To join a gym or not??

[Gemi33]

Hi All,

I am trying to lose weight (so far have lost 2 stone but it is slowing down) and I have been thinking about joining a gym close to me - to help lose the rest of the weight and tone up. The problem is, I'm very indecisive and can't decide! I was previously a member of this gym and left a few years ago because I thought that there's plenty I can do for free (walking etc.). However, in reality, if the weather's bad or in the winter when it's dark early I end up on not walking much and struggle to get motivated to exercise on my own.

The problem is - the gym is not the cheapest (but I know that some of the cheaper ones are further away/don't have a pool/not as nice, so I wouldn't use them and more than the cost, the minimum membership period is a year so I am worried that with the cost of everything going up, if I find in a few months I can no longer afford it I will be locked in for year. I like the idea of the gym, miss going to the pool (especially in this weather) and I live alone so it's quite nice having somewhere away from home to go. On the other hand, it's expensive and there are plenty of ways to exercise without the gym so not sure I can justify it.

Obviously, I know no one can decide for me but I'd be interested to hear from gym goers / ex-gym goers etc. - do you think your gym membership is worth it? What difference has it made to your health/weight etc.?

xx

It depends what you want to go to a gym for.

I go to the gym and love it. I do lifting so I can't do that anywhere else. Prior to finding lifting I had many failed gym memberships. I wouldn't go to a gym to do cardio as I'd rather run or ride a bike outside. And I thought the gym was just about cardio machines. I also don't like classes so wouldn't go for those. That's why my gym memberships never worked. But for lifting it really works and I go frequently.

Agree with previous poster. I locked into a year's contract at Banntynes a few years back and bitterly regretted it because the environment felt very off-putting to me (too many muscled up guys glaring at you if you used the machines for too long) and I was reluctant to go.

Have now joined Gymnophobics and having a totally different experience and go 3-4 times a week. For me, I needed accountability, someone to push me, and a very supportive environment. Am menopausal, have all manner of hormonal niggles, and wanted to be in an environment where that was understood.

Probably worth thinking about what you really need and considering if a gym is critical for helping you get that.

I joined a commercial chain gym - which BTW was cheaper than the one at my workplace (a university)!

My main criterion was that it had long opening hours and was an easy/doable walk from my house. So I would go most days, basically.

I love it - it's got a really great atmosphere, is very friendly, and has a minimum of bro men and Gymshark girls. I do a Bootcamp class with a couple of 80 year olds, as well as 20 year olds. There is a man in a wheelchair & a PT who works specifically with learning disabled lads. We all wave & smile & chat to each other.

Sometimes, in very boring meetings, I find myself wishing I were in the gym. So all of this inspires me to go most days.

I think you need to work out your criteria for choice - mine was closeness to where I live as I don't drive. But also - fun!

When I wasn't sure, I joined David Lloyd over the summer only. It was a higher cost monthly, but I didn't want to be locked in for a year. Initially, I did actually stay a member for a few years after that. Is there a similar option for the gym you're looking at? It was worth it for the outdoor pool for me.

Thanks for the replies - so the one I'm tempted by is a Bannatynes one which having been a member before, I know it's really nice and not intimidating. The fact that it's so close to me and has a lovely pool really appeals to me but the gym and classes are good too. But it is more expensive than some others and I'd be locked in for the year which worries me. I live alone and having just turned 40 and realised that my social circle has shrunk (most of my friends have families of their own) and I don't really have any hobbies also made me think it might help me get out but not sure if that's a good reason to join.

To answer the question above, there is an option to join for three months which I did consider so that I could use the pool during the summer and see how I got on generally before committing to a year but it is quite a bit more each month and given ideally it would be a long term thing I just wasn't sure that would be a good idea as if I then extended to a year, overall it would cost me even more.

I think it seems you really want to join but think you can’t afford it.

you need to review your finances. If money is as tight as you are making out and any increases could mean you can’t afford it, then I think you shouldn’t

so either eat the additional cost and join for 3 months,but if you can’t afford that then honestly put it out of your mind, you can’t afford it. It isn’t worth taking your self to the limit for this.

My gym is £50 a month. I do 3 swims, a pump class, a stretch class and a weights session each week. That works out to approx £2 per session. An absolute bargain.
You need to think realistically about what you would do each week, what you could commit to longer term, to decide if it's worth the money.
I don't lose weight- i'm a menopausal eater- but I am the fittest and strongest I have ever been as an adult.
It seems like you don't really want to join the gym but you think you ought to??? Cardio exercise isn't really that useful for weight loss. Weight loss comes more from diet. Exercise is for health, fitness, strength etc.

Some of what I have to say might be irrelevant to you, as I have v different feelings about what I want from a gym - but chucking it out there and you can use what's helpful and ignore what's not!

I used to be a gym instructor, aaaaages ago. I now do a totally different job, and I've had several years of zero gym use in between.

I think that, in the end, there are three things which really get you using the gym: one is habit ("I go to spinning on Monday evenings and circuits on Saturday mornings"); one is enjoyment (as a PP above - "I'm in a work meeting wishing I were at the gym instead"); and one is sheer discipline (often associated with a specific goal, which is usually time-bound - "I want to reach x weight, I want to feel confident in a bikini in Spain next month"). I don't think discipline entirely works over a sustained period, other than perhaps for a minority, so I think you need to work out where this fits for you in terms of habit and/or enjoyment.

I use a very cheap gym, partly because it's cheap and only a monthly rolling contract, partly because it's incredibly local and I am short on time. I primarily lift weights, and unless I get there early I find the free weights area tends to be busier than I'd like. It could be an intimidating environment for someone less confident in gyms. It's not great as an introvert. But if I had to travel further, I would almost never end up going, so I grit my teeth and bear it. I love the actual working out bit, so that compromise works for me, as I don't need to incentivise myself to go and lift weights, it's an indulgence rather than a chore.

Because it's an indulgence (and I don't have many of those to cut back on), I do regard it as an expense I might have to cut at some point depending on other costs. For that reason, I'd personally be reluctant to get tied into a contract.

I know I could work out at home, but less effectively, with lighter weights and higher reps. I run anyway, and swim separately at a standalone lido. But I appreciate the air con of the gym in this weather!

Thanks for the input everyone, some really useful things to think about. Just to answer a couple of points - I'm not sure I'd say I feel I 'should' do it, I would like to but at a time when most people are cutting back it just feels risky. I'm quite introverted and for various reasons my social circle has shrunk so I'm also trying to find things to give me some structure and work on some goals. I could work out at home and probably should and that would be cheaper but I'm not actually doing it currently so just trying to look at the options.

OP, I think only you know if you can afford it. But in answer to your question:

"I live alone and having just turned 40 and realised that my social circle has shrunk (most of my friends have families of their own) and I don't really have any hobbies also made me think it might help me get out but not sure if that's a good reason to join."

I think that is a really good reason to join, if it is a friendly gym with good classes, as you say. You will meet other people that you share at least one interest with, doing something constructive that is good for you, and it will give you structure and focus. My first gym was a Virgin active with a pool, good classes and a lounge. Really friendly, and I made friends there, and tried lots of new things. I train at a more specialist gym now because of what I am doing but I miss having somewhere I can go on a rainy Sunday, do a couple of classes, chat, have a cup of coffee....no need to plan or faff with arrangements. It was cheaper than Bannatyne type but more expensive than some - worked out as brilliant value as I went 5/6 days a week, did a range of classes, used the pool and sauna, trained in the gym....

So I wouldn't not do it because your motivation isn't entirely about exercise - I think having those extra reasons to go will make you more likely to use your membership and commit and go regularly! I also think most people find it hard to commit and progress on their own medium/long term, though I admire those who do.

Also, as pp have said, location really matters! My current gym is very small, great for the kind of strength training I do and very local, but not much else there. So I end up paying separately for other things like swimming or the odd class, elsewhere. If you can get all that at your closest gym, that counts for a lot - IF you can afford it.

When you used to be a member did you go often enough to make it worthwhile financially and physically? Did you enjoy it?

If the answer is yes to both of those then join again.

If the answer is no to both or either of these then ask yourself why you're thinking of joining the gym now. Your motivation for joining is because it will make it easier to exercise in the bad weather and winter. Well it's good weather now and summer. You could really ramp up the walking/outdoor exercise now and give it three months. If it's not working, join the gym. If it's working, but when the winter draws in you lose motivation, join the gym then.

You could save money in summer and rethink come winter.

Brilliant on you for losing the two stone. That's fantastic!