Had to join a crappy gym

[Egomaniac247]

Well, I moved to a new apartment and the nearest gym was 45 mins away...so I was trying to settle for a weider multi-machine and a treadmill until I could come up with a solution (either driving that far or building a home gym)...

Well, good news and bad news...

Found out theres an American Family Fitness close to me...for those who don't know, here's the lowdown on them


Con's:

-3 year contract, $45 a month (that really pissed me off b/c back home I had a REAL gym for 30 a month with no contract.)

-10,000 square foot place, 500 "machines" TWO squat racks...Funny part: 300 people in the building and NO ONE on them.

-WAY too many people....not that the machines were always full, but I just didn't like how big & open the building was (high ceilings, huge floor, people everywhere)

-Rubberized Dbells

-Lots of guys in the 180-210 range that you could tell think they're the shit b/c they are in that "almost" stage between big and not big....You can tell they're juicing but don't eat right.

-Three-Four guys who obviously juice but aren't ripped...more or less big and wide. Not that I have a problem with that but they had these major "attitudes", I could tell they were looking down on people.


PRO'S

For that 45 a month you do get a lot...

-24 hour usage of the facility

-Pool, Sauna, bball, any class for free SHIT LOADS of cardio machines with TV's

-The atmosphere atleast makes me feel that competitive fire again...the urge to look better than any mofo there...In 9 weeks I will.

-I saw 1-2 guys who were in great shape....probably 210-225 and very low body fat...but there were the kinda guys you like..not show offs...kept to themselves...wore conservative clothing. Maybe there's hope.

At any rate, I do feel better than have in months since I'm actually out and doing shit instead of training by myself for little to no reward...now I guess I have a goal.

That 45 hurts though cuz that's 45 bucks I coulda used for DSL connection a month LOL...rats

 

[JDarty6173]

3 Year contract? whoa, that absolutly ridiculous.... Other than that it sounds like your normal commercial gym....

 

[Victorian guy]

45 minutes?

Bro-
What about buying a bench, squat rack, Olympic set, adjustable dumbells, and a stack of plates?

You want to talk about crappy gyms?
Try moving to the Republic of Korea.
45 bucks a month is STANDARD for a gym that has- and this is true in most cases, I know- a total of 6 45 pound plates in the entire gym. I have had to resort to '1-leg leg presses'- no shit. And that is with added dumbells to the leg press machine. Dumbells only go up to 65 pounds. Cause they are all skinny and weak.
A 3 year contract? Quit when it sucks..but in the meantime, you have yourself a 24 hour gym, and the rubberized dumbells mean it's ok to drop em!
What's important here- you have a place to workout!
WTF- 45 min- where do you live, Alaska? A 3 year contract- sounds like you joined the military! That is bullshit. Anyway, don't think that you are stuck there. There are ways to get out of that ridiculous contract.

If you don't like it- simple solution. Get yourself booted!

Shouldn't be too hard, just walk up to the front desk and ask 'where do I dispose of these needles? I shoot up in the dressing room all the time..." . Play hardball- I have tons of dirty tricks that will get them to waive the contract when you want out!
Here are a few-
- just keep bothering the manager about letting you out of your contract, no penalties, etc. If he is a real asshole, pour sugar into his gastank- he will know who did it. Then, after your next request is refused, scrape a nice line along the side of his car with a set of keys.

- tell the manager you want out of your contract, no penalties. When he mentions bullshit just say you were busted, and will mention the name of his gym to the feds if he doesn't let you go scot-free. No penalties.

- act strange at the gym (when the owner is there), talking to yourself, screaming, etc, and then ask to get out of your contract- they'll be glad to let you go!

- When the manager is around, keep complaining and threatening to sue the gym for this or that. Then ask to get out of your contract.

PS- should you opt for the latter two options, please post what went down here!
Remember- that contract means SHIT> they will never take you to court over it, and the ball is really in your court.
At any rate, good luck. 45 bucks a month is nothing...

 

[babymonkey]

I worked out in a gym like that before. Everyone was juicing but they didn't lift. They came to flirt with the hot 18 year olds behind the counter. For some reason they always had 3 of them working at once. It was a brand new gym and it took 3 months to get a leg press machine! I like the rubber DB's though.

 

[Egomaniac247]

Haha, there's a big ass sign posted everywhere: DO NOT DROP WEIGHTS....lol...

And yea there were a bunch of hot asses there....I like it, something to look at when I'm resting...

I hate the 3 year contract thing, but I loved the ideas to get out of it LOL...

I live out in the boonies so that's why the nearest gym is 45 minutes....this one is only 15 minutes so that's good I guess. The one thing I really do like is the pool...seems like no one was taking advantage of it...I love swimming for cardio b/c it's actually fun compared to sitting on a exercise bike or running nowhere on a treadmill.

Unfortunately since I've taken the last 3 months off of training (injury & work combined) I look like one of them (YUCK!)...actually my arms are still bigger than theres lol, which is good....In 9 weeks I will blow them away....hittin up clen, t3, enth, & prop. with a perfect diet and lotsa cardio!

 

[Haz]

I'm working out at a fitness center now as well. You're right, it has its pros and cons. Its not a hardcore environment, and it doesn't have the tons of free weights and squat racks that a more serious place does. However, its packed to the rafters with hot babes, and like you said the squat rack is always free. Plus you get free classes, pools, suanas, b-ball, racketball, rockclimbing etc. etc. etc.

I actually tried a spinning class yesterday, and I was mightly impressed. I figured it would be easier then hell, because the class was full of older women. I couldn't be more wrong; my heart rate was kept at a good rate the entire time.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Shit gyms

I know it. When I lived in Madeira Island, Portugal which was third world to the max. The gym had flying roaches in it. Nuff' said. I work out at my University now, free if your a grad student. It is definitely a step up from the bug dome but not much. Scrapping to find a matching pair of dumbells. I hear you bro! Good luck.

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

24-hours, no one on the squat racks, rubberized dumbbells...doesnt sound too horrible to me except for the $45 bills a month...that sucks. Make the best of it man until your situation changes...