Joining a gym - or not?

sdgsdfg

;)I brought a cheap set of weights and started using them home, really helped and much cheaper.

prowla

I'd suggest going on a payg basis rather than signing a contract; that way you can get an idea as to whether you like it or not.

jenniewb

I'm very dependent on exercise- I wont say addicted because it's not about the "high", it's about the fear of what would happen to my body if I stopped going or got out of the habit of exercise.


I did cut my gym membership a few years ago when I couldn't afford to pay my bills let alone a gym membership when my job ended, I tried free fitness programmes and running outside every day, I tried logging my food on fitness and diet websites to keep me on tabs, but I just found it got too depressing- because there was no "I'm at the gym/I'm not at the gym" I felt I should always be doing more and it just ended up being too obsessional and I also had no social life because I was exercising alone or walking alone.


I have found the gym useful because I can be around other people, I even get free TV! (I know that's not the point but...) I am lucky enough to have my council gym provide free wifi too as it's part of a larger leisure complex which means I can use my phone internet for free and the showers also come as part of the contract. They're not amazing as they only spray for 5-10 seconds and you have to keep messing around pressing a button but I don't have a shower at all so already it's a bonus.


Aside from learning new things from gym classes, meeting new people, being able to use machines to work out when it's cold/raining/snowing outside I also find it's easier to know where the gym stops and my life starts so I feel not as pressured to exercise all the time which is another bonus.


I guess it depends on what you want from a gym, how helpful it is to be around people exercising (some find it boosts them to work out if they are around others exercising) and if you really want to make the time- I know for some who work very far from home, a gym contract is a waste as they just don't have the time or energy after travelling a 4-5 hour round trip every day with a family to look after when they get home.


Weigh up your own pros and cons. The only person who can tell if it's any value to you, is you.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, I am very jealous of all those people who have lots of choice of gyms! We live in a very rural area and it is really limited around here, in fact one of the only privately run local gyms has just closed.

Our council run leisure centre consists of two rooms where they do classes, or these can be hired for indoor football etc, and a small gym. It's not all that appealing to be honest.

I am currently doing 2/3 exercise classes a week but paying privately for these so its costing me £4.50 a class. Not a cheap way of doing it but its working for me at the moment.

JennieW I can relate to a lot of your post, especially about the difference between just going it alone or exercising as part of a group.

jenniewb

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Hi, I am very jealous of all those people who have lots of choice of gyms! We live in a very rural area and it is really limited around here, in fact one of the only privately run local gyms has just closed.

Our council run leisure centre consists of two rooms where they do classes, or these can be hired for indoor football etc, and a small gym. It's not all that appealing to be honest.

I am currently doing 2/3 exercise classes a week but paying privately for these so its costing me £4.50 a class. Not a cheap way of doing it but its working for me at the moment.

JennieW I can relate to a lot of your post, especially about the difference between just going it alone or exercising as part of a group.

I feel for you not having as much choice- but what I will say is, despite the choice and so competition, I am yet to find a gym which across all it's sites, does not have a problem with black mould in the changing rooms without costing an arm and a leg (and possibly several body organs...) to sign up to. I wish the health and safety people who supposedly ensure gyms are kept to a hygienic standard would actually do their job and enforce rules on things like this.