Joining a gym

[StarsFan4Life]

I plan to join a new gym closer to home soon. My options for the bigger gyms are Golds Gym, 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness.

From what I can tell, I want to do a monthly payment with a year or two contract. Up front, these places want like $150-250. That is INSANE. I want to just pay about $30-50 a month, no setup fee, with a year or two year contract.

Help!

 

[brikis98]

Where do you live? What are your goals?

 

[gramboh]

I've never been a member of a chain gym before, they want $150-200 sign-up fee and $30-50 month on top of that? Or they want $150-250 monthly fees in advance and then you don't pay for x months after that?

If it's the former that is laughable. When I lived in Calgary (Canada) I paid about $550 a year for a complex that had two olympic pools, 10M diving tower, 6 basketball courts, 200M indoor track, weight room with olympic platform/power cages, tons of machines/cardio stuff and more.

Also avoid 24 hour fitness, it's not a real gym (no deadilfting, no overpress lifts, no dropping weights).

Where abouts do you live?

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: brikis98
Where do you live? What are your goals?

I live in 76177.

My goals are to get in shape, build some muscle and stay healthy....along with having more energy.

I am 6 ft, 180lbs with a lean shape...except for the belly. I want bigger arms, legs and a nice mid section.

 

[HN]

on this page , there is the following:

$0 Initiation Fee and $29.99 Monthly Dues on a Keep Fit All-Club Sport Membership

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: HN
on this page , there is the following:

$0 Initiation Fee and $29.99 Monthly Dues on a Keep Fit All-Club Sport Membership

Yeah....try to add it to cart. I can't seem to get it to work.

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: gramboh
Also avoid 24 hour fitness, it's not a real gym (no deadilfting, no overpress lifts, no dropping weights).

i go to two different 24's in pasadena and have yet to hear any complaints about those. now, i'm not throwing them around like bumpers but still make a bit of a raucous. been fine so far.
no complaints about bringing in rings either.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: HN
on this page , there is the following:

$0 Initiation Fee and $29.99 Monthly Dues on a Keep Fit All-Club Sport Membership

Yeah....try to add it to cart. I can't seem to get it to work.

Just got it to work. However, they are trying to charge $94 up front (first and last months dues I think) but last time I checked $29.99 x 2 is not $94.58

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: HN
on this page , there is the following:

$0 Initiation Fee and $29.99 Monthly Dues on a Keep Fit All-Club Sport Membership

Yeah....try to add it to cart. I can't seem to get it to work.

Just got it to work. However, they are trying to charge $94 up front (first and last months dues I think) but last time I checked $29.99 x 2 is not $94.58

worked for me - screenshot

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: gramboh
I've never been a member of a chain gym before, they want $150-200 sign-up fee and $30-50 month on top of that? Or they want $150-250 monthly fees in advance and then you don't pay for x months after that?

If it's the former that is laughable. When I lived in Calgary (Canada) I paid about $550 a year for a complex that had two olympic pools, 10M diving tower, 6 basketball courts, 200M indoor track, weight room with olympic platform/power cages, tons of machines/cardio stuff and more.

Also avoid 24 hour fitness, it's not a real gym (no deadilfting, no overpress lifts, no dropping weights).

Where abouts do you live?

I did deadlifts at a 24 hour fitness yesterday

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Originally posted by: HN

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: HN
on this page , there is the following:

$0 Initiation Fee and $29.99 Monthly Dues on a Keep Fit All-Club Sport Membership

Yeah....try to add it to cart. I can't seem to get it to work.

Just got it to work. However, they are trying to charge $94 up front (first and last months dues I think) but last time I checked $29.99 x 2 is not $94.58

worked for me - screenshot

What exactly did you select?

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: gramboh
I've never been a member of a chain gym before, they want $150-200 sign-up fee and $30-50 month on top of that? Or they want $150-250 monthly fees in advance and then you don't pay for x months after that?

If it's the former that is laughable. When I lived in Calgary (Canada) I paid about $550 a year for a complex that had two olympic pools, 10M diving tower, 6 basketball courts, 200M indoor track, weight room with olympic platform/power cages, tons of machines/cardio stuff and more.

Also avoid 24 hour fitness, it's not a real gym (no deadilfting, no overpress lifts, no dropping weights).

Where abouts do you live?

I did deadlifts at a 24 hour fitness yesterday

My local 24 Hour Fitness allows you to do deadlifts, but their plates are decagon-shaped instead of round, which makes deadlifting extremely difficult, if not dangerous. That may be a gym-dependent thing, however. It's just something to watch out for. I ended up going with Gold's.

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: HN

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: StarsFan4Life

Originally posted by: HN
on this page , there is the following:

$0 Initiation Fee and $29.99 Monthly Dues on a Keep Fit All-Club Sport Membership

Yeah....try to add it to cart. I can't seem to get it to work.

Just got it to work. However, they are trying to charge $94 up front (first and last months dues I think) but last time I checked $29.99 x 2 is not $94.58

worked for me - screenshot

What exactly did you select?

from the first page linked above, i entered zip 91030.
on the following page, i click "joined online today".
on the next page, in the yellow box with "all-club access", i clicked add to cart.
on page after that, i clicked "next" (without entering any info) because i don't want to add anyone else.
on next page, i clicked "next" because i don't want to add any training sessions.
on next page, i entered required info (dummy info seen in screenshot above) and clicked "next"
on the agreement and summary page, i entered the promo code from the page above.
it's up to you from there.

 

[gar655]

Buy a decent bench, some Powerblocks, Iron gym (door frame pull up bar). Save the hassle of driving to and from, the gas, the parking, the losers that proliferate the gym and never wipe down the equipment when done and who have not showered in the last month.

If you need assistance in what workouts to do, buy or "borrow" the P90X DVD set.

I hate "gyms".

Gene

 

[brikis98]

Start going through this list until you find something affordable. Often, the best gyms are NOT chains like Golds or 24 hour fitness, but small, private gyms. There is one near my house that's $26/month with no sign up fee, which is about half what all the chain gyms in the area charge.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: gramboh
I've never been a member of a chain gym before, they want $150-200 sign-up fee and $30-50 month on top of that? Or they want $150-250 monthly fees in advance and then you don't pay for x months after that?

If it's the former that is laughable. When I lived in Calgary (Canada) I paid about $550 a year for a complex that had two olympic pools, 10M diving tower, 6 basketball courts, 200M indoor track, weight room with olympic platform/power cages, tons of machines/cardio stuff and more.

Also avoid 24 hour fitness, it's not a real gym (no deadilfting, no overpress lifts, no dropping weights).

Where abouts do you live?

I did deadlifts at a 24 hour fitness yesterday

My local 24 Hour Fitness allows you to do deadlifts, but their plates are decagon-shaped instead of round, which makes deadlifting extremely difficult, if not dangerous. That may be a gym-dependent thing, however. It's just something to watch out for. I ended up going with Gold's.

Oh yea its far from ideal. Between the stupid non-round plates and the fact that they "officially" don't allow chalk (although i've gotten away with it plenty of times), its not the best place to deadlift....but you can do it.

For the record I only even have a membership at 24 hour because its dirt cheap ($20/month, no signup, no commitment) and that's where my girlfriend goes. Plus there's one two blocks away from me which is nice for quick trips. For my real training, I go to a dedicated powerlifting gym.

 

[gramboh]

Sorry guys, I had 24 hour and Planet Fitness confused, Planet Fitness is the one with the alarm, no overhead lifts, pizza days etc.

My gym also has a no chalk policy, I've had no problems so far as I am discrete and clean up the bars after, I understand they don't want to clean up the mess of people who use half a block and clap their hands etc.