Gym closed

[wordsmith]

Thankfully, I didn't reup my membership, which I'd been thinking about doing for the fitness challenge. Apparently, there's no getting your money back.

It's a small town, so there aren't really any alternatives (if I wanted to drive 25 miles, I could go to a YMCA where I'd have to pay out-of-area membership charges). So I guess it's totally me and my stuff at home and outdoor exercise now, which is fine, really. Still, it was a nice place to lift, and I'm not likely to do any real lifting now.

I'm not surprised that they couldn't manage to get enough people to pay their membership fee, they didn't really research their clientele all that well for what they were charging. Most people around here work physical jobs...charging a higher than average fee to a farm guy who honestly works more muscles for free hoisting hay bales isn't likely to fly. Sigh. I'm still kind of bummed, because I DON'T work hoisting hay bales, and it was nice to have a place with equipment right down the street from work.

[mishl982]

omg I would be so pissed if I had recently renewed my membership and the gym closed AND didn't get a refund!

There's nothing closer to work besides the YMCA? At least you aren't totally bummed and it would be more motivation for you to go outside and workout :)

[wordsmith]

No. Gyms don't do well here (obviously). People here are conservative with their money and won't pay for them, basically, so they tend to not stay open long. This one was open about a year, and I thought it had nice programs and was a decent facility. They even had a staffed nursery/playroom, so people with kids could come work out. We don't have our own YMCA...the regional one has a "satellite program" here, but since there's no site, their program consists of kids' basketball camps that are held at area schools...nothing really for adults.

There is one place that's kind of sketchy, and it's totally a lifters' gym (by lifters' gym, I mean it has literally nothing by way of cardio equipment or classes) I won't pay to use something that has limited resources, and where I also don't feel comfortable. It's all guys and not comfortable for a solo woman to work out. I've gone a few times with my brother, who's a member, and it's not even comfortable then.

[wordsmith]

What is this PBA of which you speak?

[wordsmith]

No, sigh. I wish. There's nothing like that.

The local high school is a new facility, and has an extremely nice weightroom/exercise facility, nice as I've seen at a lot of universities. The funds to build it were donated by a generous benefactor who stipulated it be made available as a community resource, and it is, but on an extremely limited schedule (naturally not during school hours, and not when various teams have it signed out, not too late in the day because someone would have to keep the school open, etc.). So it's kind of a bust, too.

[paiger81]

My hometown doesn't have a gym either. But I know a lot of people who work at the hospital, so whenever I'm in town they let me use their rehabilitation facilities ;)

Truthfully I'd look into buying a few free weights & getting some DVD's. When I was at my larger/largest size I'd just work out inside my house. Lost 20+ pounds on my own, before joining a gym.

[wordsmith]

Oh, I have dumbells and such. I just don't have the room for more extensive weight equipment, and honestly probably wouldn't buy any if I did. Weights are not that big a part of my activities. I've actually always preferred working out at my house, but I liked the classes and instructors the gym that's closing provided, far more than I like my videos and DVDs.

[paiger81]

Yeah, I get what you mean. My old gym raised it's rates, so I had to leave. My new gym is just a gym, no classes. I still take a HipHop dance class here at the college, but it's not always convenient for me to go to.

[wordsmith]

Yeah, well, while it's not really a factor, it's true that my next locale will probably have more by way of fitness options.

[kimmer23]

it sucks that they couldnt sell the place. you would think there would be someone with some money that would want to buy the gym and keep it open.

i have a room in my basement (it doesnt have any windows so it cant be a bedroom) that i have a treadmill in there and some other exercise contraption of alan's. i also do exercises with workout dvd's. they are nice to use when its late at night or crappy out.

[Skyblade]

I feel like I'm the only one who's never belonged to a gym. :rolleyes:
I always just go for runs (even though its bad on my knees).

[pisces2473]

Police Benevolent Association.
Is this just a NY thing? We don't have them in CT either.

[Kitty]

That sucks. Before I joined a gym I just walked A LOT and went roller blading and bike riding.