Today I’m blogging from home with the most wonderful of all cats – Fat Annie. Fat Annie is going to help us learn how to choose a gym. (Or she just wanted to make her way on to the blog.)
Annie is my mom’s cat who I’ve been calling Fat Annie. She is terribly sweet and cuddly and has a bit of a weight problem. I would say I think it’s a problem but I love fat kitties. She has a big tummy that she loves getting rubbed. It’s so cute.
My goal this weekend is to spend time with everyone here as well as get everything settled before starting my new job. I need to get a bus pass so I can get to work and I also want to join a gym so I can start going either before or after work every day.
How To Choose A Gym
Since I’ve been living an active lifestyle over the last few years I’ve been a member of multiple gyms. I even worked for multiple gyms as I started my career at the YMCA (related post: should gym staff be healthy?) Because of all this exposure to being at, belonging to, and working at gyms, I feel like I know a thing or two about how to choose a gym.
Here are my favorite tips and thoughts about choosing a gym:
- Consider cost. Cost is not the only consideration when joining a gym but it is a very important one. Gyms range in monthly cost from free to $10/month to $200/month and more. There is a wide variety in pricing so you need to focus in on choosing a gym in your price range. Remember that you get what you pay for and generally a higher price will mean more equipment or classes and more amenities including time with trainers and small class sizes.
- Consider location. The best gyms are ones that are convenient for you to go to daily. If you belong to a gym 30 minutes away you are going to attend a lot less often than you would if your gym is right next door to your work or smack in the middle of your commute home.
- Consider what they offer. Are you someone that loves working out with a big group of people? Make sure the gym you choose offers lots of group exercise classes. Are you someone that prefers to get in and get in done alone no matter what time? Make sure your gym offers 24/7 access and lots of equipment. Matching the gyms offerings to what you love to do will make you more likely to attend.
My Gym Choices
I’m not sure which gym I’m going to join. Right now I have two options in mind because neither require a contract and I can cancel at any time whether I end up staying 6 months or more. Luckily they let me cancel my membership at our gym in NZ so I won’t have to pay for two gyms at once and can choose one of these:
Gym option #1: YMCA
- Cost: $51/mo
- Weight room, cardio equipment, pool, track, showers, lockers
- Included classes like yoga and Zumba
- Multiple locations
- Main location downtown near work
- Costs more per month & has join fee
- Used to work at the Y & love it
Gym option #2: ATC Fitness
- Cost: $25/mo
- Weight room and cardio equipment
- Multiple locations
- Location 3 miles from home
- Costs less per month & has smaller join fee
- Open 24 hours a day
Right now those are my two main options mostly because of their close locations relative to me. It’s basically down to choosing between a location near home or work and cheaper with less or more expensive with more. I’m trying to think of what I will actually use and how much time I’ll have to actually workout each day. I’m still not sure which I’m going to go with. I might go walk through both again this weekend since it’s been a while since I’ve been to either.
Which would you choose? How did you choose your current gym if you utilize one? What factors are most important to you?
Hi again Mary,
Will they give you a day trial pass so you can actually try out both?
To me I need to be trying out the facility rather than just walk through
so I can see how I feel/fit in the vibe.
Hope they might do that(or offer it really cheap for a try!)
Good for you to be joining a gym-will be a great escape to work off any
stresses of living with family again or missing your man!
I would only need to do that with ATC. Most gyms usually let you try it first so I could probably do that.
I’ve done the cheaper route, and for me it wasn’t worth the reduced cost. I ended up not going as often because all of the workouts had to be self-motivated. Sometimes just showing up for a class was all it took to get me motiviated, but when I showed up and had to do my own workout, I fell flat.
Based on what I’ve read about you, I think you’ll do better with the Y despite the higher fees because of the classes and the swimming pool.
You are probably right. I’ve been leaning toward that but I’m only reluctant because of the cost.
I think it depends on how long you’ll be a member. If you’re only going to be back in the States for a month or two or three, I’d go for the cheapter one – you can still get a good workout in, and every penny counts! If you’re going to be here a little longer, though, I’d say splurge on the Y membership – if you’ll honestly make good use of all the extra facilities, then this would be a great (and good-for-you) little self-pampering pre-wedding gift to yourself!
In my opinion the most important feature of a gym is will you use it. So you need to look at when do you prefer to go to the gym and what you prefer to do there…if you go before work/lunchtime/after work, then you should choose something as close to work as possible. If you prefer evenings and weekends then it should be as close to home as possible. If you are motivated by classes and group exercise, definitely choose something that offers the classes you want. I would choose a gym that fits into your ‘fitness style’ over something that’s not quite right, because from my own experience, if it’s not quite right there will always be a reason to skip a workout. Better to spend a bit more on something you will use, than waste money on something that you won’t.
I would use either. I’m not one of those people who pays for a gym membership and never uses it. I would adjust my “fitness style” depending on which gym I choose.
Spend the extra money to go to the Y – think of it as an investment in yourself.
I agree with Stacy – you will be more motivated to go to somewhere with a pool and all the extras;-)
Choosing the right gym can be a very hard task so take some time!
I would go for the one that you got the best feeling from, it is all about being comfortable. Where offers the ranges of classes, gym kit and extras that would actually motivate you to go?
Also are any of them on the route from home to work? Then you have even less of an excuse for missed sessions if you drive past the gym everyday anyway!
Good luck in your choice!
TOM
I would go with the Y as well because I would want access to the pool. I love to swim though.
The gym I belong to is not the best or the cheapest. It is where my kids practice karate. I am there 3 times a week anyways so I get my strength workout in. Plus, I drive near it all the time so if it is snowy or raining I can still get my run in. Things that I love about it that I did not have at some of the pricier gyms. A counterbalance pull-up machine and a ton of free weights and benches. Things that I don’t love, no pool. However, a local high school (about 6 miles away) has public open swim for $5 a visit. So, I can drop in a swim with out a membership. Or if I go alot, I can get a membership. The combo works pretty well for me.
I would also go to the Y. Classes/pool/track are all great bonuses, plus you know the Y, and are comfortable there. The one thing I’d ask about is their financial assistance. They do offer income based pricing if you need it, and if that is your only deterrent, I’d look into it for sure! Good luck!
They do but it would not be something I could get for at least a couple months since you need pay stubs to prove income. But eventually I could qualify for a lower price if I wanted to go through the trouble to get it changed.
I chose to go to UNLV’s gym, it is super nice, new and has everything for the best price $25 a month and no other fees other than having a one time fee ($20) for a rebel card. I chose it for the pool so I can practice my swimming. Not to mention..it is almost summer! It would be nice to be able to swim when you want.
I think university gyms and facilities are always awesome.
24 hour convenience would probably lure me since I never know what’s going to come up with my schedule. That & I don’t swim… so no need for the pool. But, if you’re going to use all of the features of the more expensive option, that’s probably the best one for you. Good luck with your decision AND getting sleep! Have a great weekend!!
Since I’m a swimmer, I’d choose the one that had the pool plus cardio and weight room. But I also like the option of a gym that’s open 24hrs. That means if I ever WANTED to workout at 11pm I could…not that I have yet. LOL
I have. I loooooove 24 hour gyms. I’ve worked out at 11 pm, 1 am, etc. I’m a night owl naturally and I love working out at night. In college I worked out at 9 or 10 pm every night when I could if not later.
I went with the cheaper option, for two reasons: location and cheap. Then I realized the more expensive option was closer and had classes, but I’m stuck in a contract for a year. I still use it at least three days a week, but it makes me sad I don’t get to take classes there.
Ultimately you just gotta do whats best for you.
I’m in the midst of a gym-change evaluation right now too! I think your situation is tougher though since you haven’t lived in your new routine long enough to be able to take that into consideration. I mean, you know what your routine will be but most people adjust a bit as they actually live it.
I would suggest you go with the Y. From hearing you talk about what you enjoy doing and what your fitness challenges are, I think it is well worth the money. Personally, when I’m in mega-saving, pinching-every-penny mode, it is really hard for me to see clearly whether or not something like this is “worth it” so I think I can understand how you’re feeling.
I would check with the YMCA and see if there is a way you can join for less. Once, I showed them my tax return that said I had only earned like $8,000 in a year (I had graduated from college and lived abroad for a while that year) and I got a discounted membership rate of $18/month as well as a waved joining fee. It was a great gym for a cheap price! Win-win!
Just reread your post….
when I saw the Y has YOGA ,
well that would cinch the deal for me! :)
Hope you choose what your heart wants-I think it’s worth
the extra $25 for happiness :)
best wishes !
Mary, of course the gym has to be clean & they need to maintain stuff – if both do this then:
Which one would you most likely go to & easier to go to. Many people that go home first from work never get back out to the gym UNLESS you go before work. Then the decision is which would you make the least excuses for not going.
Also, you love classes so which has more classes that will keep you motivated.
Third – hours – me – this is important cause I like wee hours so… make sure the hours work for you.
I could go on about the people that work there & trainers & all that but if you are not going to use the trainers then that will not matter. What matters are the things that will get you there!
HUGS! Cute cat!
Glad to see you made it back to the US ok! $51/mo wow.. I think mine is between 35-40$. Cost was my main factor when I joined my gym, because I didn’t have a secure job, I’d just started temping, but it would still be a major factor even now. I started looking before I got the job, I wanted someplace easy to get to, not too crowded because I know I have no patience and won’t wait to use a machine, I’ll just leave. The past couple years I discovered I really enjoy classes, which wasn’t a factor in choosing my gym, but I’m glad that they have them and I wouldn’t choose another without them. Oh and since I’m short, I want to make sure I can fit on the machines cuz a lot of places the machines are for taller people. I don’t know which you should choose. My gym has a bunch of branches all over the city and also in other cities as well that I can use. For your choices, the first one sounds better, except for the price. So I’m not sure what I would do if I were you. Good luck.
Hi Mary, are those the only two options you have? Maybe you can drive a bit further but find more choices?
You would probably better off going to YMCA since it has Zumba classes, I think you mentioned in one of your posts you liked dancing. Classes are more fun then working out on your own
Wow, tough choice. Here are some thoughts (though forgive me if they have been mentioned already)
1. You love the pool.
2. You enjoy group activities (like dancing, maybe Zumba?).
3. You appreciate the YMCA and what they try to offer.
If I were you I’d go for the Y. You can always change your mind if it doesn’t work out or you need to save the extra bucks. :)
R
Not even close to as cute. A little bit nicer though. I would love for kitty to be as sweet when he grows up.
That seems kind of pricey for the YMCA. I haven’t belonged to the Y for a while (I work out at 24 Hour Fitness now) but I don’t remember it being that much…usually the Y is at the lower end of the range.
Really? Maybe where you live. The bigger Y in the city for an adult is 51 without financial assistance, it’s more for a family. The ones in the suburbs are slightly cheaper.