Gym Membership Can Be A Bargain – If You Use It!

Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

So you finally decided to take some action to get that toned body you’ve wanted for so long. Like millions of others you are ready to join a gym to get all of the advantages membership offers so you can really see some progress for a change.

Many people find that gym membership can be the needed spur to get them to exercise regularly. And if you actually use it, it can be a great way to go whether you are looking to build massive muscle, tone up the muscle you already have, or shed a little belly fat. But you have to use it.

And therein lies the rub – you actually have to use it!

I just came across a shocking statistic on this. These numbers come with the disclaimer that I found them in an ad for one of the most expensive exercise machines available – the ROM, which sells for $14,615. Like all advertising you are not too sure how much to rely on the information. That being said, they claim that: “Over 92% of people who own exercise equipment and 88% of people who own health club memberships do not exercise”.

From my own observations, the numbers are right on.

How many times have you seen exercise bicycles, treadmills, weight benches, rowing machines, etc., etc., sitting unused in a friends home? Or in a garage sale? Or in your own home?

Gym membership is pointless if you use it as often as you use the treadmill catching dust in your garage. Even if you start out strong, the odds are against you continuing to actively use the facilites for more than a few months.

Membership in health and fitness clubs can be expensive, and you normally need to sign a contract for a certain length of time to get the best rates. Gym memberships typically run around $50 a month, with some going as high as $100 a month. Plus, there is usually an added initiation fee to start up. And various upsells.

Memberships can be a bargain if you take advantage of everything available. But they are nothing but a financial drain if they are not used.

I am not trying to discourage you. There are definite benefits to working out with other people. They provide the motivaiton to keep us going. We can pickup tips to help us. Clubs are air conditioned and clean. Group activities are available. There really are many great features of gym membership. But if you don’t use them, they are just another waste of good money.

Before jumping into a membership you may not use, take some time to review several bodybuilding and fitness programs offered online. Several include live coaching that can be a super motivator to keep you on track. They have the advantage of being reasonably priced and most come with a guarantee – no questions asked. So if you decide after a few weeks that it really isn’t for you, you can just cancel and get your money back. Gym memberships never offer that option.

Two programs that deserve the attention of anyone searching for a good program to start at home are Simply Eat which is a great program to tone up while losing weight and Every Muscle which sorts out myth and fiction from bodybuilding basics.

Start with a basic program, get a workout/motivation partner and then get a gym membership when you know you will stick with it!