hmmm.... should i spend the money on gym membership?

[tyaca]

a fitness first has just opened up five min from my house. i NEVER exercise, and the only other time i joined a private gym, i went about eight times and paid £40 a month for a year......

BUT, i stop work in six weeks (am just coming up to six months, stopping early 'cause contract is ending), and i'm scared i'll go nuts with no routine or anything to do.

the gym offers a three month contract, so not tied in for a year. however, with joining fee, (plus maternity swim wear and mega-sized sports bra!), it'll still come to £250....

is anyone else exercising? it seems like you can do most things when pg, but the gym doesnt have specific pg classes (they do have hatha yoga, aqua aerobics and pilates tho -- which i guess would be safe?). also, wondered if anyone else had used cross trainers and resistance weights when pg? was it ok?

BTW - my local public sports centre is over half an hour away and quite grotty, so not really an option

all thoughts welcome! cheers

did you see where fitness first was on Watchdog last week, where members who tried to cancel their membership couldn't - unless they paid this, that or the other, or spoke to the MD in person on the last friday in the month (or something equally impractical).

That's what first springs to mind for me.

And you will soon find your new routine. Contrary to popular belief there will be a new life outside of work for you whilst you are off.

Also would it not be best to try individual classes that are maybe run in local halls etc where you just pay as you go to see if you like.

I did loads of stuff when preg both times - swimming my usual amount, light weights, the cross trainer. I stopped jogging at 4 months but if you are careful you can get/keep pretty fit while pg.

I always thought i'd do yoga/ aqua etc i never did get round to it! Enjoy the rest!

will be waste of money haven't used my gym since i fell pregnant (can't cancel though because of shitty "rolling contract")

That's another "Virgin" enterprise that has pissed me off.

will be waste of money haven't used my gym since i fell pregnant (can't cancel though because of shitty "rolling contract")

That's another "Virgin" enterprise that has pissed me off.

whats a rolling contract? I am with Virgin and want to cancel

Can you not join the gym fitness classes or go swimming as a non-member, then see whether you actually use £250 worth over next 3 months? These deals for 3 month membership recur pretty frequently, you won't lose much by not going for it this time. I certainly wouldn't cough up £250 if I wasn't already a gym-type person.

cheers for all your responses

Emmatom- didnt see that watchdog, but sounds about right. memberships at private gyms are so inflexible, and basically out to screw you , i was thinking of asking them if i could pay in a one-off payment, rather than DD, and basically cover my back after the three months (suspect that even tho' its a three month contract, you prob DO have to give them 28 days notice of leaving)

there are a few classes round my, which is the other alternative. also, they are more pg orientated, which would be better. but i'm not great at making specific times, and i do like the idea of popping round corner for half an hour swimming/ cross trainer etc (dreams, dreams.....!)

ty Donnie, that sounds like what i used to do years ago when i did work out. minus the jogging, which i always hated!

LoveMyGirls - you sound like me! full of plans, lacking in getting-round-to-it! re getting the rest, today i have taken a day off work and feels a bit like a trial run... and i fear that i could easily just sit around in pjs watching telly and making myself miserable....

Connor - damn virgin, i swear, they're all out to get us and our cash.

lljkk - only if a friend is a member and signs me in. dont know anyone who is.... perhaps i could lurke and pounce on a friendly looking face and see if they'll sign me in

hey tyaca...

just to add my random opinion I would say that if you were not very into the gym before then the 3rd trimester is unlikely to be the time that you suddenly start fancying it!

I used to go 3 times a week but recently have found it pretty much impossible as I'm knackered (now 32 weeks ish)

Granted I am still working so haven't had the chance to get bored (I would so looooove to be bored!!!) but I'm still not sure that the inclination would be really powerful now if it hasn't been in the past?

still, I still have the 'quick half hour cross training/swim' dream - only prob is its costing me 50 quid a month expensive dream!

maybe the classes you mentioned could work...?

btw gym is 2 mins from my house max. still seems like a very long way right now...

Rolling ontract basically means that if you join in september and are tied in for a 12 month period you have to cancel the following september or you enter into a new 12 month contract and you can't cancel until the NEXT september - F**Kers

I admit it is in the contract but they don't exactly draw you attention to it when you sign up. It may depend on your membership whether you have this type of contract or not.

OMG connor, that's worse than i realised. gits.

chunky - take your point about third trimester being an unlikely time to become an exercise freak!