Joining a gym

[clockwatcher1]

I need convincing really. A David Lloyd gym has opened up near me and I'm seriously considering joining but it has been so long since I've been a gym member (20 years or so!). My reasons for joining include the obvious - apart from short dog walk (20 mins) after work, my only daily exercise is walking to and from the car + I need to lose a couple of stone & get fitter as energy is lacking (I'm mid 40s). I also fancy treating myself to something special for me as my work is pretty stressful at times but cost and annual membership commitment are playing on my mind. Am I mad to consider joining? Any pros and cons advice welcome.

I have been a member of numerous different gyms. I always follow the same pattern, go a few times then it fizzles out. Personally I find them quite boring - maybe I have just never found a routine that suited me.

However, last night I tried British military fitness in a local park and it was fab! Both myself and a friend signed up. We get a key worker discount and its £30 per month unlimited attendance. They have 4 classes at the local park and more at others parks nearby. There were lots of people, all ages shapes and sizes.

I am aching terribly today so dreading tomorrow, I have worked muscles that haven't had any use in a while. I am actually looking forward to going back! Check out the website (don't know how to post a link - sorry) for local classes if you think it may be for you. The first class is free

Thanks for that suggestion. Am giving myself a deadline of Sunday to finally make up my mind about joining a gym & am looking at alternatives like bootcamps too. I'm being really indecisive about this but I do know that I have to take on more exercise now as suddenly beginning to kook and feel my age! Any other positive or negative views re gym membership welcome :)

what area of the country are you in, clockwatcher1?

Surrey/Hants border

Ok, don't know if my comments will help then, as i'm in london and don't know the situation where you are BUT just in case are there any of the new more aggressive american imports around near you yet like 'Pure Gyms' and 'The Gym Group'- or any opening soon, i know they are expanding at the moment??

If so i would really recommend as these new chains have no minimum contract (you can cancel anytime and that's it) and you can also freeze your membership for £5 a month as often as you want if you are ill or on holiday or something. Might be the solution if you aren't sure if you'll use it as it would let you try it out without getting stung for a contract.....

I had been at my local virgin for 6 years and got really fed up with them for constantly trying to sell me personal training sessions (and i mean constantly- if i got on a treadmill or stairmaster one of them would materialise on the one next to me and do the hard sell the entire time- not that relaxing after a day at work!!) and it was a LOT of money 79 a month even when i couldn't be arsed to go and this is the point- when I decided to look about i couldn't believe how much things had changed in the last 6 years- the new chains makes virgin et al blundering along with their massive overheads, steep monthly fees and tied in contracts look like the BA to Paris operation the week before Easyjet arrived!!

I now pay £16 a month, no minimum contract, for a bigger gym in central london with better equipment & the place is always spotless... there are no staff around unless you book an induction or pay for a training session but this is exactly what i wanted- can't be doing with the staff lolling around reception waiting to sell you add ons all the time-would rather pay for a training session when i need one and otherwise be left alone to get on with it. Might not suit you if you want a lot of supervision, but honestly now i'd never put up with being 'made' to sign up somewhere for a year just because it suited them!

Thanks for that bit of advice. The 1 year contract is what really bugs me as for some David Lloyd gyms you can sign up for 3 months which I would be more than happy to do initially. Will definitely look into the chains that you mentioned. Decisions decisions!

Oh 3 months is much better than a year, would give you a chance to make your mind up, maybe the new chains are forcing some change? (My friend works as LA fitness and she says they absolutely hate the new chains there:) )