Thanks for all the support about the new BIG goal. I guess since I’m missing my love I have to fill my life with some other big things that will need my attention while we are apart. We shall see how it goes.
In order to push myself farther toward reaching my goal, yesterday I joined a gym! Yay!
It was a odd experience of sorts. I’ve been going to gyms for the last five years, but I’ve never actually joined a gym before. When I first started trying to get healthy it was at the YMCA where I worked. Since then I’ve worked out at YMCAs or free gyms I’ve had access too, like the one I used at my college. I’ve never joined a gym properly – paying money and signing my name and all that. The process made me feel like I was actually committing to something. I am committed to this goal now. I signed my name and everything.
So what gym did I join?
Anytime Fitness.
(Oh, if only they were paying me for this great free advertising! Or sponsoring me for Fitbloggin? Yeah? Anyone?)
Actually I have no idea if it will turn out well. I don’t know if I will like it. I have three months to find out.
Reasons I chose Anytime Fitness:
- It wasn’t the YMCA. I love the Y but after working for various Ys in the area for years, I wanted to try something different.
- My friend works out there. Candace, the running buddy from workouts past, uses the same gym. I figure I’ll be more likely to go if I know she is there. Even if I don’t workout with her, I’m more motivated to show up and do my thing.
- It wasn’t scary. I checked out a couple other gyms near my house, and when I went in I was terrified. I went to one gym where women were on the cardio equipment and the weights section was overrun with big guys who gave me bad looks. Yeah, I like my weights so I’m not joining a gym that looks like I’ll have to fight for my right to use them.
- Diverse clientele. Anytime Fitness had people of all ages in there working out when I dropped by – it wasn’t just in shape people my age. I felt like I would fit in well there.
- Convenient. Of the three gyms near my house it is the farthest away, but it is still quite close. A 5 minute drive or so. Not bad at all.
- Open all the time. I LOVE working out at random times – like at night. I wanted a gym that won’t close early and leave me out to dry. With this gym I can go any time I want… hehehe.
Those are a few reasons. I basically decided to join as soon as I walked in before even finding out the price. I saw the people working out there, knew it would be a good fit for me, and decided to join. I then saw my friend, which was a bonus.
It will be a different experience for me, since it is a smaller gym. But I’m excited to get there and get a workout in. I haven’t had a proper workout in… forever? So later today will be my first chance to try everything out. (Yep, I joined a gym without a test drive.) I’ll let you know how it goes! I’m just so excited to be a gym member again! For some reason I can’t seem to motivate myself as well when working out at home.
Do you belong to a gym or do your thing at home?
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{ 48 comments }
I have to belong to the gym! if I try to work out at home the couch is too tempting….
.-= Lauren @ Eater not a runner´s last blog ..these are a few of my favorite things =-.
I absolutely love going to the gym at random times as well. The big gym chain where I live is moving most of their gyms to 24 hours which is awesome. I love doing my thing in a very relaxed and quiet atmosphere where I don’t have to wait to do what I gotta do.
It’s much easier to do than working out at home. The gym doesn’t have a bed for me to take a nap in. Although I COULD use a tan…
Good luck! :D
.-= Ron´s last blog ..Feeling The Pressure =-.
W00t! I’m excited for you! I have a nice staff gym at my office that I go to in the mornings before work and it’s awesome! I actually tried a new machine this morning…I’m kind of in love with the rowing machine.
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..Hooray for Fun New Workouts (and Quesadillas)! =-.
The rowing machine is awesome! I ‘d love to actually try rowing in the water though.
I workout at the YMCA..which I like because I can vary it up between the pool, the gym equipment and the classes they offer…all with one membership.
Congrats on joining the gym! I hope your newfound motivation helps you to get your butt to the gym for the next few months :). We can both do it!
p.s. I think I am going to buy a domain name today! (OOooooH, serious blogger coming through, people)
.-= amanda´s last blog ..Elaborating on the “non-plan” =-.
Dude… I love the Y because they have a pool. But I’m going to give this new thing a try for a while. I just couldn’t afford the enormous joining fee at the Y right now.
We can both do it!
Yay domain name! Hehe. I’m proud of you! :)
I’m an Anytime member! I started off at one location and ended up transferring my membership to another location. I couldn’t be happier with my owners/trainers!!!
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Leavin’ on a Jet Plane =-.
I’m a snap fitness member, which is pretty much identical to anytime. Not the best equipment typically, but if you are on a budget, it’s the best gym to join.
.-= Pink Panda´s last blog ..Hot Guys Turned Food: Mark Ruffalo =-.
I am most definitely on a budget. ;)
Alas not a gym member but I’m lucky enough to have a treadmill, recumbent bike and bowflex at home. It’s nice I can go anytime I want :P The gyms around me are ICKY and not close at all, this way I can workout with the dogs not stressing. When I lived in London I belonged to a gym that was awesome all others have failed to compare.
Awesome! I’d love to be able to do that as well but it all takes money. We have a workout area in our local community center that is free for all of those that live in the county! It’s great to have that…can’t expect a lot but it helps.
Congrats on joining!
.-= seth´s last blog ..Feb 16 – 19 & the 100 Mile GiVEaWAY =-.
I find it tough to stay motivated without a gym. When I’m paying for it, I feel obligated to go, if only to get my money’s worth. I also love that my gym has a ton of classes for no added expense and you can just drop in on the classes–no need to register ahead or commit to a month-long block.
The only thing my gym doesn’t have that I’d really like is a pool and a jacuzzi!
.-= Tina´s last blog ..Dinner in Five! =-.
VERY EXCITING! You have to be comfortable with the people & the place so that is good AND close to home is best!!!! BUT, like you, I work out at a 24 hour gym & has made all the difference for me! I can go when I want & when there are less people so I can be the selfish workout person I am! :-)
Can’t wait to hear more!!!
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Make Your Dreams a Reality =-.
I do everything at home but a new planet fitness is opening up less than 5 mins from my house so I have decided to sign up with them. Sometimes I like to do machines so I am hoping the ability to switch it up from doing all my exercise at home will help stave off the boredom.
I go to Snap Fitness. It’s pretty much the same as Anytime Fitness, but it’s close to where I live.
.-= 100 Pounds in a Year´s last blog ..Work Out Pledge 2: This Time it’s Even Pledgier =-.
I love it. I used to work out in my free college gym, which was amazing and great, but seriously – I was the only big girl working out. It was insane. I would be doing the elliptical beside Barbie. Yesh. Can’t wait to read more.
.-= Tatulah´s last blog ..hey you, i remember you =-.
I was lucky to have a few friends closer to my size in college and we worked out together sometimes. And then other times the situation was similar to yours. I loved my gym in college though! It was great, besides the 10 pm closing time!
Sounds like a great gym! Wishing you many days o’ fat burnin’ sweat there!
We do our thang at home. We’ve got 2 Total Trainers, a water rower, treadmill and a plethora of exercise DVDs that keep us entertained. (Most used, Tae Bo, Zumba, Core Rhythms, Gilad, Powerstrike 5 and Forza Sword workout)
Yay TaeBo and Zumba … my favs!
It’s great when you become a “regular” at the gym. That’s a sign that you’re on the right path.
Welcome home, sunshine. Sorry you missed all the fun snow…
.-= Jack Sh*t´s last blog ..I’m Sorry, Train… Is That Right? Train? Really? =-.
Haha. I’m slightly sorry, but not really.
This place sounds a lot like my gym! The reason I joined mine was because there was such a HUGE variety of people there! The last thing I need is another excuse for me to not want to go to the gym and being the only overweight person there would definitely be an excuse I would add to the list.
You will meet all of your goals sister!
p.s. I’m gonna be emailing you soon about something, just a heads up! :)
I’ve been working out at the gym since November, almost every single day (except when I’ve been sick recently). I push myself much harder there and I love going. :) I’m actually posting my new Fat Ass to Gym Rat video in the next hour or so. Lotsa fun!!! :)
.-= Anonymous Fat Girl´s last blog ..Welcome new readers – I’m shooting a video right now =-.
Kudos for joining a gym! I’ve heard good things about Anytime Fitness.
I love the 24-hour availability of my gym. I haven’t gone in super early lately, but it’s nice to have that option.
Oh, and welcome home!
Congrats on the gym membership. I committed to 2 years at 24 hr fitness on 11/09 – $300 from costco – and it’s been great. Having a trainer for a few days also was a great experience. Started there with daily cardio on the ellipticals. Now doing weight training. Imagine what you’ll look like after a couple years (even several months) of dedication!
.-= David´s last blog ..Second chest+tris day =-.
I’d agree that paying to go to the gym is probably better than having a free one. Having to pay helps you stay focused knowing that its going to cost you financially so you’ll put more effort in.
.-= Barry´s last blog ..How To Put The Boot Into Fat =-.
I bought a treadmill once and was pretty faithful to it for about 6 months. Then I moved twice and it became a burden so I sold it.
I am much better when I go to the gym. But this last year has been the best ever for me at the gym. I have stuck with it much more than I ever have before.
.-= Fattie Fatterton´s last blog ..Winner of The Complete Beck Diet for Life! =-.
I belong to 24 Hr Fitness, and I love the fact that I can go to a variety of clubs anytime I want to. I love the gym because it offers so much variety to my workouts – cardio & weight machines, classes, a pool, and personal trainers – if I want to pay extra. Plus, paying for the gym really makes me feel like I “need” to use it, because I don’t want that money to go to waste.
Which is not to say that I don’t say home and play my Wii or fitness DVDs at times, because I do. Sometimes heading out the gym is a bit too much for me, so it’s great to have the at-home option, as well.
.-= Bella´s last blog ..WP.com Downtime Summary =-.
I belong to 24 hr fitness. When I first moved to sf, I couldn’t even afford a gym because I had no job…I felt so icky without working out. I got to try a couple on their trial runs, and some I didn’t even try because I knew I couldn’t afford them even after I got a job. I ended up settling for one that was across from my work (altho our offices moved, its still not that far), is cheap, and now I have a form of membership that lets me go to the other branches as well if I want. I like it because the other ones in our city are right along the main street and this one is a few minutes walk off the main street to get to, so it tends to be less crowded. And it has classes that I like and big enough locker rooms and enough equipment. Its not the cleanest ever, or the most high tech, because it is the cheapest one in SF. But I like it. Oh wait I remember a new one (planet fitness maybe) opened a month or 2 ago in sf that’s cheaper, but they have no classes so I passed on that. Despite the name, I never go at odd hours. Once I get home, im not gonna trek all the way over there in the middle of the nite. Oh but I do think the free weights section is full of muscley guys (including my best friend lol). I use the lift class and some of the weight machines instead because id feel dumb next to them with my small weights, and also because its easier for me to do it the right way.
.-= merri´s last blog ..I need floaties, not anchors =-.
Good luck at the new gym! I work out at home, I much prefer it to a gym!
This is great news! I always try to exercise too so I can eat the good food I enjoy! Good luck with you new gym. If you have any tips on how to stay consistent, I’d be happy to hear. I tried running around where I live, but that died once it started to rain.
.-= Victor´s last blog ..Broiled Lobster Tails =-.
I go to the Y every so often, but mainly use my treadmill at home. When it starts getting warmer, I plan on exercising more outside.
.-= Foodie Girl´s last blog ..Perfect 10 Update =-.
I belong to a gym, been with my current gym for almost 3 years. Prior to that I used the gym at my grad school institution for 5 years. I’ve been actively going to a gym for 8 years now.
.-= ernise´s last blog ..40 mile goal reached =-.
I used to be a workout DVD junkie, though now I’m very happy with my multiclub membership at Les Mills New Zealand. I love it because there’s one near my house, one near my work, and if ever I go somewhere else in the country, I could go to one of those clubs. As for how frequently I’m in there… at least twice a day! Different clubs have different membership ‘vibes’, so I like some clubs more than others, though if ever I want to work out, I always have somewhere to go.
.-= Marshmallow´s last blog ..Oh my god people… =-.
Thanks for the DVDs you gave me! I like them for the days when I’m to lazy or its too cold for me to get all the way to the gym.
Sounds like a great gym, and great reasons to join :) Open 24 hours is awesome. You’re gonna kick ass! :)
I love you.
I am going to kick ass!
I love you too.
You know that, I just wanted to reply and make it known. ;)
Congratulations – finding a gym that you are happy with is a big fitness step. I currently belong to a gym I don’t like as much, and while I have developed my workout habits – I spend a lot more time working out at home rather than going to the gym (time to look for a new one). Anyway, I am sure you can keep up with your goals, and have fun at your new fitness home!
.-= Weight Loss´s last blog ..Yoga =-.
Being part of a gym is awesome because it is kind of like inking an agreement to go. We pay sign up, pay the fee and rock our workouts. I workout at home and at the gym, and I like the gym because it’s easy to change things up and shock the body.
Congrats on joining….! Now go for it.
.-= Kenz @ All The Weigh´s last blog ..These Little Stars Shine Brightly =-.
Gym is great as you can meet a lot of fitness enthusiasm there. When you feel down or have doubts in your fitness plan, there is always a group of people are ready to support you.
.-= Jason @ Healthy Weight Loss Secrets´s last blog ..Solve Your Weight Loss Issues With Ask A Doctor Online =-.
Congratulations on joining a gym! Currently, I workout at home because my parents loaned me their treadmill. I have felt more motivated at home. Reason being, I live 25 miles from a bigger town with gym options and I always had to go right after work when I was exhausted. I used to be a member of Curves, which was great but then my work schedule changed and I could never find time to go because of their hours. So the fact that your gym is open 24 hours is a HUGE benefit!! It’ll be great to try all of the different machines! Good luck!
.-= Alissa´s last blog ..WI at Work Day =-.
I don’t belong to a gym, but Anytime Fitness was the one I was thinking about. So, after you workout a few times, will you post more thoughts? Or, thoughts about the dreaded “contract.”
I do use the gym in my apartment building, basically just use the treadmill. Though, it’s spotty, because sometimes guys from the building will be using the gym just to watch the Cavalier games because there is a free cable tv in there. I hate when that happens :P
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..Movies, Books, and Scales =-.
I will definitely post more about it. I signed up for just a three month membership instead of a year, because I don’t expect to be living here for a full year. I don’t like to commit to anything for over three months, which is usually a problem with gyms. I won’t join a gym that forces you to buy a year or two upfront because currently that won’t work for me.
congrats on joining the gym! have fun :)
.-= liz´s last blog ..Still Losing Weight And Thinking About Switching To Simply Filling =-.
Yay for you! I would love to have an Anytime Fitness near me they are really awesome gyms.
I am sure you will fall in love it and the fact that your friend is there as well..bonus indeed!
Great way to refocus :)
I hope you enjoy it Mary.
YAY! It’s good to be a gym member. I have all sorts of equipment at home but can come up with an excuse to avoid using it every time. I joined Planet Fitness after I got laid off in November and have been going an average of 5x per week. I seem to work out harder and longer at the gym than I ever did at home. Hope you love it.
I’m glad you found a gym that works for you and suits you. I’d much rather do my thing at home, though.
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