Gym Membership -Yes/No

akaporn
akaporn Posts: 231 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,
The good news is I am going back home in 2 weeks. But, I am going to work in a new office about 55mi away from home. The work starts 7am sharp. I used to be able to get up around 4am work out for an hour, leave the house before 6am and make it there barely on time. I do stuffs like Insanity, Yoga, Jillian Michael daily. And i also either play soccer or jog in the evening (waiting for the traffic to ease down). I'm wondering should I get a gym membership to a 24 Hour Fitness closer to the office.

PROS:
1) I can jut get up drive to the gym in gym clothes, do my workout, take a shower. Then go to the office without having to worry about the rush hour traffic.
2) My office also flexible about lunch break. Bunches of us take a longer lunch break and hit the gym for an hour, then come back.
3) They have swimming pool there! I used to swim a lot (1-2 km/day). But, that was 15 years ago. I'd like to get back to that routine maybe 1HR/day at lunch time. I love swimming. I find it as some kind of meditation.
4) It might open me up to a possibility of weight training. I have NOT been in a gym before. I got most of my strength training from Insanity and TapouT XT. I do not have any equipment except a set of resistance band. Being in a gym might encourage me.
5) 24Hr fitness are all over Southern California. I always have gym clothes in my truck. I can just drop in if I hit a bad traffic.
6) Free shower

CONS:
1) I don't want to pay for gym membership if I don't have to. The truth is, all I need is a place to take a shower before work. I can find a park and do my Insanity / Tapout with my cellphone.
2) I'm scared of the gym. Those machines look crazy. I'm clueless.

If I decided to go with it. I will try a one week trial before I sign up to make sure that it will work. So guys, Any comments and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Replies

  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    If you will use it...gym memberships are well worth it.

    My advice however, if you're going to do it, is take advantage of it fully. Research (or ask for help on here...MANY experienced lifters on this site are more than willing to help out a new lifter) and IMPLEMENT a well rounded heavy lifting program. The benefits are many, the drawbacks...none. Depending on your goals, you can still do your other workouts...and will see great gains in your performance across the board due to the effect the heavy weights have on your central nervous system.

    Good luck! And if I can help let me know!
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    The only thing I will add is that at the gym you can do strength training workouts which will help build muscle in a caloric surplus or reduce the amount of muscle you lose in a deficit. The 2 programs you mentioned are pretty much all cardio, you need to balance that with strength training of you will actually lose lean muscle. You don't need a gym for this though, you can get at home equipment.
  • clmk91
    clmk91 Posts: 4
    I just recently got a gym member ship...i think its a good idea if you go a lot...my gym is not even a half mile away....
    i live in town and have a toddler so walking is kinda hard for me to do cause my daughter wont stay in a stroller and people drive crazy...at least at the gym they have like a day care. so she can stay there while i work out.
    i guess it depends on your situation and schedule. might not be for everyone
  • chinita96
    chinita96 Posts: 141 Member
    Gyms offer so much more than working out at home. The equipment is wonderful and less expensive than buying yourself. Some offer classes, free personal training, specials, and advice. Mine gives me a free personal training session each year on my birthday and I can use this time to reevalute my routine with a professional. The classes keep my routine from becoming stagnant. And I love that you're able to work out during your lunch hour. I currently do a hybrid of working out at home and the gym.

    I would try the free week pass various different gyms on your route to work. That would give you enough time to assess most gyms in the area, get your schedule perfected, compare prices and haggle.
  • akaporn
    akaporn Posts: 231 Member
    Thanks guys for the advises.
    Cris & Eric: Definitely looking into weight train as well. I just got a "New Rule of weight lifting" book. Will study it a little bit. Pretty excite about this new possibilities.

    clmk91: Thank you

    chinita96: Thank you very much for the pointers Definitely will take those into consideration while looking around.

    I got a decent size room in my house (4 Bedroom 2 people, you figure) plus the whole backyard to exercise. I'll try my first 2-3 weeks working out from home and see how it goes with the schedule and traffic. If it doesn't work out, I'll play around with the trial membership to see if I will enjoy the new environment... But, swimming at lunch time is really tempting...
  • thrld
    thrld Posts: 610 Member
    See if your company's health plan offers discounts for gym membership. Check to see if gym offers discounts to your company.

    See what the minimum comitment is to join -- some gyms have summer specials.

    But I'd say, go for it. The Pros are real good -- shower, networking with coworkers, chance to revisit an activity you once loved (swimming), plus here's a great chance to expand your boundaries and get over your gym reluctance, work with a trainer, learn to use the machines !

Categories