Which Health Club to Join?

IamMCM
IamMCM Posts: 122
in Fitness and Exercise
My new insurance will reimburse me $200 per year for health club membership, provided I go at least once a week, so I'm using this as motivation to get off my butt and out to a club. Now I have to decide which one to join. I'm a squishy 50 year old woman in moderate shape who needs 35 pounds. I'd mainly use the treadmill and do a 30-min. circuit if the club has one. If it has a pool, I'll be in that a lot doing walking laps or water aerobics classes, and I'd go to yoga classes if the club offered them. Here are my choices from cheapest to most expensive:

Planet Fitness. Yes, I know how it's regarded here, but I'd see it as a year "starter club" to make sure I'll go and get my journey started. I'd do the $20 membership so my husband can come. There are three locations near me, but all are about 10 miles. One requires a toll road, one is in a sketchy neighborhood, and one (likely the one I'd use most) requires an expressway jaunt that's easy when there's no traffic, but that's rare. Also, no classes. Still, I'd pay practically nothing after reimbursement and it would be adequate to get me started, and I know I'd use the massage chairs. It's 24 hours Mon. to Fri. which is good since I'm a night owl.

LA Fitness: $29.99 a month and has a pool, but it's around 12 miles away and isn't the cleanest club (I've been there before as a guest). Bathrooms...ugh! I would never take a shower there. But the pool and machines are good, and they have classes. I wouldn't got at night as the neighborhood is quite sketchy.

Anytime Fitness: Two locations much closer to me (5 miles). $31.99 a month. Both have classes and are fairly well equipped and clean, but the equipment is not as extensive as PF or LA, and the equipment variety is limited. They have private bathrooms, and I like the 24 hours access since I'm a night owl. They're both in OK locations.

Private Health Club: $41.99 a month. This is within spitting distance of my house, and it's extremely clean and has a pool, modern equipment, and wonderful shower facilities. However, you pay for all that with higher dues. They have a special right now of two free months, so it's still tempting, but the price is painful. I can afford it with a bit of budget adjustment, and it wouldn't cost me gas like the other places, but it still feels so high.

All would be a year commitment, and all have specials where enrollment is waived, so that factor is equal. So what would you go for if you were in my shoes?

Replies

  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I would go to the one that gives you the workout you want and the convenience you need. No gym is good if you don't go, so one closer to home or work may be better even if more expensive if its location means that you will actually go.
  • IamMCM
    IamMCM Posts: 122
    Thanks! That's kind of how I'm leaning. I'd really prefer the one close by with the pool but am having a hard time justifying the cost to myself with all the cheaper alternatives.
  • Kellryn
    Kellryn Posts: 139 Member
    Go for one of the ones that are closer to you. I live about 4ish miles from my gym, but when my nephew wants to go and I have to pick him up and then know I will have to drive him home it makes it so sometimes I don't want to go, and he doesn't live as far as the next closest gym. So if I'd joined the next closest one, I'd most likely only go 2 times a week instead of 5-6 times. Convenience is a huge factor.
    Also, do make sure that the gym has the type of things that you want to do. The reason I chose the YMCA (before I even thought about driving distance) was because it had 2 pools, lots of machines of all varieties, a nice free weight section, open gyms for sport type games (I do them with my nephews), classes galore and a skytrack. I love the skytrack, yes I have to walk up 5 flights of stairs but the view is nice and the breeze is great when I walk/jog up there. It's $59 a month, but like I mentioned, I go there 5 to 6 times a week.
    Hope you find one that you enjoy!
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I am actually debating something similar. I have been taking water aerobics at a fitness center 5 minutes from my house. I recently received a free membership to the "Y" with my insurance. The "Y" is not very convenient but free. The fitness center is convenient but $65 a month. I am able to take the class via a punch card where I buy 36 classes for $185 so it is less expensive than a membership right now. The "Y" offers a water aerobics class. I really don't know what I want to do going forward. Right now I am going to the "Y" to work out on the resistance machines and I will take a water class and see what I think. I may end up going to the "Y" for everything, get a full membership at the fitness center, or do the same combination of the two that I am doing now. Decisions, decisions.
  • IamMCM
    IamMCM Posts: 122
    Oh no, you added another one into my decision! I forgot all about the Y. There's one with a huge aquatic center that's not far from the most convenient Planet Fitness, but in an even worse traffic area. I've heard great things about it, but also that membership is pricey, so that plus the traffic would probably rule it out, but I know I'd love their pools.
  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    For me personally, convenience was a huge factor. I joined Anytime because there was one close to both my house and my work (I pull a lot of 14 hour days with a 2 hour dinner break). Neither have a huge selection of machines, but it worked best witH my schedule and it had the two things I actually really wanted (good free weights seating and 24 hour access) so I could live with less variety.
  • LiminalAscendance
    LiminalAscendance Posts: 489 Member
    Just goes to show you how inconsistent these franchises can be.

    Planet Fitness
    Admittedly, I was a bit biased against the place from the beginning, but, at their price, I had to check them out, right? Although their set up was reasonable, the fact that they had no bench press stations was a deal breaker for me (not a big fan of Smith machines). Also, their salesperson constantly exuded the "we're not a gym" mentality. I'm not a gym rat, but it seemed like their target audience was way too casual for my taste.

    Anytime Fitness
    As you noted, they seem a bit light on the equipment, compared to most others, although you could definitely get the job done there. Obviously, their main selling point is the whole "anytime" thing, and, since I have no problem with going to the gym during typical hours, the extra cost wasn't worth it to me.

    LA Fitness
    There is no comparison with the amenities here, although I have yet to use many of them (e.g. pool/sauna/bball). There is plenty of equipment, and waiting is almost never an issue. I find the conditions quite acceptable. Granted, this is a newer location, so that probably has a lot to do with it. I can't speak for the personnel there, since I'm a rather low maintenance user, and don't typically need assistance. It's only $25/month (with a one-time sign up), and has no periodic "maintenance fees" (or whatever they call them, which I can't stand), which is a bargain, as far as I'm concerned. Oh, and there's also no commitment.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    i go for the gym that has what i need and is CLEAN. so in your case i'd go for the $40 gym.

    and to me $40 a month for a gym is pretty cheap. I pay $90 but i also get power cages, olympic bars, lots of cardio equipment, indoor track and basketball court, squash courts, steam rooms, outdoor heated pool, clean bathrooms that are well stocked with shampoo condish and lotion
  • sistrsprkl
    sistrsprkl Posts: 1,010 Member
    Is there a YMCA around? I'm a big fan since they're non-profit community based organizations. I really love ours although the building is a bit dated, the equipment is all nice. Some Y's have very nice, newer buildings. The childcare is always excellent as well.
  • IamMCM
    IamMCM Posts: 122
    $90? Wow! That makes $40 a lot easier to swallow. The $40 place beats the pants off all the others here in terms of being clean and well equipped, so I may just bite the bullet and join. It's the one where I'd be most likely to go because I could almost walk there, so there's literally no excuse. The pool is indoors and somewhat small, but I know it's not usually crowded in the evenings. They know they can command a premium because of the fact that there are no other health clubs around for like 10 miles. We did have an Anytime Fitness right down the road from them for a short time, and they dropped their rates at the time, but shot 'em back up with the strip mall got sold out and razed, forcing the other club to move much farther away. I really appreciate everyone's insights.
  • RunDoozer
    RunDoozer Posts: 1,699 Member
    I also pay 90 a month. But in my opinion it's well worth it. Everything's clean and nice. Makes me want to be there.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    can you get a 3 day or week pass for your top choices and check it out that way? dont just do the tour either, go and use it like you would normally to see how it is ie how are the bathrooms at the time you go, how crowded is it, are there broken machines, are the water fountains spitting out hot water, if they provide towels do they look/smell clean, are the classes packed, etc
  • IamMCM
    IamMCM Posts: 122
    Great idea! I just checked and Planet Fitness and one of the nearby Anytimes does a week free trial. It might be worth checking them out, even though I'm leaning toward the more expensive place.
  • IamMCM
    IamMCM Posts: 122
    I finally decided. I'm going to go with the more expensive but close-by gym. Even though it will cost me around $200 out of pocket a year, I'll probably make that up in gas even with the cheap Planet Fitness rate. The pricey place is having a two months free offer right now, and I know I'm more likely to use it since it has a pool and yoga classes. I tried to join today but didn't bring my proof of insurance to get the monthly discount so it's off to try again tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for the input!
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    I finally decided. I'm going to go with the more expensive but close-by gym. Even though it will cost me around $200 out of pocket a year, I'll probably make that up in gas even with the cheap Planet Fitness rate. The pricey place is having a two months free offer right now, and I know I'm more likely to use it since it has a pool and yoga classes. I tried to join today but didn't bring my proof of insurance to get the monthly discount so it's off to try again tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for the input!

    That is great news!
  • kimbux
    kimbux Posts: 154 Member
    Let me play devil's advocate..... what happens when you stop going to tthe gym? You would be stuck with a membership and no reimbursement. I would suggest starting a home program first to see if you will stick with it before signing a contract. If youa re successful, then go for the gym membership.
  • IamMCM
    IamMCM Posts: 122
    That's great advice, Kimbux, and I've actually done that in the past. I was doing great with a home program a couple of years ago and almost reached my goal weight, but then life and work got in the way. At the time, I made the commitment to work out in the morning so I had no excuses later in the day, and I maintained it for almost a year. Now the work situation is more stable, but mornings are out because of my hours, so being able to go in the evening and having the money hanging over my head will hopefully let me be successful again.

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