Need advice on picking a Gym

[Solomon]

Ok so I cancled my gym membership and have paid the price (I got a beer belly now and put on 20ibs in the last year ) Now I wanna pick a gym with fall/winter coming up, I've narrowed it down too three pics

Gym A

$17 a month after a $76 sign up fee and intial fee
10-15 mintues from my house
Very basic (free weights and treadmills etc)

Gym B

$20-$30 after my health insurance kicks in
15-20 mintues from my house
Super value--has bball courts, sauna, pool etc etc

Gym C
$35-$45
10-20 mintue drive from my house
Uber value--one of the premier Gym's in america has everything you want and more

right now I'm leaning towards "A" with winter and snow coming up I ain't trying to drive around

thoughts?

 

[The Message Boy]

I would say it depends on what your exercise program is. You listed that the third option is 15-20 minutes away and option A is 10-15 minutes away, so are we talking about five minutes?

Option B sounds like it might have everything you need as an overall comprehensive gym. Option C sounds like one of those major franchises with all sorts of machines and cardio equipment that you ultimately never use.

 

[Lion]

In the UK I am currently with a fairly basic gym, full member paying £25 per month. It has all the weights (why I go there) and a machine-weights and bikes/treadmill section too.

There is another gym I sometimes go to when they have free passes.
Membership costs £60 per month - it has everything, swimming pool, sauna and steam room, free towels, clean and clinical atmosphere. Like a luxury hotel ... except the selection of free weights is seriously limited.

 

[Kerpal]

Best thing to do would be to buy your own equipment if possible. You can do just about anything you need to with a rack, a bar and weight plates. I wish I could buy my own equipment and train at home.

If that's not an option I'd go with A. It's cheaper and closer. The longer you have to drive, the higher the chances you start making excuses to skip training that day. I know this from experience.

 

[Solomon]

Best thing to do would be to buy your own equipment if possible. You can do just about anything you need to with a rack, a bar and weight plates. I wish I could buy my own equipment and train at home.

If that's not an option I'd go with A. It's cheaper and closer. The longer you have to drive, the higher the chances you start making excuses to skip training that day. I know this from experience.

I rather pay, personally for me, It serves as motivation. I have some dumbbells at home and I haven't used them in years LOL

when I use to work out religiously I made it a habitit to go to the gym where actually it was the highlight of my day, that's all I'm trying to get back too

Solo

 

[Redsand426]

Get a full set of dumbbells, a pull up bar, and p90x. Follow the nutrition to a tee and do the best with the exercises (extremely difficult for beginners). That's my advice.

 

[Quiksilver]

Things to look for in a gym:

- Multiple power racks = good
- Full set of DBs up to 100lbs = good
- No pop music playing = good
- treadmills/cardio equipment = bad
- non-invasive staff = good

the biggest thing is how close you are to it. On those cold rainy days, no one wants to go on a trek just to get to the gym. Pay a premium for being closer.

That's all that really matters, the rest is up to you.

 

[Throttle]

Things to look for in a gym:

- Multiple power racks = good
- Full set of DBs up to 100lbs = good
- No pop music playing = good
- treadmills/cardio equipment = bad
- non-invasive staff = good

the biggest thing is how close you are to it. On those cold rainy days, no one wants to go on a trek just to get to the gym. Pay a premium for being closer.

all good advice but this last one is key, unless you have higher than typical motivation. if you can find one close enough, you can walk/bike/jog to and from as part of your warm up/cool down on nice days and save gas in the process.

one more thought: if you have any way to access a college or university gym (including a community college) look into it. worst thing that could happen is you find out it's as expensive for non-students as a comparable private gym.

 

[blinkwatt101]

Dude choose a gym you feel at 'home' in. Find one that keeps you motivated. Regardless of distance & price. Don't choose a gym cause it's close...don't choose one cause it has hot chicks. Last thing in the world you want is to slack off when you should be pushing your body to the limit everyday. Remember your gym etiquette and work ethic in there lets everyone know a lot about you.

You can be one of these in the gym...

-weird creepy guy in the plastic garbage bag that never loses weight
-old Asian that sits around and talks to other people never touching a weight
-fat douche who has 'big biceps' only to look like a fool when he takes off his shirt
-on your way to achieve a statuesque physique,pushing your mental and physical limit everyday knowing that every rep is a step closer to achieve a body you can be proud of,while teaching you discipline and heart at the same time.

You choose.

 

[Teflon_Mcgee]

For me, the three things I look at:

1. Distance. This matters alot. I don't have time to add an extra 30-40 minutes to my workout for the commute. Like Throttle said, if it's close enough to run to then even better.

2. Multiple power racks. No explination needed.

3. Enough free weight and enough space that my workouts won't be impeded during rush hours.

 

[Solomon]

Update

Things to look for in a gym:

- Multiple power racks = good
- Full set of DBs up to 100lbs = good
- No pop music playing = good
- treadmills/cardio equipment = bad
- non-invasive staff = good

the biggest thing is how close you are to it. On those cold rainy days, no one wants to go on a trek just to get to the gym. Pay a premium for being closer.

That's all that really matters, the rest is up to you.

Actually Cardio equipment is what I'm looking for

I got muscle just looking to drop 20-30 so people can see damn it LOL

Tommrow I'm gonna start working out, I got a free one week pass...

The Gym cost about 35 month to month (no contract!!)
It's 24/7 got dumbells etc etc
I told the owner (who I talked too) I know what I'm doing, so I don't need the whole tour deal, I just wanna work out

thanks yall

 

[Unbridled_Phoenix]

I'd pick the one closest to home, it makes better logistics for incorporating working out into your daily routine.