Was signing up to a gym the best move you ever made?

2»

Replies

  • alpine1994
    alpine1994 Posts: 1,915 Member
    Yes! I tend to have exercise ADD (always want to do something different) and I LOVE group exercise classes so the gym is perfect for me. Sometimes I want to go for a swim in the lap pool, spinning, try a cardio dance class, run on the treadmill if it's crappy outside, etc. I do my lifting at home because the weight room is always too crowded during the times I can go (stupid, I know) but it really fits into my life well. You will love it!
  • thepetiterunner
    thepetiterunner Posts: 1,238 Member
    I've been going to gyms since I was a teenager, so for me it was always a part of a lifestyle. However, I will say finding activities I *truly* enjoy, not just putting in the time slinging heavy metal objects around, was what was really the best move I've ever made. I recently joined a Kaia Fit which I love - much more interactive and challenging (for me) than just going to the gym and doing the same routines I've been doing for years. I also fell in love with running, so that's made a huge impact on my fitness/health goals and desires.

    I think if the gym is your thing and you enjoy it, then go for it. But there are many other things you can enjoy and fall in love with outside of the gym that will help you on your way.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    By no means, I use a gym out of the need of efficiency. My first membership was well over 30 years ago, its just a tool for me...not the thing that drives me.
  • mmm_drop
    mmm_drop Posts: 1,126 Member
    Not at all. I belonged to a gym, and never went in the warmer months, so I canceled my membership.

    I am much more successful now that I work out at home and do things I enjoy as opposed to doing things I feel like I *have* to do to be in shape.
  • FoxyLifter
    FoxyLifter Posts: 965 Member
    It was a great thing for me to do at the time, but the "best" move I ever made was deciding to switch to lifting heavy.
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Nope, I have been a gym rat for most of my late teen/adult life.. best thing I ever did was to educate myself about nutrition and what your body needs in order to do certain things (lose/gain/maintain) and then apply that to my daily activity and figure out how my body works..

    I actually cancelled my gym membership and started doing at home stuff and lost the majority of my weight that way.. but now am gonna get back to the gym (need the heavier weights back)
  • xmichaelyx
    xmichaelyx Posts: 883 Member
    The best things I've done in order:

    1) Figuring out how to eat properly.
    2) Buying a lifting cage and weights, so I don't have to go to the gym (although I still do sometimes)
    3) Getting a dog that loves to run (although I don't run with her as much as I should).
  • toronto_j
    toronto_j Posts: 206 Member
    I would say that changing my eating habits has had the most impact but the gym has also made a huge difference. I've been going on and off for years but have been more dedicated the last three months. I work out with a trainer 2x/week and also have tried all kinds of classes to figure out what I enjoy. It's now become a part of my life, I've lost 20-25 pounds and I actually have some muscle tone. :)
  • raiderrodney
    raiderrodney Posts: 617 Member
    I've been a gym member for years and while I do love it, MFP helps me just as much if not more. Afterall, it is probably 90% diet / 10% activity for delivering results ;)
  • rich347
    rich347 Posts: 508 Member
    The two times I signed up for a gym was great I've made so many awesome friends.
  • FitFunLosAngeles
    FitFunLosAngeles Posts: 36 Member
    Why not try Groupons or Livingsocial for finding gyms/workouts you want to try?
    When I started in January I struggled with the exercise component of weight loss; Not having done much exercise in the past, I didn't know which gym I would like, and most give you a couple days free at best before they ask you to make a BIG financial and time commitment.
    So I bought 3 different Groupons -- at very cut-rate prices -- that allow me to try three different gyms.
    ONe was for a "traditional" full-service gym (three-month membership for $25), one was for 20 workouts at Curves ($40), and one is a 30-workout pass for all gyms that belong to the Metabody network (fitness reservations at different gyms booked on the web) for $10!!!!!
    It has been great to try so many different types of gyms and classes, and for $75 I bought myself about 7 months worth of workouts!!!

Categories