Why I love the YMCA

I work out by just going about my daily routine.

Free drop-off childcare? Really?

I was thinking something similar about where I work out, too -- it's a lot of students but it's not just students, and everyone's just really matter-of-fact and friendly. Not snooty at all. We (sozlet and I) were in the elevator one of my first days with an intimidatingly buff young guy -- he smiled at sozlet and asked her how she was doing, and they had a little conversation, and he smiled at her and me before we went our separate ways. Just nice.

Very different from my last experience in a gym setting, with people who took things Very Very Seriously.

Yeah well, being a porn star doesn't work all the major muscle groups, so you better find yourself Y.

Whoops, sorry soz. That was for gus.

Now I'm glad I amended "getting off" to "before we went our separate ways"...

Yeah, free childcare for members for up to two hours as long as you remain in the facility. And it's fun in there too. They have air hockey and other games for the kids.

But yeah, I've had lots of "interesting" experiences with past places. Not friendly, kind of judgmental and competitive, and a rip off to boot. But this place is, dare I say it, family oriented. And by that I mean several generations of family and not just kid centered.

I'm dying.

The Y is a great deal if you have kids and sign up for the family deal.

Otherwise, I found it too pricey for just one person.

I've always either belonged to one gym or the other, or worked out at home.

I'd join a gym if I didn't have exercise equipment at the time (due to moving around)

Now, I bought a descent elliptical machine, good enough for home use. I won't be moving again until they take me out in a body bag.

I do use it regularly, I have the habit.

Personally, I never muched liked having to use a gym.

Equal parts of seeing sweaty people touching everything and not wiping down, too noisey, incompetent staff and management, having to schlep there after work, change, deal with people, awful music, waiting for machines, schlep home in traffic......oy.

Now, I come home, if I'm a little hungry I'll eat a couple bites of something (just did that now), then go to the privacy of my own workout area, wear what I want, (or don't), listen to NPR, watch what I want on TV, or have silence.

I'm much happier this way. When I'm done, I walk into the next room, and I'm home. I kiss my husband, take a shower and eat.

That's a-what I'm gonna do riiiiiight NOW!

see ya later all....

It is a good deal for family memberships but I can see how it might be high for an individual who doesn't take full advantage of all the perks.

Enjoy your workout, Chai. Feel the burn!

Mr B and I go to the gym together. It's located in an office park only a mile from our home. Because most of the members are employees within the office park the place is mostly empty from 9:00-11:00 am and 1:00-4:00 pm. We usually get there around 8:45 when everybody is busy taking showers and getting over to the office. We have the place to ourselves with the exception of a few other local folks who come at the same time. Mr B doesn't need to be at his workplace at any particular starting time and I work at home which makes it very convenient.

It's very low key and not at all foo-foo. In fact, one of the foo-foo clubs in the area closed down recently and I don't think we got any of their members. They all split up between the other over-crowded snotty places.