Do you belong to a health club or gym? If yes, which one? If yes, what do you like or not like about it? TIA.

I do not care for gyms or health clubs as they smell horrible!! I can work out in my apartment... which is upstairs. There is a pool here in town,which is open year round.

I belong to Gold's gym and swim at my pool during the summer. I never do the gym shops, don't want to receive the hundreds of emails to join afterward. The heavy duty body builders train upstairs where the machines are, I'm downstairs where folks like me do cardio, (treadmill). Gym is gorgeous, t.v.s on every machine, lounges, snack shop and clean as a pin. Did someone say, body builders are dirty?????



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/07/2017 03:42PM by Irene_L.A..

Gold's gym is traditionally known for body builders. And talk about the smell of bad body odor!

I've belonged to several local gyms over the years. For me personally, I did not care for them for many reasons. The one I belonged to was not 24 hours, so I was restricted as to when I could work out. I hated that people would not wipe down the equipment when they were done. I also did not like how the men would gawk at us women. After the last gym experience, I went home and ordered a treadmill, stationary bike, tension bands, kettle balls and mats. Problem solved. Now I work out in my basement and have had no problems.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/16/2017 07:01PM by Phoebe70.

I have an elliptical machine and a real bike but I am training for a big event so I need access to a lot more equipment and free weights and yoga.

I've belonged to 4 gyms. The first I joined specifically because they have an indoor track and I was beginning to train for my first half. I liked it ok. I usually worked out in the morning and ran at night and it wasn't over crowded at either time. Unfortunately the price went from $39 a month to $63 a month over two years and I dumped them.

The second one I was only a member for a month. It was the opposite of Phoebe's experience. It was one of those sweatbox types with almost all free weights. It was full of 20-30 year old overgrown muscle freaks and 30-40 year old married women who mostly just sat around and stared at the muscle freaks. Not my thing.

The third was my favorite. It was less than 5 minutes from my house. It was part of the local parks department but was in the middle of nowhere and was huge. It had full size indoor basketball courts, a huge weight room, a huge cardio room, indoor track, an indoor lap pool, an indoor therapeutic pool, and tons of classes including yoga. On top of that it was practically empty during the day. All for $29 a month. When I left they were working on putting in outdoor running trails and had just finished an outdoor archery range.

Currently I use Anytime Fitness. I like it ok. It's not expensive at $35 a month. It's pretty basic as far as weight equipment but I don't need anything crazy so I'm good with it. I usually go at 9am and there may be 2 or 3 other people in there (usually the same ones). Plus it only takes about 5 minutes to get there.

I am a member of Town Sports Club.

The stream rooms, sauna, pool and hundreds of group exercise classes makes me continuously renew my regional membership that I pay nice bucks for.

I belong to Lifetime Fitness primarily for the outdoor pool. It is open 24 hours, is huge and spotless. They even have an onsite cafe with healthy food and a spa. Every time my dues are paid I get the equivalent amount of "Lifetime bucks" that can be converted for classes or spa treatments. The pool is still my fave. It is open from sun up to sun down, but the best part is no kids are allowed before 10 am or after 7 pm. I also have some decent equipment and free weights at home so there really is no excuse for me not working out, LOL.

I'm on Medicare and one of their benefits are preventing health problems, good eating and excersize is encouraged, so we have free membership to Gold's gym. I go three times a week, just got back, use the treadmill, and some tummy and arm machines. They have all ages, are immaculate and really high tech. My daughter is trying to get me into a yoga class, which they offer, so far to no avail. We have a cafe, can meet others caring for themselves and in all is a good place to hang. No kids, and 2 minutes from my house. I do push myself to go, and when I don't my knee bothers me, when I excersize, no problem. Hey guys, I'm trying to stay young, my age needs to keep up with my spirit.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I'm on Medicare and one of their benefits are preventing health problems, good eating and excersize is encouraged, so we have free membership to Gold's gym. I go three times a week, just got back, use the treadmill, and some tummy and arm machines. They have all ages, are immaculate and really high tech. My daughter is trying to get me into a yoga class, which they offer, so far to no avail. We have a cafe, can meet others caring for themselves and in all is a good place to hang. No kids, and 2 minutes from my house. I do push myself to go, and when I don't my knee bothers me, when I excersize, no problem. Hey guys, I'm trying to stay young, my age needs to keep up with my spirit.

Good for you, Irene! I have been thinking of membership at a couple of Health Clubs since the one I went to for several years closed in October. I had paid for the whole year but they closed and refunded my dues beyond October 31. I haven't been anywhere since then. It was open 38 years and it was great, very expensive, but great. Also, my mom has medicare. She lives near a Gold's Gym. Tell us about the free Medicare membership. What does someone have to do to get that and use it? I can tell her and I bet there are forum members here who might use that.

@roflwofl wrote:

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I'm on Medicare and one of their benefits are preventing health problems, good eating and excersize is encouraged, so we have free membership to Gold's gym. I go three times a week, just got back, use the treadmill, and some tummy and arm machines. They have all ages, are immaculate and really high tech. My daughter is trying to get me into a yoga class, which they offer, so far to no avail. We have a cafe, can meet others caring for themselves and in all is a good place to hang. No kids, and 2 minutes from my house. I do push myself to go, and when I don't my knee bothers me, when I excersize, no problem. Hey guys, I'm trying to stay young, my age needs to keep up with my spirit.

Good for you, Irene! I have been thinking of membership at a couple of Health Clubs since the one I went to for several years closed in October. I had paid for the whole year but they closed and refunded my dues beyond October 31. I haven't been anywhere since then. It was open 38 years and it was great, very expensive, but great. Also, my mom has medicare. She lives near a Gold's Gym. Tell us about the free Medicare membership. What does someone have to do to get that and use it? I can tell her and I bet there are forum members here who might use that.

I have AARP United plan A@B with prescription drug plan D. I actually changed providers by doing a seminar 4 years ago. I spoke to the Administrator and she recommended me to her Dr. who is the best. Getting off subject. United healthcare provides Gold's membership free. I would check your Healthcare plan and see if an excersize program is on, no one really tells you, just call and ask. my last provider had L.A. fitness, but I didn't like the area, so never went. For those on Medicare, check it out, some have it, some do not, you can change providers in Oct thru Dec. MS'ing their programs is a great way to get knowledge and find out if it's for you.
I have no co-pay or out of pocket hospital bills. I am having severe eye problems, and my Dr. worked at U.C.L.A Jules Stein Eye clinic...the best. I highly recommend my program, don't know if it differs state to state.

My grandfather takes Silver Sneakers classes which are offered all over the place. I think you have to be 65 or older. I think AARP offers Silver Sneakers but I am not sure how old you have to be for them.

@Sybil2 wrote:

My grandfather takes Silver Sneakers classes which are offered all over the place. I think you have to be 65 or older. I think AARP offers Silver Sneakers but I am not sure how old you have to be for them.

You have to be 65 to be on Medicare which offers silver sneakers programs with different gyms.

Funny how some people claim to have toggled me SEVERAL times but they can still quote me and respond to my posts.

I haves several friends that have taken advantage of the same deal. I can't wait until I'm old enough, too!

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I'm on Medicare and one of their benefits are preventing health problems, good eating and excersize is encouraged, so we have free membership to Gold's gym. I go three times a week, just got back, use the treadmill, and some tummy and arm machines. They have all ages, are immaculate and really high tech. My daughter is trying to get me into a yoga class, which they offer, so far to no avail. We have a cafe, can meet others caring for themselves and in all is a good place to hang. No kids, and 2 minutes from my house. I do push myself to go, and when I don't my knee bothers me, when I excersize, no problem. Hey guys, I'm trying to stay young, my age needs to keep up with my spirit.

I belong to Club Fitness, a smallish regional gym. It doesn't have a whole lot of amenities, but the price is right and I like the selection of classes they offer.

24 Hour Fitness. I just pay $649 every 2 year from Costco. I have a 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport down the street from my home.

I also have a squat rack and some Powerblocks (adjustable dumbbells) that satisfy some of my core workouts at home. I do plan to install appropriate flooring and build a mini gym area when I finish my basement within the next couple of months, so I can finally deadlift!

So if you are a member of Costco, you get a special deal at 24 Hour Fitness? Any other gym deal options?

@Sybil2 wrote:

So if you are a member of Costco, you get a special deal at 24 Hour Fitness? Any other gym deal options?

Yes, or even just grabbing a friend / coworker who you can go with that has a membership and purchase it through their membership.

It might be a regional thing that my area only has 24 Hour Fitness ($399 for the "Sport" or $649 for the "Super Sport", which is a great deal considering there's no activation fees and it can be activated ASAP. Other regions may offer other gyms with similar kinds of deals (maybe LA Fitness), but I can't speak on that.

Another option to consider is to check local YMCA's or gyms. Often, they offer drastically reduced membership prices, such as the upscale YMCA in the nicer part of Denver back when I lived there for like $7 a month, since I showed a 'recent' utility bill showing I lived in the zip code.

Gold's Gym had an online trial coupon, trying it out before joining. I'm not sure if it's still going, but my daughter used it while visiting and being an excersize person, loved the gym and sauna. They have different promotions from time to time....after being a member there, and a long time member at Bally's, I think Golds has it all. Body builders machines being upstairs and "normal" members downstairs, great trainers (if needed) to start, anyone not rating it a 10 hasn't been there, just sayin.....we also have a YMCA, and for seniors, the senior center has Zuma classes free.

LA Fitness. $25 per month plus tax. They have weights, cardio, pool, racquetball, and classes. I can go to any of them in the country too.

There will always be idiots everywhere who don't rerack weights or drip sweat all over the machines.

@Jk1nole wrote:

LA Fitness. $25 per month plus tax. They have weights, cardio, pool, racquetball, and classes. I can go to any of them in the country too.

There will always be idiots everywhere who don't rerack weights or drip sweat all over the machines.

Thin people smell too.....but Golds is immaculate. We have an L.A.Fitness, good price.

Our LA Fitness is way more than $25.

I had a 3 year membership to 24 hr. Fitness, and after that ended, they let me renew for some insane rate like $79 a year, and have for the last few years. Their classes are overcrowded and you have to arrive too early for them, but otherwise I've always had a good experience there.
I also sell Medicare supplements and Advantage plans, and many of them include a free "Silver Sneakers" program where you can go to a lot of gyms for free!

Where i am from health clubs are just another name for massage parlors... so we are talking a new form of dirty...

I have found more success doing simple exercises at home...

I must admit the shiatsu chairs at the local planet fitness are worth the $19.99/month plus yearly $10 fee price alone...

No memberships for me. At home, I do prescribed exercises and others that I like. The price is right.

I belonged to Lifetime Fitness for years and now it is free with my insurance. I like the pool.

Now that I'm home I'm back into running mode. For the first time in my life my muscles can't keep up with my cardiovascular system. Until now it's always been the other way around.

I'm exercised out....just don't want to go, this awful heat does me in...lying on my float at the pool, lifting my drink is my exercise.....