What should I expect for my money at a gym?

SRH_2

After months of plucking up the courage I finally joined a gym today. Yes, I need to lose a few pounds; yes, I'm not confident going in a room full of lycra-clad gym bunnies; yes, I thought I'd make the right decision for shelling out for a 'top' gym.

I'm now sat here a few hours later feeling very despondent - and I'm just wondering if I'm expecting too much.

For the princely sum of £51 a month (plus £10 joining fee), in return I don't feel I've had the service to match this.

I was given a half hour induction during which I sat in an office with a lad who, while pleasant, didn't ask me once about my health (I have back problems and asthma) or what my goals are (to get in better shape in a mere eight weeks in time for hols). He immediately assumed without asking that I wanted to lose weight (I have a BMI of 25.2 - so I'm not massive!) and then only gave me a routine lasting 45 mins (half hour cardio followed by just 15 mins using only four weights machines). I had clearly said I was prepared to put in 1.5 hours up to five times a week, which I have done previously and I'm not afraid to do for quick results.

To top it all off he did not include any abs work (when asked about this he just suggested I did a separate abs class at the gym) or any stretching at the end.

Am I expecting too much? Is this a good routine? I'm not due for a workout review for six weeks and I think the routine suggested will barely stretch me, let alone get good results.

Any gym goers / trainers out there who could offer advice? Any suggestions for a good workout so that I can scrap the one given and do that instead? Or should I just cancel my membership while the cooling off period applies and go elsewhere?

southernscouser

You should have a cooling off period where you can cancel if you're not entirely happy.

What gym was it?

I'm a member of Fitness First and to be honest didn't think much of the induction at all. In fact I'd go as far as to say it was crap. I think they hope you'll end up going straight in for a personal trainer.

However I have seen other members of the fitness team spend time with people showing them the different machines and the right technique. It's possible you just got a poor member of staff. It could be that the gym isn't all that.

Ask for trials at different gyms until you find one you feel comfortable in.

SRH_2

southernscouser wrote: »

You should have a cooling off period where you can cancel if you're not entirely happy.

What gym was it?

I'm a member of Fitness First and to be honest didn't think much of the induction at all. In fact I'd go as far as to say it was crap. I think they hope you'll end up going straight in for a personal trainer.

However I have seen other members of the fitness team spend time with people showing them the different machines and the right technique. It's possible you just got a poor member of staff. It could be that the gym isn't all that.

Ask for trials at different gyms until you find one you feel comfortable in.

Thanks for that. The guy doing the induction was one of the personal trainers and said he was always available. He didn't exactly do a good job of selling himself! Guess I thought that by paying a lot of money I would get a better product - wrong! Have I learned nothing from MSE?!!

jenniewb

If you were not happy, go back and say something! Its hard to judge as I was not there to see, I can only see from your response that you were not happy and all I can suggest was to go back to the guy to say something.

I would say though the advice about an abs class was a good one- if I had lost just 1gram for every person I have seen doing bad ab exercises I'd have lost enough weight to be a catwalk model! (poor posture, yanking or curling of the neck, pushing out their bellies as they try to rise, doing the 'plank' with their backs curving downwards....) Doing a class in any exercises is a good idea for beginners or those returning to exercise after a bit of a break as posture counts for alot and poor posture can at best make your exercise pointless and at worse cause very bad injuries. I spent a long time doing abs whilst pouting out my belly, only to discover I had created myself a perfect dome shaped stomach! Not a good look- even if I did have extra strong abs! Abs classes will teach you about the supporting muscles on the back not just the abs, you need also to work your transverse abs.

Another reason classes are good is because new information is always being discovered and trainers often have really good tips to share.

I would say though that if you have an hour and a half to spare, don't spend it all on cardio, try mixing in weights which will build your muscle and help improve your cardio, a class a few times wouldn't hurt either, variety is the key. Stretching is also vital, make time for it, it makes a difference. It has been said that anything over an hour of exercise wont be as effective and your better conserving your energy but I do more then an hour and its not killed me yet! Don't forget to warm up and cool down though, you may need to include them in your 1.5 hours if your pressed for time, going in full throttle without warming up can mean you burn out soon and end up not getting as good a workout as your able to do otherwise.
I'd say see if you can maybe find another instructor- they rarely are all the same and you may get some better tips from another trainer, the gym instructors should be free and if you have any problems with them I am sure the manager would appreciate the feedback....

Also, are you joined to a chain of gyms? you may be able to get a few more tips from another trainer at another branch.

confused76

i would see if you can book in with a different instructor and have another induction. that's not a good induction, and really doesn't give a good impression!

i'm with fitness first and the guy i've seen a few times now is fab, and i pay nowhere near £51 a month in membership! i got an in depth consultation and was very impressed, it motivated me as well.

if you're still not happy, i'd cancel it in the cooling off period and transfer to a different gym altogether

good luck

SRH_2

Thanks everyone for the advice yesterday. Went back to the gym today only to be told they had 'overlooked' that I had put on my forms when joining that I have back problems that I am seeing a physio for.

They now want a 'fit note' from my doctor before I can go back in the gym. I pointed out that they should never had done the induction without checking what my fitness / health was like and that no one had asked me verbally either.

I picked my bag and walked straight out.

I haven't given them my bank details but have signed a contract - been trying to find an email address so that I can write to them and cancel. Can't find any details on their website about cooling off periods either. Does anyone have any ideas.

BTW the gym was Virgin Active.

What a waste of money!

ginvzt

Do you have a local gym run by council? We have one (two - one in town, and one in our 'village') and I have to say they are good.

We initially had membership for both (joint - me and OH), and it was £54 (I think £35 single). For that you could use any local gym run by council, the main one had swimming pool, different classes tun at all the gyms, the fitness suite, etc. We didn't use swimming pool as I am scared of deep water (can't swim well, and if I think I might not reach the bottom when standing up, I am just starting to panic a bit).

We then switched to a single gym (the one closes to us), and it is £35 for joint or £19.99 for single. Ok, this one doesn;t have the pool, but you have all the rest - fitness suite (which is great, and rarely it gets crowded), classes, badminton, squash, etc. We did have induction when we started in first, but never had any program done. You can get 3 sessions with personal trainer for £25 - posters are all around. But all I am doing is running and 'Cardio Wave'.

I have been a member of a few gyms, but I have to say, the local council run ones have always been fine (I have tried two different councils in very different parts of country). Give it a try - you can usually go paying per session and see if you like it, before parting with £51 (!!!!!) a month for a private one.

Well, it is MSE forum after all...

SRH_2

ginvzt wrote: »

Do you have a local gym run by council? We have one (two - one in town, and one in our 'village') and I have to say they are good.

We initially had membership for both (joint - me and OH), and it was £54 (I think £35 single). For that you could use any local gym run by council, the main one had swimming pool, different classes tun at all the gyms, the fitness suite, etc. We didn't use swimming pool as I am scared of deep water (can't swim well, and if I think I might not reach the bottom when standing up, I am just starting to panic a bit).

We then switched to a single gym (the one closes to us), and it is £35 for joint or £19.99 for single. Ok, this one doesn;t have the pool, but you have all the rest - fitness suite (which is great, and rarely it gets crowded), classes, badminton, squash, etc. We did have induction when we started in first, but never had any program done. You can get 3 sessions with personal trainer for £25 - posters are all around. But all I am doing is running and 'Cardio Wave'.

I have been a member of a few gyms, but I have to say, the local council run ones have always been fine (I have tried two different councils in very different parts of country). Give it a try - you can usually go paying per session and see if you like it, before parting with £51 (!!!!!) a month for a private one.

Well, it is MSE forum after all...

Great advice! While I've been sitting here stewing for the last hour, I've been chatting to one of my colleagues. Apparently we get a discount through work for the local council leisure centres. It would work out £16 a month for pool, gym, classes etc. Wow! She gets membership for her, her husband and two kids for just £38 a month.

Can't believe I've been so daft as to sign up to one that costs more for just one person. Grrrrrr! Still not sure if I have technically joined the gym - I've signed the contract but not given bank details.

Guess I will have to bite the bullet tomorrow, go back, grab the contract when they pass it to me to add my bank details and run like hell! Failing that I need to check the laws on misselling. Perhaps by letting me go ahead and sign up without getting the required doctor's note they have tripped themselves up...

southernscouser

Do you not have a copy of your contract?

I'm 99% certain you have a cooling off period. If they start getting funny, just make a polite scene. You know the thing. If people come in looking to join tell them your story etc. And tell the manager you'll do this. Also ask them who their insurance is with and ask him whether you were covered while not being cleared to exercise there by your GP. Just don't get angry.

Fitness First is a resonable price to be fair. And almost all the classes are included (with the exception of the special sporadic ones like martial arts/stricly come dancing get fit or something or other).

Think they still do 3 x 45 minutes with a PT for £30 odd which you get back (or did) if you go to the gym 5 times in the first month or something.

But for price you might be hard pushed to beat your councils local run one.

SRH_2

Thanks Southern. The gym still has the contract as they couldn't fully sign me up yesterday as I didn't have my bank details with me (thought my bank card would be enough but it wasn't).

Think I will need to get my trainers on and do a grab and run when they produce the contract tomorrow!

jenniewb

I'm sure they wont mind you leaving if they never asked you about the underlying medical conditions in your sign up- thats got to be illegal! I also think Virgin has a 15? day cooling off period. They aren't all bad! But if your after a no frills gym (no free towels, internet, extra machines and etc) then I am sure the Council gym will suit you.

Just one thing though- make sure you check it out FULLY before signing, including the showers- look for signs of mould, graffitti and lack of litter cleaning such as dumped used sanitary towels..... Hopefully your council gym wont be as bad as mine was- i hope not anyway (I caught several infections from mine and also didn't appreciate the fact I had to share the gym with 12-16 yr olds who thought it was funny to block all the treadmills and run across them...) Its unlikely you will have the mindfield of issues that I had but see if you can get a free trial or free day just to try it out first. That experience has taught me the hard way to try before you buy wherever possible!