"The Gym"

[cjt110]

Due to the dire state of my body and weight gain I'm considering joining "The Gym"

£20.99 a month for gym use plus classes etc. No contract blah blah bah. Seems to good to be true?

Just googled, looks a great deal but the nearest to me is more than 10 miles away.

Seriously don't bother. What you eat is more important that anything else. Try Keto and go for a brisk walk every day. Honestly. It'll work.

Tell me that again once you hit the menopause Controlling your food intake — quality and amount — is the main element in weight management. However, it's really important for women to get some weight bearing exercise in as they get older to preserve bone density. Those heavy weights at the gym are perfect

I've been a member for a few years. I like it because it isn't poncetastic and the classes are great. The only slight issue is parking, but that's ok as long as you factor it in to your timings.

I think you need to be realistic about what's possible for you. There's no point thinking that you're going to sign up and go every day at 7am if you're going to hav

@cjt110 these budget gyms are fine, I've used them for years and you really can't complain given the cost however in my experience some sites are better than others ie some are bigger and have larger changing rooms.

If you are into cardio you may find in some of the the air conditioning is not good enough- I find this. And if you really hate shouting and super loud music avoid going in when spin is on as sometimes the shouting is so loud from the instructor you can sort of hear it through your own music! 😱

The music they play is generally crap also but others must like it.

@HavelockVetinari agree with you re virgin - but it's not in a good location for me sadly. The cheaper ones are everywhere and you don't have to worry about opening/closing times.

Try the Jillian Michaels App it costs £81 for a year ( has a free trial) has access to all her dvds, several different meal plans to meet every type of diet and lots of recipes which are really tasty, lots and lots of different exercise programmes that are tailored to the equipment you have at home and what you want to do.

It’s expensive for an app but much, much cheaper than an ongoing gym membership and you can do it from home, all you need is a device, internet, trainers and a sports bra!

(Damn phone!)
There's no point thinking that you're going to sign up and go every day at 7am if you're going to have to be getting children up for school at that time.

I pay for swimming membership at my local council facility - I could pay another tenner a month and use the gym as well, but I have a full-time job, other commitments outside of work and only 24 hours in a day. I do do enough aquafit classes and swimming to cover the membership fee, so I save on pay at the door costs, plus I can book classes (which sometimes get booked up.) Also, I find having paid up-front is a bit of an incentive to go, because otherwise I don't get my money's worth.

What you eat is important, but so is strength and aerobic fitness and balance. I have to track my blood sugar, and for me, there's a very clear correlation between better blood sugar levels and having done exercise. It's mostly more noticeable than diet (though sadly, stewed apricots spiked it quite impressively.)

As someone who is currently wearing Active Wear whilst actively thinking up excuses to not go to the gym, I concur with TSSDNCOP

The thing to consider joining a budget gym is what time you will go and how busy it will be. A lot will be very overcrowded from 5.30-8pm every week day.

@Everydayzero pure does an app that gives you numbers of how many folk are in at any one time. Yes from 5pm is horrible 😬

I've been a member of The Gym for 2 years at £14.99 a month and my experiences of this chain are really positive. I go about 4 times a week so it works out really good value for money. I haven't done any of the classes but I hear they're good.

Albert you must have an ailing relative that needs medical attention, an emergency birthday card requirement or immediate oil change?

That's really good value. I struggle with the motivation though haha.

Why do the keto people appear on every thread like this.

Eat a balanced diet and cut caloriesz keto is a load of rubbish.

I belong to a local council gym, I don't use the machines just go to classes. I am able to go in the middle of the day when there is a real mix of people of different ages and sizes and everyone is really friendly, enjoying the classes without taking it too seriously.

I always found 'The Gym' to be a false economy in the long run. Come on, there's a reason they offer memberships, it isn't because they want to lose money is it? They obviously make a lot of money off people not going but can't get out because they're locked into a 12 month contract.

I honestly think you'd be better off paying £3 a pop to go swim at your local pool. At least that way you would actually be paying for the time you use it.

@Jamieson90 there is no contract for "The Gym"

And swimming at my local pool is £6 a go.

The Gym may have no contract, but I do suspect that because of the low price (including the ability to freeze membership down to £5 a month if you aren't using), a lot of users will end up retaining a membership they don't use purely because they aren't paying too much.

I’m a member of The Gym and love it! I pay £14.99 a month and go three times a week so it’s a bargain. Mine is big and spacious and cool in the summer.
I have a pt but the other staff are friendly and helpful too.
It’s a total bargain because like Pps have said the low price means lots of people don’t cancel when they don’t go.

I go to a council one. It’s around that price so it sounds normal. I go in the mornings as it’s mainly older people as I get irritated with teenagers hanging around equipment doing one rep.

As for eat less move more-how on earth is that sustainable?! If you’re exercising you will become more hungry so will surely eat more? If someone has found a way to eat less whilst moving more and not to fail at the whole thing due to being absolutely starving I take my hat off to them.

Anyone trumpets “eat less move more” surely cannot believe in calories in/out as they profess to?

Rather than a specific gym, I joined Move GB, which allows me access to all sorts of various classes and gyms all over the country (and some internationally), which is quite good, you can then follow a preferred yoga teacher or find classes that suit your timings or whatever.

I used to go to The Gym in Tottenham and it was definitely real people leading the classes, definitely not videos!