Gyms, Fees, and Cheap?!

To quickly update my status I am definitely still ill.  Whatever I had was heavy set in my lungs and I’m just now coughing it out.  I haven’t exercised, but I’ve still been eating healthy.  Lentil soup, and 100 calorie ice cream treats before bed have been my diet…not the best, but it’s all I really wanted to eat.

I’m really excited to get back to being able to exercise!  It makes me happy to know I have a drive to go work out, it will push me on those days that I just don’t feel like it.

I had a friend of mine e-mail me on my Facebook just yesterday about how she has lost so much weight.  I’m soooo proud of her!  I haven’t seen her in awhile and had no idea she was doing the weight loss thing as well.  (I’ll be sure to get her to give me more info to post and share with you all)

Anyways, she asked if I wanted to buddy with her when exercising.  My answer was YES YES YES!  Finding a buddy to work out with is a GOLD MINE in support.  Someone who will push you, and someone you can support as well.  As far as I’m concerned a work out buddy is just as good as a personal trainer because it is someone who you identify with more and you’re more likely to stick with it longer.  A personal trainer is someone who is 10 times smaller than you, that you may or may not have anything in common with…sometimes not a good match.

So Yenn, (my friend), works out at Planet Fitness.  This brings a looming cost that I know a lot of people debate about every year that they set a goal to lose weight.

Is spending money on a fitness club really worth it? If so which one do I go with?

I’m going to be honest with you, once upon a time, many years ago I spent money on a 24 hour fitness membership….it was a waste of money.  100%  I never went, and when I tried to end the contract within 30 days they told me I only had 3 days to do that…the guy lied to me…also it was completely over priced, and honestly they are only interested in your money.  Mind you this is my only experience..but either way 24 hour is overpriced….so what if you can do this that and the other there…don’t freakin care…overpriced people…overpriced.

So, what other options are there?  Golds Gym, Planet Fitness, and local places around you.

Now first, if you’re lucky, you might have a small work out room at either your apartments or at your work.  Normally if you live in a big apartment complex they’ll have a work out area…this is going to save you big money.  Pop in a movie and work out right next to your place for free.

If you’re lucky you’re work will offer a small gym open during specific hours.  You might not be a fan of working out in front of your boss, but you know what?  It’ll save you money…use it.

In my situation I have access to neither and am perfectly content with working out at home.  As you’ve probably noticed with this blog the whole point is to not spend money…however Yenn’s offer really has me wanting to at least give the gym thing another go, if it’s for the right price.

You are going to have to do some research on your own.  You’re needs from a gym might be different from mine, and local gyms are normally locally owned, so calling around to get the best price is going to be a good idea.

Also, if you have any friends that have gym memberships, ask them if they wouldn’t mind working out with you.  Normally gyms will let their member’s bring in a friend for a “trial” day, this will give you a chance to check out the gym and see if it is right for you.

So begins my search for the best price and if Planet Fitness will really work out for me.

Curve’s is a by women for women idea.  Curves offers a lot for it’s customers.  It offers meal plans, website support groups, a specific weight loss plan just for you, and a lot of personalized help that comes directly from the staff of Curves.  You can build a relationship with your location and staff.  They know you, and you know them.  That is definitely comforting, and is undoubtedly a huge motivation pusher.

Curves schedules you 3 times a week at 30 minutes each time, and you can burn “up to 500 calories” per session.  A membership is good at any location within the nation…so I would assume that means you can go and exercise for an extra day if you’d like…but don’t quote me on that.

For the life of me I couldn’t find a price on how much a Curve’s membership is.  What they offer is like a combination of a gym membership and a Weight Watchers meeting and support….I figure it can’t be that cheap.  I was fruitless online, there is no indication of price on their website…so I Googled it.  I was able to find a Yahoo! Answer that specified $33 a month in 2006 and someone who felt that they never broke a sweat while working out at Curves.

I’m sure the fee has gone up by then…and I’m not going to waste time time call and find out.

(Needless to say before I continue…no I’m not highlighting 24 hour fitness…if you want to give your money to a corporate hog, you’ll have to do it without me)

Mind you, logging on to a website that has a before and after picture of someone who is already small…was not my idea of “Yay!”…however, I was turned on by a goal tracker that also works with Facebook.  How’s that for social interaction?  Make sure you take your goal seriously cause you’ll see it on Facebook every time you check your friend’s updates.

Golds Gym has the cheezey advertisements and is really just a gym…but they also seem way cool.  Right now they are helping a local Big Buddah too lose 100 pounds and donate food to the Utah Food Bank.

So Gold’s Gym is $0 enrollment at participating locations currently, and you have to type in your information for more pricing information.  I’m sure they have a perfect package for everyone…but I don’t like making phone calls…and I barely enjoy researching as it is…so you’ll have to check out the pricing on your own.  I seem to remember a Govenator impersonator saying it was like $20 a month…but once again..don’t ever quote me.

Planet Fitness is where my friend Yenn works out…so I’m definitely itching to find out what it’s all about.

First thing I was happy about, the color for this gym is Purple…my favorite color.  Second thing I was happy about was their prices are not hidden.  You find your location and the prices are listed right off the bat.  What is even better is they have 2 plans to choose from!

Right now you can choose a no start up fee package for $20 a month that you can use a different locations or a $30 start up fee for $10 a month at one location.  Can you say cheap!?!?!?!

Now mind you, obviously $20 a month can be a big amount for some people, however for me this works.  I used to pay $25 a month to be a part of the Roller Derby league I was skating with, not to mention all the gas money I poured into getting there.  This is going to be a less expensive option for me, and well, since I’m not skating anymore, it’s a good idea to replace my skating with the gym.

Another important factor is that I’m moving to California in July.  I can’t promise that there is going to be a Planet Fitness in the area I’m moving to in July, but I can hope…and the nearest location is 2 hours away…that is at least a positive sign.

Now don’t you fret, I’m not going out and getting my membership today.  I’ve gotta move this weekend, then I’ll see about doing it.

You don’t ever want to get a gym membership on impulse.  I’ve done my research, I have a gym in mind, and now I’m going to sit on it for a week.  If I promise to sign up for something, they normally expect a year commitment out of you…so you’re going to have to keep that in mind.  So sit on it…for at least a week.  A gym is not a “my car needs to be fixed before I go to work” issue, you can do it when you’ve had plenty of time to think about it.

Thanks guys,

Poor Girl