Quitting the gym
It’s a gorgeous day over here <3
I’m still wondering if we’ll ever get a real winter. If not, fine by me…
Last night’s baby meal (and cake!!!) were fantastic…
Kyle and Meg came over to enjoy the goods with us, and the shrimp curry was incredible. Giant chunks of potatoes and jalapenos- I’ll have to ask her for the recipe.
I used some of the veggies from the baby meal for this morning’s egg scramble, too.
Sautéed the veg in some olive oil
added the eggs
(I always do the eggs on the side of the pan and mix them into the veggies at the last minute)
topped with lots of goat cheese
with bread and beverage of choice.
It was a lovely feast for two 🙂
Since we’ve been chilling at home this week, I’ve been able to get some stuff done around the house that I’d been putting off saving for a rainy day. One of the things I like to do every January is evaluate our family budget, see how we’re doing, and what changes we can make to save and spend more wisely. One of the things I noticed: I’ve been paying for a gym membership since last January, and have used it maybe 10 times since then. I was doing a lot of at-home workouts (BodyRock and Turbofire!), going to base with the Pilot, and then got a job teaching. It’s easier, free (and nicer!) to work out and take classes at work, and ever since LA Fitness changed their music policy, my favorite classes took a hit. That was the main reason why I had a membership in the first place- I loved the spin class.
So today, I’m quitting the gym.
Well, quitting THAT gym 😉
Instead, I’m really excited to get back into Bikram since we have a studio in Tucson- I’ve missed taking classes so much.
Have you ever spent a decent amount of money on something fitness-related, then realized it was a fail? My $80 pole dancing shoes come to mind…
Hope you have a great day <3
See ya later with a Family post!
xoxo
Gina
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That makes sense to quit since you have other gym options! I hate paying for a gym unless I’m going all the time! I go to yogaworks so for me, I have to make it there during certain times! But lately with my work schedule, I find myself missing so many classes I wonder if it’s worth it or if it’s time to look into other options, but when I finally get to go to a class, I remember how much I love it! It’s a hard call! I could stand to look at my other purchases though and could definitely cut back on food and clothes i’m sure! I almost don’t want to face the reality!
My biggest whoops has got to be my mountain bike, it set me back close to $700. I thought I would enjoy the sport, but I hate riding on the edges of cliffs and going downhills, which is WHY most people mountain bike. I’m much better suited for road biking, but then I’d own THREE bikes (mountain, beach cruiser, and road) and that’s just excessive.
I still use the bike, but not since I’ve been training for a race. To me, mountain biking is for pedaling through gently rolling meadows like the Sound of Music :-).
I did the same thing, then discovered, actually I REALLY HATE riding up hills. It’s not fun, it’s a bit boring. You can’t admire any scenery because you are too afraid to hit a rock or some sticky mud.
Yea, I bought a recumbent bicycle for my apartment and then was never home to use it. I finally “donated” it to my parents when I moved and therefore didn’t have space for it anymore anyway. Oy!
I kept my gym membership for the Zumba classes only, after I realised I prefer to work out at home. Then the gym changed hands and the new instructors just weren’t that good. This is going to sound bad.. just about all of them were overweight, which is fine if they can do a hard Zumba class, but they couldn’t! It just got too easy and the class was frustrated because the instructors kept returning to easy, repetitive moves just to catch their breath. I’d just sent in the cancellation form when the gym was trashed by an earthquake and closed. So erm.. doubly pleased to not be in there when that happened.
When I was in high school, I started taking tennis lessons and convinced (read: suckered) my poor father into buying me a state of the art, awesome tennis racket. Those lessons lasted about 2 months. Haha sorry daddy!
Right on Momma – I quit my membership too! We decided to make a home gym – treadmill, kettlebells, weights, chin-up bar, etc., and I have downloaded tons of video’s as well as decided to try other methods of fitness – like pole dancing 😉 , yoga, and tabata at home…SO! Kudos! and ya know Momma – you and Tim will have livi to chase around! Thank you for all of your amazing advice and “how – to’s” Gina – you got it goin’ on! – I sent you a recipe that hubby, Kyle, or you (when you have time) can make…
Enjoy…
Natasha
Good for you! Note to self to go through finances. 🙂
I went to my first spin class last night. Who knew I got the spin instructor from hell?! I was supposed to take Zumba tonight but I am so sore I think I will take the night off!! Why do you have pole dancing shoes in the first place?
for pole dancing fitness class.. i only went twice so it wasn’t worth it
Girl I wrote a “I quit the gym” post about 18 months ago. It was right after my fitness show, I was doing at-home yoga and running, had no interest in lifting, and was paying for the gym membership plus childcare for about 6 mos and not using it and said screw it! And canceled. There have been ZERO times the past 18 mos where I have missed it. I like working out at home, doing yoga, running, and doing my own thing. Good for you!!!!
I’ve quit my gym, too. Well, sort of. I prepaid my membership, but now I don’t live near it anymore. I now workout at/around home!
It’s nice to freshen up the budget every now and then. It makes me feel good when I find ways to save.
On a different note, I was watching Brunch @ Bobby’s ( Bobby Flay). No wonder he’s your fave. His brunch included salmon ribbon salad, bagels with herbed goat cheese and jalepeno, and mango carrot smoothies.
I thought that meal screams Gina!
that sounds GLORIOUS
I just am picturing you teetering with your prego belly in 8″ heels…. I know your belly is probably gone by now, but it’s a mental image that keeps making me giggle. On the other hand, now we know where beautiful Olivia came from ::wink wink::
Hope you are adjusting and getting a little more sleep!
haha!
YAY for choosing bikram! Its so good for you in so many ways 🙂
X!
I bought a 30 day yoga pass last year that I still haven’t used yet! Thankfully it’s not a fail though because it doesn’t expire. I’m sure I’ll get around to using it… eventually. 😛
I have a 2-year membership (bought through Costco) and recently moved where they isn’t a 24 hours. I got a really good deal on it and got a year’s worth out of it. I’m glad I still have it because whenever I go back to Portland or travel elsewhere, I can get into the gym.
I have so much fun working out at home or outside, having a gym membership isn’t a big deal to me anymore.
You can breastfeed and still eat broccoli?! My baby girl (now 18) did not like it. I finally figured it out after many gassy nights. =(
haha, that happens all the time. Not just fitness related, but anything that is bit of an investment that I think I will use a lot. It’s easy to rationalize that someday you’ll need it or someday you’ll use it, but that day never comes. This year I’m focusing on making small bets and failing fast and testing to see if I’m willing to make a commitment. For example instead of buying a TRX I built one for less than $20, and have set a goal of using it more than twice a week for the next month or two to see whether it’s worth my money and time to invest in a TRX and anything that comes along with it, since it is quite the investment ($200+). Anyways thanks for the post!
I had just gotten in to the swing of going to the gym when I was diagnosed with cancer and had to have surgery. It took me over a year to get back into it. I paid for my gym membership every month because I knew the second I cancelled my membership it would be really hard to get back into it. Finally, I started consistently going to the gym again in December and I feel better than ever. Thank God for Zumba because that is the one thing that keeps me going!
yay! we quit our gym membership over two years ago, and love it!!
I tell my financial planning clients all the time to really evaluate the cost of a gym membership. Living in Seattle in the winter it can be a blessing, but most of us don’t mind the rain so we just get a waterproof jacket on and come home wet.
Also I did my first Winter Shape Up workout! Not as graceful on those Tabata intervals as I wanted to be…
hardcore > graceful 😉
I think I need to follow your lead and cancel my gym membership too. I haven’t used it in months, plus I totally agree that the change in LA Fitness’s music policy is ridiculous. I can use the savings to do things I really want. Good call!
I took this spring semester off so I lost my use of the campus gym for free 🙁 I think I’ll hold off on joining another until I go back for summer courses so I don’t have to pay out of pocket for a gym membership..yeah, I’m cheap like that. haha
Whew. When I first saw that you were quitting the gym I got a little nervous. Now that I know it was just quitting THAT gym I feel better. 🙂
I’ve made my own home gym just because the operation hours of most gyms in my area don’t meet my needs. i find that having what I need at home gets rid of any and all excuses for not working out. The only thing I miss from a gym are the classes. I really enjoy those. Thankfully I haven’t made any purchases that went unused or became coat racks. My husband on the other hand has a Total Coat Rack (Total Gym) that he has only used twice.
I love working out at home and I love hot yoga!! Bella looks so pretty!! 🙂
What’s LA Fitness’ new music policy?
My husband and I talk about quitting the gym and getting a treadmill all the time but we just haven’t bitten the bullet and done it yet.
Awesome $$$ saving! I wouldn’t quit the gym because it’s hard for me to find the motivation to run in the cold, but it would be awesome to find a more budget-friendly option… Most extravagant fitness purchase that went to waste would prob be the orthotics I got from my PT- great in theory but I never wore them because they hurt more than they helped :/
I totally know what you man about LA fitness fail. I too am so frustrated with new music policy along with most of good instructor leaving LA fitness for the new kid in town that rocks their face. How can you take or class or even teach a class to pretty much Kareoke music!!!
I am unmotivated and frustrated. So I took just filled out that stupid form you have to MAIL to corporate. 6 years and I am done. And hello new Mountainside!!! I am so excited to start my new gym and classes and cool spa like features.
$80 POLE DANCING SHOES? Oh my gosh, I am dying w laughter.
I don’t think I have had any financial fitness fails actually.. Oh wait – maybe all the races I’ve signed up ($$) and then had to bail on because I’ve injured myself in training? I suppose those count haha.
In my first year of University I signed up for the full year gym membership. It was only $65 for two semesters but I never stepped foot in the facility. I felt kind of dumb about it but in my first year, I just never ended up having time to go. Suffice it to say that I never renewed my membership.
I’ve been paying for crunch gym for the past 5 months and been 5 times. I usually try out different new studios opening, I can’t seem to quit but you may have just motivated me!