Do you find your gym membership worth it?
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I adore the gym. In fact, I belong to two. One where I go for personal training (5 mins walk from home) and another where I go with hubby (10 mins drive) because he likes to use the swimming pool and the first gym doesn't have one. I have to say that I would not be up for a 45 minute drive to get there, though. I go every day.0
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@moonangel12 $114/mo or year. That's more than reasonable if it's for a year. You sound like you want to, if you can swing the dues, go for it.1
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I would definitely not get my money's worth at a gym that was 45 minutes away. I would never go. I don't have time for that. But ignoring that little issue, I used to go to Lifetime Fitness that was a really nice big gym. I used the workout equipment 3 or more days a week, I used the childcare area, they had an indoor and outdoor pool, so we were there at least 5 days a week. Sometimes I even dropped my kid off at the childcare place and I went and relaxed in the hot tub and then took a shower and spent all the time blow drying my hair and putting makeup on lol! This was when I didn't work and I only had one kid, so I had plenty of time. Now, not so much. I bought weights and took up running and workout at home/run outside so I can be more efficient with what little time I have.0
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I belong to Planet Fitness, and use it mostly for cardio. I only pay $20 a month and it's less than 2 minutes from my house, so to me it's worth it. In my opinion the 45 minute drive would detour me from joining the gym you're talking about, it sounds like a decent a price though for all it offers and for 6 people. But that drive would be a killer.0
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Diatonic12 wrote: »@moonangel12 $114/mo or year. That's more than reasonable if it's for a year. You sound like you want to, if you can swing the dues, go for it.
Per month, that’s the hang up. Per year I would be all over it! I priced out rock climbing gyms and it’s actually more than that per month, just for the 5 of us (not including my husband).
The size of our family make any and all costs rise quickly, above average number of kids, although I don’t see us as a “large family.” Kids ages are 6, 8, 10, and 12 so my oldest costs nearly the same amount as an adult based on the pricing online.
The drive truly isn’t the hang up, it’s the cost. The only thing within a 5 minute walk of my house is the mailbox at the main road
. 10 minutes in either direction is Dollar General and maybe a gas station. Even the grocery store is 20 minutes. There are branches of the gym closer, but much smaller and not near the amenities so if I wanted to go one evening after my husband got home it would be 25 minutes or so.
The main draw is the saltwater pool, my kids LOVE to swim, and if I hope to do a sprint tri in the spring I am going to need something. The last indoor chlorine pool my daughter was in triggered a 3-4 day long asthma/croup episode (at 8 years old she should have put grown it but it’s just getting worse, an allergic response for her).
And unfortunately, outside of a one day trial, it’s a yearly contract which I am not a fan of
. The coupon link someone posted above expired last year.
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I had to drop my membership for now when for medical reasons I had to stop lifting. My gym was 30min away and I totally found it worth it when I could use it. I kept my Jazzercize membership going the whole time and am looking to rejoin a gym soon now that I’m cleared.
When everything is at least a 20min drive away 45 doesn’t feel far and if you’ll use it multiple times each week it’s worth it. If you’ll only pop in occasionally I’d recommend seeing if they have drop in daily rates and try that first-1 -
@moonangel12 The LifeFitness near us makes exceptions for things like lowering fees if people sign up in groups etc. Which means they do have flexibility in what they can work with you on. If you talk to the manager and explain your situation, you might find they’d be willing to let you try a longer introductory period. It’s at least worth asking since the worst they can say is no.0
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moonangel12 wrote: »Diatonic12 wrote: »@moonangel12 $114/mo or year. That's more than reasonable if it's for a year. You sound like you want to, if you can swing the dues, go for it.
Per month, that’s the hang up. Per year I would be all over it! I priced out rock climbing gyms and it’s actually more than that per month, just for the 5 of us (not including my husband).
The size of our family make any and all costs rise quickly, above average number of kids, although I don’t see us as a “large family.” Kids ages are 6, 8, 10, and 12 so my oldest costs nearly the same amount as an adult based on the pricing online.
The drive truly isn’t the hang up, it’s the cost. The only thing within a 5 minute walk of my house is the mailbox at the main road . 10 minutes in either direction is Dollar General and maybe a gas station. Even the grocery store is 20 minutes. There are branches of the gym closer, but much smaller and not near the amenities so if I wanted to go one evening after my husband got home it would be 25 minutes or so.
The main draw is the saltwater pool, my kids LOVE to swim, and if I hope to do a sprint tri in the spring I am going to need something. The last indoor chlorine pool my daughter was in triggered a 3-4 day long asthma/croup episode (at 8 years old she should have put grown it but it’s just getting worse, an allergic response for her).
And unfortunately, outside of a one day trial, it’s a yearly contract which I am not a fan of . The coupon link someone posted above expired last year.
$114 doesn't sound too bad to me honestly for 6 people at a nice gym like that with lots of amenities. If I had a different lifestyle (didn't work FT) and a higher income I would join. (not for a 45 min. drive though ) 1 -
moonangel12 wrote: »Diatonic12 wrote: »@moonangel12 $114/mo or year. That's more than reasonable if it's for a year. You sound like you want to, if you can swing the dues, go for it.
Per month, that’s the hang up. Per year I would be all over it! I priced out rock climbing gyms and it’s actually more than that per month, just for the 5 of us (not including my husband).
The size of our family make any and all costs rise quickly, above average number of kids, although I don’t see us as a “large family.” Kids ages are 6, 8, 10, and 12 so my oldest costs nearly the same amount as an adult based on the pricing online.
The drive truly isn’t the hang up, it’s the cost. The only thing within a 5 minute walk of my house is the mailbox at the main road . 10 minutes in either direction is Dollar General and maybe a gas station. Even the grocery store is 20 minutes. There are branches of the gym closer, but much smaller and not near the amenities so if I wanted to go one evening after my husband got home it would be 25 minutes or so.
The main draw is the saltwater pool, my kids LOVE to swim, and if I hope to do a sprint tri in the spring I am going to need something. The last indoor chlorine pool my daughter was in triggered a 3-4 day long asthma/croup episode (at 8 years old she should have put grown it but it’s just getting worse, an allergic response for her).
And unfortunately, outside of a one day trial, it’s a yearly contract which I am not a fan of . The coupon link someone posted above expired last year.
I found the coupon and a Groupon in about 30 seconds of googling - dig around some more and also discuss with staff. There is generally flexibility. Ask for a longer trial period and lower monthly rates.1 -
I wouldn't dream of paying for a gym 45 minutes away, but my situation is very different than yours.
I actually just joined a gym last week. This was due to the fact that I had "outgrown" the little fitness center where I live, and my workouts were pretty limited there - I could do them, but it was limited.
I joined Anytime Fitness, which is close to my job, so I get up and head to the gym and get ready for work there now. Seems to be working out really well. I liked that their memberships are all-club, so that's perfect if I were to move or want to go to one closer to my house instead of work one day.
For my workouts and my goals, I pretty much need a gym - trying to invest in everything I want/need for a home gym would be very cost (and space) prohibitive - besides most of that stuff being a PITA to move when I need to do that again!
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I think a gym membership is dependant on your needs. If you are a Bodybuilder then yes its a must, or if you live in a small apt and just dont have the space for a selection of fitness equip then it would be necessasary too. But there are hundreds of ways to workout without a gym. I had a membership to EOS Fitness that I cancelled last spring because it was always crowded and I found I was doing home, park, and outdoor cardio workouts more than I was at the gym. As long as you dont want to lift heavy then you can get by very nicely with some adjustable dumbbells, a basic flat bench, a trx suspension device(literally hundreds of exercises can be done with one of these and the resistance is infinately adjustable simply by how you position your body ), a sandbag(make your own or buy one you can fill to different weights. Even a simple Daypack can be filled with different things and used as weight to exercise with. Playground apparatus, cinder blocks, rocks, logs, etc can all be used to workout with if you use a bit of creativity. Modern people have been conditioned to asdociate the gym as the only place to workout. This is far from true1
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For me, it's worth it. It's a 20-minute drive each way, but the big thing I need in a gym is an indoor pool -- I can't replicate that at home on my income and property size. My Y has a huge aquatics focus, and in addition to a massive indoor pool -- seriously, big enough that it has three lap lanes, *plus* a shallow section that they gear pool walkers to, *plus* the deeper end that they hold aquatics classes in -- they also have a gorgeous outdoor pool with chaises and umbrellas. So not only do I get the indoor for what I need, but the outdoor is lovely in the summer, so thus saving me the cost -- and inability to afford -- of an outdoor pool club.
Plus, they have a great variety of classes at good times. Which has helped me curtail what I spend at boutique studios, because now I can get it for free.
And gorgeous fitness equipment and spaces. So while I lift at home, and run outdoors when it's safe to (not raining, not dark, not a heat index that approximates the surface of the sun), this is a good home away from home that I use when I need something beyond that limited sphere of running and lifting.0 -
moonangel12 wrote: »
The drive truly isn’t the hang up, it’s the cost. The only thing within a 5 minute walk of my house is the mailbox at the main road . 10 minutes in either direction is Dollar General and maybe a gas station. Even the grocery store is 20 minutes. There are branches of the gym closer, but much smaller and not near the amenities so if I wanted to go one evening after my husband got home it would be 25 minutes or so.
This makes me laugh because I live way out, too. You get used to long drives and it isn't that big of a deal! It keeps me from going out to eat, though. Anyway, my gym is near where I work, so that helps, but if I were you, give it a try! I think that it is important for kids to get familiar with working out and keeping fit!1 -
Per month, that’s the hang up. Per year I would be all over it!
You can only do what your budget will afford for the entire family. That's the bottomline. They won't let you buy a book of individual tickets, 10 at a time? Weigh the pros vs. the cons. The asthma response. Your budget, budget, budget.
You're a brave woman, swimming in that river. Take it back outside and think about creating your own gym at home. Remember, long, long before neighborhood gyms were created people found a way to become world class athletes. Sounds like you have nice weather for the most part, a rustic outdoor gym would be fun.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10205533/have-a-home-workout-room
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10671119/home-gym-vs-public-gym
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/716415/my-results-from-home-workouts
I think you have the true grit it takes to reach your fitness goals. This was on our news last night, another woman with true grit doing what it takes to get it done no matter what.
https://www.montanasports.com/more-sports/spartan-racer-lillie-elkin-its-harder-for-me-not-to-workout-than-to-workout
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moonangel12 wrote: »
The drive truly isn’t the hang up, it’s the cost. The only thing within a 5 minute walk of my house is the mailbox at the main road . 10 minutes in either direction is Dollar General and maybe a gas station. Even the grocery store is 20 minutes. There are branches of the gym closer, but much smaller and not near the amenities so if I wanted to go one evening after my husband got home it would be 25 minutes or so.
This makes me laugh because I live way out, too. You get used to long drives and it isn't that big of a deal! It keeps me from going out to eat, though. Anyway, my gym is near where I work, so that helps, but if I were you, give it a try! I think that it is important for kids to get familiar with working out and keeping fit!
Agreed. I used to live in a place where it took 48 miles, each way, to get to a Target! And three hours each way for most medical specialists. You learn quickly that things just take longer to get to when you live in rural areas.0 -
For me, it's pretty simple. The gym has a lot of equipment that I don't. I live in the middle of Seattle, where apartments are expensive and square feet are very expensive. I'm not going to buy a bunch of weights and machines (delivery for weights is also expensive). You get where I'm going with this.moonangel12 wrote: »Diatonic12 wrote: »@moonangel12 $114/mo or year. That's more than reasonable if it's for a year. You sound like you want to, if you can swing the dues, go for it.
Per month, that’s the hang up. Per year I would be all over it! I priced out rock climbing gyms and it’s actually more than that per month, just for the 5 of us (not including my husband).
The size of our family make any and all costs rise quickly, above average number of kids, although I don’t see us as a “large family.” Kids ages are 6, 8, 10, and 12 so my oldest costs nearly the same amount as an adult based on the pricing online.
The drive truly isn’t the hang up, it’s the cost. The only thing within a 5 minute walk of my house is the mailbox at the main road . 10 minutes in either direction is Dollar General and maybe a gas station. Even the grocery store is 20 minutes. There are branches of the gym closer, but much smaller and not near the amenities so if I wanted to go one evening after my husband got home it would be 25 minutes or so.
The main draw is the saltwater pool, my kids LOVE to swim, and if I hope to do a sprint tri in the spring I am going to need something. The last indoor chlorine pool my daughter was in triggered a 3-4 day long asthma/croup episode (at 8 years old she should have put grown it but it’s just getting worse, an allergic response for her).
And unfortunately, outside of a one day trial, it’s a yearly contract which I am not a fan of . The coupon link someone posted above expired last year.
Rocks are free.
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I like having a gym membership, but I probably don't take advantage of it the way I should because I am primarily a runner and like to do that outside as much as possible. That said, I do really enjoy group exercise classes and the spin bike, but my current gym cut back on classes and I can't attend the ones I like when offered--which has led us to look at different gym options.
I also have a subscription to Les Mills on Demand that I absolutely love and use at home several times a week!0 -
I have a gym membership. It is a small, co-op gym. Maybe 1500sq feet. It is the best option I have and I use it about 4 times a week. I also have a cheap rack and plates at home. So I could just workout here, I do all my cardio on videos or outside anyway. But my membership is worth it because I have gym buddies. We have a set time and I feel accountable and show up. The variation in equipment is nice too.
Op, the gym you are considering sounds awesome! The drive would be a dealbreaker for me but if it isn’t for you that is wonderful!0 -
If you and the kids go twice a week, it's only $3 per person per visit. If you go more than that, it's less. So it's really not a bad deal. I would check the pool hours for the kids to make sure the times work for you. Free swim/kid swim hours are sometimes limited. Kids aren't always allowed in the lap lanes.0
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That’s what I was wondering as well - they have an indoor mini water park/splash pad type thing from what a friend told me, but I wonder if my kids will be too old for it (she has toddlers)... I want to drive out, check it out, ask questions... maybe the price is more flexible, or we can do a one month (even week!) trial.If you and the kids go twice a week, it's only $3 per person per visit. If you go more than that, it's less. So it's really not a bad deal. I would check the pool hours for the kids to make sure the times work for you. Free swim/kid swim hours are sometimes limited. Kids aren't always allowed in the lap lanes.
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