different gyms you belong to

if you belong to a gym, which gym is it?  what is the best thing about your gyym and the worst thing?

i belong to gold's gym.  the best thing about it is the differentt types of classes you  take... all the instruvery helpful and they are full of energy. 

The worst thing is... there is no pool.  putting that aside, there are "gym cliques" including older mom's that really just go to gossip, school cheerleaders, football players, and they really don't like it if you get in "their way"

hello

i go to the gym in my school at oakland university and overall its okay. one thing i dont like about it as much is that there are many young ppl my age and they look at you when you work out and i dont like that.  i guess.... im very shy thats why, but hopefully ill make new friends

I belong to 24 hour fitness and tend to like it, however some of the classes are super crowded and some people follow the instructors around from gym to gym- instructor cliques.   Also the chiks that get dressed to go work out and spend more time talking than working.  Otherwise, I am there to do my thing, so I try to ignore them.

We belong to the YMCA here.  I absolutely love it.  People from all walks of life belong and use the gym.  the facility is nice, well maintained, clean.  The child-care is free and very good.  There are free classes, a pool, steam room, sauna, hot tub, scores of ellipticals, rowers, treadmills and bikes.   All for less than 60 bucks a month for a family of 4.

and they don't even care if you're a liberal hippie agnostic... :D

I belong to Fitworks. I think it's only in Ohio/Kentucky and maybe Indiana... not sure.
I like that it's very laid back. There is not much variety in terms of classes so that sucks (but I only really like yoga anyway but they have no times open where I can go) and as for lifting weights... I feel like the guys lifting are too focused on everyone else besides themselves.

I go to Fitcity for Women, which is a small (you guessed it) women only chain with 4 locations around Vancouver.  It's a nice sized gym, big enough to have a decent variety of equipment, but not so big as to be impersonal or cliquey.  There's cheap childcare, and almost all the classes are included with the dues (great classes, fantastic instructors).   There's a good mix of women who go there, all ages and all levels of fitness/fatness.   I kind of wish that it had space for a little more equipment (I'd love a big ol' punching bag, and maybe a little more space for the free weights), and there's a couple of hours each day when parking is a bit of a hassle, but I really have no complaints.    I pay $24.99/month (+ tax, sigh), which works out to roughly $1.50 a visit -- not too shabby. 

I belong to Lifetime Fitness...it's a really upscale gym that has a Spa called 'Life Spa' and a cafe called (you guessed it), Life Cafe, serving up healthy lunches, smoothies and snacks.

There's a jacuzzi with a waterfall that changes colours, waterslides in both the indoor and outdoor pools, theres cardio, a yoga room, a pilates room with equipment, multitudes of classes, strength training, steam rooms, saunas, endless towels for free, flatscreen televisions with couches everywhere so if you have to wait, you can watch a movie or tv...The childcare is awesome, there are tunnels and slides the kids can play in, in addition to computers and movies, etc...there's a rock climbing wall and raquetball; there's literally EVERYthing and they are open 24/7. I don't think there really is anything bad about them!

I am also a fitness coach at Shape Xpress, which has an infrared sauna that supposedly burns 600-800 calories per 30 minute session, in addition to other things. So I kinda belong there too; I go there for free.

I go to All American Fitness here in Oklahoma City and for the most part I like it.  I try to go when it's not as busy (for example, when most people are at work, or on the weekend after most people have been in there)... they have great hours, and starting Jan 1st the facility that I go to is suppose to be open 24 hours.  They have a lot of things to do, and trainers there to answer your questions.  For the most part, the staff leaves you alone, but are visible enough so you know that they're there should you need them.  The changing room is good sized and they have showers and a steam room.  The fellow clients have been friendly with me, and no snickers or stares from those who are fit and wondering why someone so..uhm... big and unfit is doing there (or thinking I might damage the equipment).  My daughter also goes with me and usually does stuff like the treadmill and the elliptical trainer.  There are about 10 of each:  2 different kinds of stationery bikes, treadmills, ski machines, elliptical trainers, and about 25 or so different resistance machines & presses, not to mention a weight room and a room where you can do stretches and floor exercises.  There is also a swimming pool (haven't used it yet) and a jacuzzi.  I did notice that they offer some sort of childcare service although, because I don't need it, don't know much about it.

The only thing I am not crazy about is the price (monthly fee) - only because I'm on a fixed income, however for what we have available and considering the time we can go is unlimited (as many days per month as we want for as long as we want), it really is reasonable.  We also got a 'deal' with it, and a slight discount on the family plan, so again, can't really complain.  The other thing I'm just realizing is they don't offer classes, which is something I'd like to do when I lose a little more weight.  Guess I'm still gonna have to head to the local "Y" for that.

I belong to Fitworks also. I LOVE it. It's got everything I need, and I think there is plenty of variety in the classes -- at least at mine. I do Yoga and Spin.

It's a love/hate relationship actually -- I LOVE it, but I hate how HOT it is in there and how dirty it gets and how if you decline the offer of a trainer they treat you like you're DEAD -- these are the trainers from the outside, not affiliated with Fitworks, though I've had one Fitworks trainer treat me like that too. I think the problem with my gym is the management, because there's another one two cities over and it's GREAT ALL the way around. MUCH more upbeat, better music, more friendly. Mine's more "laid back" -- I prefer UPBEAT ... but I DO love the gym in general. 

I use the rehab gym at the hospital.  The best thing is, the first 6 weeks were covered by my health insurance and were monitored by nurses and techs.  The maintenance program is only $8 a session.  The worst thing is there is not a great variety of equipment.  However, it's adequate for me and there is a nurse on duty if I should feel any symptoms. 

Another good thing, for me, is that everyone there is recovering from some sort of physical disability.  It's very inspiring to see how people can come back to physical health if they put forth the effort.

i belong to 24 hour fitness.  I like it because when i want to work out I know its open.  I do not even have to think about it.  Also its month to month contract so you do not get bound in a long term commitment.  Right now they have a program coinciding with the biggest loser where you get a nutrition instruction and 5 half hour training sessions with a personal trainer for just 49$.  The nice thing at mine is that it is owned by shaq so i see miami heat players working out there from time to time, which is really kind of cool.  There is something about running on a treadmill next to alanzo morning that can modivate you through the workout.

htide

I belong to Fitworks also. I LOVE it. It's got everything I need, and I think there is plenty of variety in the classes -- at least at mine. I do Yoga and Spin.

Man! Which fitworks do you go to? I wish mine had a spinning class. The yoga classes at mine are at times when only stay at home moms could go (like noon). I work 2-10 so I can get the morning classes but there's really nothing good offered.

I also don't like the "Body for Life" trainers. The one I had for my free session was really nice and I was going sign up for some sessions with her but I haven't seen her... only the beefy, rude guys who work there. And my fitworks is super hot too...

I too am a YMCAer, jhealynyad. I agree about the open attitude. We have all the same stuff and classes include spin, yoga, kickboxing, step, latin dance, body fit max, and lots of new stuff is added all the time. Plus, my daughter loves the childcare staff. I also love the community involvement they have and all the outside activities sponsored, like runs and such!

I belong to the YMCA too! I actually worked there for 5 years until i got prenant last year and I decided to just go to school full time...but the Y is great! My kids love it and I know everyone there...very family orientated (sorry for my spelling) but i have to say I love the Y

I also belong to the YMCA and love it.  I just quite Lifetime Fitness to join the Y again.  The facilities are a little older in my new city than what I'm used to.  But I love the variety of classes, the swimming pools and the variety of people there.  The Y doesn't seem to attract so much of the gym pick-up crowd - just normal folks.  My Y even has a skate park and a rock wall.  I also love that you can use nearly any Y in the US with your membership which is great for travelling!

Man! Which fitworks do you go to? -- Alibuch

I am east of Cleveland, OH. You know, they didn't used to have classes in the evening, which is when I like to go, and now they do. They used to ALL be early classes. I don't know when they started that, but I've only been going to them for the last month. I've belonged to that gym for five years. My yoga is at 6:45 PM and Spin is at 6:00 PM; plus, they've got Spin at other times. There are several other classes too. I really never knew they were so popular, but a lot of people do go.

Interesting how your Fitworks is hot too -- I think that's so ridiculous. A gym doesn't need to be 75 degrees! I think the people that work there are cold because they're just sitting around, so they keep the temp up. Well, they need to dress WARM, because I don't care if they're cold! I have a feeling they're not supposed to have it that warm in there. I think the whole problem is the management. It just makes me mad, too, how they tout how friendly and helpful they are, yet all those trainers are JERKS. They need to go back and read their mission statement and follow through! I'm always wanting to write them a letter about that!

I go to 24 hour fitness.  I like it for the most part.  The gym I use on weekdays (near work) is too crowded, Monday's are AWFUL, but the gym near my home (go there on weekends) is GREAT.  Oh - and there's an AA facility next door to the work one and the cigarette smell seeps through the walls - the yoga room is never used.

I used to go to Curves - I liked the relaxed environment - felt comfortable, less self-conscious, but eventually didn't feel like i was getting the workout I wanted.

I use Gold's Gym. It has a large variety of classes held at an interval of times, regularly, such as pilates, cardio kickboxing, spinning, core training, tanning, sauna, pool access and on and on and on. Nutrition class starts on the 20th, going to check that one out. Its clean and the people are all smiles and helpful. I can also use any Golds gym in the world and Yes there is even one in Cairo, Egypt. If I need to take a medical leave they will freeze my account until I am able to come back again.

Best of all I can walk in there jump on a machine or weights and no one bugs me. I crank the pod, and I'm good.

Ruthie, if you go to Fry Family YMCA, you probably know my mom!

Sadly, I go to Ballys. I moved here about 5 months ago...and didnt know the area too well but I dove straight into this gym since I didnt know what else there was. I should have searched but I am compulsive lol.

I say sadly because they have so many problems with memberships and whatnot. I have a 2 year contract with them...so I guess I have to deal with it.

I usually go straight to the elliptical trainers. They have tons of machines but most are broken. They have classes....but I am not comfy doing that just yet.

I am a Ballys member also, but I like them pretty well.  I signed on the month to month deal, which is a slightly higher payment, but no commitment, which I liked.  My company has a corporate discount with them, too, which I liked.  And they are 1.3 miles from my house , which, guess what - I also like.  :)

Haven't gone to a class yet, although I've meant to several times now.  Keep wanting to do one of the 6am pilates or yoga classes before work.  I pack my stuff up the night before, and go back to bed after the alarm goes off.  :)  But, I very much enjoy working with my personal trainer there.