Looking for feedback on gym memberships
Sara_Liz1
Posts: 3 Member
Hi, I’m looking for some information on chain-type gyms such as Anytime Fitness. Are these types of places worth it? What activities are you doing there? Looking to get started somewhere with exercise, but just not sure if a place like this will be very motivating to go to. I joined one years ago, but only used the treadmill for a few weeks and quit going. Thanks.
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Replies
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I started out at a gym that had 24hr access specifically because I was intimidated a while back and it was nice going during off-peak hours and learning what to do at my own pace rather than feeling pressured from the regulars... if i went during peak hrs I always felt like I was "in the way"... thats just my personal feeling.2
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The gym can be a very intimidating place, I would strongly suggest a personal trainer to get you familiar with the equipment as well as putting together a workout plan for you.7
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I have an LA Fitness membership, because they have a pool, and they're the closest gym with a pool (with decent hours/access) to my house. And I swim, so a pool is non-negotiable.2
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i think it sort of depends on what kinds of stuff you are looking for. i know someone who loves her planet-fitness-type membership, whereas the people i lift with once a week at my 'club' see it as just a place to go, get their thing done and get out when there are no alternatives.
it can also be hard to know how to choose a membership when you're so new you don't know yet what your style as a worker-outer is going to be. i put in a few months of pay-as-you-go at my own situation of choice [city rec centre system] before i got married to it with the annual pass.3 -
. . . going to add some comments about 'motivating'ness too.
a) that's personal and subjective - what motivates you might be a reason for someone like me to walk out and keep right on walking until i reach venezuela or the south pole. whereas what motivates me might be really demoralizing and/or of no use to you.
b) not every place even provides 'motivation' up-front as a service in its own right, probably because it is so darned personal. i personally avoid most of the places that do think it can be done like the plague. ime, the idea seems to create a sort of one-size-fits all cheerful haranguing and subliminal shaming/pressure that turns me right off.
be confident in yourself and in your right to find out and define for yourself what will work best for you. that's about the only real tip i can give. and trust that if you do trust yourself in this regard, whatever you find is probably going to be more right than any straight-from-the-box formula designed by people who do not know you. motivation ultimately does have to come from inside, so you're entirely entitled and smart to take ownership and control of the process of finding your own. good luck with it
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Hi, I’m looking for some information on chain-type gyms such as Anytime Fitness. Are these types of places worth it? What activities are you doing there? Looking to get started somewhere with exercise, but just not sure if a place like this will be very motivating to go to. I joined one years ago, but only used the treadmill for a few weeks and quit going. Thanks.
I think it depends on what exercise you want to do and if you enjoy working out with people around you. Do you want to use particular machines? Do you want a program set up for you by a trainer?
Why did you quit your previous gym after a few weeks?
As an alternative to a gym you could walk, run or bike.
You could do workout videos. There are lots on you tube. Jessica Smith tv and Fitness Blender are a couple but there are many more.
You could dance.
You could play active video games.
You could get some exercise equipment for your home.2 -
You may join up with a chain gym that has two sites on opposite sides of your town, and the experience could be night and day between the two. I am in a smallish town, so not intimidated b/c their isn't that much going on at mine, even during peak hours. I will say that I do typically avoid that time though, just because I don't like the crowds and the distractions of getting into my 'zone'. Most places will let you have a few free visits, maybe even up to a week or two, to try it out and see how you like it.1
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I toured my local anytime fitness and had a trial membership and I loved it. I decided to go to a locally owned gym that had better prices though.3
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I had planet fitness, awful. It's suppose to be 24/7 here but they shut down and lock up at most days around 7 or 10. And it's suppose to be no commitment but I got pregnant and tried to cancel my membership and had to pay an entire year worth of gym memberships which was 20$ a month for 12 months and I couldn't even work out because I was high risk pregnancy as well.2
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All kinds of gyms with different kinds of equipment and different price structures. 1 There's no one fits all. They are only worth the $ if you use them.
You just need to know what kind of equipment you need to use to achieve your training objectives in a gym that's conveniently located and set up the way that appeals to you, so that you will actually use it.
Then just tour the gyms in your area and choose the one that best fits your needs, objectives and budget.
I was a member of 24Hr Fitness for awhile. It was cheap. Liked the after hr access but never actually used it after hrs. Stopped going after a year because I set up a gym at home and didn't need it anymore.
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I like the gym when it gives me external motivation. By that I mean someone checking in on me. Either I would do classes and get to know the trainers and other members who attended regularly, or by having a pt do me a program and regular updates. When I was short of money I just did all the free classes. I have varied between using a pt 8 weekly and using one several times a week depending on finances. I go to a more expensive gym now because I wanted a good pt who could work with my injuries. I did get lucky in the past and find a really good pt in a budget gym, but after he left I could really tell the difference between an ok pt and an amazing one.
In terms of gym equipment I don't think there is that much difference, it's more the added extras like a pool and tennis courts that add cost. I don't like swimming or racket sports so that is irrelevant to me.
I would be swayed by a hot tub though....
Because I like that external motivation I have never stuck to any kind of at home exercise program. I did enjoy regular dance classes at one point but that became more expensive than the gym at £6 a class.
To me the main difference between gyms I've engaged with and gyms I haven't, is the quality of the staff.1 -
Though I love my Planet Fitness (I use cardio and circuits - no free weights), I don't think I'd call them motivating. I've been to several different locations and they are completely different vibe wise. I agree with the consensus - tour your available gyms. Use any guest passes they offer to try them out on the days/times you'd actually be using them. If you are a class person, see if you can take a class or two before committing. Good luck to you.2
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If you live in an area where they have ClassPass, check that out. It lets you take classes at gyms and boutique fitness clubs without having a membership. That way you can try out a bunch of places or classes and see what you like.
My partner has one so she can take Barre at a Barre studio, Yoga at a yoga studio, some boot camp classes at my CrossFit box, spin classes at SoulCycle, and BodyCombat at a traditional gym.
She buys the classes in blocks of 15, doesn't pay for expensive memberships, and doesn't waste money because she only pays for what she uses - not for all the times she doesn't go....1 -
As others have stated you have to determine what your goals are. Being honest with you I don't like the vibe at Planet Fitness I don't consider it a gym that could help me but for some people it might be a great place to go.
What you also have to understand is no one can motivate you. The motivation has to come from within and once you figure what your own motivation is you'll have no problem going to the gym.
As for myself I like LA Fitness. It's basically a mixed crowd in there some serious lifters some casual good mixed crowd. Also I have a couple LA Fitness is near me one of the locations I wouldn't go to the management that runs that location is very poor while the one is totally different atmosphere and1 -
Thanks so much for all the great ideas, information, and suggestions. I love the idea of trying out a few places before committing to any certain gym, and figuring out what place will work best for me. All this is tremendously helpful!1
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Great thoughts on motivation and goals! Thanks!
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Agree with all of the above. For me, there's a gym in my building that's free! But I never go there because I'm not really a treadmill and weights kind of person. But I joined a gym that has classes and I go everyday -- I love it! Some people prefer workout at home options too (e.g. DVDs etc) or run in the park etc.. I'd start with asking what you love to do, and then decide whether the gym offers you that. If exercise isn't fun, you won't do it -- regardless of gym membership.1
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I joined the Y as they were the closest to me with a pool. I haven't been in that pool yet as I found there lessons for adults didn't exist and am taking them at another place in town. But I will use the pool.
Other than that, they do a "coach program" which is like PT lite. Meet with my coach every 4-6 weeks and re jig my activities. They have a variety of equipment and, except for the leg press, I've never had to wait. They need another leg press machine.1 -
I have an Anytime Fitness membership and it works for me. There are no classes and no extras other than unlimited tanning and no pool. But it has the weights and cardio equipment I need and is open 24 hours. Also, I've never travelled anywhere and not had a location close, so I can still work out when I'm away from home which is important to me.1
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I pay 35/month, FYI, which includes unlimited tanning as well if that's your thing. I also get access to all of their locations in the US.1
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bobbigirl83 wrote: »I have an Anytime Fitness membership and it works for me. There are no classes and no extras other than unlimited tanning and no pool. But it has the weights and cardio equipment I need and is open 24 hours. Also, I've never travelled anywhere and not had a location close, so I can still work out when I'm away from home which is important to me.
Some of them do have classes. It depends on the location. They are reasonable and usually decently equipped. As others have said, it all depends on your goals and whether they have the equipment you want.
For example, I just want decent free weights, squat rack and barbells. And not too many crowds. I can train in the middle of the day. I found a mostly MMA gym that is open 9 to 9. Most of the classes and MMA training sessions are late afternoon and evening. Sometimes I am the only one in the free weight area. Never more than 3 or 4 people and most don't seem to use the rack, so I pretty much have it to myself. It's no frills and only $25 per month.1 -
The ongoing memberships offered by gyms don't appeal to me and I know would get bored and not go. I walk, swim, go to a dance class etc. The classes and pool are prepaid - I buy 10 or 20 classes in advance. This works for me. But I know I would not go to a gym and the money would be wasted. If they had a different pricing model such as a pack of 15-20 gym entries including 3 x 30 min with the trainer, first meeting at the beginning to set up a program and then 2 meetings later to fine tune/answer questions, it might work for me. I would do that once a year. But I haven't found anywhere that offers that near where I live.
So I'm more likely to enjoy doing other fitness related activities with a different structure to them - not a gym. But it has to work for you, that is the key.0 -
I have seen anytime fitness. It looked like a good gym, but you had to sign a 12 month contract. I joined one called The Gym Group it seems good so far a range of equipment and is only £15.99 with no contract.0
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There's an Anytime Fitness just 1/3 mile from my house, though I've never been in there. I'm thinking about joining after my rehab classes end, though. If you're interested in them, you could ask them for a trial pass, which will give you a week to try out the gym. The only caveat is that you can only access the gym when there is staff there, as they'll have to let you in (you won't get a key card until you actually pay for a membership).1
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I'm an Equinox member. I like it very much!0
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Unless you're dead broke, don't let price be the overriding factor. Those ultra-cheap gyms may seem like a bargain at first, but they're generally less efficient at producing results. Given how expensive health care can be in the long term, saving an extra $10-20/month probably won't be worth it.
This is especially true if you're knowledgeable about exercise and are willing to work hard.
Anytime Fitness is on the more affordable end. It's not one that I'd strongly recommend, due to their light weights and limited equipment, but it's not a horrible choice.0 -
I am surrounded my chain fitness centers and I don't really care for them, even if they have plenty of fun classes to choose from. The reason? I cannot stand the posers in there and the females that parade around in workout gear but never work out or get sweaty. And then they get huffy if you ask to use the machine they are lounging on. This happened at three different chains in my area. They give me an up and down glance while I am in all my sweaty glory and curl their lip. I finally got tired of it.
I started going to a local gym near my place a few years ago that the local bodybuilders go to. "Normal" people like go there too but the real serious competitors frequent the place. I convinced the gym owner to be my trainer and so far, knock on wood, I have never hurt myself under his watch. Plus on days I am there and he is not, his other trainers keep an eye on everyone and they correct form, offer encouraging words, etc. I also pay a little more for membership than the chains but feel I am getting more out of it 1 -
Hi, I’m looking for some information on chain-type gyms such as Anytime Fitness. Are these types of places worth it? What activities are you doing there? Looking to get started somewhere with exercise, but just not sure if a place like this will be very motivating to go to. I joined one years ago, but only used the treadmill for a few weeks and quit going. Thanks.
I've been a member of LA Fitness since 2013 and absolutely love it. They have every machine or piece of work out equipment you could possibly need, plus a pool, stretching area, racket rooms, etc. They also offer classes. That being said, I've moved around a lot and also utilize LA Fitness while traveling and have been to a fair share of low-quality LA Fitness gyms. It depends on your location. If it's been build or revamped in the last 3-years, then it's probably excellent.1 -
Unless you're dead broke, don't let price be the overriding factor. Those ultra-cheap gyms may seem like a bargain at first, but they're generally less efficient at producing results. Given how expensive health care can be in the long term, saving an extra $10-20/month probably won't be worth it.
This is especially true if you're knowledgeable about exercise and are willing to work hard.
Anytime Fitness is on the more affordable end. It's not one that I'd strongly recommend, due to their light weights and limited equipment, but it's not a horrible choice.
Apparently there are a lot of differences between locations for Anytime Fitness. The one I go to has five squat racks (not Smith machines, although there's one of those too), tons of olympic plates, and dumbbells from 5 to 120 pounds - in addition to all the machines, TRX setups, kettlebells and tons of cardio equipment. About the only thing missing for a "serious" lifter is a powerlifting platform, and they don't have the Crossfit-type stuff (tires and sledgehammers, prowler sleds, etc.). For anybody but a serious/competitive powerlifter or olympic lifter, there's more than enough weights and equipment available. I wouldn't trust the trainers on staff for any reliable information beyond "where's the bathroom?", but that's pretty normal for most big box gyms.1 -
This thread has been so helpful!1
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