what gym are you currently at?

Then they built new fitness centers at many of our sites so I can go during lunch in the building next to mine, shower, and get back to work in an hour!

Meanwhile our insurance has started sucking overall, but now we get free gym memberships all over town through a network called Prime Fitness. I can go anywhere as often as I want and never pay anything. Now THAT’s the way to encourage health and wellness! Thanks, Employer! I think the gyms get paid for each visit we make, plus we can get “points” to redeem for items like George Foreman grills and pedometers and such.

I usually go to the local Y since it’s right by home and I like the kinda run-down flavor and interesting mix of people. I’m within five miles of ten places, though, so I have a lot to choose.

I REFUSE to pay any upfront “Proccessing” or “new member” fees. That’s a load of crap (at my gym anyway).

I’m lucky because There’s a 24 hr. fitness just down the road. I love pitting them against each other when I negotiate, because I really WILL go to the one who will give me the better deal. (but i’d rather go to Gold’s; I love the classes and my friends go there, but I’m not beneath switching if 24′ll give me a better deal.)

$5/m WOOT!

2) Was there an upfront fee? How much?

$60 for the year’s membership. There was an option to pay monthly at $10/m. But really who would pay $120 for something they can get for $60?

3) What city do you live in?

Grand Canyon, AZ. Which translates to “Middle of Nowhere”

4) What is the gym like?

We have two rooms. One for classes with a TV/DVD player/VCR and mirrored walls that’s open for public use when there are no classes happening. They’ve got a decent stock of work out videos there. The other room is an all purpose cardio/weight training room. There are two treadmills, two bikes, and one elliptical. There’s a plethora of resistance machines and a few weight benches and free weights. Considering that I expected them to have even less in the way of equipment I’m actually really pleased with it. It’s not fancy by any means but it’s functional.

5) Did you negotiate a lower price? How?

I totally didn’t. $60 for a year? I’ll take it!

Just a note of caution: You want to shop for gyms before you sign up with one. Many of the big chains have deceptive billing policies. And I know with Bally’s if you sign up for a contract (the cheapest option for gym membership) and you happen to move your membership moves with you unless you can prove that there isn’t a Bally’s location near you. I had to send them directions to the nearest Bally’s when I moved, 3 hours away, and there was apparently debate as to whether that was too far for me to go to.

If there’s a YMCA in your area I’d say that you should go check them out. They tend to be a lot cheaper than chain gyms, with a lot of the same equipment (do you really need a smoothie bar?) and they don’t have contracts.

My fiancee and I have a family membership that costs $41 per month total.

2) Was there an upfront fee? How much?

I think the joining fee was about $50.

3) What city do you live in? (Rent for a downtown New York space is going to be higher than the rent for a facility in Nowhere, West Virginia. Gym rates are going to reflect that.)

I live in Brooklyn, NY.

4) What is the gym like? (The LA Fitness near here has flat-screen TVs, a pool, a sauna, a spinning room, and a smoothie bar. It’s understandable that it costs more than the Cardinal Fitness which is essentially a treadmill warehouse.)

The gym I go to is the Bed-Stuy YMCA, and it is a fantastic gym. It has a pool, sauna/steam room in both locker rooms, a large gymnasium, an aerobics room, lounges, a free weights room and a fitness center with nautilus and cardio equipment. The cardio machines nearly all have personal TVs, and there is a great range of new equipment in good condition. There are at least 5-8 free classes per day in a wide range of exercise disciplines: pilates, yoga, kickboxing, dancing, etc. The membership is diverse in age, race, shape, and size. It’s a great place to work out.

5) Did you negotiate a lower price? How? (Something I’ve learned with age is that everything is negotiable.)

The price isn’t really negotiable, but I did get a discount by virtue of my insurance. For NYC (any borough), $40 a month for a family membership is ridiculously cheap. Other gyms are easily twice or three times the cost, and don’t have the same perks.