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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that I have to pay for gym membership whilst others don't?

124 replies

Aworryingtrend · 21/02/2011 12:31

I know I need to don my hard hat but I really am Hmm about this.

I have just joined my local council-run gym to try and tone up and lose weight. This is costing £23 a month which whilst not a huge amount to some people is a fairly significant amount to DH & I.

AIBU to annoyed that whilst I have to pay for the privelige of using the gym and pool, others can attend completely free under the NHS exercise referral scheme or by being in receipt of some benefits?

OP posts:
thefirstMrsDeVere · 21/02/2011 16:55

I got free off peak memebership to the gym.

It was to help me deal with depression and PSTD following the protracted and traumatic illness and death of my 14 year old DD.

Still a bit jealous?

thefirstMrsDeVere · 21/02/2011 17:06

Not overweight at all. I was unfit though. Due to living on red bull and nurofen for two years and sleeping on put u up beds.

moondog · 21/02/2011 21:58

'I didn't know you could get gym membership through the NHS. I'm going to ask my doctor about it. My house is too small to exercise in and as I get paranoid when outside it would be really cool if I could get into the gym for cheap or free.'

Do yuo think I could get, oooh I don't know, a bigger garden on the NHS then?
I'm unhappy with my present one and parks and open public spaces freak me.

scottishmummy · 21/02/2011 22:06

nhs provsion is time limited,by referral and for specific diagnosis.isnt a wee jolly is targeted short term intervention

edam · 21/02/2011 23:39

Moondog, it really worries me that you are working professionally with vulnerable people yet repeatedly display such dismissive and contemptuous attitudes to anyone who lives in poverty. I dunno, maybe long years in a caring profession have left you jaundiced. But I really hope you aren't like this at work.

rinabean · 21/02/2011 23:45

moondog, maybe I can see if the NHS will get you to say stupid things for me. That seems to boost my mood, too! Are you trolling or actually like that? I don't know which would be funnier.

moondog · 22/02/2011 09:47

Edam, it really worries me that you seem to expect every NHS worker to worship at the altar of Polly Toynbee.

What will you do next? Call for me to be arrested?

It's terribly sinsister.

bupcakesandcunting · 22/02/2011 09:49

DH got referred for a freebie 3 month gym membrship because he was very stressed with work, insomniac etc etc. And we're not on benefits!

activate · 22/02/2011 09:53

If it's a significant amount to you and your DH should you really be spending it?

There's free parks and streets everywhere where you can do the jogging machine, some parks even have circuit training or exercise equipment in

I think the only people being unreasonable are you and DH - if you can't afford it don't do it, if you can shut-up about it - other's people circumstances are bugger all to do with you

hope that helps

lady007pink · 22/02/2011 09:57

Get yourself a dog, which you have to walk every day and you won't need a gym. Or offer to walk somebody else's dog.

twopeople · 22/02/2011 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nickytwotimes · 22/02/2011 10:11

i got a 10 wk referal for med reasons.
income fuck all to do with it.
the excercise vastly reduced the no. of physio appts i needed.
i wouldn't have gone to the gym otherwise - i never thought of it as for peopple like me (not sporty).
it was wonderful and i am a lot fitter and now need no appts with the physio at all.

nickytwotimes · 22/02/2011 10:12

oh, and i subsequently joined the gym which would never have happened.

h2ohno · 22/02/2011 10:14

OP - YABU. Be happy you have the health/money to do so. Life is too short.

Cancermademeunfit - Please try to get referred for physio. They should be able to recommend suitable exercises and set up a programme for you. Even if you need to pay for a couple of sessions its worth it, saves you a lifetime of complications/pain in the future.

Best wishes!! Smile

foreverondiet · 22/02/2011 10:17

I think its good that some people can attend for free, if there is a medical reason AND they can't afford to otherwise.

Everyone else should pay. Its a bit like prescriptions - you get them free if you have a longterm medical condition or if you are on benefits.... others have to pay.

OP - why do you think you should get it free?

BaroqueAroundTheClock · 22/02/2011 12:21

exH took advantage of the reduced rates for the council run leisure centre gym - as recommended by his CPN. It made a definite difference to his recovery (though as he got better I discovered he was still the twat he was before we initially split Grin

lyssie29 · 06/06/2014 17:56

My dh has just lost his job and is now claiming jsa. I only work 7 hours a week. I have no idea if its free if your on jsa as I have never been on benefits before but I do know I have now had to cancelled my membership because we definately cant afford it. The way i see it if its available for those less fortunate then why not let people use the facilities. My dh and I have been working all our lives and have been paying our taxes too and it was through no fault of his that he lost his job.

FreeSpirit89 · 06/06/2014 18:22

I have a knee issue, my GP said about the scheme, I said I'd take up running. It's free, it's outdoors and I enjoy it

Smilesandpiles · 06/06/2014 18:35

Zombie thread

Let it die. It's just a benefits bashing thread.

Virgolia · 06/06/2014 18:38

If these people are able to pay for it themselves they should do. If not then they should get it for free.

UncrushedParsley · 06/06/2014 19:14

ZOMBIE THREAD

Lancashiregal10 · 07/06/2014 00:02

I work with disabilied people and a lot of them get referred a couple of times a year to help with weight loss or to build up fittness or some get free sessions in the pool to help with their physical disability. Some "shock horror" get it free all year round due to being on certain benefits. They really get a lot out of it and it helps them. There is no way they would be able to afford a gym membership. But hey ho maybe we should take this away and while we are at it take free bus passes and rail cards off them as well just in case it upsets someone.

We love in society where some pay more then others for things sometimes it is fair, sometimes is isn't. Just be glad you have your health and move on

Iswallowedawatermelon · 07/06/2014 00:15

Hmm

I would be annoyed too.

Firstly I suggest trying to get a free pass for yourself.

Secondly if you can't get a free pass then go to a private gym where there are no free passes available.

Thirdly if you can't afford the private gym then don't to to the gym altogether and do a DVD or go running etc.

I would be annoyed at attending a gym where people went free as it would feel like I was subsidising them Hmm

parentalunit · 07/06/2014 00:24

Eat more greens and less crap. Move more, not necessarily at a gym. If you have access to here, you have access to youtube with lots of free exercise videos.

Wanting free gym stuff smacks of entitlement to me.

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