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Gym membership?

MatticusMania

MatticusMania

LANA! HE REMEMBERS ME!
Sep 10, 2008
9,565
152
42
Pomona, SoCal
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#1
The missus and I are thinking about getting gym memberships, so I thought I'd see who is going where and how much ya'll are paying.

We live near a 24 Hr Fitness, a Ballys, and not too far from an LA Fitness. From the websites I could only find fees for the 24 hr fitness, and that was like $33 a month, with first and last months fee as well as a $10 initiation fee being due at signing. For one person. I couldnt tell how much it would be to add a second person though.

So, where are you going, and how much do you pay?
 
#2
Full membership to my university's rec center is $13 a month if you're a student or faculty, $25 a month if you're alumni, and $37 a month if you aren't a student, faculty, or alum. This gets you access to 2 weight rooms, treadmills and bikes, a dozen basketball courts, an aquatics center, and a half dozen racquetball courts as well as free use of any equipment like balls, belts, etc. There are a handful of lockers that are free to use but if you want a dedicated locker you have to be a student or faculty and it's an additional $3 a month.

The other gyms in Cape will run you $40-$90 a month depending on the services you want and charge extra if you want to rent any additional equipment and even more if you want your own locker.

Also, IME you may want to stay away from Gold's Gyms, unless you don't mind being surrounded by, well....

South-Park-Jersey-Shore1.jpg
 
#5
I used to go to Golds Gym had to sign a 2 yr contract at 33-35 a month for 2 people.

Then I signed up at 24hr for a 2 yr pre-pay at (700ish total) then recieved an additional year free. The great part is after the 3 year contract is up I only pay 25-30 a year. Been there for 5 yrs or so...

Just look at all the options.. and think hard how often you'll really go and are you committed to sticking with it.

Every January it gets crazy busy, but by the end of feb its back to normal. Since so many people drop out and get lazy.

.02
 
#6
IME, gym memberships are a waste of money unless you are very motivated to keep at it and think the cost of admission is worth it. I would actually look through your local CL for a cheap, used dumbbell set and adjustable workout bench. The initial cost for a pair 15s, 25s, 35s, and 45s (or any similar sizes) with a bench can be had for under $150 if you look hard enough. This will be a one time cost, it will save you hundreds in the long run, it will allow you to do full body workouts, and it will allow you to workout from the comfort of your home.
 
#7
Im actually not going just for weights, but rather all of the amenities, like the sauna, spa, cardio machine, etc. as well as light free weights. Ive got til the end of June to lose a few pounds and tone up for my wedding.

I could just go do some cardio outside, but its cold, and I dont like running in the cold.

Paying for a membership would be motivation enough for me to actually get up and excersize more, as I can be quite frugal.
 
#8
The gym at my school is free while during the semester, while I am not in school, the gym that I go to is $380/yr, which is about the going rate that I see other places. If you really want to get into shape, I suggest that you and your girlfriend look into finding a CrossFit gym and doing their classes, it will end up running you more in the $45/month range, but the benefit is that there is always a few trainers there and you will be whipped into shape really fast.

lowsound
 
#10
jmattbassplaya said:
IME, gym memberships are a waste of money unless you are very motivated to keep at it and think the cost of admission is worth it. I would actually look through your local CL for a cheap, used dumbbell set and adjustable workout bench. The initial cost for a pair 15s, 25s, 35s, and 45s (or any similar sizes) with a bench can be had for under $150 if you look hard enough. This will be a one time cost, it will save you hundreds in the long run, it will allow you to do full body workouts, and it will allow you to workout from the comfort of your home.
Click to expand...

I'll agree with that, if you have space. In my flat I certainly don't have much in the way of space and I really don't know how the floor would handle me squatting, deadlifting or cleaning! (old tenement, 3rd floor . . . ).

It's a pain as I've got a large set of olympic plates, bench and squat stands back at my folks. Only have my fold up rowing maching and some small standard weights around, tho on saying that, ~£5-£6 a month (wouldn't even buy a couple pints of beer), and I use the place pretty often (5-6 days a week if motivated, 2-3 if busy with work/injured/lazy).
 
#12
My wife and I signed up at LA Fitness. We chose it over 24 Hour Fitness because the amenities were way more at LA for the locations near us.

We got two nationwide memberships with full usage of all amenities for two years for $1400. It also included a boatload of personal training sessions that my wife uses. Not the cheapest deal out there, but we are getting our moneys worth so far. Plus, even when the gym is packed out, it doesn't feel all that crowded. The only place that gets packed is where all the exercise bikes and treadmills are.

Bally's was offering us $99 each for a whole year, but the location here is a major pit. It smells like chlorine and sweat from the parking lot.

-Mike
 
#13
jmattbassplaya said:
IME, gym memberships are a waste of money unless you are very motivated to keep at it and think the cost of admission is worth it. I would actually look through your local CL for a cheap, used dumbbell set and adjustable workout bench. The initial cost for a pair 15s, 25s, 35s, and 45s (or any similar sizes) with a bench can be had for under $150 if you look hard enough. This will be a one time cost, it will save you hundreds in the long run, it will allow you to do full body workouts, and it will allow you to workout from the comfort of your home.
Click to expand...

This is a great point if all you want to do is lift weights.

I don't even want to think of the cost to build a racquetball court, swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, put up some punching bags, a couple stationary bikes, and a room to do the Spin classes.

-Mike
 
#14
MJ5150 said:
My wife and I signed up at LA Fitness. We chose it over 24 Hour Fitness because the amenities were way more at LA for the locations near us.

We got two nationwide memberships with full usage of all amenities for two years for $1400. It also included a boatload of personal training sessions that my wife uses. Not the cheapest deal out there, but we are getting our moneys worth so far. Plus, even when the gym is packed out, it doesn't feel all that crowded. The only place that gets packed is where all the exercise bikes and treadmills are.

Bally's was offering us $99 each for a whole year, but the location here is a major pit. It smells like chlorine and sweat from the parking lot.

-Mike
Click to expand...

Breaks down to just under $30 a month each, which isn't too bad really. Comercial gyms over here are terrible, at many of them £30 a month will only get you "offpeak" usage!
 
#15
MJ5150 said:
This is a great point if all you want to do is lift weights.

I don't even want to think of the cost to build a racquetball court, swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, put up some punching bags, a couple stationary bikes, and a room to do the Spin classes.

-Mike
Click to expand...

That's why I suggested it :p

I never use the spa, sauna, hot tubs, or any of those other things at gyms. Heck, I rarely even use weight machines because they force me to use bad form just to do the work (they aren't friendly to guys who are 5'9'' :hmm:)

Plus, you can always get your cardio from running, jumping rope (you can get a really nice one for $10), or by biking. I find cardio machines boring and uncomfortable, so I'm not missing anything there either.
 
#17
Well hey bro...if you go with LA Fitness, let me know. I think they have a referral program that the both of us can benefit from. You get some discount on the fees and my wife will get a couple more personal trainer sessions.

-Mike
 
#18
MJ5150 said:
Well hey bro...if you go with LA Fitness, let me know. I think they have a referral program that the both of us can benefit from. You get some discount on the fees and my wife will get a couple more personal trainer sessions.

-Mike
Click to expand...

I'll definitely let you know if we end up at LA Fitness. It happens to be the furthest from our house.
Im kind of looking at 24 hr Fitness, as its close, and has the most amenities in the area, though.
 
#20
Mine is in a building at work, so it is $100/YEAR.

I was paying $100/month for a limited membership at a local CrossFit affiliate (2X/week). My wife paid $30/month at a local Ballys. My dad pays $75/month for a super-well-equipped gym associated with a major hospital system in south jersey.

Ooh, I can't wait until I have a squat cage / lifting platform in my garage. Black iron gyms FTW.

ian
 

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