Gym Membership vs. Tattoo
Sissy4EverX3
Posts: 247
I've been stuck in a plateau for the last 4 months. I cannot seem to get out of the 280s. (Though I am hoping for a helluva surprise as a birthday present when I step on that scale Friday morning for my first weigh-in in several weeks.) Something needs to change to bust through this. What I have been doing isn't working anymore -- and didn't someone famous once say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting the different results?? :P
I got to thinking today that I might be better off using the money I was going to put towards a tattoo as a birthday present to myself to celebrate the 80lbs I *have* lost. I thought this because I drive past a neighborhood gym twice a day. So I stopped in at the joint on my lunch hour and got some prices. They're currently offering 2 programs. One is a $129.00 enrollment fee that includes 6 sessions with a personal trainer. There is also a $29.00 "lock-in" fee, which locks me in for the $12.00/mth cost. Then a charge for the 1st and last month's fees, for a total of $182.00 to start. The second is basically to pay $60.00 and I'm in at $15.00/mth, but open to raises in future membership fees and no sessions with a personal trainer.
My first question -- is a personal trainer really necessary? Second, would you do it it - even without the personal trainer benefit? I've never looked into a gym membership before, so $15/mth seems reasonable to me.
The other thing is, I posted my pondering on Facebook -- and got a hell of a response out of my friends and family. Most everyone's telling me to go for the tattoo NOW to celebrate the loss, but the other half is voting for the gym membership to help me bust through this plateau. I'll take your votes now!
I got to thinking today that I might be better off using the money I was going to put towards a tattoo as a birthday present to myself to celebrate the 80lbs I *have* lost. I thought this because I drive past a neighborhood gym twice a day. So I stopped in at the joint on my lunch hour and got some prices. They're currently offering 2 programs. One is a $129.00 enrollment fee that includes 6 sessions with a personal trainer. There is also a $29.00 "lock-in" fee, which locks me in for the $12.00/mth cost. Then a charge for the 1st and last month's fees, for a total of $182.00 to start. The second is basically to pay $60.00 and I'm in at $15.00/mth, but open to raises in future membership fees and no sessions with a personal trainer.
My first question -- is a personal trainer really necessary? Second, would you do it it - even without the personal trainer benefit? I've never looked into a gym membership before, so $15/mth seems reasonable to me.
The other thing is, I posted my pondering on Facebook -- and got a hell of a response out of my friends and family. Most everyone's telling me to go for the tattoo NOW to celebrate the loss, but the other half is voting for the gym membership to help me bust through this plateau. I'll take your votes now!
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Replies
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As someone who works out exclusively at home due to a shoestring budget, I would LOVE to join a gym and hire a personal trainer. My vote is for the gym membership then when you bust this plateau, get TWO tattoos!! :bigsmile:0
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I vote tattoo!0
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Gym membership!!!0
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I say tattoo can wait till you lost all of your weight. Wouldn't it ...Well, sag?
Go with the gym and no trainer. Or that's what I would do. The buying of the gym would make me go regardless.0 -
$12 or even $15 sounds fine to me for a gym membership. But even though it may be more up front, I definitely think the personal trainer is worth it! Especially at the price. I have been paying about $45 a session for my personal trainer and it is possibly the best thing I have done for myself. She helps motivate me and shows me exercises I never would have thought to do on my own.
If all I wanted/needed was to run on the treadmill or elliptical then yeah I could do that on my own. But there is so much more to do and my trainer is the one that shows me! :flowerforyou:0 -
It depends. If it was a really meaningful tattoo like my daughters name or something I'd get that. If not, if its something like roses, I'd get the gym membership.0
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Paying a trainer is expensive but for me it was worth it. After my sessions were over I gained all the weight back in 2 months. My trainer really pushed me a lot harder than I thought I was capable even though I thought I'd been working hard before. And if you still have a lot of weight to lose you might not like how a tattoo looks after you've lost the weight unless its small and on your foot or something.0
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As someone with tattoos and a gym membership (and stuck around the same weight right now) I say go for the gym. It is so much nicer to work out in a gym then outside when it is unbearably hot. I like the personal trainer. They know some routines that are good to know and will show you how to use all the equipment correctly. I tend to have my comfort zone on the elliptical but am trying to branch out more into the weight section.
You can get the tattoo at any time. Now is the right time to lose the weight. Plus, depending on where you are getting it, it might get droopy when you get to goal weight. My arm one is already looking a bit iffy after a 100 lb loss and will be worse when the rest is gone I think.0 -
I vote gym membership and personal trainer too. I love working with my personal trainer and I have benefited from using the pool at the gym to walk and later swim. Good luck.0
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Jess... Check with the y. I know they usually waive sign up costs and all members get 3 wellness sessions with a trainer. They will take body fat, talk about nutrition and give you a lay if the land.
The tattoo is great... You earned it after all. But I can not say enough about the value if a gym membership. If I'm bored of thd bike I can hope on an elliptical. And lifting.... Girl... LIFT HEAVY STUFF! Trust me on that. Then in a few months go get your tattoo in an even sexier more toned place.
Rawr.0 -
Ink > Gym. You can workout wherever you want0
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I would go for gym membership, personally. My gym charges a set fee per month, then you can decide on one of their trainers and have one session, or however many sessions you like, for a price per session, including a free 30 minute consultation.
I think the gym, at this point, would be much more rewarding.0 -
Haha I understand your dilemma. I want another tattoo so badly!!
But I totally agree. Some people can do fine without gyms but I'm not great at knowing what to do or how to do it when it comes to working out. I did a bootcamp once and had amazing results (much better than doing anything on my own) so I would definitely consider gym/trainer. Just like tracking what you eat, a trainer keeps you accountable and helps to push you so you can improve. I also find that a trainer will introduce me to new exercises/equipment I may otherwise not try (I am a comfort zone kind of person).
However, I'd meet the personal trainer first. Talk to them and see if you like them. Some trainers like the tough method and others aren't. People respond to different methods so make sure to find someone you're comfortable with before spending the money.
The work you've done is AMAZING and it makes sense to want to celebrate it but I think you could think of the gym as a treat/reward as well. And imagine how good it will feel to break through the plateau! THAT'S when you should get your tattoo!
Good luck! And whatever you choose, you totally deserve it!0 -
I've been stuck in a plateau for the last 4 months. I cannot seem to get out of the 280s. (Though I am hoping for a helluva surprise as a birthday present when I step on that scale Friday morning for my first weigh-in in several weeks.) Something needs to change to bust through this. What I have been doing isn't working anymore -- and didn't someone famous once say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting the different results?? :P
I got to thinking today that I might be better off using the money I was going to put towards a tattoo as a birthday present to myself to celebrate the 80lbs I *have* lost. I thought this because I drive past a neighborhood gym twice a day. So I stopped in at the joint on my lunch hour and got some prices. They're currently offering 2 programs. One is a $129.00 enrollment fee that includes 6 sessions with a personal trainer. There is also a $29.00 "lock-in" fee, which locks me in for the $12.00/mth cost. Then a charge for the 1st and last month's fees, for a total of $182.00 to start. The second is basically to pay $60.00 and I'm in at $15.00/mth, but open to raises in future membership fees and no sessions with a personal trainer.
My first question -- is a personal trainer really necessary? Second, would you do it it - even without the personal trainer benefit? I've never looked into a gym membership before, so $15/mth seems reasonable to me.
The other thing is, I posted my pondering on Facebook -- and got a hell of a response out of my friends and family. Most everyone's telling me to go for the tattoo NOW to celebrate the loss, but the other half is voting for the gym membership to help me bust through this plateau. I'll take your votes now!
You dont need a tattoo to remind you of your achievements, you just need to look in the mirror! And is getting a tattoo going to help remove the rest of the weight? If by going to the gym is doing something different (seeing as you mentioned what you've been doing isnt really working anymore), then go to the gym. You will be exposed to a whole new level of support and motivation and yes you do need a trainer to teach you things about how your body works. Good luck0 -
I would invest in the gym membership instead. You can always get the tattoo later to celebrate an even bigger loss down the road! And as someone else mentioned, it might be best to wait and get the tattoo until you're closer to your goal to avoid distorting it.0
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I got my 1st tattoo when i got to the 130s after getting down from the 180s and im so glad i waited til id lost the weight, it might look different if you have a lot to lose like people have said. Depends on where the ink is/how big obviously.0
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I vote Gym membership. But what would you rather have, a thinner body or ink on your skin. I would rather have the weight loss.0
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qftInk > Gym. You can workout wherever you want0 -
What all "at home" workout DVD's have you tried? Jillian Michaels 30 day shred is a killer and should get you out of your plateu, and eating differently....
ANYHOW, if you decide on the gym PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the fine print of the contract and make sure to get a copy right then and there and EVERYTHING in writing. I recently got screwed out of $1200 by LA fitness because the trainer forged my signature on a few things.. SO PLEASE, get it all in writing, get a copy, and make sure you read EVERYTHING! Good luck on whatever you decide!0 -
What all "at home" workout DVD's have you tried? Jillian Michaels 30 day shred is a killer and should get you out of your plateu, and eating differently....
ANYHOW, if you decide on the gym PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read the fine print of the contract and make sure to get a copy right then and there and EVERYTHING in writing. I recently got screwed out of $1200 by LA fitness because the trainer forged my signature on a few things.. SO PLEASE, get it all in writing, get a copy, and make sure you read EVERYTHING! Good luck on whatever you decide!
Thats disgusting! The trainer should have been fired or charged and you should have got your money back! grrrr0 -
Definitely go with the gym,you can always get a tattoo at a later date when you reach your goal! That would be a nice reward, IMO. As far as the personal trainer goes, I'd skip it,that's an extra expense that you don't necessarily need. If you're ever confused on starting a routine or whatever, there's lots of free online sources you can use to find what works best for your body. If push comes to shove, you could always ask another gym-goer how to use a specific machine if you don't know how. The gym is a pretty friendly environment, i've found. Besides,when your training sessions are over you're going to have to work out alone and self-motivate yourself anyway without the help of a trainer, so why not start now?0
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It all depends.. are you going to get the gym member ship and go, are you going to get the gym membership and make up reasons as to why you cannot go? if it is the later than I would say go for the tattoo... if you KNOW 100% with out a doubt you will use the gym get the membership.
For me personally? I would get the tattoo... but thats because I know that I can find ways out of going to the gym and end up wasting the money. That and honestly I cannot get enough of the ink...0 -
At 280lbs you'll need help. Unless you have a good grasp at workout form, take the trainer. Can't tell you how many times I'm in the gym and I see people WASTE their time doing exercises that don't apply to them. While crunches are great, if you're abdomen is and waist circumference is really large, it's not the best exercise to choose to strengthen the abs. Better off learning a compound exercise like rows to strengthen not only the back, but learning how to flex and hold a strong core.
Also see if you can negotiate on the payment plans. Most gyms have a standard plan, but there's usually a "back up" plan if they feel that they have a person close to buying or is on the fence.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Wow. Such great responses and I most surely will make sure to check with the fine print stuff. I actually just learned I have a friend who goes to the Y a lot and offered for me to tag with her a few times just to check it out. So I think I'm going to do that - for now.
The tat was/is/will be going on my left calf -- nothing big, nothing fancy.. just the Gemini symbol (picture II in balloon shape) with my niece's date of birth at the top (6/19/05) and my date of birth at the bottom (6/15/79) with her name in cross bar and my nickname of "Sissy" in the other. My calves have always been in decent shape - not only from carrying around the heavy duty weight, but also because I worked on my feet in gas stations for over 13 years.. so lots of walking. They're toning up now, but as far as anything else is concerned, I'm thinking its a safe bet to put it there. I wouldn't *dare* put it anywhere else on my body right now do to the losses.
As for home workout DVDs, I did remember I have 2 that are as still in their original packaging.. I bought the damn things for myself as a Christmas present, then drama hit, I moved 5 times in 4 months... so I'm going ot have to go digging for them. But there's also Netflix, as well. Surely I can find something on there!
You guys are GREAT.. thank you so much!!!0 -
You MUST get to the gym. Food is a culprit in the weight game but without exercise, it will take longer to shed those pounds. Also - think about your health. The gym will strengthen and tone your muscles - especially your HEART!!!0
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Count me in for the membership, too. ESPECIALLY if you are dealing with a plateau. A trainer can help you get out of that.0
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Gym with personal trainer. As one other poster stated.....getting a tattoo now when you are looking to lose a significant amount more weight might leave you with a saggy tattoo. Wait and do the tattoo when you have lost all of the weight and your skin has tightened up. I want to get another tat so badly but I know that I need to get the weight off first!0
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While I think people can lose weight with or without a gym, I think having access to a gym really helps. I also think if you're really commited to losing the weight a tattoo is a bad idea at this time because it might get mis-shaped if you lose a hundred pounds or better.0
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As someone who frequents a gym only to use the Personal Training options (I still lack the motivation to get in there on my own!!) I would recommend the gym membership with the PT sessions! A Personal Trainer is an awesome source of motivation and they also show you how to use all the equipment correctly so you don't end up hurting yourself if you're not sure.
My trainer has me currently doing 3 Weights sessions a week and 2 x 30 min boxing sessions plus 30mins of moderate cardio on the weekends. I would never be where I'm at without her constant support, motivation and at times hassling about being healthy, keeping myself moving and doing the right thing for me!
100% gym membership from me 0
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