What Gym!?

Depends what you want in a gym, how much you can afford, which gym is close to you, etc.

Personally I found it helpful join a gym which is on my way home from work - literally at the place where I get off the bus from work - so it was very easy to make going to the gym after work part of my routine. To me, that was more important than what the gym had in it - if it had been out of my way, I'd be a lot less likely to go regularly. I would recommend going to the gym that you'll find it easiest to fit into your routine, unless you are so disciplined and organised that you'd travel to any gym regularly regardless of where it is.

Depends what you want in a gym, how much you can afford, which gym is close to you, etc.

^^ this...

I chose my gym (YMCA) based on what is available in my town (basically they are the only one) also they offered us a membership that was income based... and now that I have graduated college (and no longer need the income based plan) they have a discount from my kids insurance...


basically you should base your decision on factors that will make it easier for you to go... repeatedly... with regularity... and that you will enjoy... or at least that you will enjoy leaving (I always say I hate going to the gym but I LOVE leaving!)

if you would feel more comfortable in a "women only" gym... go for it... personally I wouldn't... I think that women are catty and I wouldn't want to go... I get much more assistance and positive feedback from the men at the Y than the women... (could just be my gym) ...

would a community center gym work for you?? which community?? the one community center in my area is frequented by teenagers... and the music is usually set to rap music... I wouldn't fit in there... my neon white skin... my age... my choice of music... I wouldn't be comfortable going in and getting vulnerable... (I am not trying to imply that I am racist... I would just prefer not to be the only neon white person in the room )

curves... would it work for you?? wouldn't work for me... I don't hit machines... and that is basically what they have there... I want to lift heavy...

I use the gym to make my cardio more effective... I hike and bike and mountain climb (etc) so I do a lot of heavy lifting... I find the free weight room at my ymca is the most effective FOR ME...

figure out what you want to achieve... do you want to lift and tone? do you want to do cardio and slim? combination? do you think your goals might change as time goes on? do you want to do mostly cardio now and then strength train later? do you want to go on your way to work? do you need one with child care? do you need one with good locker room/shower area? do you need something that is near your home? is location a factor? do you need one that offers classes in things (yoga, zumba, aerobics, etc)? do you need one with a pool?

after you know what you want in a gym... try to find one that has as many things on your list as possible...

then go... often... repeatedly and regularly :flowerforyou:

I forgot to mention...

another reason I love the YMCA... the y away program...

there are thousands of ymca's in the country that I can go to for free... and use their facilities...

we travel a lot... works for us... we have been to probably 12 different y's in 3 states

we don't have to necessarily stay at a hotel... we can use a pool and showers at the Y... (we camp a lot)

See if they have trial memberships and try out any that seem good after a first tour. I didn't even join a gym for a couple of years after I started looking for one because there wasn't one that offered childcare when I needed it. The two main questions to ask are A) Will it give me the workout I want? and Will I actually go? IF the answers to both are yes, then you can start thinking about things like what kind of support they offer (personal trainers?) and other benefits (sauna? Pool? Towel service?)