Should I cancel my gym membership?

[MsGizmo]

I'm having a hard time with this when I really shouldn't be....

I pay about $40 a month for my gym membership. In the past few months, I've been maybe once or twice a month. One of the reasons I go so infrequently is because it's out of my way. (About six miles from home, place of employment is two miles in the other direction).

I've been taking swim classes lately (never had formal instruction as a kid) and I would like to start swimming to work out. I just don't like running. Once swim class ends, I'd hope to transfer swim class day with gym swim day. Other things about the gym I like: the classes and the ability to do some strength training.

Admittedly, I go through spurts with the gym. Sometimes I use it a lot, often I don't. For what it's worth, last fall when I was single I went 3-4 times a week.

Another consideration: I want to lose about 15 pounds and like to be able to work out indoors on bad weather days.

I need some advice. Ditch it or keep it?

[forummm]

If you are actually going to use it to swim, then keep it. If you aren't then don't. Make a commitment and follow through with it.

For what it's worth, exercise (in whatever form--even walking) is good. The way to lose weight is to eat less like an American. If you change your diet to eat no sugar or added sugar, and minimize (or even eliminate) processed carbohydrates, that alone should help your weight drop off even without activity. Carbohydrates in vegetables are fine. Fat is also fine (and sustaining)--it helps you not feel as hungry.

[MsGizmo]

Thanks for your reply! I need to get better control of my diet. This week alone I had cookies, a cupcake, and lots of sugar packets in my coffee. *sigh* Eating like an American is one of the reasons why I feel like I need the gym. If I would consistently walk to work/ bike to work and cut out crap food, I'd ditch it in a heartbeat.

[aschmidt2930]

Can you find a closer gym?  Unless you're in a rural location, there's got to be something closer than that. If you cannot, or this doesn't help you go more often, then cancel it.  $20/workout is insane.

[MsGizmo]

Unfortunately, the closer gyms are more expensive and don't have pool. I live in a big city and go to a huge national gym. There is a closer location downtown (about half a mile from work) but downtown traffic is terrrrible and don't want to fight it to get to the gym. Plus, that particular location doesn't have a pool. A friend told me they are remodeling and may have one in the fall though.

[MsGizmo]

Alrighty, instead of spending even more of my Saturday on the net, still in Pjs, and drinking coffee, I'm actually gonna head to the gym now. Cost-per-use this month is ridiculous. I've been 0 times. Catch ya'll later.

[forummm]

Alrighty, instead of spending even more of my Saturday on the net, still in Pjs, and drinking coffee, I'm actually gonna head to the gym now. Cost-per-use this month is ridiculous. I've been 0 times. Catch ya'll later.

Good call! Nice going!

[StacheInAFlash]

Unfortunately, the closer gyms are more expensive and don't have pool. I live in a big city and go to a huge national gym.

Be sure to look into any colleges in the area, since you're in a big city with perhaps several nearby. Most colleges have pools, and many (especially public colleges) have public lap swim times where you can pay a nominal fee ($2-$5) per visit. If the only thing you want to use the gym for is the pool, this might be a more economical option! Also check out the high schools...pools are harder to find, and public lap time even more so, but check it out.

[forummm]

Sometimes the YMCA will let you pay $2-$5 per visit for pool use too.

[Megma]

Sometimes the YMCA will let you pay $2-$5 per visit for pool use too.

I was gonna suggest this, if you're not going much, check the day pass cost. Usually at gyms it's a max of $8, which if you only go twice a month is still a big savings.

For me, the big problem is you are not using it. Can you suspend your membership until swim class ends? Don't pay for it as an aspirational thing, clearly it doesn't work for you. I pay 44/month for my membership to a gym, so I'm not against the gym on principle but either go 2 times this week and every week following or cancel it.

If you need help with eating, try my fitness pal to track your eating. They also have healthy recipes. Good luck!

[Gimesalot]

Have you looked at your city's recreation department?  Mine has several facilities with indoor lap pools, outdoor wade pools, and gym equipment.  Many also have free bootcamp, dance, and other athletic classes.  ALL use is free with a city ID.  Best of all, it's ALWAYS empty.

[Bob W]

I can't tell you to cancel or not but you should check out Marks Daily Apple for advice on exercise and eating to get those 15 pounds off.   

[oinkette]

If you don't use it then you should cancel it. I will say this though, it takes a while to get into the habit of it.  Try going everyday (one day off a week) for 3 weeks and you'll find it much easier to go each day because it's just part of your natural routine.

 As others have said, the best way to rid yourself of the 15 lbs is via diet. I go to the gym religiously 6 days a weeks so, financially it works out for me. I'd give up a lot before I got rid of it, because I want to look good naked ;) That's one area where the gym actually does help.

[killingxspree]

if you only use the elliptical or row machine or a particular piece of equipment maybe you should just purchase it. we have a treadmill, weight set, bench power cage and pull up bar. don't regret it in the least! got most of it secondhand too

[cerebus]

Thanks for your reply! I need to get better control of my diet. This week alone I had cookies, a cupcake, and lots of sugar packets in my coffee. *sigh* Eating like an American is one of the reasons why I feel like I need the gym. If I would consistently walk to work/ bike to work and cut out crap food, I'd ditch it in a heartbeat.

I'd recommend the book that MMM also recommended: http://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-An-Eaters-Manual/dp/014311638X

As for the gym, it's all about utility. If you can use it enough to justify it, keep it. If not, it's an albatross and it's sucking up your wallet and making you feel constantly anxious and guilty. Take control over your fitness and find an alternative.

[MsGizmo]

Thanks for the book recommendation. I just logged in to the library website to put a hold on it. Can't wait to read it!

[cashstasherat23]

There is a closer location downtown (about half a mile from work) but downtown traffic is terrrrible and don't want to fight it to get to the gym

A half mile from work? That is about a 5 minute walk-why can't you do that, and save yourself time/gas?

[TheFrugalFox]

Might be looking at getting a workout in a different manner. My wife enjoys doing the Jessica Smith workouts on youtube - at least you can work out at home in your own time. I play tennis a couple of times a week, but if I miss a session I'll walk to the shops or do a bit of gardening.

[FranzJoseph]

Spend $40 on P90X (you can find them for cheap on Craigslist) - the third installment requires no equipment (all body weight exercises) until you get into the advanced sections and is only 30 minutes per workout.  Do that every day (along with healthier eating) and you're set.

[mm1970]

So, it really depends on your lifestyle and preferences. 

I see someone recommended P90X3.  I love the Beachbody workouts, and the 30 minute ones are great.

But.  (you knew there was going to be one, right?)

I am a social animal when it comes to exercise.  The thing I like about DVDs is that is has the "feel" of a class, and it forces me to pay attention and work out - compared to when I'm just doing a weight workout at home by myself, I just can't wait until it's over and I get lazy.

I would MUCH prefer to work out in a group, and I LOVE the gym.  (I have 2 memberships it's that bad!)  I added the YMCA membership after my second triathlon. I  learned to swim in my 40's and really enjoy it now.  And it's good for my joints.  My prior gym had a pool, but only 2 lanes and 1/2 a length.  It got hard to count laps when you are up to 50-60.  I swim 30 laps in a standard 25-yd pool now.

THAT'S why I keep my Y membership (and we also take the boys).  Yes, I could bike to work more, etc. etc. but I like to SWIM.  And I'm going to fess up - during cold/flu season, I'm a bit of a germophobe, and sometimes in January I'm lucky to go 2x the whole month (but in September it's more like 4x a week).

I get my group fitness in the pool too - same 7 people every time I go, we all have our favorite lanes.  My lane buddy is David.  Single guy in his 50's.  I'm faster than he is, but he's been speeding up!

[MsGizmo]

There is a closer location downtown (about half a mile from work) but downtown traffic is terrrrible and don't want to fight it to get to the gym

A half mile from work? That is about a 5 minute walk-why can't you do that, and save yourself time/gas?

I could totally walk it and if that gym gets a pool when its renovation is complete, I would work out there more often.

[cerebus]

There is a closer location downtown (about half a mile from work) but downtown traffic is terrrrible and don't want to fight it to get to the gym

A half mile from work? That is about a 5 minute walk-why can't you do that, and save yourself time/gas?

I could totally walk it and if that gym gets a pool when its renovation is complete, I would work out there more often.

Or bike it along with the bike work commute you're undoubtedly already doing. ;)


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[Cpa Cat]

Have you looked at your city's recreation department?  Mine has several facilities with indoor lap pools, outdoor wade pools, and gym equipment.  Many also have free bootcamp, dance, and other athletic classes.  ALL use is free with a city ID.  Best of all, it's ALWAYS empty.

+1

There are some really great rec services in my city. I would never join a gym after experience what's on offer direct from the city. Lots of different locations, couple of pools. You have to pay for classes, but they are cheap and high quality.

[patrickza]

Keep it, but find a way to motivate yourself to go. I pay about the same, and I like to think that if I go once a month it costs me $40 a visit, but if I go 20 times a month it's only $2 a visit. And if I shower there, then I save water and electricity at home too.

That said, my gym is walking distance away, I think yours is pretty far.

[latetotheparty1977]

Screw the gym! Do you have a public pool nearby? Our season pass is $60. I also got T25 (owned by Beachbody) on eBay for about $60 (it's double that price new), which I started using over the winter and will resume again this winter. It's only 25 minutes and will kick your ass. I went from a size 6/8 post-partum to size 2 in a couple of months.

[mm1970]

Have you looked at your city's recreation department?  Mine has several facilities with indoor lap pools, outdoor wade pools, and gym equipment.  Many also have free bootcamp, dance, and other athletic classes.  ALL use is free with a city ID.  Best of all, it's ALWAYS empty.

+1

There are some really great rec services in my city. I would never join a gym after experience what's on offer direct from the city. Lots of different locations, couple of pools. You have to pay for classes, but they are cheap and high quality.

This is pretty sweet - I did that when I lived in Arlington VA.

Our city has pools and such with a card - but they aren't free.  They are still several dollars per swim.  And the hours of the swim aren't particularly convenient - not every day, not available at certain times in the morning, also it's only an outdoor pool.

[RFAAOATB]

My wife and I drive 10 miles a day to the gym almost every morning before work and drive ten miles back to work that's 2 miles from my house.  So yeah, Take your pre workout and get your AM PT in before work like the rest of us on swole patrol.  Counting calories the past few weeks has been what was finally able to jump start my weight loss.

Of course the gym I go to is free, the downtown one next to work was charging $125 a month.  When I was a member I would run to the gym as a warm up and lift , my wife would drive with my change of clothes so I could get showered and dressed and walk to work.  If you could figure out a personal hygiene/clothing plan you could run to the downtown gym as a warm up as well.

[MsGizmo]

My wife and I drive 10 miles a day to the gym almost every morning before work and drive ten miles back to work that's 2 miles from my house.  So yeah, Take your pre workout and get your AM PT in before work like the rest of us on swole patrol.  Counting calories the past few weeks has been what was finally able to jump start my weight loss.

Of course the gym I go to is free, the downtown one next to work was charging $125 a month.  When I was a member I would run to the gym as a warm up and lift , my wife would drive with my change of clothes so I could get showered and dressed and walk to work.  If you could figure out a personal hygiene/clothing plan you could run to the downtown gym as a warm up as well.

"swole patrol." love it!!

Screw the gym! Do you have a public pool nearby? Our season pass is $60. I also got T25 (owned by Beachbody) on eBay for about $60 (it's double that price new), which I started using over the winter and will resume again this winter. It's only 25 minutes and will kick your ass. I went from a size 6/8 post-partum to size 2 in a couple of months.

Those results are amazing!! Keep it up.

I need to look into if my city has a rec center. if it does, that would be awesome...