Does everyone hit the gym?

I have a gym membership but I'm thinking about cancelling... the one I have is totally affordable ($20 for both me AND my husband) but I haven't been going lately, mostly because i'm trying to save money on gas. I usually go running, do body weight training, work out dvds, and zumba on PS3, and I never get bored with those!

I did Turbo Jam for 4 years and loved it but joined a gym December 2010 b/c I wanted to burn more calories. TJ was anywhere between 200-400 calories in 20-50 min while on an elliptical for 55 min I burn 550 and get to choose my own music, push myself rather than being lazy and doing the 20 or 30 min TJ and most importantly GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!! Getting away from night-time TV snacking possibilities and coming home satisfied and full of endorphins is priceless – well priceless but I got a good deal, $99 a year via Dealfind.com, a 1-day certificate sale back in December 2010. My gym is only $299 a yr during frequent sales (normally $450) and my company pays for it so also another bonus.

You can also 'rent' workout DVDs on the Netflix Instant Queue if you use that. That way you're not spending $$ on DVDs.

I never thought of that. Can you recommend any in particular that they have, ones that don't involve a lot of dancing?

I go to the gym - but this is my first time in my weight loss journey that I've done so. In the past, I always tried to do it from home with little to no long term success. I pay $25/month for unlimited (24/7/365) access to my gym. Since I can go anytime I want to go - I usually wait til later at night to go since it isn't as busy. I don't like going and having to wait for someone to be done with the machine or weights I want to use. There are times when I think having to pay that $25 is what keeps me on track and motivated - nothing like spending hard earned money to keep you going - especially on the days when I wanna curl up on the couch and sleep.

Treadmills will give you a full body workout and overall, I think they are one the best machines for weight loss. They offer so many options that it's a nice way to go. Get a nice one though - and not a manual one.

I have started using my Tae Bo dvds again just for a little change up in my routine, but overall -- I just use the gym.

Oh and as hard as it is to eeck out the time to go sometimes -- I do enjoy the "me" time that the gym offers me. I have 2 teenagers and being able to go and do my own thing is nice. When I workout at home, they want to bug me constantly. (And so does my dog, who can't understand what "go on" means when it comes time for me to workout.. lol). Everyone needs "me" time and I view the gym as my "me" time.

I was thinking of joining and the saw that it was 84 bucks a months plus some additional fees and don't forget my babysitting fees for the two kiddos I have at home. Sorry, it just doesn't fit into the budget right now. I do what I can at home. Now I just need to step up my game.

I love going to the gym, we have a some dumbells, an eliptical, and a flat bench that has an attachment to work your quads and hamstrings at home, but I never use that stuff. I wouldn't work out if it wasn't for the gym! It is on my way to school so I just go before and get ready there in the morning. I also like that there are more options for machines to lift with and cardio machines at the gym.

No gym here. Last time around I lost 40+ lbs by walking and doing basic exercises at home (exercise bike, pushups, crunches, plank, tricep dips). I didn't follow a set schedule, either, I just fit it in. Bike and a quick routine after the kids were in bed, or walking with 1yo on my back while 3yo had time at Grammie's house. Lunges/squats in the kitchen, tricep dips off the toilet while the kids were in the tub... I just made it work.

Now we're posted away from family so I don't have a convenient free babysitter, and hubby takes the car to work so I can't bring them to the one friend who would babysit for free. So even though we do have a gym membership, I don't use it. I've got some Wii games (Gold's Gym, Jillian Michaels, Wii Fit), a few DVDs, still have my bike, and now that it's warmed up I've been going for a brisk walk in the evening at whatever time works.

After hitting the 30's, with all the associated hormonal changes, I am finding it even more crucial to pay attention to diet - reducing sugar is a big one.

I love my gym... it's a county rec. center, so not at all a meat market. Lots of young couples, young families, older retired folks. It's also affordable. Now, it's not fancy at all. More like a high school gym with workout equipment.

But I like to go to the gym because it provides me with a nice variety of exercises. I've only been going for about a year now. For the first six months or so, I just went for a swim once or twice a week after work or once on the weekend. I skipped out most of November and December because of illness, travel, holidays, blah, blah, blah... but got back to going in January.

It's literally a block away, but I probably wouldn't have joined if it wasn't so close. When we lived way out in the sticks, there's no way I'd have belonged to a gym. It would have meant commuting nearly an hour just to get there!

I also swim in our neighborhood pool, take long walks on a nearby trail, do a lot of commuting by foot for school and work, walk the dog twice a day, go to the occasional yoga class, and do the occasional yoga DVD (Netflix is awesome... I love not having to invest in DVDs that I'll eventually get bored of doing.).

I don't go to the gym either. First off, I do not particularly want to be next to a slender person on the treadmill as they run and I am walking....do not have cute work out clothes..somehow, sleep pants and a tshirt doesn't cut it .....and my work hours do not always fit so I would be paying for something that I am not able to use 3-5x a week. So, I have an air stepper, Zumba fittness workout system, Tony Little's Private Session DVD's, and even Richard Simmon's Sweatin to the Oldies. Keeps me busy for sure...and it doesn't matter what I wear!

At my gym, no one pays any attention to what the person next to them is doing. You're so involved with your own workout that you don't care what someone else is doing. Or at least I don't.

There are a lot of 24/7 access gyms so you can go when it is convenient for you. I work second shift, so a gym only open from 8am-10pm isn't going to work for me.

As for cute workout clothes. Ha. I wear a pair of guy's cotton shorts and a tshirt or tank top. I find most "workout" clothes to be very tight and uncomfortable. Plus, I have a ton of shorts and tshirts. So, I just wear those. There are very few people at my gym who wear "cute clothes".

If you're interested in a membership and don't want to pay the big bucks...check out Planet Fitness. $10/month!

I'm a big propenent of resistance / weight training, although it can be really difficult to get to a gym depending on your other commitments. I'm lucky enough to have a job with a gym on site, and they even give me an hour of physical fitness time during the day, everyday!

IMO its not the gym thats important, its the exercises. I see a lot of posts on here of people buying cardio equipment... Getting your heart rate up is getting your heart rate up. It doesnt matter if its a treadmill, elliptical, bike or sidewalk. Getting a bench (or coffee table!) and some free weights will pay much better dividends for the money. Walk/run outside!