Fitness Facepunches

[Spendy Stache]

I know there have been several threads and some great blog posts about cheap/free fitness, but in many case studies, I see folks post some sort of cost for a gym membership with a note that although there's a cost, it's totally worth it. Last year, I had a friend talk me into a really high-cost boutique gym membership (like...$400 a month for DH and me both). It totally worked! In a way that no other gym plan or exercise routine has worked for me. Paying that kind of money meant that I went every day, and it was similar to having a personal trainer building the workout plan.

This year, I thought I'd try it on my own at our free gym in our apartment complex, and big sarcastic surprise, I went three times and haven't been back. Even when I do go, the level of intensity is just not the same. I'm getting to an age where working out is no longer an optional vanity thing and more of a requirement for future health. So my question is this... at what point does a gym become face punch worthy? I have a hard time feeling like the massive expense we were paying is worth it, but anything cheaper has been a huge waste because we don't go.

[deek]

I'm a member at a $50 ish a month gym (family owned), $39 with a corporate discount (from a company that I no longer work for) shhh.....

It is worth it to me. I build up points for free recovery shakes, and get a bonus in points for going at least 12 times in one month. It comes with a few free classes which I have not taken advantage of. Having the luxury of using top notch equipment and having access to a turf area for kettlebells/yoga/plyo/row machine/medicine balls and more.. while not being crowded out of the gym is enough motivation in itself to go regularly. The people are great too. I could probably afford a $100 membership, but with what I have now, I can never see myself paying that. I guess it depends on what's available in your area.

[coynemoney]

Find a balance that works? If the free gym is demotivating, try something like Planet Fitness for $10 a month. If that doesn't do it for you, try the $30 local club. If that doesn't do it for you, try the $100 club with a pool and steam rooms.

I've been to many gyms in my life I don't see how anyone could justify a place that is worth $400 a month tho.

[mm1970]

I had a similar conversation at the gym one morning.  We belong to the YMCA, basically for the indoor pool.  Depends on time of year, but generally I try to go once/ week when it opens in the am.  And then when we can swing it, we take the kids. I used to swim 2x a week, but started running.

Anyway, I currently pay for *TWO* running coaches.  Sunday a running group with coach that does trail running.  Large group of women.  Tuesday, a personal trainer/ gym owner/ running coach that runs a track/ speed workout at the local community college.  She also runs three training run groups each year for specific races (a half marathon, a beginner 5k/10k, and that crazy all uphill half, which is how I met her).

Old guys at the gym.  "You need to pay someone to yell at you to run?"

Well, yes.  That and the coaches know how to help me get faster, avoid injury, stretch, and strengthen body parts, and make me show up.  Fact is, I love my bed.  Who wants to set their alarm at 5:10 am when it's 40F outside?  Not me.  But I pay $12 per workout.  And, I pay that whether I show up or not.  So, I show up.  It's absolutely, positively worth it to me.  PLUS, I'm a group exerciser.  I'm a cross between introvert and extrovert, but I do MUCH better exercising with people.  The trail running group is a great group and keeps me motivated.  The track group, well, there's an expert there telling me to run x far at my half marathon pace.  Which is 13:00 mile but she says "no, your half marathon pace is 11:00, now get moving."

[wenchsenior]

I have chronic pain issues (soft tissue pain, joint pain, chronic migraines, etc) and as I've gotten older I've found that a lot of exercise that I used to be able to handle causes very severe rebound pain episodes, especially anything that causes jarring or 'compression'.  Sometimes, even brisk walking can compress my hips and spine too much and set it off.  So I finally sucked it up and started paying very big bucks for access to nice swimming pools.  And it has made a HUGE difference for me. I've maintained regular exercise routines much more easily and my pain is consequently reduced.  This is a big item in my budget, but it is non-negotiable going forward.

[GuitarStv]

What specifically do you like better about the fancy gym that you don't get from the cheap one?

- Equipment?
- Organized classes?
- Camaraderie/Friends?
- Customized workout plan?

Once you figure out exactly what worked for you, you can figure out if it's possible to do the same for less money.  If you can't, then the money is well spent.  The odds are though, that you'll be able to.

[Spendy Stache]

We were members at a $60 a month gym, and paid for it without going for an embarrassing amount of time. $50-60 a month if you go 12 times a month isn't really face-punch worthy, but paying without going is probably more worth punches than paying $400 and going 20 times a month.

@ coynemoney, maybe you're right...we should try something mid-fancy. I just don't know how people find that balance.

[koshtra]

I dunno. I fixed a bar on the ceiling for pullups, and I have a set of dumbbells, and with that equipment I can do everything I want to do. But I've never understood the "going to the gym" thing. Such an expenditure of time!

But if it's the difference between doing the exercise and not doing the exercise, then it's worth every penny. If you don't exercise you're going to die ten years earlier, and feel crappy for the ten years before you do -- I don't know what price to put on avoiding that, but it's a lot higher than the price of the fanciest gym membership.

[DrumAllDay]

The two factors that seem to be at play are motivation for fitness and motivation for frugality. We all have different levels of each. I am still motivated working out on my own so joining a club or class is not necessary for me. I am fortunate that through my employer I have free access to a fully stocked gym. If I didnt have free access I would decide on either joining my local rec center for about $20/month or buying a bench and squat rack for my garage or basement and do my running outside year around. I try to keep my workout routine simple, effective, and cheap while maintaining a healthy balance of aerobic, anaerobic, and strength exercises. 

[Dragonswan]

If it's the only way you'll exercise go for it.  I need group exercise classes. I've tried to go it alone, but  I need the energy of the group to keep me pumped and the change in the routines to keep it interesting.  I'm single so getting to chat with others is a bonus.

[PoutineLover]

I've been wasting my money on a gym membership for a few months now. I keep meaning to go, but the longer I don't the harder it gets. It's 12 bucks a months, which isn't crazy, but I should just suck up the cancellation fee and get rid of it. I do swim a couple times a week, which costs 15 bucks a year, and do sports and dance so I am getting workouts in most days anyway. I do want to lift weights again, but realistically I'm so busy that I can't find the time. And one time drop ins are $3, so I have to go at least 4 times a month to make the membership worthwhile.

[Schaefer Light]

PLUS, I'm a group exerciser.  I'm a cross between introvert and extrovert, but I do MUCH better exercising with people.  The trail running group is a great group and keeps me motivated.

I think this is a key consideration.  Some people are much better at sticking to a fitness plan when they either have other people they work out with or trainers/coaches who hold them accountable.  I think it's really a matter of your personality type.  I do better working out alone because that allows me to work out when I have time in my schedule.  I would do worse if I had to try to align my schedule with anther person's.  And I generally like to work alone.

[ketchup]

It's all about figuring out what works for you.  I wasted $10/mo on a cheap gym for about a year.  I'd go only a couple times a month, even though it was within walking distance at the time.  I've since said to hell with that and bought my own weights about four years ago and have been working out at home much more consistently since.

[ElleFiji]

I exercise at home, but ever so often I need help rebalancing things, getting new ideas... And then I'm happy to pay for help getting back on track. Recently it has been really pricey Pilates/integrated movement classes once/week plus home workouts. Whatever works for your body and budget.

A lot of community centres have classes or gyms that you can join for a few months to get fit, and then choose where and how to maintain

[NoraLenderbee]

Nobody's saying it, so I will. I strongly believe in the value of exercise and if you need to go to a gym, it's a worthwhile expense.

But come on. $400 a month? Facepunch.

[big_slacker]

Nobody's saying it, so I will. I strongly believe in the value of exercise and if you need to go to a gym, it's a worthwhile expense.

But come on. $400 a month? Facepunch.

Was gonna say the same. I'm in favor of a spend if it's the only thing you've found that works well. But $400/month for a gym membership is OMFG are you kidding?? expensive. Like, I pay a nutritionist/trainer $300 every 6 months to do a custom diet for me including sport specific training vs non training days, home vs office days, grocery list, etc. And my gym is $50/month for my wife and I, including unlimited childcare, unlimited classes, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, pool, hot tub and sauna. That's $100/month. What exactly is this place doing for you that is so awesome?

[zygote]

I live in a HCOL area, and it already feels extravagant that I pay $1000/year for a gym membership that includes a fitness center and unlimited classes. $2400/year/person sounds face punch worthy to me. Are there really no other option between $2400 and free? What is the issue? Proximity? Equipment availability? Coaching? Figure out what the main factor is and focus on optimizing cost within that framework.

In my case, I only pay that much because of the proximity. It's a block away from my apartment. Other cheaper gyms are far enough away that I know I will be too lazy to go. The inertia of getting to the gym is my biggest hurdle, and it's worth it to me to pay to overcome that. Sounds like that's not your issue, since you don't go to the free gym where you live. Are there other exercise plans or class passes that cost less in your area?

[FireHiker]

I pay for facepunch-worthy yoga, but it is absolutely worth it to me. I do pay for unlimited annual, purchased for $1099 during the black friday promotion, as opposed to paying $119 monthly to shave off $329 per year. At $91/month it is worth it to me. I go to their boot camp class twice a week and yoga anywhere from 2-4 times per week, depending on the week. I keep track of what I attend and last year it was $8.14 per class because I went 135 times. It has made a world of difference in my mental health (I deal with anxiety and panic attacks) and physical health (my migraines have dramatically decreased since I found yoga). I used to have a gym membership of $16/month, and had it for years but rarely used it. I'm not sure that I'll keep paying for the yoga membership "forever", but I will keep it at least a couple more years until I feel pretty solid in my yoga practice and routine. I may consider just doing yoga on my own at home at that point, but I still find the instruction very helpful. I also can relate to mm1970 where I do a much better job of staying motivated if I'm exercising with other people.

[inline five]

Paying $5,000 a year for exercise is beyond words. Honestly I don't think you really belong on this web site.

Cut the BS. If the only thing that actually motivates you to exercise is not wasting money you should re-evaluate your motivation.

I saw a news clip on TV about MMM many years ago. This subject litterally came up. He had a bench press and some dumbbells in his backyard. He ran outside (40* is child's play).

I can see a $10-$20/month membership if it's close by and you use it multiple times a week, or live in an area of extreme temps.

$400? No words.

It's far better to eat healthy and clean than eat poorly and exercise studies have shown.

Reading the responses here I almost feel like an outcast. It is what 'normal' every day people do with their time and money? I just went on a five day business trip and packed my own food to save the per diem instead of spending money on overpriced food. The lines at Starbucks were insane.

[ginjaninja]

I think that the face punch is only necessary if you cannot afford to actually be spending that much per month at the gym.  If you are on your desired path to FI and you can afford it go for it.  Just understand what it is really costing you and make the decision for yourself.  If you have any debt then yes you deserve a face punch.  I personally think that is INSANE to be paying for 2 people to go to the gym, but if it is your main priority then make sure you are compensating for it in other areas of your spending.

[MrThatsDifferent]

About 5 years ago I did a $1000 for 9 weeks to transform your body with a trainer program. It worked to perfection and I didn’t regret the spend. The problem: when it ended I went back to my old ways. That is the face punch.

[GuitarStv]

Nobody's saying it, so I will. I strongly believe in the value of exercise and if you need to go to a gym, it's a worthwhile expense.

But come on. $400 a month? Facepunch.

Was gonna say the same. I'm in favor of a spend if it's the only thing you've found that works well. But $400/month for a gym membership is OMFG are you kidding?? expensive. Like, I pay a nutritionist/trainer $300 every 6 months to do a custom diet for me including sport specific training vs non training days, home vs office days, grocery list, etc. And my gym is $50/month for my wife and I, including unlimited childcare, unlimited classes, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, pool, hot tub and sauna. That's $100/month. What exactly is this place doing for you that is so awesome?

I kinda wrestle with this spending on a gym question personally.

I've spent an awful lot of money on gyms over the years.  Boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo . . . good quality instruction is often expensive, particularly if you're competitive.  While my current exercise plan is pretty modest with regards to expenses (my bike and some weights in the basement), I have reaped the benefit of the training done in those high priced gyms - even years after no longer going there.  I don't know if I'd have learned to push myself as hard, to program and modify a training routine based upon goals/achievements, or to have fallen into a habit of daily healthy activity.

So, it's kinda hard to take a hard line on gym cost when I think that doing so myself would mean that I'd never have been as fit or as healthy.

[mm1970]

Paying $5,000 a year for exercise is beyond words. Honestly I don't think you really belong on this web site.

Cut the BS. If the only thing that actually motivates you to exercise is not wasting money you should re-evaluate your motivation.

I saw a news clip on TV about MMM many years ago. This subject litterally came up. He had a bench press and some dumbbells in his backyard. He ran outside (40* is child's play).

I can see a $10-$20/month membership if it's close by and you use it multiple times a week, or live in an area of extreme temps.

$400? No words.

It's far better to eat healthy and clean than eat poorly and exercise studies have shown.

Reading the responses here I almost feel like an outcast. It is what 'normal' every day people do with their time and money? I just went on a five day business trip and packed my own food to save the per diem instead of spending money on overpriced food. The lines at Starbucks were insane.

AHHHH if MMM doesn't do it, it must be wrong!!

First, Mrs. MM had a membership to a fancy crossfit gym for awhile, remember.

What you are ignoring in your statement is the personality aspect of being a "lone exerciser" vs a "group exerciser".  There is very much a different, so no, everyone can NOT judge themselves by MMMs yardstick.

So $5000 for 2 people for exercise is too much.  What if they were FIRE?
What about $3000?
What about $5000 for 4? (which is about where we are when you add in swim lessons and sports fees and race fees).

Likewise - food.
How much is too much?
MMM spends about $7000-8000 a year on food for 3.  Too much? 
I mean, APowers spends $200 a month.  That's about $5000 a year less.
Heck The Prudent Homemaker spends about $200/month on food for a family of TEN.
So really, anything more than $20/month per person is ridiculously extravagant.

I'm a fan of personal experimentation.  Can you get by with a cheaper gym?  Try it.  Do you go?  Yes = great.  Try a cheaper gym than that.  Do you go?  Yes = great.  Buy some equipment and work out at home.  Do you do it?  No...oops, you found the sweet spot.  Also, location matters in there too, it's not just price, equipment, etc.

Would I spend that much for two?  No.  There are a couple of really nice clubs in town that my friends go to that are close to that amount.  They get their use out of them in the summer when they take the kids to the pool, then reduce their memberships in winter.  I don't join because the location and schedule don't work for me AND the Y pool is indoors (aka, can always use it) and fancy pants pools are outdoors, meaning - who the eff wants to be swimming outdoors at 5:30 am when it's 40F out?

And 40F is nothing in some areas of the country.  I know, I grew up there.  But I live in So Cal now, and I don't have winter clothing.  I throw on an extra jacket and a stretchy wide buff to cover my ears but you better believe it - WITHOUT the $12 and the expectation that I'm going to show up?  I'm not getting out of bed.

[EmFrugal]

I am a huge proponent of healthy living. Bring on the exercise and nutrition. As a trainer, I work with a variety of clients who are motivated in different ways. Some can exercise solo, some prefer a gym setting, some like to do it at home, and some need a group dynamic. But regardless, the ones who thrive know what they like and are intrinsically motivated to get their butts out of bed and do a workout. Because they come to the realization that their health and their life is too precious to waste.

The key is to figure out what works for you and make it a priority. No excuses. Add in some variety when you need it to keep things fresh. Did you know that if you exercise for five years consistently you are very unlikely to stop? Behavior Psychology.

Despite being an exercise enthusiast, I am also frugal and would never pay for one of those boutique-y monthly memberships that is astronomical. But I do pay for exercise because that is how I stay motivated. I know that about myself and will never let some hard core MMM reader make me feel shamed for it.

Here is my middle ground: I go to a standard gym that has group fitness classes, a nice pool, a great weight/cardio section, and plenty of additional implements like balance trainers, ropes, medicine balls, etc. It's close to my house and I look forward to it each day. When I need to spice it up a bit, or need some therapy, I pay a la carte for a yoga studio class. I also ask for yoga as gifts. But I don't go to yoga all the time. I go 1-2x per month on average per year. Most of that comes from birthday, mother's day, Christmas gift $$.

My advice, as others have suggested, is find a middle ground that works for you... meaning you will actually show up. Then if you need it, and can afford it without eating up your savings, treat yourself to a fun class of your choosing here and there. And if you need serious guidance and believe it will launch your fitness life, pay for a trainer to give you customized instruction for a few weeks to a few months (depending on what you can swing financially). Then you'll have the skills to take with you for a lifetime. Or better yet, get certified as a trainer and learn those skills on your own, then make $$ training others.

Also a little know fact, you can purchase gym memberships through Costco that work out to significantly less. Pre-pay for two years and you will get an awesome deal.

[Hula Hoop]

I agree that paying something for working out is motivating but it doesn't have to be $400/month.  I do Pilates classes twice a week and pay Euro 50 a month.  It works out to around 6 euros a class and I find that that's enough to motivate me and I very seldom miss a class and if I do I make it up later in the week.  It helps that I'm friends with the other people in the class, I love the teacher and it's held at a convenient time and location very close to my work. 

Doing a class at a set time also helps at work because "I've got to go to my pilates class" signals to my boss that this is a scheduled, paid for thing that I have to go to at a certain time.  Saying "I need to go to the gym" would not work as well as I could always go later/after the meeting/after the conference call etc.

[Spendy Stache]

Paying $5,000 a year for exercise is beyond words. Honestly I don't think you really belong on this web site.

I appreciate all of the thoughtful answers. Obviously, I stopped going to this gym and paying this much, and was really asking about how people find a good balance between cost and motivation...so saying that I don't belong on this site seems so much meaner than a facepunch. Because really, isn't MMM about finding a good equilibrium between efficiency and cost? Isn't that all about balance? Maybe I shouldn't be so sensitive.

I agree with the majority of posts here that I should probably explore some midrange gyms and see what works, and it is really helpful to hear about what other members here value in terms of cost, amenities, and usefulness. Thank you all for that!

[Barbaebigode]

I've been to different gyms, fancy and not, and currently I workout at home. The best results came when I started eating better, not that I had a terrible diet before.

My point is, the importance of gyms/methods is overstated for the normal non athlete person that just want good results. Just working out regularly any workout and eating well will take you a long way. When I noticed that, fancy gyms became a bit of a scam in my eyes.

[mbl]

I have chronic pain issues (soft tissue pain, joint pain, chronic migraines, etc) and as I've gotten older I've found that a lot of exercise that I used to be able to handle causes very severe rebound pain episodes, especially anything that causes jarring or 'compression'.  Sometimes, even brisk walking can compress my hips and spine too much and set it off.  So I finally sucked it up and started paying very big bucks for access to nice swimming pools.  And it has made a HUGE difference for me. I've maintained regular exercise routines much more easily and my pain is consequently reduced.  This is a big item in my budget, but it is non-negotiable going forward.

So glad for you that the swimming is working out.
I experienced a big improvement after switching from high impact exercise to swimming.

That being said, for anyone here who swims or is interested in adding swimming you might consider investigating the local high schools.
I swim at a high school located near to where I work in Rochester.

*****WARNING******  :)   :)     They are open each morning at 6:00am-7:30am for lap swimming.
$105 for a 30 swim pass.
I don't mind getting up at 4:30am as I'm a very earlier riser anyway.
I live out in the country so the commute is about 35 minutes.
I love swimming first thing and being all set for the day.

I realize that this doesn't work for everyone but the schools often have community swim programs and it's certainly worth investigating.

[seemsright]

I have done the fancy gym, I had done the not so fancy gym. The dojo ( I have a Black Belt) What I am doing now is simplifying my life because I want to travel when we FIRE. I want to travel with a yoga mat, a pair of walking shoes and a jump rope. So I am trying to learn how to do that now. I am working on learning yoga and I rather walk than most things.

I just ditched my gym at $12 a month. I just was not going as lifting weights makes all of my joints hurt due to 15 years of Karate. I am working on getting my diet to a point where a hour of yoga and a walk after dinner will be enough to have me get to my fitness goals.

I think knowing what you want and reverse engineering it to get there is a way to think about it.

[SachaFiscal]

We pay $90 a month for our fancy gym. I like going to the classes and it has a nice weight area with a running track. They provide towels and the place is always really clean and smells nice. I also pay $35 a week for a Pilates class that I’ve been doing for many years. I know it’s totally crazy expensive but it really helps me stay in shape because it provides motivation (not going is wasting quite a bit of money). For now we can afford it but if we ever need to cut back, these expenses will probably be the first to go.

[NoraLenderbee]

Spendy, my apologies. I was so stunned by the $400 figure that I overlooked the fact that you had already stopped paying it.
Most midrange (and some cheaper) gyms offer classes. If you are motivated by individual attention, you can generally hire a personal trainer for a couple of sessions per week.

[honeybbq]

I'm a fan of the theory that any *real* exercise cost will far outweigh any health care costs in the future.

So, in that regards, if $400/mo is what keeps you healthy and fit, in most financial senses I believe it would be worth it.

However, I do think $400/mo is pretty ridiculous and you could do better.

 Our YMCA is $75/month. I use it for the pool and for circuit training and child care. Running I do outside. In the summer I mostly swim in the lake so I always feel like I'm wasting my $$ but I keep my membership year round. I do believe it is for a good cause and the Y is a good organization that cares about community.
 
I know LA fitness and those types of places are way cheaper but I despise the crowd at those places (at least in my area).

[nosythecat]

I am a serial gym joiner but I never go.  I've bought home equipment and never used it, then sell it.  Now I have a Planet Fitness membership for $22 a month.  It's the cheapest one so far.

I'm on board with most all MMM principles, I watch my debt go down, my expenses go down, my net worth go up, but my overall health in the way of fitness I give myself a huge facepunch.  Someday <sigh>.

[Altons Bobs]

If it's not affecting you financially, I'd say go for it. For me personally, I would not pay that kind of money to go to a gym and have to share other people's germs. I have workout equipment at home, quite a few of them, and also weights/kettlebells and bands and bench and everything I need. I workout at home, but dh needs to go to a gym, so he goes to a rec center close by, less than $150/year. We're cheap people.

[big_slacker]

Nobody's saying it, so I will. I strongly believe in the value of exercise and if you need to go to a gym, it's a worthwhile expense.

But come on. $400 a month? Facepunch.

Was gonna say the same. I'm in favor of a spend if it's the only thing you've found that works well. But $400/month for a gym membership is OMFG are you kidding?? expensive. Like, I pay a nutritionist/trainer $300 every 6 months to do a custom diet for me including sport specific training vs non training days, home vs office days, grocery list, etc. And my gym is $50/month for my wife and I, including unlimited childcare, unlimited classes, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, pool, hot tub and sauna. That's $100/month. What exactly is this place doing for you that is so awesome?

I kinda wrestle with this spending on a gym question personally.

I've spent an awful lot of money on gyms over the years.  Boxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo . . . good quality instruction is often expensive, particularly if you're competitive.  While my current exercise plan is pretty modest with regards to expenses (my bike and some weights in the basement), I have reaped the benefit of the training done in those high priced gyms - even years after no longer going there.  I don't know if I'd have learned to push myself as hard, to program and modify a training routine based upon goals/achievements, or to have fallen into a habit of daily healthy activity.

So, it's kinda hard to take a hard line on gym cost when I think that doing so myself would mean that I'd never have been as fit or as healthy.

Here as well. Martial arts were my sports growing up (full contact karate to date myself, wrestling then later arnis, japanese JJ, BJJ, MT). I still have lots of contacts in the BJJ/MMA world and I was shocked at how much $$ schools generally cost now. But the benefits are HUGE in discipline, confidence, conflict avoidance (very few people want to streetfight once they fight as a hobby, lol!) and overall health. So yeah, I can see the justification for it, just like I can for expensive mountain bikes. But I think at that point you're well beyond the 'I'm really out of shape and don't know what to do' stage and are making that spend mindfully.

[Slow2FIRE]

Do what works best for you based on your financial situation and what can motivate you.

I am personally fine motivating myself to workout at home with my own gym equipment.  5 days a week.
My spouse isn't.  She needs a gym membership and "classes".  We can afford this, easily.

I enjoy martial arts.  I have several years "under my belt", but I just am not able to meaningfully motivate myself to get a decent martial arts workout at home.  I therefore pay $150/month to go to martial arts classes 5 days a week and am able to put out near 100% effort when in class.  We can afford this easily as well.

I also have my own gym equipment because I can be more motivated about a 45 second walk to get to my gym vs driving or biking 5-15 minutes to get to a gym (and it would be 100% driving from about April until October in Phoenix for me).  This works for me.

On the other hand, if you can't afford  $400 monthly gym membership, as some other people intimated - try to figure out what you love best about the gym and look for lower cost options that offer the same.

[big_owl]

Eh, I'd pay $5k/yr for a gym if that was my only choice.  Fitness is really important to me.  And my healthcare max out of pocket is just about $5k...so the gym seems like good enough insurance as far as I'm concerned.  But I like to lift weights and do things that aren't easily done at home.  Though at $5k/yr I could buy a lot of shit...the problem is the space to house it all. 

[DreamFIRE]

I have access to a free gym where I work, but when my workday is over, I don't feel like sticking around at work longer just to use the gym, so I come home and use my own gym.   It's equipped well enough, has HDTV and stereo, and it's convenient

[SimpleCycle]

Going to the gym is not going to save you on lifetime health care costs.  You'll live longer, that's for sure, but you won't save money because you'll consume health care in those extra years alive.  Everything we know about prevention indicates it is cost neutral or cost increasing.

But that said, spending on anything is a matter of priorities.  Many people here are prioritizing FIRE, but if you want to keep your fancy gym or your house cleaner or your lawn service, go for it.  It's not about spending the least amount possible, it's about getting the most out of what you do spend.

[Bicycle_B]

Paying $5,000 a year for exercise is beyond words. Honestly I don't think you really belong on this web site.

I appreciate all of the thoughtful answers. Obviously, I stopped going to this gym and paying this much, and was really asking about how people find a good balance between cost and motivation...so saying that I don't belong on this site seems so much meaner than a facepunch. Because really, isn't MMM about finding a good equilibrium between efficiency and cost? Isn't that all about balance? Maybe I shouldn't be so sensitive.

I agree with the majority of posts here that I should probably explore some midrange gyms and see what works, and it is really helpful to hear about what other members here value in terms of cost, amenities, and usefulness. Thank you all for that!

Re cost, amenities - I bet with practice, you can get the physical amenities for $30 per month or less.  For you the usefulness came when you actually used them.  So maybe focus on that.  Thoughts on that line:

1. Get a workout partner.  Or several.
2. Join Strength and Fitness thread, post weekly or monthly for accountability.
3. Learn body weight workouts, get a workout partner, work out at the park for free.
4. Offer to partner with someone who has room for a weight rack.  You're responsible to show up (now you have an appointment!) and motivate them at the stated time; they pay for the space & weights in exchange for your "free motivation" that saves them the motivational cost of a trainer.

I got back off the couch last year following 3 years of post-injury loafing.  What got me up to regular workouts (running in my case - it's my favorite) was joining a track club.  It was ad hoc (a tiny community based startup, if you will) and my presence was noticed, thus I went. 

[ReadySetMillionaire]

But that said, spending on anything is a matter of priorities.  Many people here are prioritizing FIRE, but if you want to keep your fancy gym or your house cleaner or your lawn service, go for it.  It's not about spending the least amount possible, it's about getting the most out of what you do spend.

This is something that needs to be said over and over and over again on this forum.

My biggest issue with going to the gym was convenience--get dressed, drive, put stuff in locker, work out, get stuff, drive home, shower, etc.  It took 1.5 hours for a 45 minute workout.

The easiest way to remove that obstacle was to buy home equipment, which my wife and I have done. We bought an elliptical for about $2,300 and dumbbells for about $300. The elliptical purchase may get frowned upon, but my wife has bad hips and I have a surgically repaired knee, so we wanted a machine that would be good for our bodies.

We still take plenty of walks, and my wife does plenty of Yoga workouts via YouTube, but having everything at home is immensely convenient.  Again, it's about priorities.

Again, it's about priorities.

[Pigeon]

It's interesting what motivates people.  I have never been much of  an exerciser.  I'm inherently kind of a slug.

Recently, the HMO that I belong to opened a number of small gyms in my area, one of which is very close and convenient for me.  These gyms are completely free for everyone.  You need to register to join, but you don't even have to be a member of the HMO.  They are clean, well maintained and have good equipment.  They aren't terribly fancy, but have lockers and showers.

Everybody in my family signed up.  For the last several months I've gotten up at 4:30 to go work out for an hour before going to work.  I love it.  The fact that I'm NOT paying for it feels like it is such a luxury and I want to take advantage of the free life-changing goodness that this company is providing.

[jinga nation]

not a self-inflicted facepunch, but all our friends give us plenty (they don't exercise, not even run or walk) for this:

We pay $82/month for the YMCA. We use the cardio/fitness area, crossfit and ninja frame, two pools, a splash pad for kids, spin, yoga, aerobics, body pump. Kids cost is $2/each/month, can place them in the kid care area for 2 hours daily, they get to do art/crafts or play indoor games.

We don't use racquetball and basketball areas (for now). That may change when kids start basketball for summer leagues, probably 2019 or 2020.

Also, get discounted pricing to YMC classes for gymnastics, swimming (kids and adult), youth sport leagues. Discounted after-school care for public school kid as it's run by the Y.

Me: I use the facepunches as motivation.

[Bicycle_B]

It's interesting what motivates people.  I have never been much of  an exerciser.  I'm inherently kind of a slug.

Recently, the HMO that I belong to opened a number of small gyms in my area, one of which is very close and convenient for me.  These gyms are completely free for everyone. You need to register to join, but you don't even have to be a member of the HMO.  They are clean, well maintained and have good equipment.  They aren't terribly fancy, but have lockers and showers.

Everybody in my family signed up.  For the last several months I've gotten up at 4:30 to go work out for an hour before going to work.  I love it.  The fact that I'm NOT paying for it feels like it is such a luxury and I want to take advantage of the free life-changing goodness that this company is providing.

Whaaaat?? 

What eldritch genius HMO is this?

@Pigeon, hoping you fly back for a quick word with us... 

:)

[nwhiker]

It would seem to that there has to be some middle ground. It sounds like you just need some motivation to actually go to the workout and actually work hard. My gym costs $30/month and I have an "assigned" trainer. So every month they do a reprograming session where they try and show you some different workouts and see where you are at compared to your goals. So every month they are looking at weight, BMI, body measurements, and strength increase. At the end there is always the sales pitch that he could be my personal trainer which I always politely decline and then schedule the next months meeting. So if that is what you need try and find a gym that is going to make you accountable to your goals and just practice using your "no" muscle on the personal training pitch.

[big_owl]

Going to the gym is not going to save you on lifetime health care costs.  You'll live longer, that's for sure, but you won't save money because you'll consume health care in those extra years alive.  Everything we know about prevention indicates it is cost neutral or cost increasing.

I'd say it's a really individual experience.  Maybe 60 years down the road I'll spend more on healthcare because my active lifestyle helped me live longer (heaven forbid :/), I don't know, and I can almost guarantee that healthcare as we know it in the US will look rather different in 60 years than it does now so that calculus rings hollow with me.  But in the near term, I have a number of physical problems and working out in the gym helps me avoid physical therapy (where a single visit OOP is as much as 4mo worth of gym membership no joke, at least til I reach my OOP max for my HSA plan).  So in my case, several thousand dollars per year for a gym membership would be worth it to avoid PT, and in general looking like an IFBB contender (well...less and less the older I get lol).  But luckily my local gym is only $19/mo so its a moot point haha :) 

[SimpleCycle]

Going to the gym is not going to save you on lifetime health care costs.  You'll live longer, that's for sure, but you won't save money because you'll consume health care in those extra years alive.  Everything we know about prevention indicates it is cost neutral or cost increasing.

Can you cite a source for this, because my personal experience of working in healthcare with seniors could not be more different than what you are claiming.

There’s plenty of evidence that in the short term people who are active have lower healthcare costs than people who are inactive, but that is different from that being true over a lifetime.  They’re also generally observational studies, which means they show an association but not causality.

This article shows that functional health status at 70 doesn’t make a difference in lifetime healthcare costs over the rest of their lifetime.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t exercise to improve your health and live longer, just that the healthcare cost savings argument is largely a myth.  Lots of years in good health cost as much as fewer years in poor health.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa020614

There are no good studies of physical activity on lifetime healthcare expenditures, but our experience with decreasing smoking rates is similar.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199710093371506

Finally, an overview of why prevention generally doesn’t save money.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/upshot/preventive-health-care-costs.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

[Bendigirl]

Hmmm, simplecycle I too have issues with your blanket statement.  Would love to see the studies on that.

I go to a gym, $44 month, includes my beloved yoga classes.  At almost 61 I love weight training also! I need my gym, gets me focused (goodness knows there are too many distractions at home) and I have met many dear friends.
Food is super important.  Exercise will not negate the evils of a bad diet.

There is a class at this gym that focuses on older women (I do not put myself in this category) and I see the benefits of exercise for these ladies.  There are many in their eighties going strong.  I saw my dad decline as soon as he stopped his swimming and golfing.  Funny, he was quite weak in the legs before he had a massive stroke.  When he was in rehab for the stroke they worked him hard and he ended up walking better than before the stroke!  Sadly, when he returned to his home, he stopped exercising and declined quickly.  Use it or lose it!

[Lan Mandragoran]

Read Charles polinquin group website + put Home gym in garage complete with whiteboards and speakers+ play loud music cuz it’s your house+ record prs on whiteboards = profit

[SwitchActiveDWG]

Going to the gym is not going to save you on lifetime health care costs.  You'll live longer, that's for sure, but you won't save money because you'll consume health care in those extra years alive.  Everything we know about prevention indicates it is cost neutral or cost increasing.

Can you cite a source for this, because my personal experience of working in healthcare with seniors could not be more different than what you are claiming.

There’s plenty of evidence that in the short term people who are active have lower healthcare costs than people who are inactive, but that is different from that being true over a lifetime.  They’re also generally observational studies, which means they show an association but not causality.

This article shows that functional health status at 70 doesn’t make a difference in lifetime healthcare costs over the rest of their lifetime.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t exercise to improve your health and live longer, just that the healthcare cost savings argument is largely a myth.  Lots of years in good health cost as much as fewer years in poor health.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa020614

There are no good studies of physical activity on lifetime healthcare expenditures, but our experience with decreasing smoking rates is similar.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm199710093371506

Finally, an overview of why prevention generally doesn’t save money.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/01/29/upshot/preventive-health-care-costs.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

I’d think back loading health care cost to later in life (presumably due to increased lifespan) would be preferred financially, despite an approximately equivalent overall cost.