to try to sneak out of my gym membership early?

[BonaDea]

So, I have a gym membership with a big, national gym. I don't like the actual gym, but before being pregnant went to various classes and occasionally used the pool. Got just about enough use out of it not to make it a waste of money.

When I found out I'm pregnant, I looked at the available classes and there is ONE weekly pre / post-natal yoga class available adn even that is in the middle of the working day. So now, I really can't get any use out of my membership at all. I genuinely don't like the big work out room / gym machines and would feel weird in there while blobbing about with a belly. What I want to do is use the money to sign up for some more-conveniently timed ante-natal classes after work / at the weekend.

I THOUGHT the notice period for the gym was 1 month, but it's actually 3 months. That's £240 of wasted gym membership.

I called up the membership team and explained this. I also explained - for good measure - that I am a high risk pregnancy (this is true, because I'm type 1 diabetic, although in practice that doesn't make any difference whatsoever to whether or not I stay in the gym) and asked if I could just give the month's notice. They said that I could but only with a medical note.

So, my question is if IABU to

1. ask my diabetes nurse, midwife or doctor to draft this letter for me, in the full knowledge that there is no real medical reason why I can't carry on with the membership, but hoping that they might see my predicament and help me out (but I don't want to put anyone in a bad position); or
   
2. just write to them emphatically saying that they can have one month's notice and that's it because they are too stupid / discriminatory not to cater for pregnant people in their class scheduling.
   

Or should I just suck it up? Any other suggestions?

[FredFredGeorge]

BartletForTeamGB is right, and I'd actually go further, significantly reducing your exercise level so that your fitness reduces is likely not the best thing you can do.

This book is very good www.amazon.co.uk/Exercising-Through-Pregnancy-James-Clapp/dp/1886039593?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I'm male of course, so I only know from reading but my DP maintained her exercise levels, found the very hardest efforts were extremely self regulating and she couldn't go very hard, but maintained exercise levels otherwise very well and recovered quickly from a long delivery resulting in an emcs during which the very healthy baby never struggled. I'm sure the exercise helped that.

[BartletForTeamGB]

"Everything i have read about exercise in pregnancy (including What to Expect, and the guidance from my MW) said to do gentle exercise, not to get overheated and not to be sweating profusely, all of which I would do in spin. "

That's not the NHS or standard advice at all. If you exercise prior to conception, you can carry on with whatever you did before.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-exercise.aspx

nhslocal.nhs.uk/story/features/exercise-pregnancy

www.medway.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity-services/antenatal-care/health-in-early-pregnancy/exercise-and-working/

www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/Recreational%20Exercise%20and%20Pregnancy.pdf

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

BoneDea - why don't you go and talk to the instructors of the classes you enjoy, and see if they can modify the exercises for you. I am willing to bet you won't be the first person to ask them this. Also, if you are used to a particular level,of exercise, then I think you should be fine to carry on with that level, as long as you are comfortable with it.

[ChunkyPickle]

YANBU - although unless you get a friendly midwife I bet they won't do it.

Mumsnetters seem to be very hot on 'it was in the contract, you owe it' but personally I think that contracts are always negotiable, even once you've signed it.

[MrSunshine]

You asked AIBU. My response is yes, YABU.
Get over it.

[BonaDea]

Oh ffs, read all of my posts. I think it is clear that I understand I am not 'entitled' to escape.

[MrSunshine]

I'm betting they don't market themselves as a pregnancy fitness club? If there are literally hundreds of classes, there will be plenty that are fine in pregnancy. You are choosing not to attend any of the offered classes or use any of the equipment, because you don't want to, not because it is unsuitable.
That's your prerogative. But it doesn't entitle you to a refund or a contract break.

[BonaDea]

Actually, I don't think that's fair.

I signed up to that particular fitness club (more accurate name than 'gym' probably) because of the literally HUNDREDS of classes they run each week, which is genuinely what I enjoy and what keeps me interested. I even wrote on my application that I was joining for classes (it was one of the questions they asked to 'help tailor the membership'). At that point, 2 years ago I wasn't thinking about preggie classes, so didn't check them, but I am really surprise - esp as we live in a yummy mummy area - that they don't cater for more classes.

And: I actually don't really want to breathe and stretch. I want to do something tailored for pregnancy, and have found some great classes nearby which are ante natal fitness (not yoga) classes which would just be great. You can take them from 12 weeks.

[MrSunshine]

You don't actually want to exercise, you want to fanny about breathing and stretching. Its not really their fault that you don't want to use any of the gym equipment. In a gym.

[BonaDea]

A couple of things:

1. I am a lawyer, and know that legally speaking I probably don't have a leg to stand on;
   
2. I know that I am just being tight - it is just so annoying;
   
3. There is NO WAY I would do spin. Everything i have read about exercise in pregnancy (including What to Expect, and the guidance from my MW) said to do gentle exercise, not to get overheated and not to be sweating profusely, all of which I would do in spin. I was like that even after going 3 times a week for 6 months. Perhaps other fitter people would be different, but I would definitely not be comfortable with it.
   

I am going to try and get it out of it. If they won't accept that I might go down the route of the suspension, even if I have to spend £20 a month to continue the membership. As others have said, at least that way I might be able to use the facilities while on mat leave - taking LO swimming and / or using their creche (although presumably you can't put a tiny baby in a creche?).

Sigh, as someone said about I will never get myself sucked into this ridiculous nonsense again!!

[thebeesnees79]

I am a huge spinning fan and used to go 3 times a week. However I agree with mrsmangel spinning is not suitable for pregnant women its high intensity and high impact, no way I would do it pregnant.

[bissydissy]

In my experience a lot of pregnancy classes are very gentle and great for the last trimester but assuming you are only about 4-8 weeks will be rubbish at keeping you fit. I gave up 'proper' exercise at 12 weeks and really regretted it. There is also little point making friends with women much further into pregnancy as they will disappear with their babies into a world of day time meet ups and baby classes long before your due date most likely.

[mum11970]

Pregnant women are allowed to spin at my gym too.

[lisad123]

Well if its the same chain as dh old gym in not surprised, they wouldn't allow him to "hold" his membership when he was dx with cancer which meant if he wanted to go back he had to pay all joining fees again

I would personally try and get a note if possible.

[MrsMangelfanciedPaulRobinson]

I disagree TalkinPeace2; I taught aerobics up to my due date with one of my DCs and never got as sweaty or hot as I do in a spin class.

The gym you go to is acting irresponsibly in allowing pregnant women to do Spin IMO, national chain or not.

[missingmumxox]

I would ask, you might be lucky Midwives and Nurses tend to be a generous lot.

You might get someone like me who would refuse on the basis of what you have said (obvs don't know your full history)

gentle exercise is important in pregnancy and possible more so in your case.
Private companies use the NHS too much for things which they could easily manage themselves but because it would cost them and cause them to do paperwork, they abuse the system, it would be very easy for them to write policies and in cases of dispute pay a Doctor/Midwife/Nurse/Physio/OT to assess the risk, in the case of a consultant it would cost them/you approx less than the cost of your 3 months notice to write a letter just!
Also it devalues the genuine cases of medical reason to be let off something if we wrote a report in support of something not clinically indicated also it would bring into question my professionalism.

If you had a genuine need I would write a report without hesitation and not charge you a penny, and I do think that 3 months notice is ridiculous but that is how they earn their money.

[MordionAgenos]

I did body combat and step classes (and more general dance aerobics classes) until I was 35 weeks pregnant. And I swam up until a day before my C section. Excercise in pregnancy is good.

[TalkinPeace2]

They let pregnant women do spin at my gym - one friend carried on doing it till 8 months and another till 7 months - national chain.
"baby getting overheated" sounds like utter bilge to me : instructors teaching aerobics at 8 months gone get a lot sweatier than in a spin class.

[MrsMangelfanciedPaulRobinson]

You can't do spin classes during pregnancy. I'm a fitness instructor and we were categorically told at Spinning training that pregnant women can't take part. It's all to do with the baby getting overheated and not being able to cool itself down.

Just thought I'd mention that as it's far safer to avoid spinning in pregnancy. Other classes are generally fine though. The aim in pregnancy is to maintain your current fitness level but not push yourself any further.

[Floggingmolly]

You signed up for it. It is not necessarily now "just a rip off" because they won't tailor the classes to suit you. YABU.

[TalkinPeace2]

sorry but YABU
if you are diabetic, keeping your cardio system while pregnant is imperative.
swimming, spin classes, pilates, bodyvive, FFS I did bodypump until I was overdue and one of our instructors was still teaching step at 38 weeks.

[mum11970]

You can still do spinning classes, LBT, even fitball classes as long as you tell the instructor and they will modify any exercises you can't do. My friend was still doing regular classes and gym workouts even though she was overdue.

[MrsMangelfanciedPaulRobinson]

Will your gym put your membership on hold at all? Many will do this and then recommence the rest of the tie-in period when you've had your baby?

[Liketochat1]

I've had to 'suck it up' where gym memberships are concerned a couple of times. Too much small print and random days when you can cancel/suspend.

[limitedperiodonly]

renegotiation I mean.