Gym membership questions? :)?
813925
I used to go to 24-hour Fitness. It's good because you may not want to work out during a certain time, so the gym being always open helps (for the most part.) The one around my area is pretty good, I payed about 150$ to start out including a trainer, and the monthly, I believe was 35$ or something. Not bad if you ask me. Then again, I'd check around a bit more (24-hour Fitness gyms vary by size by the way.) Compare rates - it's more accurate in my opinion. Good luck!
696611
Hi there. As an ex-member of the Curves gym I would not recommend it. I know it sounds great an easy due to the whole 30min circuit, but its not all that great! \n\nI have since joined a female only gym, fernwood, and am much happier! The staff are a lot friendlier and my workout has been tailored to my needs, not to a general populations. There is alot more equipment so I do not get bored, and I can vary my program day to day!
367763
It is a good thing for you to see what your getting, but I agree it is a ploy to strong arm you!\n\nI would find the place you like and name drop about the other gyms. Since it is done on commision, I would wait until the end of the month and at the end of the day so you have an advantage because they need to make quotas.Same for buying a car!\n\nYou should ask people what they are paying as they enter and leave the gym to get a feel for the cost. Good luck!
252740
That's a lot of cardio!  I usually only do 20 minutes four times a week.  What I find fun is an elliptical machine.  These are at all gyms.  I usually bring my iPod or plug my headphones into the TV so I can watch that.  Do something that takes your mind off of you exercising.
506165
It sounds like you have the right idea with wanting to keep the price down.  Often people want to start working out and they spend lots of money buying equipment, and then they stop working out a week later.  Don't let anybody fool you, weights are weights... it doens't matter what brand.  If I were you, I would go to garage sales or to Wal-Mart until I found the cheapest "basic" set possible.  A bench press and leg press (like you spoke about,) will do just fine at first.  Or get a membership to a gym, and try it out for a month or two before you buy any equipment (make sure you go to a gym that does NOT make you sign a contract) They do that because they know the majority of people stop working out after a week, and then you're stuck making payments to them for a year.  After you've worked out for a while then, maybe go get a weight set with all of the features on it.  I think you'll do just fine.  Keep up the motivation and remember that it takes time.
829678
You have to keep at it! Swimming is a very good full body workout its cheap too.\nWhy not team up with someone? Go running with someone fitter than you and try and keep up with them. \nKeep a log of what you do etc and try to break your records or bad habits!\nYou have to stick to your routine but try and make it interesting start a sport or a club you can enjoy.\nLook for a cheap gym I only pay £30 a month I dont think thats too bad my brother pays £70!\nGood luck!
1046071
If you're paying for a gym you should go, just go for a half hour, do some cardio, or get a class schedule and go for a class.  You're already paying for it so get going!  You'll feel better once you get back in there, go girl!
794747
You'd have to find somewhere that offers classes. In most places you join a gym and don't pay any extra to take group exercise classes. If you are only going for a month you might want to try and work something out with the manager at a local gym since most gyms require long term contracts. The YMCA doesn't require contracts, you can try them. For more information on exercise, visit http://straighthealth.com
280624
San DIego CA. I go to 24hr Fitness and I pay $12 a month. I get to go to any aerobic classes that they have and use all of the equipment, but that's about it. LA Fitness is a lot nicer, but they charge $25, I'll stick with 24hr
21333
My grandfather owns one. He uses it daily, and says it's fairly good. If you've got access to free weights or decent machines in a gym you're going to see better results than you would with a Total Gym. The current price of the base model is around $400 at discount stores. For a few dollars more you can prepay a member ship at most gyms for an entire year and have more than just weight equipment.
340395
I was with Bally's on a Month to Month contract, unless you are prepared to dedicate yourself to a gym for $85 dolalrs a month, go for it.  Don't fall for the plans that come with the personal trainer (although my personal trainer was a CUTIE!!!!!!) and the meal plans.  The Meal plans are worthless, just a piece of paper telling you what to eat each day.  You'll end up spending $75 a week on food alone.  I wouldn't recommend Bally's to anyone, they are a rip off.  They do offer 1 week trial memberships, try it out, if you like it go with it.  \nDo you have any Recreation Centers in your neighborhood?  Many Centers offer workout rooms that costs about $10 a month for access.  It's worth it.  Or find an Apartment that offers a Fitness Center like I did:) \n\nNEVER EVER DO CURVES!!! I tried them too.  You have to be prepared to make a lifestyle change.  I did, and it came with my apartment!
220638
You have two issues here.  The contract with the gym, and their charging your credit card.\n\nWithout looking at the gym contract I can't help you, but I'm gonna bet it's worded so you can't cancel it, and you will be responsible for the payments.\n\nThe card problem should be easy.  Call the credit card company and inform them you are getting unauthorized charges to your card.  The current charge you may not get back, but future ones should be blocked.\n\nIf you read the agreement you signed with the gym to allow monthly billing to your credit card (you did sign one of those, didn't you?), there will not be an open-ended agreement.  It should say they will bill you each month when the bill is due.  And it should have an "opt-out" clause where you simply inform them to stop billing your credit card.  \n\nAs a last resort, freeze your card until the credit card company straightens it out.  Legally they can not force you to pay with a credit card if you don't want to.  Unauthorized use of your card is fraud, so stick that in their pipe!
661931
I have the same problem. What I found was a large physical therapy location which has a pool and a gym and they allow people to purchase memberships to use either.  This place is DEFINITELY not a meat-market, no one is looking at what you look like.  Most people are overweight or injured and are there for serious work to help themselves.  \n\nThe membership is actually CHEAPER than a health-club.  $30 a month, and it's open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7-12 on Saturday, which are reasonable hours.  The pool is heated for therapy reasons and all the fitness equipment you need is available for your use. \n\nThese places don't seem to advertise so you'll have to make some calls.
1082984
I had signed up my mother and aunt for Curves a few years ago.  I thought I'd give it a try too for a month.  I couldn't stand it.  Like someone else mentioned, if you have a fear of going to the gym because of the whole 'meat market' thingy, or you are extremely self conscious about your body, then curves is for you.  Its definetly for older women.  I'm younger, and I couldn't stand it.  The music wasn't for me, there was no variety, and if you're not a 'people' person, be warned that the circle set up kinda makes women want to start chatting since you're facing each other as you work out.  \nThe problem I had with it was that it was too routine.  You do a machine for I think its 30 seconds, then jump to the next station that requires you to do a cardio activity.  You do the circuit like 3 times, and that's equal to the half hour time.  The woman at our gym wasn't crazy about women going over the half hour limit.  Don't know if it was her or the curves policy.\nThe other problem is by the time you jump on one of the weight lifting machines, its time to get off and jump over to the cardio station.\nI'd recommend curves only if you're starting out a workout routine into your life.  I mean if you've never worked out before, then Curves would probably be a good start to get you to at least begin to work out.  But I wouldn't stick with curves for a long term gym.  \nThe intial weight loss from CUrve's workouts seems to be good, but then it kinda stops.  I know from the gym magazines that I've read, that your body gets 'used' to doing the same workout over and over again.  So you get used to the same movements, there's no new routines.  Not to mention you get bored.  \nUltimately its up to you.  If you've never worked out, then start with Curves and see if you like it, but just ask for a shorter contract just in case you don't like it.  My mom and aunt liked it because it did make them go to the gym, but they never lost much weight.  Again they had intial weight loss, but then it stopped, not much more than 10 pounds.\nGood luck.
886474
24HR fitness is a breeding ground for trainers. It's a hit or miss with the gyms. Think of it as the car salepeople of the trade.\n\nThey want you to keep coming back so they leave you with a little something.\n\nI went for the 5 session pack and didn't do anything for me.  They went over the proper use of the machines and what muscles the machines work on.\n\nSo look for someone you can relate to and hopefully they'll be better than the majority.
453785
My wife was a member up until just recently (we basically have the same set-up at home now), and she had some pretty good results...\n\nAs you already know, the key principle behind curves is resistance traing along with cardio (you change stations every 30 secs)... The idea is to get your heart rate up quickly and maintain it for the duration of your w/o... \n\nWith that said, I suggest you purchase a heart rate monitor which can help regulate your pace for each exercise - depending on what your working out for (I.E. aerobics, toning, weightloss)... There are plenty of good types out there - POLAR, Reebok, MIO, are just some examples, and they come in all price ranges... \n\nBasically, Like anything else you'll get out of curves what you put in to it... \n\nHope this helps - Good Luck...
329735
This is not a cheap franchise to start so you really need to study whether you can really make money with it. They require:\n\nTotal investment: $145.7K-228K\nFranchise fee: $57.5K\nOngoing royalty fee: 8%\n\nQualifications\nNet worth requirement: $200K\nCash liquidity requirement: $50K\n\nBut money is not enough with Little Gym franchise. I know that they are one of the few franchises that gives personality tests to potential franchisees. It's one thing to have the money, it's another to have the personality to enjoy interacting with kids -- and this is what Little Gym looks for in their franchise applicants. They need to know if the franchise applicant fits with their overall system -- and generate big royalty revenue.\n\nI suggest you go to a Little Gym franchise (bring or enroll a kid, if you have no young children). Observe how many people are enrolled - if it is full class, then you know there is a demand. Observe how satisfied the parents are with the facilities - satisfied parents tell other parents and you know you have a winner if the clients are happy with the product.