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Bally's Fitness For $30 A Month?

P

Paddington

Senior member
I'm moving to a new place that has a Bally's Fitness nearby. I haven't yet had a chance to test out the gym yet though. I was curious how much Bally's memberships go for, so I went to their website. They have a special right now where you pay $60 for first and last months' memberships, with $30 ongoing, no startup fee, cancel anytime, but you have to act by tomorrow. Is this in fact a "deal" or is it pretty typical of how much Bally's memberships go for even without "specials". I'm a bit reluctant to act because I'm not moving for another 3 weeks, and as I said I haven't checked out the gym yet.
 
Not sure about the deal but read the "cancel anytime" clause very carefully. I'm guessing it reads that you can cancel any time if you move more than 20 miles from the nearest bally's like those contracts normally state.
 
DON'T DO IT!!!! Bally's promised me that I could cancel anytime too and then, 9 months later, they had no idea what I was talking about. Check out some reviews on Google and you will run for the hills. They are slime!
 
Are you buying a house or getting an apartment?

Almost every apartment I have ever lived in has a gym of some type. Or look for a community center with a gym.

At the top of ever "how to save money" list I have ever seen is 'don't join gym' Unless you are super hard core it tends to be a waste of money.
 
For $10 a month I'll chase you around with a 2x4 and you'll get in shape fast. For $15 a month I will tie cans of green beans to your feet and put a few rusty nails in the 2x4.
 
Originally posted by: se7en
For $10 a month I'll chase you around with a 2x4 and you'll get in shape fast. For $15 a month I will tie cans of green beans to your feet and put a few rusty nails in the 2x4.
Click to expand...

That's pretty cheap. How many hours per month are you available?
 
Just after reading threads here & a few links people have pointed to, I think the general consensus is stay away from Bally's.

I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
 
You have to cancel 30 days before you plan on 'stopping.'

Also, it's not bad. They are no rules against olympic lifting or anything, which most gyms consider dangerous and don't allow it. Only thing they don't want is chalk.

If you're going to the place to run senselessly on a treadmill, why not run outside or find a real track? The only real use of these commercials gyms is if you want to get your hands on weights for fairly cheap or participate in their programs like Tae Kwon Do.
 
I'm not against gyms, but I've just heard too many bad stories about Bally's. I've had successful memberships at 24 hour fitness, and my friends really like LA Fitness as well.
 
IMHO, you should consider the following before making your decision:

1) Do you want to build muscle?
2) Do you want to lose weight?
3) Do you want to build muscle AND lose weight?

Unless you have machines/free weights at home, for (1) & (3), you HAVE to join a gym. Even if it's not serious muscle-building that you want to do, there's no place better than a gym where you can get guidance from real people who have achieved results with routines that have been practically tested. IMO, there's absolutely no substitute for it for beginners.

If it's (2) that you want to do, then it's most definitely possible without a gym.

For all (1), (2) & (3) above, what you need is MOTIVATION. If you are not motivated, no gym or routine will do it for you. For me, going to the gym and working out with others gives me all the motivation I need. You need to find out what can motivate you and go from there.
 
From what I've heard, Bally's isn't a reputable fitness company and have been involved in a lot of scamming of customers. I wouldn't join them no matter how attractive the deal looks.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Just after reading threads here & a few links people have pointed to, I think the general consensus is stay away from Bally's.

I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
Click to expand...

I think gym membership can be great. My story:

I joined my first gym when my fitness lifestyle was no longer possible because of an injury to my foot. I was a runner until then. I joined the Y to get at their pool cheaply. After a while I started going in the weight room every day, too. I was getting pretty buff. Then my shoulder gave out and I had to give up the pool, but I kept at the weight room. Later, my full time employer shared a parking lot with a Gold's Gym, and I got free membership there in a deal where we allowed the gym to use our spaces at night. I got privileges at all Golds, including the one in my town, where I still belong, although it was eventually bought out by 24Hour Fitness. I snagged a special deal with them where I payed less than I was already paying up front for the next 3 years and afterward had a full membership for $100/year. So, I am paying < $9/month and get any gym, any time privileges + all their fitness classes, and I'm taking 3 yoga and 1 pilates a week, plus using the weight room every other day (that's my weight room thing). The instructors are great. I'd call that a great deal. There's no way I could be in the shape I'm in and learning the techniques I'm learning without them or paying more elsewhere. I'm locked in to them, but I love it. They treat me with respect and real friendliness there and the members are by and large great folks. A lot of the best looking women in town are in there and dressed so you can tell.
 
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Just after reading threads here & a few links people have pointed to, I think the general consensus is stay away from Bally's.

I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
Click to expand...

I think gym membership can be great. My story:

I joined my first gym when my fitness lifestyle was no longer possible because of an injury to my foot. I was a runner until then. I joined the Y to get at their pool cheaply. After a while I started going in the weight room every day, too. I was getting pretty buff. Then my shoulder gave out and I had to give up the pool, but I kept at the weight room. Later, my full time employer shared a parking lot with a Gold's Gym, and I got free membership there in a deal where we allowed the gym to use our spaces at night. I got privileges at all Golds, including the one in my town, where I still belong, although it was eventually bought out by 24Hour Fitness. I snagged a special deal with them where I payed less than I was already paying up front for the next 3 years and afterward had a full membership for $100/year. So, I am paying < $9/month and get any gym, any time privileges + all their fitness classes, and I'm taking 3 yoga and 1 pilates a week, plus using the weight room every other day (that's my weight room thing). I'd call that a great deal. There's no way I could be in the shape I'm in and learning the techniques I'm learning without them or paying more elsewhere. I'm locked in to them, but I love it. They treat me with respect there and the members are by and large great folks. A lot of the best looking women in town are in there and dressed so you can tell.
Click to expand...

That's some deal. :Q
 
When I was in high school I didn't play sports, didn't ride a bike, and didn't play with kids outside (we lived in an old man's condo subdivision). I didn't even realize I was out of shape until I got to college. I've been working out pretty regularly twice a week and am in decent shape. I think if you're not into outdoors type stuff, and you're not into playing sports, etc. you pretty much have to join a gym to stay fit.

Anyway, I ended up signing up for this deal. Hopefully, not a scam, we'll see how it goes.
 
Originally posted by: Paddington
When I was in high school I didn't play sports, didn't ride a bike, and didn't play with kids outside (we lived in an old man's condo subdivision). I didn't even realize I was out of shape until I got to college. I've been working out pretty regularly twice a week and am in decent shape. I think if you're not into outdoors type stuff, and you're not into playing sports, etc. you pretty much have to join a gym to stay fit.

Anyway, I ended up signing up for this deal. Hopefully, not a scam, we'll see how it goes.
Click to expand...

Good luck. Stick with it, the plan to stay in shape.
 
It may be a very slight deal, but it's about normal, unless they're including a lot of free classes/personal training or something else.

My very limited experience has been that once my contract ended, they offered me the option to continue membership on a monthly basis at less than 1/2 the rate the contract was for. I think the contract was something in the range of $35/mo or something. Thus, I get the idea that the actual "good deal" range for the plain-jane membership with no additional classes/personal training included is probably somewhere in the $15 a month range. I believe that when I was on the $35/mo contract, I did actually have some free classes included, but I never found myself going, so it was a big waste for me.
 
If you have a 24 hour fitness nearby, check it out. Costco's $299 for 2 years is hassle-free and a pretty hard to beat deal.
Some clubs are certainly better than others thought, so stop by to check it out first.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
Click to expand...

Give me a break. You sound clueless.
 
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Just after reading threads here & a few links people have pointed to, I think the general consensus is stay away from Bally's.

I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
Click to expand...

I think gym membership can be great. My story:

I joined my first gym when my fitness lifestyle was no longer possible because of an injury to my foot. I was a runner until then. I joined the Y to get at their pool cheaply. After a while I started going in the weight room every day, too. I was getting pretty buff. Then my shoulder gave out and I had to give up the pool, but I kept at the weight room. Later, my full time employer shared a parking lot with a Gold's Gym, and I got free membership there in a deal where we allowed the gym to use our spaces at night. I got privileges at all Golds, including the one in my town, where I still belong, although it was eventually bought out by 24Hour Fitness. I snagged a special deal with them where I payed less than I was already paying up front for the next 3 years and afterward had a full membership for $100/year. So, I am paying < $9/month and get any gym, any time privileges + all their fitness classes, and I'm taking 3 yoga and 1 pilates a week, plus using the weight room every other day (that's my weight room thing). The instructors are great. I'd call that a great deal. There's no way I could be in the shape I'm in and learning the techniques I'm learning without them or paying more elsewhere. I'm locked in to them, but I love it. They treat me with respect and real friendliness there and the members are by and large great folks. A lot of the best looking women in town are in there and dressed so you can tell.
Click to expand...

That's a good point about joining those classes - that's the one thing that gyms offer that most people can't do on their own - join aerobics classes & the like. In terms of building muscle = fit, that's a different discussion (and one for a different sub-forum). I was recently kayaking with someone who lifts all the time. Great, he can do 10 reps at some ungodly weight on the bench press. I can't even do 75% of that weight, once. We had to carry 2 kayaks uphill for half a mile after kayaking (along with all our gear; maybe 100 pounds total distributed to 2 people.) We had to put the kayaks down several times for him to catch his breath. But, he *looks* to be more fit than I am.
 
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
Click to expand...

Give me a break. You sound clueless.
Click to expand...

I concur. Anyone who's joined a gym and seen results cannot make a statement like that.
 
For much of human existence, most people also had blue collar jobs. There was also no cars, and just walking to work alone probably got you enough exercise.

Again, if you're not into outdoors type stuff, and you hate team sports, then you pretty much have to join a gym.
 
Originally posted by: nublikescake
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
Click to expand...

Give me a break. You sound clueless.
Click to expand...

I concur. Anyone who's joined a gym and seen results cannot make a statement like that.
Click to expand...

he is right..well to a point.

you come work outside around here you will get fit. you will not be buff but fit.

many of the farmers/ranchers around here would work your ass off. they do not look like they are in great shape but they can work (physical work) all day.

 
Originally posted by: waggy
Originally posted by: nublikescake
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Originally posted by: DrPizza
I concur that gyms are a money waster. I'm always amused when I pass by the local YMCA on an absolutely gorgeous day, and see idiots inside, walking on treadmills. Those who are pro-join-a-gym, it's amazing the human species ever had fit people before the invention of gyms.

Seriously, though, if you need to be fit, all you need is a little lifestyle change.
Click to expand...

Give me a break. You sound clueless.
Click to expand...

I concur. Anyone who's joined a gym and seen results cannot make a statement like that.
Click to expand...

he is right..well to a point.

you come work outside around here you will get fit. you will not be buff but fit.

many of the farmers/ranchers around here would work your ass off. they do not look like they are in great shape but they can work (physical work) all day.
Click to expand...

Point noted. But it's also wrong to summarily dismiss going to the gym as a waste of money. What most people don't get is the concept of a ROUTINE which is the greatest benefit of a gym. Going to the gym gets you into a routine and helps you stay in one. It doesn't rain or snow in the gym and it's always open when you feel like working out. 😉 The regular people always show up and working out alongside them gives you that feeling that you're being consistent and that's a GOOD thing. When you get into a routine and follow it strictly and then start seeing results (bodybuilding or weight loss) in 3-6 weeks, that's motivation enough for most to continue their workout. I've experienced this first hand and I can say with certainty that I wouldn't be motivated enough to workout without a gym even if I had a very nice setup at home.
 
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