I went to ACAC, one of the local gyms in my area, last night and it was glorious. Okay, that may be an exaggeration but it was pretty nice to work out in a real gym with a bench, pull up bar, box stand, stability ball, and hundreds of other workout tools available at my disposal.
An exciting gym (Source)
Since graduating college in the spring, I have yet to join a gym. At first, I figured I would just use my apartment gym but it lacks so many pieces of equipment and machines. Plus I’m the gym-go-er type. It’s fun to craft workouts in big gyms. I like the community, the classes, and everything else that it offers. The only thing I don’t like is of course, the monthly fees. 
After a great workout, I was re-energized and went on the world’s healthiest grocery shop. (I’m slowly starting to justify reasons I need to join this gym.)
Look at that total. Oh yeah, $36!
Hm, maybe I can save money on groceries and clothes and put it towards my gym membership. Hello real world.
On a side note, guess who got a new lunch box?
My co-worker saw all the bags I use for my lunch and brought me this! Maybe my Victoria Secret’s packed lunch earned me a new pail 😀
Happy hump day! (This was actually one of my recent search times. Might as well embrace it.)
Question of the day: Are you a member of a gym? Does the price matter or is it justified because it’s the for health?
The Zen Kat 
I use my apartment gym because I can’t afford joining a gym around here. what I miss most are classes, that is something I wish I had money for. i am a bargain shopper so my groceries are quite cheap each week. necessary … also question where do you work?
I like the classes too! I work at a search engine marketing firm, Search Mojo. We do SEO, PPC, and online reputation management. And I’m the PR gal. 🙂
I love that! I am looking to get into PR so totally interests me.
I am a gym member. I am lucky because I’m the third person on my parents’ account, and so my monthly fee is very slim. However, I would have to seriously think about it if I were paying full price. Between Yoga studios, and my free Kosama membership as a trainer, I could probably go without. But I LOVE going to the gym with a workout in mind that I’ve created on my own, and having all of that equipment at my disposal 🙂
I love going to the gym, I tried the apartment gym thing and the work out at home thing, but it never worked for me. Getting out to the gym is my me time, I go to LA fitness which is a bit cheaper than the other big gyms and you can try to negotiate the enrollment fee.
ps….I’m sad to see your vickys bag go, congrats on the big girl lunch box 🙂
Luckily I’m still in college so I use my school’s gym. However, there’s a chain of gyms by me that are only 10 dollars a month which isn’t bad at all!
I love the gym and miss the classes when I’m at school. I could spend a fortune at zumba and yoga classes each week, it’s a problem. When I graduate, I’ll have to find a reasonably priced gym that has everything I want there! Easier said than done 🙂
I am a gym member. I have found that if I belong to a gym and am paying a monthly fee that I am much more likely to be motivated to go in order to get my money’s worth. Plus, I feel like I am capable of getting in a much better and more efficient workout at a gym, as opposed to at home.
Trader Joes is fantastic for getting good food cheap. I just wish that they had the selection of the larger healthy supermarkets like Whole Foods or Earth Fare.
And that’s awesome that your co-worker gave you a new lunch box. Spread the wealth around 🙂
I love shopping at Trader Joe’s – I typically end up with peanut butter pretzels and chocolate covered almonds in my bag, though!
I’m currently going to a school where gym membership and classes like Zumba, yoga, Body Pump, etc. are free – that being said, some of those classes/facilities are great, some of them definitely are not. I hope to join a gym that offers classes like that once I graduate. I think the money is totally justifiable!
I’m way too hooked to the gym, I get a membership included with my tuition, but I really hope I can still continue going after college!
Man I love TJ’s. I wish they had one closer to me!
I actually switched gyms to one that offered classes. The price is a factor, but I pay about $46 a month and that includes the fitness center, fitness classes, and the kid’s room. To me, it’s worth it!
End of the month is a perfect time to join a gym cuz they need to make their quotas for the month. You’ll get a better deal (ssshhhh, you didn’t hear that from me!). 🙂
LOVE TJ’s! I actually need to go there tomorrow for a produce run. I belong to a gym because that’s where my triathlon team trains, and it also has a pool. My apartment’s gym is OK, but lacking like yours. If you’d have access to group exercise classes for free (you have to pay at my gym), then I would definitely sign up!
I would love to have a gym membership, but I can’t complain. I have a nice set up at home, which means I can workout when my son naps=)
Oh how I miss Trader Joe’s 😦 BTW congrats on the new lunch bag 😀
There are some pretty amazing gyms in my area and monthly rates average from the $80s to the $100s. While it would be absolutely fantastic to go to a gym where I can get my hair done, a massage and a facial after my workout, I just can’t afford it! So my gym membership is only $20 a month but they have everything I ‘need’ there!
Wow that’s an awesome deal! What’s the name of the gym? I’m with you on not needing all the fancy stuff!
I tried to use our apartment fitness center, but that was not reliable. I found a great deal for $8.25 a month at a local gym. There are no classes, but it offers everything else. For that price I can do without classes.
I don’t belong to a gym because we have one at our complex, but I think if you find one you love and you can cover the cost, go for it!
Oh my goodness! Is that a Ritz Carleton lunchbox? That is awesome!
I’m a member of the gym, but my boyfriend is one of the executive directors at the gym so we both go for free. I actually rarely go to the gym though. I do a lot of my workouts at home. However, I’m thinking of switching things up for a while and getting back into spinning/body pump. I haven’t missed the gym too much though – I feel like I get good quality workouts in at home.
Yay for the new lunch box! I don’t belong to a gym, but I have a gym in my apartment building (which I rarely use) I go to a yoga/spinning studio or run, so I’m not really big on the whole machines thing 🙂
What a healthy grocery shopping list! I love TJ’s, and usually have a very healthy list, but never can leave without a bar of their chocolate:)
Hey Alex! I do love the gym! Price is definitely something I consider. Right now, I am looking into yoga studios in my area to join. I’m weighing costs and looking into a studio I think would be the right fit for me.
Man I love and miss TJ. I wish they would come to Kuwait, but ha that’ll never happen. Guess Ill have to stock up on goodies when I visit the states in March!
I love Trader Joe’s! They have the best snacks. I don’t belong to a gym… we have a simple exercise room in the lower level of our house where I do treadmill runs and DVD workouts. I used to belong to a gym years ago, but it’s definitely more time efficient if you can workout at home!
I used to pay an outrageous amount and never went. Now I pay only about $20 a month and I use it all the time! I don’t think I’ll ever go back to paying the ridiculous $75+, because it’s just not worth it! At that point I think I’d rather purchase dumbbells for home use and just go running outside!
I had a gym membership for a few months. It was super cheap and no frills (no classes, basic machines, etc)but I quit about a month ago. I’m currently shopping for a gym with a little more fluff for not too much more money. Ugh I miss free college gyms!
I am a FIRM believer that If it makes you GET OUT THERE & DO IT, it’s WORTH the membership fee!! Your HEALTH is, and always SHOULD BE, your #1 priority!! 🙂
Going to the gym motivates me alot more then working out at home. I paid for a whole year at my gym (Last year) And i love it there!! In the 9 months that ive been going there, there has been alot of progress. And i feel so much better physically and mentally!! 🙂 And i am going to pay for another year when my gym card expires (in 3 months… -_-)
I think the gym is definitely worth the fee. Or depending how often you go there. I go to the gym 4-6 days a week, so it is definitely worth the price!! 🙂
And i just found your blog, but i love it 🙂
I definitely cringe when I have to pay my membership fees each month, but it is beyond worth it for me–I absolutely do not work out at home, and I’ve realized that I just won’t, gym membership or no. Plus the gym is a great place to leave frustration, stress, etc. and get a great workout, try new classes, meet new people–even if it’s just a few regulars you wave at on a daily basis. Yep, mental AND physical health makes it totally worth it for me. Now if only my gym was near a Trader Joe’s…(Or maybe it’s a good thing that it isn’t.)
Thanks for making me conscious of this, it’s very interesting undoubtedly.
[…] been considering joining a gym for a while now and last night, I went to ACAC to get a trial membership for the rest of the month. […]
[…] finally made the decision to join a gym! Honestly, I’m not sure what took me so long because I love attending classes […]