Are gyms worth the monthly membership costs??

freckles88 · July 2011

basically, I'm thinking of joining a gym to help me lose weight but I don't know if its wirth paying thr monthly membership charges when I could just go and run around the local park or something...

Thing is because I work for my local council (not directly but employed in a school) I get discount off our local leisure centres so I can get get membership for £24 a month which is includes access to all our leisure centre gyms - so I could go to the one nearest work on the way home and then one about a mile from where I live on a weekend - its a proper gym with tredmill, bikes running machines and all that, and membership includes unlimited access to the pool, jacuzzi, sauna as well as unlimited fitness classes like zumba, yoga, pilates etc etc. Which I didn't think was too bad to be honest as I was considering joining a yoga class which is like a fiver a month so for an extra £4 I can get all that... Should I go for it??

stephanielynn76 · July 2011

It's only worth the money if you actually USE it! My gym membership is worth every penny. I would do without other things if I had to in order to keep it!

bigbrownkid · July 2011

its worth it, if you get a membership you will feel motivated to go because you are spending money. also try to make it part of your daily routine then its defiantly worth it.

KatyE213 · July 2011

Definitely worth it if you intend to use it. And £24 per month is really good, I pay £40 a month for mine. For me its an incentive to go - like its paid for so I have to go. But apparently lots of people pay every month and don't use it! So I suppose its what works for you really.

NyxDominique · July 2011

Correct, worth it if you use it.

I have had a gym membership for 2 years.

The first year I didn't go at all.

Then I started to go while I was going back to school. Finally it was worth it. Several hours a week.

Then started to work from home, and invested in a stationary bike and tredmill. Haven't looked back since. I like staying in the nice AC or warmth of the house. Plus, I get to use my own shower!

Thamantha · July 2011

I think it really depends on how much you are honestly going to use it.
If you are going to be there three or four times a week, every month, and you use the equipment then it is totally worthwhile.

However if you are like me and get a boost of gym going for a week followed by not going for a month, then it is probably better to cut the membership, and just try to keep active outdoors, or pay per visit if that is allowed.

Personally, I found the gym handy because i wanted to start exercising but didn't want to run outside my house and be seen getting sweaty by people who were not likewise engaged in getting sweaty.

HeidiMightyRawr · July 2011

I think £24 a month is a great deal for all that! I personally couldn't be without the gym although it certainly is possible to get fit and lose weight without one. (Winter and english weather may not be so good though when you want to go for a run!)

My gym at the moment is £20 a month, cheapest I've seen but it only has weights and a few cardio machines. I would love to have classes included but I didn't want to be signed up in a fixed contract on £45 a month to get that - Considered Bannnatynes gym, it has everything but really is that expensive

I just do P90x at home which is good, and considering taking up extra classes somewhere for Zumba.

MrsRazor7 · July 2011

I think that they are worth the money. But, only if you plan on using it. I joined the Y a couple of months ago, and it has really helped me and I love it there. It also sounds like it is pretty convenient for you, so that is an extra plus. I say do it! Use it for everything it has, and you will love it.

ElimyW · July 2011

Like others have said, it's definitely worth it if you will use it. I signed up for mine, and made myself go because I was paying for it, and now I couldn't give it up!! I'm like you and have a membership that gives me access to any of the council's leisure centres. I use three different ones (one near work, and two near my house) and it's fantastic! It means I can always find something to fit what I'm feeling and doing that particular week - I love it

Hope you find something that works for you :happy:

kymmixxx · July 2011

It's only worth the money if you actually USE it! My gym membership is worth every penny. I would do without other things if I had to in order to keep it!

couldnt agree more!!

LilMissStrawberry · July 2011

I was hesitant about getting a gym membership because I wasn't sure it was worth it. Being a student I was worried about paying $17.90 a week when I knew I could run outside or something. But it started to become winter and I started making excuses about running outside when it was cold or rainy. I decided to take exercise classes but they were $5 a class so it just worked out cheaper to join the gym, provided I go at least 4 times a week.

I absolutely love it but I would make sure you're going to use it before you sign up.

Izzy62 · July 2011

Hi, I pretty much agree with all the above - worth it if you use it!

I use our local authority gyms and pay £30 a month and that includes all classes. I also have a bike and elliptical at home, but I'm way more motivated to work out in company. I also find the instructor's are worth their weight in gold, I may be lucky there and not all may be the same, but they are knowledgable, friendly and not judgemental in the slightest.

I just had a pretty major knee op and I can't tell you how good it was after 8 weeks of not moving being able to go back into the gym! Was like going back to my second family. One of the instructors had had a similar op and is helping enormously with my rehab.

Worth every penny to me

Oh and they even suspended my membership for the two months after my op so I didn't have to pay when I couldn't use the facilities!

Izzy xx

Hoteffinmess · July 2011

I agree with many of the folks here. It's worth it if you use it! I didn't use mine for a month or so after I got it but I was STILL paying for it!! I consider it my allowance. I rarely go out or buy things for myself. My gym time is me time, away from the kids and boyfriend. TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Ilovedrinkingtea · July 2011

I go to my gym 2 or sometimes 3 times a day mon to fri. If I didn't go to the gym, I'd start to feel angry and aggressive. It's a great stress reliever. It also keeps me away from the tv, the couch and the fridge xx

simplysara9 · July 2011

If you are going to use the membership and make exercise part of your daily life then it is definitely worth the money!

BerryH · July 2011

That sounds like a bargain! Based on the per-class cost, you only need to use it 5 times a month to make it worth your while, so try and make sure you do a couple of times a week.

melt57 · July 2011

Its hard to tell whats going to work best for you until you try. I had a gym membership a few years ago, and I went for about six months but then lost interest. Later I purchased an elliptical which became a large clothes hanger. Now I just run outside, and I like it best of all. Make sure if you do sign up that you can cancel down the road if you decide its not for you, without a high cancellation fee.

midnightsukie · July 2011

i did the same thing, we got cheap membership last October and i used it loads in winter. now its summer i have taken up running outside (i think the gym built up for fittness to do this). but i stopped usiing the gym in March as i wasnt in gym mode and had other things to do.
BUT my gym have frozen my membership till October now so i dont have to pay for it during summer and then when its cold and dark i can use it.

Its worth checking if they do a "freeze" on your membership if something like this suits you better. check the T&C!

Jessabelle12 · July 2011

If you're just starting out weight loss I'd just go to the gym/swimming (whatever your membership would cover) and see how often you would be going and if you would actually stick to it. I was losing weight for over a month before I got mine when I realise I was going swimming 4 or 5 times a week and wanting to go to the gym more than once. but couldnt afford it. So now I have it and it actually makes me go more cause I dont need to worry whether I've got the money or not.

IronSmasher · July 2011

All they gyms near me are rubbush

All are too far, opening times that don't suit the employed, and rubbish equipment.
There's nothing but treadmills, ellipticals, classes, saunas and a pool with people just floating about in it.

All I need is some heavy iron to move about, and trying to hold two of their girly barbells in one hand is do-able, but just not practical. Any functional exercises and I've got no chance.
There's got to be a gym based on fitness somewhere, I just can't find it

velvetkat · July 2011

I joined the gym mainly because the rainy season in Florida was coming soon and I by the time I would get home from work the clouds would be building and I wouldnt be able to do any outdoor exercise. I have a pool in my backyard and even though I go to the gym everyday and have for the last 4 months I still get exercise in my pool when the weather is good. Just cant depend on it. My gym also has a pool and racquetball courts as well as all the machines and classes. I also purchased training to learn how to use all the machines correctly.
For me it has been worth every penny as it keeps me motivated and I feel better when I come home from the gym. it has helped me lose 45 lbs of the 77lbs I have lost.

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Are gyms worth the monthly membership costs??

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