What does a gym cost?

beetpoet

I'm thinking about joining a gym close to my house. It's women only, which for me makes it nice. It has a very small, no frills dressing room (kind of stinky), with wimpy showers. The equipment is OK, not the latest and greatest. There are two elipticals that are not overly crowded. This includes some classes: Yoga Sculp, Afro-Caribbean dance, Pi Yo, Jumba Gaia (I don't really even know what these are). The gym has a sauna, small steam room "closet," and (this is really nice) a hot tub.

What has me bothered is: it costs $56/month with a one year contract. Since I already joined before, I can re-join for $13. My history is: I joined in 2011 and hardly EVER went! I have a bad history with gyms.

So my questions are:

Should I join a gym?

Should I wait a while and stick with MFP daily food logging and walking?

Is $56/month high? (What are people paying these days?)

I would love to join for a month and see if I use it, but the month fee is $106!

Thanks for any comments on this.

bdburch

If you didn't go the first time, are you going to go the 2nd time? Has anything changed about the atmoshpere of the gym or your attitude towards it?

You don't really need a gym to work out. Walking/running outside and doing body weight exercises in your living room are effective and free.

kmbweber2014

Wow $56 for that? I pay $55 for my gym and it took years to get myself to do that. But my gym is pretty big with lots of equipment, a pool and the sauna/hot tub whole bit. However, if I didn't have my gym I wouldn't work out.

RGv2

$56 a month for that is borderline insane, although I'd probably pay it for the sauna but I live in a tiny town with no options and really miss a sauna.

I'm gussing they're praying on the "women's only" crowd.

Hellbent_Heidi

I pay $64 a month for a pretty high-end gym with tons of classes and equipment, a pool, hot tub and sauna (they provide lockers, towels, lotion, shampoo, etc..). Do you have to make a committment to join, or can you cancel if you decide you arent' going to use it. (edit...I just noticed you did say it was a "one year membership")

I'm very pro-gym, but if you are going to pay a lot every month, you really have to be willing to commit to getting your money's worth!

Good luck with the decision (maybe it will be good motivation to get your butt there though...)

melaniecheeks

It sounds expensive. And you've already tried it and didn't use it.

What sort of gym would suit you in an ideal world?

bpotts44

I personally think they are unnecessary if you have any room to do resistance training and then I run and bike outside. Much less time, expense, and you also get the benefits of being outside.

cwolfman13

It really depends on the gym. I absolutely will not do an annual contract of any kind. Any gym who requires it has lost my business...there are plenty of other options out there that don't require annual contracts.

In looking at a gym...yes, cost is going to come into the equation...but you really want to find a gym that is going to be suitable for what you want to accomplish. Not all gyms and fitness clubs are created equal. Just as an example...the Planet Fitness over by my house is $10 month and literally 2 minutes from my house....sounds awesome right? Wrong...they don't have any free weights and that's the only reason I even need to go to a gym.

The gym has to meet your fitness needs. I go to the Jewish Community Center here in my town...it's actually pretty well out of my way across town and is $93 for a family membership. Why do I go there? There facilities are awesome for one thing...very clean and comfortable place to workout. They have any manner of equipment to work with, including free weights...as well as a whole bunch of different classes, etc. But the real kicker for me (us) is that they have a lot of family friendly fun stuff like "Daddy and Me Gym Time" every other Sunday...stuff like that where I can involve my whole family...kids...everyone gets involved.

In RE to your specific question...$56 is probably middle of the road cost wise...not cheap, but not expensive either (although it doesn't seem you're getting much bang for your buck)....it's the annual contract that would be a deal breaker for me...I just don't do those.

buudharich

I paid for the whole year up front, averaged $34 a month and I got four months free.

lausa22

That sounds quite expensive for what they have there.

The gym I'm a member of is £26 a month, and it also allows me to go to any of the other 13 gyms in my city that are linked to it.
The equipment is quite good, they have this system where you use a 'key' in each machine and it records your workout for you this included weights and all other machines, and when you leave you can see your calorie burn for that work out. It has a 25m pool with sauna and steam room too. Oh and your 1-2-1 sessions and programme planning are all free. They also give you a heart rate monitor chest strap you can wear for your workout to be accurate.
Considering there was that gym, another gym costing £26 in my area with less equipment or a gym costing £58 I think I picked the right one.

If you've been there before and didn't stick to it, I'd recommend looking for other gyms that might even be cheaper and you would enjoy it more.

crystalflame

I get a discounted rate of $200/yr with 24 Hour Fitness. The normal rate is $30/mo. There's several I can go to, and the nicest one includes up-to-date equipment, basketball and racquetball courts, a pool, sauna, and hot tub, large clean locker rooms, and a huge variety of group fitness classes. It's clean, bright, and well laid out.

I'd never, ever pay $56/mo, especially for what you described.

RGv2

I personally think they are unnecessary if you have any room to do resistance training and then I run and bike outside. Much less time, expense, and you also get the benefits of being outside.

We've had stretches of days where the highs didn't get to zero. Yep, not running outside.

leighdiane91

I go to the YMCA. its great. has TONS of equipment, a huge pool and hot tub, sauna, nice locker rooms, very clean, and so many classes I can't count. I pay 63 dollars a month (but when my insurance kicks in I will only pay 43) my friend who goes with me has her membership based off of her income and only pays 34 a month (she also will be getting 20 off from her insurance soon).

RedHotHunter

That is way too much for what you are describing.
My gym: Tons of equipment, heavy weights, machines, cardio area is huge, separate cardio theather, big room for classes, spin room, nice locker room with dry sauna. Oh and a tanning bed. $32 a month including tax. When I compare what you are describing I would stick to walking at push ups at home for free lol

jeannelawrie

That seems very expensive. Where I go now is $65/month and no contract, but they have EVERYTHING - tons of equipment, pool, sauna, lots of classes, etc. I used to go to Snap Fitness which was substantially less expensive but not as much in terms of equipment or amenities. You can definitely find cheaper, but like others have said, it is only worth it at all if you will go. Think about what you really want before you make that sort of commitment. Over the summer when I was at Snap Fitness I ran outside a ton and really didn't need the membership that much, it depends on what you like and what will help keep you motivated.

hdlb

I pay $57/month for my gym membership, but its a nice gym. Tons of new equipment (all in working order), a womans only section and classes are included. No pool/hottub, but there is a sauna.

To me its worth every penny. I'm there 5 days a week, 3 for cario, 2 for weight training with a trainer. Running outside in winter is not an option here, its just too cold/icy/snowy.

beetpoet

This is magic!! You all are giving me so much good advice. I can stop worrying about this and go with my gut (fat or not). It's just too much per month for what I would get. Plus I HATE having a one year contract. That is a deal breaker for me, as another person said. This gym, by the way, will not let you quit before a year. They keep taking your money no matter what until the year is up.

SemperAnticus1643

I pay $53.34 for a gym membership for both me and my husband. I think it's worth it because of the classes they provide like spinning, zumba, crossfit and one for kids called fitkids. They also have an onsite massage parlor, physical therapy and a smoothie shop. And of course the usual options of trainers and body fat tests. Add on $12 more a month and we could have childcare provided for us while we work out if we were to go in the evenings. But we don't cause we are so busy or would rather spend the evenings doing and activity of some sort with the girls.

RobertHendrix

That sounds really high for what you state they have, if you are just looking for some cardio equipment and some machines to use may want to see if a planet fitness is in your area they are only about $10 a month. Would also look to see if there is rec center or YMCA in your area. I grew up in a really small town that didnt have any local gyms but our High School has a really nice weight room and track that they got the county to help pay for by agreeing to open it up to the public free of charge every night after the school teams practices were done.

We pay $66 a month for a family membership at my current gym but it is a rec center that has an indoor pool that has a kids play section, current pool, lap lanes and indoor water slide, also has an indoor track, all sorts of equipment and free weight area, two basketball gyms, two class rooms that offer all sorts of different classes and has two kid zones one for kids 18 months to 5 years old and one for 5 years old to 18 years old. The older kid zone has a DDR station and other games for wii and xbox connect to encourage the kids to be active as well as giving parents time to exercise

ChantiC

That sounds really expensive for what your getting. I don't know where about you live, but here at Goodlife a large gym with newer stuff and lots of classes its about 35 a month. And most nice rec centers near me with pool and new equipment is 40 a month. There a 24 hour gym that is pretty basic for 45 a month. And a new gym near me that has all new stuff and childcare (3.50 for 2 hrs) for 7 bucks a week. All have a year contract except for the rec center. I know this from researching since I might be joining one myself. My suggestion is to find one without a contract if you can and get a one month trial. I personally would 55 a month, but that gym better be freakin nice lol. But maybe its all in where you live? I'm in Ontario.

KatLifter

I really think it depends where you live. I pay $50/month for a decent gym with free weights and classes. (Besides Planet Fitness) this is the cheapest option in the Boston/Cambridge area. I could EASILY pay $80+/month at somepleace like the Y. I did sign a year contract, a) for motivation, and the month-to-month cost was $65/month. I love my gym, it has a spa type atmosphere and I ac

The question is about value to yourself. If you aren't going to use it (I've been there too) it's just a waste of money. If you have other gyms in your area they are usually itching to give away free visitor passes. Shop around and see if there is another gym you would be more likely to go to. I love my gym, it has a spa type atmosphere and I actually like going there to workout. If you find that it's a lot easier to get up early to sweat

AlongCame_Molly

That particular gym for the price they're asking sounds like crap. I'd do some more shopping around.

catrunsintowindow

I pay ~50$ a month for my gym - tons of free weights, machines, two squat racks, gymnastics rings, about 25 treadmills + a bunch of other cardio equipment, fitness and spinning classes, and a dry sauna. I wish I could get away with paying less, but unfortunately that's about average for what's in my area...

Bubsys_mom

If you have to be in a contract, hell to the NO.

I got screwed over by a company/gym before and never again. They are evil imho.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

Wouldn't it make sense to invest 56 dollars in some home gym equipment and see if you stick to it for 1-2 months?

I think 56 dollars a month is overpaying unless it's a pretty fancy place, which this place doesn't seem to be. Also. WTF contract.

tracymat

I pay $10 a month. No frills or classes, but LOTS of equipment, clean locker rooms.... ALL I NEED!

meredith1123

don't sign a contract!!!!!
also - do you have a YMCA near by? If you are low income, they provide scholarships to low income households who want to join but cant afford their regular price.

How does a gym charge $56 a month with only two ellipticals?

What other gyms are around you, have you shopped around?
do you need child care? Do you have planet fitness around? those are only like $10 or $20 a month.
LA FITNESS is like $30 a month.
I dont know what gyms are around you but do your best to NEVER sign a contract with a gym.

HokieMama4

I pay $90/month for my whole family. It's a top-of-the-line gym with racquetball, basketball,volleyball, two different indoor pools with slides, hot tubs, tons of awesome classes, and an amazing kid program with games, crafts, yoga, kidzercise, etc. I LOVE IT!!!! I'm there 6 days a week, my husband is there 3-4 days a week, and my kids go with me 2-3x a week. I personally would never accomplish at home what I do in the gym. You gotta figure out what works for you. Many gyms will let you do a 7-30 day trial.

RoadsterGirlie

That is WAYYYY too much, especially for what you described. I belonged to 24 Hour Fitness in California several years ago, and the most I paid was $30 a month, and it was way nicer, bigger and more features than what you described.

Personally though, I never achieved the type of fitness there that I enjoy now with my home workouts.

meredith1123

I go to the YMCA. its great. has TONS of equipment, a huge pool and hot tub, sauna, nice locker rooms, very clean, and so many classes I can't count. I pay 63 dollars a month (but when my insurance kicks in I will only pay 43) my friend who goes with me has her membership based off of her income and only pays 34 a month (she also will be getting 20 off from her insurance soon).

this is true for sure about the Y. I am currently on a scholarship that is only costing me (and my toddler son) $30 a month and my Y has several long rows of ellipticals and several long rows of treadmills, stair climbers, tons of stationary bikes, plus a huge weight bench area (HUGE), and the weight machines as well plus the classes... wow... the classes as well as child care for up to two hours a day. oh and a pool, etc etc. I think the Y Rocks!

kwilliams386

I get all that PLUS from my gym.. and I only pay $30 no contract. That sounds like a total rip off! I guess it depends on the area. DONT SIGN A CONTRACT - esp. since you already admitted you have a hard time going. You can lose weight/get fit at home as well, it just takes a bit of determination. walking is awesome, keep at it! Like others have said, for 56 bucks a month you can buy some good stuff to use at home.