Hello, friends! I have something pretty neat to share with you all today! Well, it’s pretty neat to me, that is. Several days ago, I scrolled past an ad, posted my town’s Anytime Fitness gym, on Facebook. The ad was for a 30-day free membership for 10 lucky people. I looked at the date, and saw it had been posted three days prior, but messaged them anyway. Apparently, living in a small town can pay off sometimes, because they still had some left to give out!
I was excited to get one, because the gym is literally several buildings down from my apartment, right at the end of the street. I’ve been mulling around the idea of getting a membership there for a long time, but never really had the disposable income to do it, so a 30-day trial seemed like an excellent idea! If anything, at the very least, it would help motivate me to get back into an exercise routine, even if it wasn’t at the gym.
So, yesterday, I had an consultation appointment with the manager. The aim of the appointment was mostly to talk about my fitness and health goals, sign some stuff, and try to figure out what I want to do after my free 30 days expired. The meeting was only supposed to last around 30 minutes, but it went on for an hour and a half, because the owner and I really hit it off. Funny enough, I actually almost applied for his job several months ago, but luckily, it went to him, because was clearly was born to do it.
We talked about our spouses and kids (he has three teenagers, and literally told me that I could bring Liam into the gym with me, as long as he behaved), I had my body fat total calculated (48%, yikes), and he mentioned how he knew every member in the gym by name. We talked politics, and how corporations suck, and how healthcare should be free. He was seriously awesome. It was kind of bittersweet, really.
Here’s why.
I love gyms. I love working out. But they’re expensive, y’all.
You see, I really, really want to get a membership here once my 30 days expires, but the ONLY membership they offer comes with a 12-month contract, and I’m not a fan of that at all. Also, the monthly rate is more than I’d like to pay, but it’s not too bad… however, if I have to pay that amount every month for an entire year, or else I face tons of fees, that is a problem for me financially. I could save over $100 by paying it all upfront, but even that cost is more than a month’s worth of rent, and I don’t have that.
On top of the membership cost, I also need to decide whether I want to work with a personal trainer, and how often I want to see them. The manager insisted that I work with one, even if it’s only once a week, because everyone should be working with a personal trainer if they are going to the gym. However, that isn’t included in the membership fee. It costs extra. However, you pay per session, instead of committing to it long-term.
The manager urged me to try and get at least four sessions in with a trainer during my 30-day free trial, but it will cost me. Roughly $150 for the month. I just wish the membership wasn’t so much, and the contract wasn’t so long, because I really liked the manager, and the whole vibe and environment of the place. Blah. This is kind of a bummer, you guys.
Kyle also got a 30-day free trial, and today is his day off, so he wanted to go in and talk to the manager as well, but his work made him work 16 freaking hours last night, instead of the 8 he was scheduled, and he didn’t get home until this morning, so he’ll probably be sleeping all day. Ugh.
I really don’t see how we could possibly afford for both of us to get a membership.
I mean, I guess I kind of do… if we stop going out to eat so much, we would definitely be able to afford it for one of us. Ideally me, because Kyle is awful at keeping up with stuff like this, and while I know he wants to get into shape, I can’t see him sticking with a gym membership. Besides, he’s a guy. He just needs to take one walk a week, and cut the amount of pizza he eats in half, and the weight will melt off of him. I have to work my ass off for results, so… yeah.
We’ll see. I do have 30 days to decide, but the sooner I figure it out, the better, especially if I want to work with the trainer while I’m still in my free trial period. A lot of people have been telling me to just go to Planet Fitness, which we also have nearby. Planet Fitness is cheaper, but you have less access to personal training, which means people go in and run on the treadmill a few times a week, because they really don’t know what else to do, and then they plateau, and eventually give up. I had a membership at Planet Fitness in the past, and that’s exactly what happened to me.
Besides, Planet Fitness is a town away, and I can’t walk there, which is a big issue.
I guess I’ll have to figure something out.
Here’s to a healthier me!
Jan
My Life as Jan 