place with a low membership cost and near me. I guess Google will be my best option.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Honestly? One close enough that I'll actually go there. And that has the stuff I want to use.
  • jdhcm2006
    jdhcm2006 Posts: 2,254 Member
    I chose my gym & studio based on how close they are to my home, if it fit into my budget, how knowledgeable the staff is, and the type of equipment offered.
  • BruinsGal_91
    BruinsGal_91 Posts: 1,400 Member
    In order of importance when I was choosing my gym

    1. Proximity to home/office (if I don't drive past it on my way home from work, I ain't going)
    2. Cost
    3. Equipment/classes on offer
  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    Based mine on being able to go very early in the a.m., so I chose Anytime Fitness. There are 4 clubs between my home and work that I can use, anytime of the day.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    My gym is not the closest to me - or even in the city I live in - but I can go to any of their many locations, they have a lot of classes, they have a good selection of equipment and free weights, the hours fit my schedule (mostly), I also liked that they had a pool and hot tub but in the years that I've been a member I've never been in either!
  • heatherheyns
    heatherheyns Posts: 144 Member
    For me, the important parts are:

    1)distance from home
    2) the quality of childcare
    3) quality and cleanliness of equipment

    In addition, I like a nice staff, good hours, and lots of different types of equipment. I've joined a few gyms before I found one I loved, so be willing to do passes or whatever to really try them out until you find one that fits!
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    Has anyone been to Planet Fitness? I heard that it's just a straight forward gym with some circuit and ab classes.
  • heatherheyns
    heatherheyns Posts: 144 Member
    I don't go to planet fitness, but I would if they were close by. My gym has many of the same policies that are controversial, like no dropping weights, no grunting, a dress code and I love those policies. If you want a place to do heavy weight lifting unassisted it is a bad gym for you, as they often lack squat racks and free weights. So, it just depends on what you want.
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    I belong to Planet Fitness. The pros are that it is right across the street from my house and I basically just want to use cardio equipment. There are free weights at my PF although I understand that many don't have them. But the line to work in is always like 6 deep. If I want to lift heavy stuff I use the gym at work which is always empty.

    PF is a good alternative if you just want circuit and cardio machines. You can't really beat $10 a month and there are always interesting people to look at while I'm there. Like the dude that was sitting on a machine while eating a donut and doing a crossword puzzle on saturday morning.

    If you are serious about lifting or like instructor led classes it is not the gym for you.
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    I'm trying to lose at least 20 pounds so my focus now is abs and cardio. I don't think I will be doing weights just yet.
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    I also want a gym that I feel comfortable in. The last gym I was at I had 50+ year old men looking at me and several times I left. I just want a place where I can work out and leave without feeling uncomfortable.
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM wrote: »
    I also want a gym that I feel comfortable in. The last gym I was at I had 50+ year old men looking at me and several times I left. I just want a place where I can work out and leave without feeling uncomfortable.

    Unfortunately, while you can pick a gym for what if offers you can't choose the clientele. If specific people make you feel uncomfortable either address it with them or the management. There is NO way I'd let anyone drive me away from the gym (or anywhere else) unless I was in danger.

    What you described above doesn't happen at every gym so don't let that cloud your judgement.
  • Sweet_Heresy
    Sweet_Heresy Posts: 411 Member
    1. Is there a squat rack?
    2. Is the gym reasonably priced?

    If answers to both questions are yes, then they've got themselves a customer. Lol
  • heatherheyns
    heatherheyns Posts: 144 Member
    As far as issues with other clients, you just can never know. I did work out at a women's only gym, and I did love that aspect of it. However, they tend to be smaller, more expensive, ans not have the same amount of nice equipment. Find a gym you feel safe in, and that you like the management and staff, so if you run into an issue like that you feel like you can address it.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm spoiled now and couldn't imagine going back to a public gym. I go to a small studio gym that my trainer/coach owns along with his wife...basically it's like having my own gym as there's maybe two or three other people working out at any given time.

    When I belonged to an open to the public gym I wanted it to be clean, have the right equipment for what I like to do and be reasonably priced and relatively close to home. I'm not a big fan of big franchise/commercial gyms so primarily I've belonged to local gyms and a couple of community centers.

    Actually, one of my favorite gyms was the Jewish Community Center here in town...outstanding facility with a great weight room (including power rack and Oly platform) and indoor track and stand alone cardio center, Olympic pool, full gym downstairs for basketball/volleyball, etc child care, a small cafe, and a really nice playground. It was a pretty great deal as well for a family membership at $90...but it was 20-30 minutes each way from home and that got old.
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM wrote: »
    I'm trying to lose at least 20 pounds so my focus now is abs and cardio. I don't think I will be doing weights just yet.

    Now would be a really good time to start thinking about weights. You'll maintain more muscle while losing fat, and you'll get to the physique you want sooner.
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    mskessler89 wrote: »
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM wrote: »
    I'm trying to lose at least 20 pounds so my focus now is abs and cardio. I don't think I will be doing weights just yet.

    Now would be a really good time to start thinking about weights. You'll maintain more muscle while losing fat, and you'll get to the physique you want sooner.

    I'm doing planks and abs now. I started doing weights for my arms today but I am not sure on what else to do.
  • chocolate_owl
    chocolate_owl Posts: 1,695 Member
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM wrote: »
    mskessler89 wrote: »
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM wrote: »
    I'm trying to lose at least 20 pounds so my focus now is abs and cardio. I don't think I will be doing weights just yet.

    Now would be a really good time to start thinking about weights. You'll maintain more muscle while losing fat, and you'll get to the physique you want sooner.

    I'm doing planks and abs now. I started doing weights for my arms today but I am not sure on what else to do.

    Here's a post with some good information, as well as some routines you could look into. If you're brand new to weights, it's a good idea to have someone help you with your form so you don't hurt yourself.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1308750/so-you-want-to-start-lifting-great/p1
  • kirstinethornburg
    kirstinethornburg Posts: 300 Member
    Make sure the gym is clean ans that the equipment is in good working condition. I belong to Anytime
    fitness. The gym is clean and the equipment is well maintained and the other members are friendly and helpful. The member ship is affordable. When using weights be sure to rotate upper and lower body weights from day to day. . I also have a trainer that is part of the member ship.
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    It all depends on what you are looking for. All I use is weights and the heavy bag, so Anytime Fitness works for me, and it's cheap. Talk to the staff, and get a feel for them. Make sure the gym is clean, and the equipment is in good working condition. A good gym will show you around before they even talk about a membership. If you can, talk to some of the members, and ask them about their experience.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    Chalk encouraged. Competition caliber equipment. Yes I'm spoiled but I can't imagine using regular commercial equipment anymore.

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