Haggling gym membership

[thulfi]

Let myself go over the end of uni and sadly need to sort it. There are at least 4 different gyms in my area, and I know gyms can pretty much charge you what they like. Sadly I'm not a hot chick, so I'm gonna have to haggle my pants off, on what is prob gonna be a 2 yr membership.

Any advice/tips from those who have tried it before or done similar would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[husky03]

forget about the poncy bannatyne type gyms mate and get yourself a proper old school bb gym-you'll get the best advice there from people who practise what they preach, and will be able to help you get set up with diet and training methods and best of all you don't need to sign a contract most are pay as you go.
h.

[Bri w]

Find yourself a decent swimming pool, not a fun pool but a proper pool. Mix that with some jogging around a park. Sorted at a tenth of the price.

Alternatively join a running club. Sorted at a tenth of the price.

[aarond]

+ one on the bb/strongman gym, I get a key go when i want... simples.

[Reeder]

Speaking from someone who went to bannatynes and now goes to a lesser gym, I would consider which you choose carefully. If you're interested in classes like body combat (really good fun and will deffo get you in shape), body pump or spinning etc then go for a big expensive gym as doing all these activities works out cheaper this way as long as you stay committed and they normally have lovely pools, steam rooms and suanas etc. If you just wanna do weights go to the lesser ones but just don't end up on steroids because a lot more people take them and will offer them to you than you think! If you just want to do some running or just swimming then don't even bother joining at all.

[Jabba]

Got a bike? Get a HRM and ride the bike in the "fat burning zone". weight will drop off and you'll get fitter too. All for a fraction of the cost :thumbsup:

[thulfi]

Thanks, never gave much thought to the smaller gyms, though in all fairness all I need is weights, bench, etc so it could be suitable. I get my cardio through means of footy thats hopefully now gonna be twice a week, and might jog outside if I wanna do more. I hate running on treadmills.

I'm not a gym noob, and know the exercises that work for me and what kinda results I want, I just gave up half way through uni cos exams would always come around and screw things up. Would never touch roids, who wants to look all roided up.

Not sure what smaller gyms we have around the mk area though. Will look into it.

[lx_online]

I pay £20 a month for "all you can swim/gym" - I swim every day and burn about 450 calories in one session (1.5KM) - I still eat what I want and I've lost a stone. Also, in January my resting heart rate was about 65, and now it is 49.

The gym is rank though!

[timwilky]

Contemplating a gym membership but doubt I would use it. I currently run about a mile a day before I walk the dog and sod off to work. But concerned that as the mornings get darker/wetter/colder I may loose my new found enthusiasm to get myself fit. Talking with one of the guys here at work he has rowing machine, cycle, and cross trainer in his gym at home and recommends it as like me he lives no where near a commercial operation.

unfortunately for me there is a gym across the road from my office. I have no excuse except lasyness and a few stray tyke genes that stop me joining that. I know it opens at 6.00am so no reason why I cannot do the business before/after work. but as a social environment it is too far away to pop in on spec to do a session.

[punyXpress]

" I have no excuse except lasyness and a few stray tyke genes that stop me joining that. "
It'll be the tyke genes stopping you opening your wallet, Tim.
Always thought you were one of us!

[timwilky]

Obviously my compromised immune system has not overrun the rogue tyke gene. Hopefully it is is my decreasing waistline that has meant I can no longer reach into the depths of my trouser pockets where my wallet is held. Otherwise I can only fear the rogue gene has resulted in a gradual shortening of my arms.

[diamond]

I joined a gym just over a year ago and managed to get it down from a £30 a month contract to paying £120 for a years membership to pool, gym all classes etc and a free car park permit (60p an hour to park as it's in town, and can use the pass when not going to the gym) I asked for deals, pay in advanced and pay 10 months instead of 12, got military discount, check for student, employer discount etc And see if they have different pay levels for instance i go during the day so payed less by agreeing not go in mon -fri between 6pm and 9pm, but can go any other time and can swim or go to classes in the evenings just not the gym.

Deals are possible if you ask and are flexible.

[ben1989]

Agree with the smaller gyms, if you get to know the guys there you'll soon get discounts/free sessions. I was shown round a David lloyd, amazing gym, great machines etc. but 55 a month (w/ student discount) 12 month contract... they cut out the joining fee but still way too much. The uni gym turned out loads cheaper