Gym Membership: Is it really worth it?

I have had two short stints at this gym in my lifetime. I went to other gyms but that was also temporary.

My first experience I was there for over a year. I lost 10 lbs and found an exercise regimen that I really liked. I absolutely loved the 30 minute circuit. Yes, you guessed correctly, I went to Planet Fitness. I was there long enough to say it is a great starter gym. There are some pros and cons to consider but I will mostly speak on my own needs against what this gym had to offer. 

First the pros. It has all the machines you could ever need. It also has some free weights and weight specific machines. It also has a separate area for the 30 minute circuit. In this area you do machines alternating with floor and step exercises totaling a half an hour. There are also an army of various cardio machines hooked up to TVs. I always enjoyed my warm up and cool downs while watching some show. Another favorite was the water massage bed. I loved that because I have a bad back and it helped reduce the tension after a workout. For those that wanted they have sun tanning and an all over body exercise machine that vibrates your whole body. Those last few were not my thing. There is also one free session with a personal trainer that will do a fitness test and help you get on track to meet your goals. Most amenities here are amazing its just the staffing and inconsistency with the rules that I have an issue with.

The cons are few but important. Firstly individual gyms are franchise owned basically. So this means not all of them follow the company rules and the rules do not apply equally. My main example of this is the dress code. A pregnant lady was recently kicked out for her shirt not covering her belly entirely. For this reason I recently cancelled my membership. As a woman I wouldn't want to be treated like that. On the opposite end they say that muscle shirts are not allowed but I used to see guys wearing them all the time. Next, this brings me to my past experience and why I quit then. An employee was cleaning the locker rooms and when he was done with the men's side he proceeded to call into the women's side and ask if anyone was in there. I explained that it was me and one other person in the showers and to please wait. I was half dressed and he peeked in to the locker room. I yelled at him to get out. I immediately reported this to management but I am not sure if anything was done about him. I just know that after that I quit and did not return for a few years. I was understandably traumatized. My point with that story is that they also don't always have the staff to effectively run the place. A female associate would not have bothered me.

I have done some tours at other establishments but for some reason the other ones didn't quite meet my needs. It is also a waste of money if you are new to gyms and are not sure which one you want. At the end of the day gyms are a business and can work for some but not for others. My advise is to be cautious and follow your gut. 

Melody Out!