The good, the bad and the ugly: health clubs

I'm sure "meet market" gyms must still exist somewhere but they seem a LOT more rare these days. The one I go to is frequented by a lot of college students -- as in, presumably a prime pick-up demographic -- and it doesn't have that vibe at all. Lots of different body types (though of course it trends fit) and people usually just come in, do their workout, and leave, and are pretty focused while they're there. I mean, they're not unfriendly, but there are definite personal-space zones that are only violated for a reason, (like, "Is this your water?").

Sozlet doesn't take classes there though they're offered -- for childcare (which we do) I basically just asked them a lot of questions, then had her go once and see what her reaction was. (Very positive.) They had some kind of trial available before we signed up. Most places do, I think. (Some sort of pass that you can use to be just like a regular member for a day or a week or something while deciding if you want to go whole-hog.)

Sorry, that was kinda sideways to your question -- sozlet is in high interruption mode and is not letting me string two thoughts together <glare>, will come back to this later.

i'd probably fall into the ugly category, i mean why do i want to look the picture of health, eventually i'm gonna die, amd when i do i want it to look like it was inevitable

djjd - stop it. Just stop it.

You're answer made sense to me, soz. I'm thinking sozlette is savvy about assessing such things so it is comforting to hear that she approved. The child care thing is a big part for me.

I have heard a lot about personal zones - and the fact that chatter is discouraged. I'm wondering if going with Kathy - a nonstop talker - would make us annoying. I guess I'm thinking the cameraderie of it would make it more fun to go but I wonder how that would be received.

I also worry about signing up and then just not going while I continue to have to pay dues.

How do you stay motivated to go?

I see lots of exercise pairs, people who go together and chat to each other. It seems like there's basically an expectation that nobody talks to strangers, but there's not a general chat moratorium.

I can't imagine going with someone because my schedule is so weird and random, I just go when it works.

WHEN I go -- I was doing GREAT and then I was sick for like 2 and a half months (finally finally finally past tense, whew) and got out of the habit and now have to get myself back into it. Hopefully will start back tomorrow. So I'm not a great one to answer the motivation question... what DID work is that I made this chart, I had to go 3 days a week for 10 weeks (a 12 week chart, gave myself two "bye" weeks), then got a silly reward at the end of it. (I thought it up because I was frustrated by my lack of motivation and took the "if this was sozlet, how would I motivate her?" tack. It worked!)

What worked really well about that is that I just had to go three days in a one-week period, didn't matter WHICH three days, as trying to keep to a schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5 or whatever) so didn't work.

I had just finished when I got sick (pushing to finish when I was already feeling yucky is in fact maybe part of why I got so sick at the beginning -- pff) and I had gotten in a good groove. Dispiriting to think of starting all over again, but it isn't really -- I know where to park, sozlet knows the childcare people and likes 'em, I know which machines I like best, etc.

I like this subject. <nodding>

I've been a real ho when it comes to gyms. Four months here, six months there. Did the Y thing (my favorite overall actually), the 'women's fitness center ' thing (hated it), a health club - which was close to a spa/social experience, I'll share more if you ask, and a bodybuilder-no-frills-weight gym.

Things to watch for:
*What are you actually gonna use? No point paying more if you won't use half of the stuff
*Locked contracts. Seriously boom, a decent club should let you contract for a few months rather than a year or more. The rest is cons. Forget their 'deals'. If you like it after a few months, then you can sign up for more.
*Clientelle - just check if you want to be around those type of people, when the heavy flows of traffic are where you will be using
* Staff - are they aholes and do you need assistance or no?

Can't offer a thing as far as Mo goes.

As far as "Kathy" though...do you think you could handle being around her that much?

Motivation is easy if you block the time and have something there that excites you. Like, the Y here has a climbing wall and a pool. My temptations in winter. So it's easy...and after the workout, I meet up for coffee with a friend. It becomes routine once the snow falls.

I tried several workout buddies and all drove me crazy. Not-as-fit as me was always whining and bailing, or asking for help (I don't mind that except I was not getting my workouts in when I went with her).
More-fit-than me was getting annoyed with me bc I couldn't spot a lot of his routine.

anyhoo...yeah.

Wow. Good things to think about.

I do like Cathy. She's a chatterbox but an interesting one. I'm a good listener but not much of a talker so we complement each other that way. I do think a buddy would help to keep me motivated partly because I'm not very social and find that sociablity within certain confines easier: I'll see you at 3:00 and blahblahblah.

From the Mo perspective I kind of like what appears to be the open endedness off the class. The park department offers classes but they are typically for six weeks then you have to sign up for another and so on. I do have concerns about how he progresses from one stage to another at the gym though. I'm also looking at a dojo that is close to home.

I do get exercise but a more regular program is really tempting. Lately stress has been a big issue and I know if exercise was structured into my day it would help.

I'm really tempted to sign up - it's been a long time since I've done anything that was focused on my own wellness. I just don't want to get locked into an expensive mistake.

I will certainly be inquiring about short term memberships -- that is excellent advice, flushd. Thank you.

Boomer -- I've belonged to two health clubs in my lifetime and they were night and day. The first was my local YWCA and I loved it. It was extremely small (one treadmill) and very welcoming. Since I went mornings when my kids were in school I hung out with seniors and people doing rehabilitative exercises (and therefore it would have been too embarrassing for me to whine) and the director put us through our paces with stretches and floor exercises (there was a pack of us known as the "sit-up girls"). Later I spent an hour in the weight room with the shiftworkers from the local steel mill (all male) who were serious bodybuilders and ignored me (which I appreciated). They let me pay by the month and it was very affordable. After we moved to a different city I joined a franchise-type health club (the "Y" was too expensive -- go figure). I hated it. It was big and crowded and everybody was seriously into themselves. I couldn't wait for my membership to expire. I never had an exercise buddy but the people around me and the director's style and personality had a huge impact on the general atmosphere and my comfort level.

Normally I worked out when my kids were at school but I know if childcare had been an issue I would have been more comfortable with the "Y" where they were also members (swimming lessons, etc) and where I knew the staff was well-trained. If you're taking Mo along his comfort level will probably be the most important part of your decision (as Sozobe mentioned).

I'm a ymca fan too. Went there for years.

Also signed up for a health club in Marina del Rey one year, paid a lot of money at the time, and never went, hated the place.
Growls at self.

More recently I signed a contract and did use a health club in northern california. Not as good an experience as the Y, but I didn't hate it. However, I found out some time later that I didn't have to sign a contract, you could just pay x amount a visit (I think it was $5.) Growls at self again, I hadn't asked that. In my case it would have saved money.

There isn't a "Y" anywhere near my home -- probably a 30 minute commute (in good traffic) to the nearest one so they aren't really in consideration.

The park department takes up a lot of the "Y" slack/lack in Portland. We do have great parks and they have great programs but not so much in this case. Everything is very scheduled so you can't just decide you want to work out at whatever time and just show up. Plus, the parks and schools share pools and during swim season it is nearly impossible to swim in a park pool. And, I really want to enroll Mo in a class that has more than six week of continuity.

So not only is the "Y" out the park department is out too.

Which really leaves me only with health clubs for me or a health club or dojo for Mo.

I'm getting some great ideas about questions to ask -- pay as you go, short term membership, comfort levels for both me and Mo, the type of visitor during the hours I would most likely use the facility -- all of that is important.

Thank you all. This is great!

What about Portland State?

Universities often have good gym/ recreation facilities that are cheaper for students but still available (and still usually pretty cheap, comparitively speaking) to the general public.

PSU is an interesting idea! It is very handy. The only downfall I can see is that parking in the city proper is a headache.

There is a newish club in my neighborhood that I know has both an indoor pool and an outdoor pool - that makes it pretty exceptional. I'm really not sure what else they offer but they might be worth checking out.

Sounds good!

Curious to know if you signed up for that club, Boomer? If you did, how is it going?

One thing to look for is how accessible steroids are in the locker room.

Er, I mean...does it get too packed during after-work hours? Some gyms are ridiculous, some aren't bad.

You'd actually be lucky to go with someone who knows what they're doing.