How do you choose a gym?

ejb245

Hi there!

I've decided to bite the bullet and join a gym to liven up my workouts, add a strength training component, and maybe try a group fitness class that I can get behind to ramp up my fitness and weight loss goals. I've tried joining gyms in the past but haven't stayed with them because it was local to work and not home (thought I would go all the time during lunch, but work would get busy and then I'd find excuses not to do it), or near home but I wasn't really ready for a structured gym schedule and so didn't have one and therefore didn't go.

Right now, I run a couple of days a week during my lunch break at work and once or twice a week at night when I get home.

I have a bunch of gyms within 5 miles of my house including: Bally's, LA Fitness, a local gym that just opened, YMCA, a kickboxing studio that's a block away that is just opening, an aquatic and fitness center, etc.

Any thoughts? How do I pick? Is it just price? Do I "interview" them? I wasn't sure if I should add this post here or the general question, but I thought I'd try Fitness and Exercise first.

FearAnLoathing

Mine was easy in my town there was anytime fitness which was 30 bucks a month or curves that wanted 130

Amo_Angelus

Look for one nearest to good coffee ^_^ Ok, so I don't go to a gymn, but that's totally how I'd chooe one if I did. Or I'd go to the one in the retail park with the cinema, frankie and bennies and MacDonalds around it...jut for the lulz.

_SusieQ_

For me I wanted to be someplace I felt comfortable. That just happened to be the one on the higher end of the money scale, but I love it. I felt places like All American and Gold's were too much of a meat market (IMO). I went with the YMCA b/c 1) people seem to go there to actually work out and 2) it had the most variety of fitness classes to choose from.

ambermichon

depends on what you want.....I wanted a gym with lots of equipment so I wouldnt have to wait, classes, spinning, pilates, good showers etc. that costs more than your average gym but I am willing to pay for it because I utilize all of it.

Adsnwfld

Our YMCA offers so much for the entire family that the choice was easy

christine24t

When I joined my gym back home (Lifetime), I just walked in and said I was thinking of joining a gym and asked for a tour. I checked out the atmosphere of the gym, the people, and the facilities. I think a sign of a good facility is that it is well used! If they ask you, "so , would you like to sign up?" just say "i am going to think about it, I am still looking at other gyms." Get price sheets and compare/contrast, and decide which one felt the best to you!

KateHubb

I chose mine based on the fact that they had childcare and because there weren't little kids running around everywhere in the gym area climbing all over the equipment. Also, each cardio machine has it's own personal TV on it, which makes the time go by really fast in my opinion. They offer a wide variety of classes as well for all fitness levels. It just "felt" right. There aren't a whole lot of options here, but I'm happy with where I chose! Good luck!

ArroganceInStep

Most let you come in for free to try it out. Make sure they have enough of the equipment you plan to use (if you do squats and they only have one squat rack in the whole place...that's a problem). Classes are fantastic, not necessarily because you get a better workout there (though if the instructor is good you should) but because a lot of people are more likely to go to a class with a predetermined time than to go workout on their own.

At the end of the day, a gym is just a gym. The place I go to is $150 a month (I only go because it's near my office and I get a massive discount through my job) and it's no different from the place near my house that's $15 a month. Figure out what you want to do, be it lifting/swimming/classes/martial arts/whatever and where a gym would have to be for you to be most likely to go. Then make sure the gym in that area has what you need, and if there's multiple go with the one you like more or that is cheaper.

Getting through the first few months of gyming it up is difficult. Not allowing yourself to make excuses to skip a day here or a day there is very tough. Once you get past that though, it gets easier. I'm sure you'll grow to love whatever gym you do end up choosing.

ninerbuff

Hi there!

I've decided to bite the bullet and join a gym to liven up my workouts, add a strength training component, and maybe try a group fitness class that I can get behind to ramp up my fitness and weight loss goals. I've tried joining gyms in the past but haven't stayed with them because it was local to work and not home (thought I would go all the time during lunch, but work would get busy and then I'd find excuses not to do it), or near home but I wasn't really ready for a structured gym schedule and so didn't have one and therefore didn't go.

Right now, I run a couple of days a week during my lunch break at work and once or twice a week at night when I get home.

I have a bunch of gyms within 5 miles of my house including: Bally's, LA Fitness, a local gym that just opened, YMCA, a kickboxing studio that's a block away that is just opening, an aquatic and fitness center, etc.

Any thoughts? How do I pick? Is it just price? Do I "interview" them? I wasn't sure if I should add this post here or the general question, but I thought I'd try Fitness and Exercise first.

Location, what the facility offers, price and time it's open are the biggest factors. Don't buy into clubs that offer so much "cool" stuff that you never use. If you don't play racquet ball, don't join a club that features it because the cost is included in your membership. Same with a pool.
Write down you expectations of what you plan to do in a gym. If it's just to workout, then pick something like ANYTIME FITNESS which is just a gym only. You like classes, then 24 hour or Bally's provides classes along with a gym. Kickboxing is the class I teach and it's a great calorie burner, but if a studio just concentrates on kickboxing you may pay more for fees.
IMO, you shouldn't pay more than $100 at most for a gym. I believe the average is right around $50-$60 a month nationwide.

lexgem

I personally went with the expensive one close to home with a pool, hammam, sauna, cold bath, AND jacuzzi. I struggle with stress and I feel like it's the best way to motivate me to go in and workout because I can "reward" myself with something else than food, destress and really enjoy myself.
So I made my choice mainly based on the relaxing room. I also got a free trial for one workout and used that time to try out the cardio room and "spy" on the classes going on and try the aquatic part and especially talk to a few people and ask them how they like the gym, if the classes are good, etc.
Also the locker room has nice showers and professional-quality hairdryers. This may seem like a detail but it's not. I feel like I'll be more likely to stick with it if the whole experience is positive.
I know it sounds like I want to go to the jacuzzi more than I want to go to spinning class. This is true. But I tell myself that IF I go to spinning I can bring a book and veg out in the jacuzzi after the class. So in the end I go to spinning

ejb245

Thanks for the thoughts guys! I think that I want classes, like a spinning class (I've never tried it but it looks up my alley. I'm a klutz and the aerobic things just aren't my style.) and well as weight machines. I'll "interview" a few tonight on my way home.

chevy88grl

Most places will let you come in and workout for one day for free (or at least they do in my area). This way you can "try out" all the gyms before you make a choice between them. Also, look at cost, their hours, classes they offer (if this is important to you), the equipment they have (do they offer a wide range of stuff? does it look clean and well taken care of?). I think those are the important ones.

For me, I needed somewhere I would be comfortable (especially when I first started working out). I needed a 24/7 gym (and still do) because I work second shift and prefer to workout later at night than earlier in the day. I wanted something that wasn't overly expensive. I didn't care about classes - I don't have any desire to take classes, so that wasn't important to me.

Call each place and tell them you're looking for a gym and want to know if they offer a one time free trial.

I started at Snap Fitness (which was $25/month for 24/7 access) and recently moved to a locally owned gym that offers more equipment, weights, etc. I was bored at Snap and needed more variety. My boyfriend and I tried out probably 5-6 gyms until we found this one. It is $27/month and we have 24/7 access.