Which Gym To Choose??

terizius
terizius Posts: 425 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
In a few weeks, I am moving to another city (Sacramento, CA). I currently go to the free community gym a few minutes from my house. Its small, it sucks, but it works and its free. I won't have that when I move, so I'm looking for reviews on the big chain gyms. There are a few things I'm hoping for..

1) not too pricey (duh)
2) decent free weights section (finally, a real squat rack!!)
3) child care would be fabulous (and would allow my wife and I to go together)
4) free or cheap group classes would be great (wife likes the social thing)

So, tell me your thoughts about your gym. I know that every location is going to be different, but I suspect the chains should be somewhat similar.

Replies

  • Sarahliquid
    Sarahliquid Posts: 201 Member
    Gold's $20/mo includes classes, but only larger ones have child care
  • terizius
    terizius Posts: 425 Member
    Anyone else??
  • redheaddee
    redheaddee Posts: 2,005 Member
    The YMCA in my area has all of the above, and the family membership costs $57/month with no contract. That is for me, the hubby, and both kids. They have a great selection of classes, and I love the atmosphere.

    ETA the classes are all included. Sports for the kids are a bit extra, but very affordable.
  • terizius
    terizius Posts: 425 Member
    Hmm, I hadn't thought about the YMCA. I will have to see if there is one near where we will be living. Thanks for the suggestion.
  • bheathfit
    bheathfit Posts: 451 Member
    My current gym is $10.59 mo, but local to my area, so that won't help much... Good friend of mine does the family plan at the YMCA for the pool, etc... He likes it. The one in our area can be a bit crowded during peak times, but typically has plenty of free weights to work with.
  • UrbanRunner81
    UrbanRunner81 Posts: 1,207 Member
    I go to planet fitness. $10 a month, no childcare or classes but my has decent amount of cardio equipment and big enough weight area.
  • Mav3rick54
    Mav3rick54 Posts: 180 Member
    I am a member of 24 Hour Fitness and it meets your criteria. Monthly fees are usually in the $30/month range. Good luck.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    each location is going to be different. there are five 24 Hour Fitness gyms within 20 mins of my house, and they vary from outstanding to stay-away. you'll just have to check them out.

    the Y can be a good option if it's close (tho most don't have squat racks around here) and you'll want to avoid planet fitness like the plague.
  • Cahgetsfit
    Cahgetsfit Posts: 1,912 Member
    Wow, so surprised that gym memberships is so cheap in the US! Here we pay on average $20-30 PER WEEK! I'm lucky I work at a university and there is a gym with staff discount so mine works out to $10/week. Hubby pays $26/week at our local gym. We're being ripped off in Australia! Good luck with finding a good one :)
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Another vote for the YMCA... I literally crawled through the doors of our local Y at 560 lbs. They are partnered with our local hospital and the hospital runs their Wellness center there. I had a script from my doctor to do aquatic therapy (had to use water displacement to allow me to stand long enough to exercise). I spent 17 months in the pool losing 170 lbs, and the therapist move me to the shallow end of the pool and let me take on more of my own weight and eventually got fitted for braces(bad knee's) and graduated out of the pool and moved up stairs to the fitness center... Our YMCA has an indoor track, full fitness area with free weights and cardio area, it is backed up to a riverwalk with 17 miles of paved trails for biking and hiking, and it has a 8 lane lap pool, gymnasium, steam sauna, whirlpools, and hot tubs. On premise massage therapist (both specialize in deep tissue massage), Daycare, Multiple classes. I am sure I am leaving out a few things but all this on a family membership for 55 dollars a month... They are open everyday from 5-9 and sunday noon to 5.... If I had to be picky I do have access to a 24 hour fitness in town as well (I friend runs it and lets me come and go with no contract) Someday's I like going there if I can't get into the Y during their hours.....
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    I would look for a local, non-chain place. I don't live in Sacramento, but I found a place near me that is $12 a month ($24 for 24 hour), and close by. No showers, pools, classes, or frills, but it has a great weight section, nice people, and a kids room for some of the day (don't have kids so ?). Anyway, I'm a big proponent of keeping money local and supporting small business when and if you can.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Don't big box chains employ people that live in the local area and provide money for those local people to use to put bread on their family's table? Unless the workers commute from Taiwan daily all gyms, chain or not, provide a benefit to the community
  • jjscholar
    jjscholar Posts: 413 Member
    I have heard that Planet Fitness or Anytime Fitness is reasonable in terms of price. But I do not know if they have facilities in Sacramento CA.

    I would go to all of the local fitness centers ask questions and take a tour to see which one is best for you.
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  • Ozzzy66
    Ozzzy66 Posts: 36 Member
    Check with the local hospitals. In my area the two major hospitals have gyms with everything you are looking for. Also I will say the YMCAs in my area also have everything you are looking for, but I'm in the other SC ( South Carolina ).
  • lilawolf
    lilawolf Posts: 1,690 Member
    Don't big box chains employ people that live in the local area and provide money for those local people to use to put bread on their family's table? Unless the workers commute from Taiwan daily all gyms, chain or not, provide a benefit to the community

    Of course. Both local and national chains employee local people. I'm pretty sure that goes without saying (Commuting from Taiwan? Seriously? :huh:). The big money still goes up to the CEO, board, stockholders etc, rather than to a local business owner. Franchises are a bit of a gray area. Some of the money stays local and some goes to fees to some CEO living in a California mansion.

    If it doesn't matter to you then it doesn't. I simply stated that it mattered to me, and may or may not to the OP.
  • ucabucca
    ucabucca Posts: 606 Member
    I agree with a few others sometimes staying away from chains is good Try some many give 2 week trials. I am using a local one it is becoming very popular in some age groups for their classes they offer child care and weight area is huge and we have almost a double size with the cross fit that they buit a year ago as it took off. The one thing I looked for is staff and how helpful and knowledgable they were thats why I am where I am. They make it what it is.
  • terizius
    terizius Posts: 425 Member
    Uca - sounds like your gym is pretty much what I'm looking for. Hopefully I can find something like that in Sacramento.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I'd look into the YMCA definitely.
  • aubyshortcake
    aubyshortcake Posts: 796 Member
    This is the only gym membership I've ever had, but I use Gold's Gym. The one I go to is 49.99/mo, has several classes which are all included in the monthly fee, and a wide variety of equipment. I'm sure each individual gym is different, but I'm very happy with my decision. One thing that was a big determining factor was location - it's at MOST a 5 minute drive from my house. I feel that the shorter the traveling portion is, the more likely I am to actually go. :)
  • terizius
    terizius Posts: 425 Member
    Auby - thats a good point. As poor as my current gym is, its only a few minutes away from home.
  • girlschmoopie
    girlschmoopie Posts: 140 Member
    Definitely check for location, and don't discount community centers. We would've joined the YMCA, but it is 20 min away, and the Jewish Community Center is just down the street, so we chose the JCC (and have remained members for 8 years). It has everything you mentioned....

    Plus not only is there childcare, but there are specific programs for the kids. My children both took swim lessons there and a now on the JCC swim team (low pressure, fun swim competitions). We've made a lot of friends at the gym over the years.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Don't big box chains employ people that live in the local area and provide money for those local people to use to put bread on their family's table? Unless the workers commute from Taiwan daily all gyms, chain or not, provide a benefit to the community

    Of course. Both local and national chains employee local people. I'm pretty sure that goes without saying (Commuting from Taiwan? Seriously? :huh:). The big money still goes up to the CEO, board, stockholders etc, rather than to a local business owner. Franchises are a bit of a gray area. Some of the money stays local and some goes to fees to some CEO living in a California mansion.

    If it doesn't matter to you then it doesn't. I simply stated that it mattered to me, and may or may not to the OP.

    I'm a local people.

    I got a check from LA Fitness when I worked there. wasn't as much as I should have gotten as far as my worth/work effort- but it still was a check from them.

    Trust me- they provide a service. small gyms are nice- but big gyms are nice too- you may not like it- but ecnomically it's not really a question- they have great entry level jobs for college students as well as sales positions (although that sucks) provides a great opportunity for people to work- net work- and learn customer service practice.

    You may not like that it's a big commercial chain- but it does provide jobs to local people.

    That being said- a bigger chain will most likely have what you need- don't go right away- take your time- most of those places are "specials" based- so if you go at the wrong time they aren't going to give you a good deal unless you really haggle. And don't be afraid to haggle.

    I've been really happy at LA Fitness for the most part- Bally's was okay- 24 Hr Fitness is meh- I have issues with their marketing schemes- and I am not familiar enough with Golds, Future, Giant Fitness or WOW or anything like that to give a good opinion- but they are all options. Check out Powerhouse as well- they are smaller- but they vary by location- not a chain- they are owned individually rather than by one company or whatever and have decent prices usually and are very LIFTER oriented.

    good luck on the move!!! i just moved in December and I was sweating the new gym decision much more than the new place!!!
  • Tony_Von_Stryfe
    Tony_Von_Stryfe Posts: 153 Member
    I would look for a local, non-chain place. I don't live in Sacramento, but I found a place near me that is $12 a month ($24 for 24 hour), and close by. No showers, pools, classes, or frills, but it has a great weight section, nice people, and a kids room for some of the day (don't have kids so ?). Anyway, I'm a big proponent of keeping money local and supporting small business when and if you can.
    My sentiment exactly, find a small local gym

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