Gym Membership OR Treadmill?

Amy_B

I need help deciding on what to get with the extra money we'll have in January, a gym membership or a treadmill. Here are the pros and cons...

gym membership:
pros--has all sorts of equipment, pool, courts, classes
cons--the hours...they're open from 5:30am-8:30pm M-F and 8am-3pm Saturday. I can't go in the morning because of having to get around for work. I get home from work somewhere between 4:00pm-5:00pm. I have to make dinner, and my kids go to bed at 7pm and 8:30pm.

treadmill:
pros--can use it whenever I want (i.e. when kids are busy or asleep), can run on it and not have to rely on running outside when weather's okay, can watch tv
cons--heard it can be boring after a while, won't have weight machines to use or other machines/classes, not sure I can get a really nice folding one for what I want to spend


So, if you tell me to get a treadmill, can you recommend one that won't cost more than $500-$600 that I can run on and folds up?

Edited to add: If you say gym membership, when should I go? It has to be between 4:30pm and 8:30pm (keep in mind cooking dinner and taking care of the kids).

Thanks!!!

wks7777

i would totally go with the gym membership, i used to have a elliptical and i hardly ever used it cuz it was just boring, i love goin to the gym for classes, thats what keeps me motivated!

lotusfromthemud

I would recommend the gym, but. . .those hours aren't very good. There's no point in paying for a membership your schedule doesn't allow you to use.

Is there another gym with longer hours that you could go to? Anyway you could go on your lunch hour or on the way home and get home a bit later?

The thing to do is choose the option you're most likely to do. I just had to join a new gym because the hours at my old one weren't working for me.:flowerforyou:

Amy_B

I would recommend the gym, but. . .those hours aren't very good. There's no point in paying for a membership your schedule doesn't allow you to use.

Is there another gym with longer hours that you could go to? Anyway you could go on your lunch hour or on the way home and get home a bit later?

The thing to do is choose the option you're most likely to do. I just had to join a new gym because the hours at my old one weren't working for me.:flowerforyou:

The gym I'm mentioning is a place where both my husband and I can go. We live in a town (where this gym is) that's 40 minutes from my work and 25 minutes from his work...no option for going at lunch. There is another gym that only offers machines, but it costs quite a bit more. It's open 24/7/365 though because you get your own key.

Hopey1994

I would probably go with the gym. Classes make all the schedule moving totally worth it. Can your husband get the kids ready for bed a few nights a week so you can go work out? I'm surprised they don't offer 24 hr access. I've never seen one that doens't!

fortiter00

We bought a recumbent bike for the house, due to the inability to go to the gym, and it was great for a while, and for dvring your fav shows and watching while you ride for an hour, but we mix that up with DVD workouts, and walking. It will get boring at home if you put it somewhere, that is inconvenient to use, and where you don't like to be in your house (ie garage, basement).

I have belonged to gyms before as well. It definately costs to join a gym, whether you are doing it for the classes or the machines, but if the hours aren't convenient, your flushing your money. I would say your best bet would be the 24/7 gym given you and your husbands schedules. They will have a treadmill, a variety of other machines to keep it interesting, and you'll still be able to do the family thing and get your kids to bed.

I don't belong to a gym, because I travel a lot (I just got home after being gone 4 months). I can take my dvds, and exercise bands with me, walking doesn't require more than sneakers, and the bike is at home when I want to change things up and am there to do it. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

mrangel

start with a wii and wii fit!!! less than 300 dollars. Also walking around a public school track won't cost you a dime

tlapdx72

I would totally go for the gym. I have an elliptical and a treadmill. I get so bored on them, and the time takes forever. I also get distracted so easy when I am at home. I have found that I workout longer when I go to the gym. However, if you could I would try and find a gym with better hours. I go to LA Fitness, and they are open untl 11pm or midnight I think. I pay $25 a month, and you can get in on specials where you don't have to pay the initial fee. I am soooo happy that I decided to join a gym. I have lost almost 40lbs now. I had tried doing this at home, and I just couldn't stay focused.

savvystephy

I would totally go for the gym. I have an elliptical and a treadmill. I get so bored on them, and the time takes forever. I also get distracted so easy when I am at home. I have found that I workout longer when I go to the gym. However, if you could I would try and find a gym with better hours. I go to LA Fitness, and they are open untl 11pm or midnight I think. I pay $25 a month, and you can get in on specials where you don't have to pay the initial fee. I am soooo happy that I decided to join a gym. I have lost almost 40lbs now. I had tried doing this at home, and I just couldn't stay focused.

I am an LA Fitness Member too. I wish they had more locations - because once I move for graduate school I'll have to find a new gym / find an apartment complex with a fitness center.

farmgirlh

It looks like I am the opposite of most people, I saw treadmill. I have one and love it. I did the gym thing for a while but that was with only one child now that I have three I don't have time to go. I love the treadmill, and I treat it like a gym membership. I paid for it so I have to use it. Good Luck!

savvystephy

I need help deciding on what to get with the extra money we'll have in January, a gym membership or a treadmill. Here are the pros and cons...

gym membership:
pros--has all sorts of equipment, pool, courts, classes
cons--the hours...they're open from 5:30am-8:30pm M-F and 8am-3pm Saturday. I can't go in the morning because of having to get around for work. I get home from work somewhere between 4:00pm-5:00pm. I have to make dinner, and my kids go to bed at 7pm and 8:30pm.

treadmill:
pros--can use it whenever I want (i.e. when kids are busy or asleep), can run on it and not have to rely on running outside when weather's okay, can watch tv
cons--heard it can be boring after a while, won't have weight machines to use or other machines/classes, not sure I can get a really nice folding one for what I want to spend


So, if you tell me to get a treadmill, can you recommend one that won't cost more than $500-$600 that I can run on and folds up?

Edited to add: If you say gym membership, when should I go? It has to be between 4:30pm and 8:30pm (keep in mind cooking dinner and taking care of the kids).

Thanks!!!

I would definitely think about the treadmill since the hours at the gym don't work with your schedule. It's not worth putting the money in if you won't be able to use the membership.

Amy_B

Thanks, all! Keep the opinions coming if you want.

I have lost all my weight up to this point (85 lbs) by doing dvds at home with a little running, exercise bike, and stepper in there. I would like to be able to run in the winter, but it just doesn't work because the sun goes down before I get home. That's why I was thinking of a treadmill. But, I've always wanted a gym membership. I wonder if I can get a three month one in the summer when I'm off (teacher here).

BamaRose0107

Judging by your schedule and the hours the gym is open your money might be wasted. If you do good working out at home I would go for the treadmill. I personally don't like gyms because to me they are a little intimidating and I like the comfort of my own home. I love being able to work out in what ever I want and not feel judged. As for what type you should get I have no idea. My suggestion would be to take a day and visit some stores and try some out. There are so many different kinds it really depends on what you want. Mine is a very simple Weslo. Basically it is just adjustible speed but it gets the job done.

BrendaLee

If you do decide to get a treadmill, why not look on Kijiji or Craigslist to find a second hand one? A lot of them are (as treadmills tend to be) practically unused. You could, quite possibly, afford both the treadmill and the membership for the price of a new treadmill.

__

They are boring. Ellipticals are good, but if you already have used a stepper...I guess it's pretty similar.

__

You could probably get a free week at the gym as well to try it out and see how you like it.