To gym or not to gym?

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Givemewings
Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am considering joining a gym. I have done this before and never used the gym much. However, I think it's different this time around...I am pretty determined. At present I do classes at home using DVDs, use a stationary cycle, walk in my lunchtime, am following C25K and attend a zumba class once a week. I was interested to know whether you use the gym, and how useful you find it ( or not). I need to make a decision whether it's worth making the investment. Many thanks for any answers!
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Replies

  • babydull
    babydull Posts: 727 Member
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    Some places have a 'pay and play' system, where you pay per session. Might be worth a try.
  • SpaceMarkus
    SpaceMarkus Posts: 651
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    Depends on how you like to workout. I've lost 20lbs just working out at home to DVD programs. I can't stand the idea of driving just to go workout, then driving home afterward. Not to mention waiting to get on a machine or set of weights.

    I haven't been to the gym in 2 years and I haven't missed it at all.
  • lcs1211
    lcs1211 Posts: 121 Member
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    I was a member of Curves for 5 or 6 years and just recently switched to a gym (July 6). I have been going 6 days a week since joining and I love it. Gives a lot of options (elliptical, bike, treadmill, stairclimber, machines and free weights), plus offers classes included with membership. I definitely needed to add some real strength training so the gym has been a big plus for me. Good luck in your decision making!!
  • maura1110
    maura1110 Posts: 171 Member
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    Personally, I prefer to save my money and just go running outside. Some people find that they prefer the gym because since they paid for it then it motivates them to actually go, but I had the same problem as you where I used to belong to a gym and ended up not using it that much. Plus, it seems like you already have all these other types of workouts that you do! - classes, DVDs, bike, etc.

    My advice would be to save the money that you would have spent on the gym, and use it to reward yourself with new clothes or something else when you lose all the weight that you want to! :)
  • Vipecap
    Vipecap Posts: 166 Member
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    I use a gym almost daily, and consider it well worth the investment. If you are skeptical, you could try a Planet Fitness which is $10 a month with no contracts usually if there is one in your area. Most gyms should offer you a free tour of the place regardless if you sign up or not so check them out. If you don't like the look or vibe of the place, don't sign up. :)
  • FaithandFitness
    FaithandFitness Posts: 653 Member
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    My gym is super close and has childcare which is a big deal for me. The monthly fee of 34.99 covers the gym, classes, and childcare. I can work out at home when needed, but being at the gym inspires me. It helps me to get away from the laundry that needs to be done and the emails that need to be answered and just focus on working out. Seeing people of all shapes, ages, and sizes motivated me as well. I love my gym!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
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    This is such an individual thing. I hate working out inside and even moreso in a gym. I have an elliptical at home, so if it's too hot, cold, raining, whatever, I'll usually jump on that and watch TV so I don't get bored.

    I joined a gym because my insurance picks up most of the cost, so I end up paying only about $7 a month out of pocket, so it's worth having the membership. But I've been twice since January.

    The gym I go to doesn't have classes, so I only really need it for the weight equipment, but I mostly do yoga, balance ball, pushups and free weights for strength training. I run and walk outside (nice and hilly here, so that helps the workout).

    If you're not going to go, then don't waste the money. But if you will and will enjoy it, then it's worth it and you should get a membership.

    I guess my bottom line point is that you can get a great workout without a gym, but some people like going to the gym. :-)
  • Laura_beau
    Laura_beau Posts: 1,029 Member
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    I do both- I do my 30DS & I go to the gym a couple of times a week. BUT, I get it at a discounted rate and it has a swimming pool. I go mainly for the pool.

    I pay £30 a month for the gym, which is better than many gyms. There are many 'no frills' gyms opening up accross the UK like puregym or easygym where there is no contract and its about £17 per month. Worth a look online to see if there is one in your area. These are purely cardio & weights machines though- no classes or pool.
  • ilovemyheart
    ilovemyheart Posts: 15 Member
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    I joined a gym 2 months ago and absolutly love it! They have tons of different classes to keep busy with and friendly and helpful staff. I mostly joined because i missed working out in a pool....... but find i enjoy doing the classes as well. Also the staff there have been great with answering all my questions about weight traininng (which i knew nothing about ) Good Luck !
  • jellybaby84
    jellybaby84 Posts: 583 Member
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    It's definitely worth being a gym member for me. I'm not good at running and would definitely struggle to exercise outside when it's cold or raining! Also, I live in a village and don't like being seen out running! I have some home DVDs but don't find them especially useful - I don't have enough space to move around properly and can't see what the instructor is doing properly.

    Being at the gym motivates me because I am surrounded by other people. Once I've driven there (20 minute drive) I feel obliged to work out for at least an hour. I don't have the distraction of sitting down for a drink or to read a book like I do at home and then there's the incentive of having paid for it too.
  • rhan90
    rhan90 Posts: 26 Member
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    I was in a similar boat to you when I joined my gym in December 2010. I had a gym membership before but rarely used it. For me it was more so that I wasn't really that interested in going, just my parents decided to get a family membership so it wasn't really my decision.

    When I decided to join in December 2010, I had been mulling over it for weeks. I was using a calorie counter and doing walk/jogs much like C25k. I then just decided on a whim to walk into a gym and find out about joining. I ended up joining the next day and have not looked back. I personally LOVE my gym. I love the atmosphere, I walk in and I WANT to workout. Even after a tiring, crappy day, just walking into the gym peps me up a bit. I do regular classes each week, as well as my own cardio/weights sessions. I really love the classes as they're motivating and great fun to do. Plus it's kinda scheduled into my life now :) I do BodyStep, BodyPump, BodyBalance and normal step each week. If you do join a gym, give the classes a go asap to see how you like them. Some classes you may need to do more than once to decide.

    Have you asked about free trials anywhere? I didn't do that myself, but I lucked out a really great gym that suits me. I think its a good idea to test-drive the place before committing to a membership. If you know anyone that's a member of a gym, you could ask them about whether free trials are offered at their gym. I know my own gym jumps at the chance to give out free trials, they have select 'free' classes each month intended for people who haven't joined.

    Also check out their facilities/classes/other stuff you're interested in. Do they have a large range of cardio equipment or weights, or do they have a varied class timetable, do they offer childcare etc etc.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
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    I need to belong to a gym in order to work out. The fact that I pay for it monthly partially motivates me to go, but it's also about getting out of the house for me. I live really close to my gym so I literally just have to walk across the street to get there. I like running outside, but I live in an urban area where running on the sidewalk means dealing with too many pedestrians and my city is not very bicycle friendly. I also do a lot of work from home, so it helps me just to get out and clear my head. I've tried working out at home before with workout DVD's (which I still use, but rather sporadically) and I used to have an elliptical at home, which I also did not use regularly.

    So...like others have said, it's a very personal decision. If you're good with working out at home then maybe you don't need a gym. Does the gym that you're thinking about offer trial passes? Perhaps you should try it for a couple of weeks to see how you like it. Keep in mind too that most gyms also offer group classes and some have swimming pools. At my gym, all classes are included in the monthly membership, so that's how I started doing yoga and spinning regularly.
  • wildone31
    wildone31 Posts: 21
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    I love my home gym. Its private (no distacting cute guys aside from the ones on the dvds:laugh: ). I control the tv and music. I get to say who can come in. Plus, I'm blessed enough to have DVD's, free weights, an eliptical and a treadmill. Personally i feel like I would be throwing $$$ away if I chose to go to a gym.....well unless it was for boxing. But it would have to be dirt cheap for me to join just to train to box.
  • xtroidanarymachine
    xtroidanarymachine Posts: 21
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    I agree with spacemarcus. I don't like the wasted time of driving to the gym and back. That extra time could ne used working out more or just added to your day. Exercising at home is a more time smart, and greener way to get fit. I have joined a few gyms and have mostly never gone as well, and I know now it's because of the time wasted to get there, work out, and come home...a 45 minute work out turns into 2 hours. On the other hand, if your at a point where you just need more than you can do at home, and don't have the space or money for exercise equipment, then maybe it's a good idea for you. It seem as if you have been doing alot of working out on your own. I'd say if you decide to do the gym, look into just a 1 month membership to see how it goes. It may cost a little more in the long run but at least if your not into it you can back out easier. Good luck!
  • fionarama
    fionarama Posts: 788 Member
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    I can't live without my gym membership. It keeps me sane. Its cheap entertainment when I'm too broke to do anything else. It has a pool where I take my little one in the w/ends.
    I think if you are really serious about exercising consistently you need it, as it is weatherproof. A good gym has so many options and classes.
    The main thing is not to get stuck in a rut, they will give you a programme when you first start but make sure you make an appointment with one of the fitness instructors and change your programme every six weeks or so.
    I have pretty much always had a gym membership since I waas 15 and I'm now 43.
  • TOOFATTOMOVE
    TOOFATTOMOVE Posts: 25 Member
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    I have done both the gym and at home fitness DVD's, free weights, etc. If you are motivated and it appears you are 26 pounds lost, I say save your money. Continue with your home routine add a kettlebell (can be done with a free weight to) with a countdown workout. Save your money for a special treat, day at the spa, if you have never done this you should, it will totally change your day. Or the other suggestion, go and pay as you go to see if you will stick with it. No sense obligating yourself to a full year of payments if you are only going to to 3 months out of the year.

    Sandy
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
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    I used to belong to a gym, stopped going (guess that's why I need MFP, lol), and wouldn't go back. I do cardio on my own and I really don't like the strength training machines at gyms. I find them terribly boring. I needed to add strength training in to my routine, so instead of a gym I started taking Pilates classes at a local studio.

    Gyms are fine if you like using the equipment there, but for someone like me, I don't like their strength training options so why pay money for something I don't enjoy?
  • Givemewings
    Givemewings Posts: 864 Member
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    I live in a small town in the cotswolds and so there are not any of the larger name gyms around here. The gym I am thinking of joining is fairly new ( around a year old) It has good equipment but no pool and only a handful of classes; trixter , body conditioning, kick boxing. But the advantage is that is at the end of my road and I can walk to it in a couple of minutes.
  • lookpretty
    lookpretty Posts: 276 Member
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    I love the gym, even when Im not full energy (illness) I got for 5 minutes on elliptical, do one machine, sit in sauna 5 minutes to warm my body and go home, it reminds me of my goals, I go daily, I have a compl golds gym membership, a campus membership, and a comped lifestyle family fitness (never use it), golds gym has childcare so I use it as a socialisation tool, I also met my current partner at the gym, I wont walk in my area, feel ridiculous doing videos so I go, I do abs at home, probably why theyre lacking, but I enjoy the experience of going, it just makes me feel like I am on track, even if I dont work out hard, it keeps me on my diet which is pretty extreme
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
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    I think if you are really serious about exercising consistently you need it, as it is weatherproof. A good gym has so many options and classes.

    Not really. I exercise more without a gym than with one. If you're serious about exercising consistently, you will exercise consistently, with or without a gym membership.

    The issue is really what you will enjoy.

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