NBR: Finding a good gym

hav2run

I was just wondering what others here looked for in a gym?  What things were most important to you when you were looking?  Aside from hours, child care, and facilities, what are some things that we really should pay attention to?  I would also love recommendations.  We are in the Mason area, but also reasonably close to West Chester and Blue Ash.  Long operating hours or 24 hour gyms are a must.  I may be one of those who hit the gym at 5 am or 10 pm.  Thoughts?

sara401

When I was looking for a gym, group fitness classes were the most important to me at the time.  I decided to join Lifetime Fitness in Mason and I LOVE it there.  It's sooo clean and they have so much to offer.  I obviously haven't used their child care center yet, but it looks nice.  I also love the setup of the machines.  I would visit gyms during the busiest hours (4-7pm).  That way you can see if there are any wait times using the equipment that you like to use.  Lifetime is such a big gym that I never have problems finding a machine.  When I was at Urban Active during those hours, there were always waiting times.  Good luck:)

JLPT830

One of the reasons we picked ours was the good variety of classes for kids of all ages....among the other things you mentioned, child care, hours, facilities.  They have summer camps, tumbling, swimming, karate, dance, etc.  Plus it helps that I get a descent discount for being an employee of the health system!  Good luck. 

hav2run

sara401:

When I was looking for a gym, group fitness classes were the most important to me at the time.  I decided to join Lifetime Fitness in Mason and I LOVE it there.  It's sooo clean and they have so much to offer.  I obviously haven't used their child care center yet, but it looks nice.  I also love the setup of the machines.  I would visit gyms during the busiest hours (4-7pm).  That way you can see if there are any wait times using the equipment that you like to use.  Lifetime is such a big gym that I never have problems finding a machine.  When I was at Urban Active during those hours, there were always waiting times.  Good luck:)

Lifetime is at the top of our list to check out.  I am scared of finding out what they charge since it is such a huge place.  They won't tell me over the phone.  Do they make you go with a contract, or can you do a month to month there?

hav2run

JLPT830:

One of the reasons we picked ours was the good variety of classes for kids of all ages....among the other things you mentioned, child care, hours, facilities.  They have summer camps, tumbling, swimming, karate, dance, etc.  Plus it helps that I get a descent discount for being an employee of the health system!  Good luck. 

How sad is it that I can't get a discount at the gym owned by the hospital I work at?  I am a contractor there, so they don't give discounts unless they write my paychecks.  Stinks, but it is not close enough to home for DH to be interested anyway.  

sara401

Lifetime is at the top of our list to check out.  I am scared of finding out what they charge since it is such a huge place.  They won't tell me over the phone.  Do they make you go with a contract, or can you do a month to month there?

I pay $60/month for just me.  When I first signed up, I signed DH up too and it was $110/month.  I think that a family membership is $130-140/month.   They don't do contracts.  I can't believe they won't give you the price over the phone.  The gym is soooo nice! You'll love it once you see it.  

alisonada

Really, the main things we looked for were good childcare, decent hours, and close to home. Without those things I knew we wouldn't go often enough to make it worth it. I also love the indoor track, and DH appreciates the indoor tennis & basketball courts. FWIW, we ended up at the Beechmont Racquet & Fitness Club & love it, but I know it's too far for you. Good luck with your search! For comparison's sake, we pay around $60/month for a family membership including childcare & classes, and there's never a wait times for machines.

KarmaKP

sara401:

 

 

Lifetime is at the top of our list to check out.  I am scared of finding out what they charge since it is such a huge place.  They won't tell me over the phone.  Do they make you go with a contract, or can you do a month to month there?

I pay $60/month for just me.  When I first signed up, I signed DH up too and it was $110/month.  I think that a family membership is $130-140/month.   They don't do contracts.  I can't believe they won't give you the price over the phone.  The gym is soooo nice! You'll love it once you see it.  

We pay $123/month for my husband, my stepson and myself.  Two hours of childcare per day per child.  Conner is much older than Brenna but I can tell you that he LOVES the child care center - and this kid doesn't really do well with people he doesn't know really well.

We joined back in November and have not looked back.  The barbell strength class is the reason I/we joined (and the reason we left Urban Active when they cancelled group fitness at the Deerfield location). 

One of my favorite things about Lifetime is the diversity.  You can be waiting for a class to start or changing in the locker room and hear three or four languages spoken.   I love that.