Gym recommendation

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 11:51:51
<[email hidden]> uk.rec.running Paul
Aspinall <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

P.S. One guy told me that you can get out of the membership fee at a lot of
gyms, by haggling. Is this true?

Haggle with yourself. Get a pair of shoes and start walking, then
jogging, then running.

Hardly expensive and anyway, it is spring, a perfect time to get out
doors. Who wants to be stuck in a gym with all those smelly people?

--
Wm ...
Reply-To: address valid for at least 7 days from date of posting

Wm... said:

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 11:51:51
<[email hidden]> uk.rec.running Paul
Aspinall <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

P.S. One guy told me that you can get out of the membership fee at a
lot of gyms, by haggling. Is this true?

Haggle with yourself. Get a pair of shoes and start walking, then
jogging, then running.

Hardly expensive and anyway, it is spring, a perfect time to get out
doors. Who wants to be stuck in a gym with all those smelly people?

I really enjoy going to the gym, which is just a few minutes away from where
I work. Most gyms around here aren't really that expensive, especially for
what you get (30 to 40 quid a month).

As well as having plenty of top treadmills, my place also arranges running
evenings where a group of people go out running together - ideal for
motivation and you get to meet other people too (especially that lovely
red-headed lady).

-= a q u a b u b b l e =- said:

As well as having plenty of top treadmills, my place also arranges running
evenings where a group of people go out running together - ideal for
motivation and you get to meet other people too (especially that lovely
red-headed lady).

My running club costs me £7 per year and they too 'arrange' running
evenings - ideal for motivation and meeting other runners of all abilities.

Colin

"-=< a q u a b u b b l e >=-" <[email protected]> wrote in
message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wm... said:

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 11:51:51
<[email hidden]> uk.rec.running Paul
Aspinall <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

P.S. One guy told me that you can get out of the membership fee at a
lot of gyms, by haggling. Is this true?

Haggle with yourself. Get a pair of shoes and start walking, then
jogging, then running.

Hardly expensive and anyway, it is spring, a perfect time to get out
doors. Who wants to be stuck in a gym with all those smelly people?

I really enjoy going to the gym, which is just a few minutes away from
where I work. Most gyms around here aren't really that expensive,
especially for what you get (30 to 40 quid a month).

is a quid a euro or a pound? i'm paying 50 dollars a month for my whole
family...but it's not one of those fancy, spandex type gyms...just a nice
YMCA with a pool and fitness classes.

Quoted message said:

i like what the gym has to offer as well. i prefer running but it is nice to
get some cross training in and some weights without having to clutter my
house with "personal quality" training equipment. i would never spend the
money it would cost to get the stationary bike i use (rain or shine, no
traffic, tv to catch up on news) or the circuit training equipment.

there are often nice looking ladies to ogle but i'm getting too old to get
caught ogling so that's not such an attraction anymore. growing up sucks.

Quoted message said:

As well as having plenty of top treadmills, my place also arranges running
evenings where a group of people go out running together - ideal for
motivation and you get to meet other people too (especially that lovely
red-headed lady).

Colin Blackburn said:

-= a q u a b u b b l e =- said:

As well as having plenty of top treadmills, my place also arranges
running evenings where a group of people go out running together -
ideal for motivation and you get to meet other people too
(especially that lovely red-headed lady).

My running club costs me £7 per year and they too 'arrange' running
evenings - ideal for motivation and meeting other runners of all
abilities.

Sounds great! :o)

BTW I wasn't saying "mine's better than yours"; I was just pointing out that
a gym can offer many different activities so one may pick and choose an
ideal programme (with help from trained staff).

The Dirty Vicar said:

"-=< a q u a b u b b l e >=-" <[email protected]>
wrote in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wm... said:

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 11:51:51
<[email hidden]> uk.rec.running Paul
Aspinall <[email hidden]>

> P.S. One guy told me that you can get out of the membership fee at
> a lot of gyms, by haggling. Is this true?

Haggle with yourself. Get a pair of shoes and start walking, then
jogging, then running.

Hardly expensive and anyway, it is spring, a perfect time to get out
doors. Who wants to be stuck in a gym with all those smelly people?

I really enjoy going to the gym, which is just a few minutes away
from where I work. Most gyms around here aren't really that
expensive, especially for what you get (30 to 40 quid a month).

is a quid a euro or a pound? i'm paying 50 dollars a month for my
whole family...but it's not one of those fancy, spandex type
gyms...just a nice YMCA with a pool and fitness classes.

It's a pound :o) 50 dollars a month is really good value for money for the
whole family compared to British money. My gym is not one of those spandex
places either. I deliberately chose a local place (non-chain) with fewer
members so everybody tends to recognise everyone else - especially the
trainers, who remember who you are and what your needs are. It has a pool,
sauna, steam room, and all the classes are free etc.

Quoted message said:

i like what the gym has to offer as well. i prefer running but it is
nice to get some cross training in and some weights without having
to clutter my house with "personal quality" training equipment. i
would never spend the money it would cost to get the stationary bike
i use (rain or shine, no traffic, tv to catch up on news) or the
circuit training equipment.

I agree. I like to exercise all parts of my body and not just the muscles
used for running. It's good to have the help and support in coming back to
full health and fitness too.

Quoted message said:

there are often nice looking ladies to ogle but i'm getting too old
to get caught ogling so that's not such an attraction anymore.
growing up sucks.

He he he. Maybe you should exercise your eye muscles regularly so that you
can flick them away more quickly at the first sign of mortal danger ;o)
Growing up does suck, but I'll never tire of pretty ladies!

"Paul Aspinall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi
Thanks to all who read and replied to my post yesterday, regarding the
purchase of a treadmill.

A few years ago, I trained 5 times per week with weights, and hardly any
cardio. I bulked up quite a bit, but now feel sluggish (to say the least),
and want to get some cardio done.
I've listened to what people have said, and tried to take it onboard. As

one

Quoted message said:

poster said, I think that there may be too much of a mental barrier to

just

Quoted message said:

get out there and run, or to get to a gym. I know that when motivation is
low, we try to find excuses for why we shouldn't go to the gym, or put it
off going for a run if its raining etc etc. Thats one reason I wanted to

buy

Quoted message said:

a treadmill... I figure if I have it here, then I can have no excuses to
myself.....

Given this, I suppose I need to set out with a positive footing, and I am
now looking at some gym memberships.

I'm quite close to a number of chains, and would like to hear peoples
opinions of them. I'm trying to contact the gyms to find out what their
deals are, but they want to get me onsite, and I suspiciously think they
want to perform a 'If you sign up today, we can give you this great

deal!!!'

Quoted message said:

kind of spiel. I want to get the base prices first, and then go and have a
look.

Does anyone have any details or comments on any of these fitness chains?

All

Quoted message said:

of which are within reasonable range from me.
Total Fitness
Fitness First
David Lloyd
JJB Leisure
LivingWell
Holiday Inn Gyms (within hotel)

All seem to offer similar facilities.
Once I've got some other opinions, I'll take a look myself, with an idea

of

Quoted message said:

what you guys think, and a good idea of the kind of prices.

Thanks

Paul

P.S. One guy told me that you can get out of the membership fee at a lot

of

Quoted message said:

gyms, by haggling. Is this true?

Fitness First probably offer best value - they are cheaper for not having
swimming pools and bars . You usually pay a one off admin fee , a joining
fee then a monthly payment with no more to pay thereafter. Now they
regularly have special offers - the joining fee for free etc . The best
offer is the one they don't actually advertise that often - the loyalty
bonus - we paid the admin about £25 then instead of the £55 joining fee
(often this can be reduced or even free)then £35 a month we paid the £25 -
a £35 joining then £100 loyalty Bonus - this fixes our membership at £23 a
month forever - now given we go up to 6 times a week max (4 minimum) plus
the free tea and coffee , free papers , free DVD VHS library , saunas ,ice ,
free toiletries ., this is value on a stick with knobs on!!.And you get a
free gym bag , water bottle , sweat towel and headphones for the banks of TV
/Satellite monitors on the gym walls. I went from being overweight and unfit
in September to running 10k races now . Its a good non intimidating
atmosphere too - my wife is quite overweight indeed and has been put off
gyms in the past due to lycra clad posers - not so fitness first they
actively discourage posing making it a friendly and welcoming place for all
abilities young and old!.

No I don't work for them!! I'm just a convert!

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 14:49:36 <[email hidden]>
uk.rec.running Colin Blackburn <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

-= a q u a b u b b l e =- said:

As well as having plenty of top treadmills, my place also arranges
running evenings where a group of people go out running together -
ideal for motivation and you get to meet other people too (especially
that lovely red-headed lady).

My running club costs me £7 per year and they too 'arrange' running
evenings - ideal for motivation and meeting other runners of all
abilities.

My running club is free. I just smile at other runners.

--
Wm ...
Reply-To: address valid for at least 7 days from date of posting

Paul Aspinall said:

Hi
Thanks to all who read and replied to my post yesterday, regarding the
purchase of a treadmill.

A few years ago, I trained 5 times per week with weights, and hardly
any cardio. I bulked up quite a bit, but now feel sluggish (to say
the least), and want to get some cardio done.
I've listened to what people have said, and tried to take it onboard.
As one poster said, I think that there may be too much of a mental
barrier to just get out there and run, or to get to a gym. I know
that when motivation is low, we try to find excuses for why we
shouldn't go to the gym, or put it off going for a run if its raining
etc etc. Thats one reason I wanted to buy a treadmill... I figure if
I have it here, then I can have no excuses to myself.....

Given this, I suppose I need to set out with a positive footing, and
I am now looking at some gym memberships.

I'm quite close to a number of chains, and would like to hear peoples
opinions of them. I'm trying to contact the gyms to find out what
their deals are, but they want to get me onsite, and I suspiciously
think they want to perform a 'If you sign up today, we can give you
this great deal!!!' kind of spiel. I want to get the base prices
first, and then go and have a look.

Does anyone have any details or comments on any of these fitness
chains? All of which are within reasonable range from me.
Total Fitness
Fitness First
David Lloyd
JJB Leisure
LivingWell
Holiday Inn Gyms (within hotel)

All seem to offer similar facilities.
Once I've got some other opinions, I'll take a look myself, with an
idea of what you guys think, and a good idea of the kind of prices.

Thanks

Paul

P.S. One guy told me that you can get out of the membership fee at a
lot of gyms, by haggling. Is this true?

Everyone gets their motivation from different places. I used to go through a
cycle of going to the gym or jogging and then stop. The motivation I had was
picking up an entry form for a local half marathon. This encouraged me to
run regularly but when I visited a local gym who had an offer on, I was
persuaded to join up.

Now I enjoy going to gym for variety - they have loads of classes but the
ones that suit me best are circuits, spin fit and abs classes. But to be
honest I dont do too many classes, I mainly use the treadmills and do
various conditioning exercises with free weights.

In terms of choice, there are many considerations. Like sofa spud, I'm a
fitness first member and the benefits are indeed impressive. It suits me
because the club is 5 minutes from my house and they have all the equipment
I need plus sauna & steam facilities. The other benefit is that you can use
any club you want to without restriction (although you need to confirm this,
not all memberships allow you to do this). This may not be a benefit if you
would never exercise away from home but for me it is quite useful.

Considerations IMO:

staff - are they friendly, helpful, knowledgable, fit, encouraging etc etc
or do they just want to sell you personal training. Nothing to do with a
branded gym but this is something you need to judge for yourself

gym "culture" - is it a gym you join just to be seen in, to pose, to look
good in, or are people there to work out and get fit? This makes a
difference to me as one of the gyms I joined was more of a status gym and I
didnt enjoy my time there.

facilities - is the equipment in good shape, is there a good range of all
the machines you need and in plentiful supply i.e. no restrictions and do
you have to wait? Fitness First has a good range of freebies although I dont
use them too often

other members - is the social side important? I am quite happy to go and do
my thing and go home but it is nice to see a few friendly faces have a chat
for a bit as well. the first gym i joined was by far the best for this.
Facilities were average at best but the culture and membership were great -
a bit liek someone else said about everyone knowing everyone else.

"ZB" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Considerations IMO:
staff - gym "culture" - facilities -
other members -

Another consideration might be "how convenient is it?"
If it's too far away, difficult to get to, there's no parking, the hours
suck, or whatever, it might otherwise be "perfect" for you but you won't
actually go there!
bj

Paul Aspinall said:

Hi
Thanks to all who read and replied to my post yesterday, regarding the
purchase of a treadmill.

Some in a more friendly manner than others. While it is true that "all you
need is a pair of trainers and get out there and run", there is room in life
for different approaches and preferences and some people seem quiet
aggressive about not using treadmills or gyms! Each to his own, and all
that.

Quoted message said:

I've listened to what people have said, and tried to take it onboard. As one
poster said, I think that there may be too much of a mental barrier to just
get out there and run, or to get to a gym. I know that when motivation is
low, we try to find excuses for why we shouldn't go to the gym, or put it
off going for a run if its raining etc etc. Thats one reason I wanted to buy
a treadmill... I figure if I have it here, then I can have no excuses to
myself.....

True enough. I encourage the people who ask me about exercising at home to
pick some tv programme that they watch regularly and make it a private rule
that the programme can only be watched while cycling/running/stepping/
whatever. Particularly if it is in the room with the TV, you pretty much
run out of excuses not to do it when the programme comes on then.

Quoted message said:

I'm quite close to a number of chains, and would like to hear peoples
opinions of them. I'm trying to contact the gyms to find out what their
deals are, but they want to get me onsite, and I suspiciously think they
want to perform a 'If you sign up today, we can give you this great deal!!!'
kind of spiel. I want to get the base prices first, and then go and have a
look.

They do all work that way, it seems, and the offers available fluctuate with
the seasons. It would be useful to find out (from someone on the inside)
what the 'dead zone' of gym memberships is during the year because you are
bound to get the best deal then.

Quoted message said:

Does anyone have any details or comments on any of these fitness chains? All
of which are within reasonable range from me.
Total Fitness

I'm currently a member of Total Fitness and they were the only choice for me
because their local facility has an indoor 200m running track. I don't like
treadmills - I suspect I must run at a very uneven pace normally, because
whatever time I can achieve on the track absolutely floors me if I try it
over the same distance on a treadmill. Even if I start off slowly! This has
been invaluable over the winter as I've been able to do my speedwork and
embedded circuit training sessions twice a week regardless of the weather.

When I very first started running two years I used to go there as well
because I wasn't confident enough to run outside and just dreaded the idea
that I might get 10 minutes out and then have to phone someone to come and
get me. Running round in circles in a warm safe place was a definite winner
for me! I only managed 2 laps the first time, and I didn't try running
outside until I could run 25 laps non-stop and had done so several times.

I've used TF as a non-member most of the time, paying 10 pounds per visit.
Unless you regularly go more than once a week, this is cheaper than joining.
When I started going twice a week regularly I decided to join for a bit and I
was determined to not pay any joining fee when I signed up, and all of them
are usually keen to waive that first. The monthly rate seems generally
non-negotiable though. When my membership lapses in May this year I'll
probably go back to paying each time I go there as more of my sessions will
be outside again. I'll miss the spa bath and steam room though!

Quoted message said:

Holiday Inn Gyms (within hotel)

I used to be a member of a local hotel gym, which cost the same/month as my
membership with Total Fitness does now, and yet the range and amount of
equipment was pitiful in comparison. It was a bit nearer to home, but still
far enough that it meant driving on the whole, and for where I currently work
TF is much handier for calling on the way home anyway. I'd definitely
consider location in your choice - one that you have to go past regularly
anyway is always a better bet. But unless Holiday Inn Gyms are different to
general hotel gyms, I found it constantly frustrating that someone else was
always on the one piece of equipment I wanted next (and there would only ever
be one of them).

I'd definitely advise going to each of them and asking for a free visit to
try out the facilities - I've not seen a gym yet that didn't offer this.
You'll not work out that the showers are freezing or that the controls on the
treadmill need a degree in rocket science to use unless you actually go in
there and try them out. Plus by the time you've worked your way around free
trials in that lot, you will have saved yourself a month's membership!

Claire
--
Still prettiest by far.