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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I’ve got a groupon for Bikram that I’m not sure I’m going to use. That’s only a $20 fail though.
I’m trying to decide if I should cancel my 24 membership. Since I started doing crossfit I haven’t gone once. I wanted to keep it for yoga and for social working out, but between CF and running I have no extra time or energy.
Sometimes it’s good to be a quitter. Except for you, I wish I knew how to quit …or not.
LOL – you mean you don’t plan to get your money’s worth with the pole dancing shoes and wear them out to the grocery store, to work, and with Olivia when you go for walks? 😉 Congrats Gina – I bet that was a liberating move, and I have no doubts that your lifestyle will be every bit as active without it.. maybe even more so!
I had a membership to 24 Hour Fitness when I was working because I would do the drive at 5am and work out at the one next to my office before work to miss the traffic. After I quit, I never went to the gym. I had the time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors (when it was light out!) and get back into bikram and home workouts. Membership was cancelled pronto!
So crazy. I was just thinking today about quitting my gym, Crunch, in San Francisco. I pay $75 a month and dread going. I much prefer runs outside, stairs outside, and my looooovely yoga studio that I am obsessed with. The only positive about my gym is it’s there when it rains. There really are so many options when it comes to working out…thanks for posting!
There are such things as pole dancing shoes?! You learn something every day…
There’s an array of workout DVDs that I bought and used once or twice. Otherwise, I’m pretty thrifty about that kind of stuff.
wow your so productive with having a new baby and in general! I’m impressed! I have a gym in my condo and although the condo fee is high, with everything included we save a lot of money. Two gym memberships in boston is expensive! Have a great day with your little fam 🙂
I had a Y membership for years that I never used because of how far away it was. I felt better that at least my dollars were supporting a nonprofit, but it was still a waste of money for a while. Another time, I signed up for a jazz dance class and was so excited for it that I bought new shoes and some gear. Then the class got canceled. I didn’t spend a fortune, luckily, but I was bummed. The good news is that I’m going to start taking one at our local Y — which, yes, I’m about to sign up for, but I will actually use this time, since it’s three blocks away.
Treadmill(s) I’ve bought 2 and sold them I just do better going to the gym for some reason !
Most gyms have a 30 day cancellation notice, or they charge you for an extra month. I had to get a note from my physical therapist saying that I had a medical reason why I couldn’t work out anymore so that they wouldn’t charge me. What a rip off!
I once paid for a years membership to a gym upfront then decided to move abroad in about 5 months time a couple of weeks later. I was so busy packing, prepping and working extra hours to make some extra money to take that I barely got chance to go!
Wow, you have perfect timing. I belong to a local Y and I have gone maybe 10x in the past 3 mos. While I am glad they got new equipment, their classes are stil the same when they indicated they were going to add early morning classes. We are going on a year and nothing. Plus, all the new years resolutioners are back in full swing which makes the gym crowded.
That is awesome, good for you!
When I lived in Alaska still, the “best” gym we had (a Y type gym with pool and all) was the closest thing to me which was still a 30 minute drive and it was a whopping $90 a month which killed me and I rarely made it, especially when it was really cold or snowy and i didnt want to drive that far (i.e. half the year) I finally realized it just wasnt worth it!
Oh and I bought p90x which is a little spendy, but really I cant say its a waste, though I didnt stick to the program I still use the DVDs here and there and I do like the workouts!
I’m spending WAY too much on gym memberships right now. I just figured it out to be almost $500/month, ouch!!! I have a gym membership for me and my daughter and right now neither of us is using that. We both take Pilates at the same gym but that’s an extra $125/month each, gulp, and it’s only for 1 reformer class a week. I’m also paying $179/month for cycling, which, again is at said same gym but it’s extra. It’s not your typical spin class, it’s an outdoor road bike class, we use our own bikes hooked up to trainers and we only ride indoors from November to March/April. I also have a Yoga punch card which I haven’t used in forever, again, same gym, extra fee. Why am I paying for a gym membership when everything is extra?
Woof, that is a lot of money!
WHOA! That’s insane.
That’s what used to happen at my gym (spin and zumba were extra) but it was worth it because the classes were amazing. When they became free the quality of instructor and music dropped to the point that I found another zumba class somewhere else. However…. $500 is cahraaazy.
I always have a gym membership in the winter but I cancel it as soon as the weather gets nice. I work out 5-6 times a week all summer plus often bike to work April – December. Who would want to run on the treadmill when it is halfway nice outside? Being outside is so zen and roaming a crowded lockeroom in recirculated air is a recipe for the Crankmoster. I get annoyed that it is a slight pain in the booty to cancel memberships, but it works out for me!
LOL…your last sentence slayed me! You have GOT to post a pic of those shoes!!!
I’m actually the opposite. I worked out at home exclusively before joining a gym in the last few months. I was so scared I would look stupid or feel out of place but I’m addicted to it now.
I think you have to do what’s best for you. Before I preferred coming home to work out and enjoyed that, but then got bored. Now I really enjoy the ‘me time’ at the gym and it’s on the way home from work. Plus, this location is brand new so all the equipment is brand new too!
I just took my first bikram class and loved it! It was actually my first ever yoga class too but I will definitely be going back. Although I was kind of sad because I didn’t really break a sweat and doubt that the room was definitely not 90+ degrees. Is it okay to say something to the instructor about the room temp?
Yay! Good on you. I was wondering if you would be getting back into the hotyoga now that Livvy is here.
I really want to take a Bikram class, but I am very nervous. When you took it your first time did you ever feel light-headed or faint?? I have heard so many great things about the classes, but scared because I don’t do well in extreme heat..
Ha! We just quite LA Fitness too. I feel like they make it waaaay too complicated. I’m waiting for the “we miss you emails.” to start up. We joined the Y – it’s MUCH more family friendly, the equipment is nicer/newer, and it surprisingly costs less. I’m wondering why I waited so long.
Where do you think is the best place to Bikram it up in Tucson? Yoga Vida? Or the place on Oracle? I am debating the splurge…
I would love to see those shoes! 😉
At first I was like “WOAH Gina quitting the gym!?!? THATS CRAZY! You’re a gym junkie!” LOL! But that totally makes sense….you have so many other resources so paying for a whole separate gym is so not worth it! Is the base gym like a regular gym?? If it is than thats great! Plus you have the resort which from your descriptions sounds pretty swanky!!! 🙂
We live about 8 minutes from post so I use the Bottom of the Barrel Gym. I say “Bottom of the Barrel” since there are other gyms on post but they CHARGE YOU to use it! Like a couple bucks a day! I’d rather save my $730-ish and put it towards a handbag 😉
I’m due in 2 wks and with my husband in Afghanistan til June I know I won’t have much time to go to the gym. We’re doing a “mini-home gym” here…just a treadmill, ball, and some hand weights so that I can get back into the groove without having to leave my lil nugget! Plus, I figure if I’m staring at the treadmill every day it’ll be hard to not use it!
Hope you, Pilot, Bella and Baby are doing fabulous! Those veggies in the skillet look DIVINE!
There have been so many, but one that comes to mine is the HUGE heavy bag that took up so much space in our basement. I had high hopes, since I love boxing and kickboxing. But, alas, it collected dust, because it would hurt my ankle and wrists because it was so hard. (I should have gotten a water-filled bag).
Thank goodness for Craig’s list, because we sold it to a nice man and his daughter how was getting into kickboxing. 🙂
Ha! I just watched the “I want to quit the gym” episode of Friends last night – have you seen it?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_ESeEZD_OY
I belong to two gyms right now – I had one on freeze for a few months, but it’s so damn convenient to my house (2 blocks), and I like the classes better at the other (TKB!).
This week I came very close to buying a saddle. You know, for that horse I don’t have.
I bought an elliptical once. I used it twice, then it became the most expensive clothes rack ever. I do so much better at a real gym!
At first I thought this blog title meant you were quitting all gyms, and my mind was blown! No more Zumba/ellipticalling/weight rooms for you?? But then I read and it makes sense 🙂
I don’t think I’ve made any major investments, but I’ve definitely not gotten my money’s worth out of yoga passes. I’m guilty of buying a deal for a set amount of classes in a set amount of time on Groupon/Living Social etc and never getting around to using all of them…
I’m found a great deal on living social for a few classes a local bikram studio. I’m so nervous but excited to finally try it! I feel like a remember a bikram focus on post but I can’t seem to find it. Am i imagining things? Any tips for a newbie?
Oh yes! My personal trainer was a big mistake. (Not saying all personal trainers are mistakes, but I realized quickly that it just wasn’t for me).
The one that isn’t a mistake are Zumba classes (and the Zumba DVD set to do when I can’t make class and want to shake my bootay). 🙂
This inspired me to call and quit mine, which I’ve been putting off for the past month or so. I lost 57 pounds last year, and during all that time I hit the gym MAYBE once a month. But of course, I call and go through everything and they tell me that I have to come in and do it in person. Argh, ROADBLOCKS.
I only pay $10/month at Planet Fitness, win! My boyfriend has pull up bar he bought when he got P90x but it’s still in the box. I asked him about it the other day (months after he bought it) and he said “I’m gonna use it.” I’ll believe it when I see it haha.
A gym membership was my fitness fail too! I have a bike pedaler and mini elliptical at home, and I do like to do the occasional workout video, but for the most part I like to work out outside. Hiking, running, biking, swimming… I got rid of my gym membership and lost more weight lol.
Hahaha – I love the FRIENDS episode where Chandler “wants to quit the gym!” 🙂
I work at three different gyms, so I have plenty of free memberships. Yet, I never workout there (other than my classes or a few occasional classes with my fave instructors). I always do my bodyrock at home or a yoga dvd. I pay $15 per class to go to Bikram at another gym (the only one in town where I don’t work, go figure), but I love it!
Still have that coupon for Bikram. i have to use it!! I really need to get back into yoga.
We haven’t utilized our gym membership since I was 35 weeks pregnant… now, 11 weeks post-partum, I keep asking my hubs about quitting the membership since it’s just money wasted, but he keeps insisting we’ll go soon. Hahah.. yeah, right!
My biggest fitness expense is definitely the gym. It is a great deal when you are using it all the time, but those times when you are not….well, it’s so sad to see the automatic withdrawal suck away your money! I know people that went wii crazy and the fitness gadgets that cost extra to go with it and the whole shabang sits on a shelf.
I love this post because you are still committed to a fitness packed lifestyle without the word “gym” and without the membership burden. Thanks for sharing!
I’m lucky enough to have never had to pay for a gym membership. I’ve always either had a fitness center in my apartment complex, or one in the office building where I work (or both at the same time). I love the convenience, even if I would probably get better amenities at a real gym.
Your picture of the mountains is gorgeous! It makes me want to visit Tuscon someday. Maybe you could do a post that is kind of like a healthy-living travel guide to Tuscon for those of us who have never been but would like to check it out.
Thanks 🙂
I teach spin at a gym where I live, but my fiance hates that gym. Since I get my membership for free, we decided to buy a couple’s membership at another gym in town. What a waste! I ended up working out there like twice a month and he rarely went because it was always so packed during the times he liked to go. In the end, we were stuck with a 6-month auto payment. Never again!
I wish we had bikram yoga around here. I’ve never been a yoga fan, but I’ve heard bikram is amazing. I’d love to try it out…maybe I’ll be able to touch my toes someday 🙂
I currently do all of my workouts at home and have a gym membership but I go to the gym to use their indoor track since it has been a little chilly at night. I only pay $100 a year so that isn’t bad but now that Ballys was bought by LA Fitness I heard they will not renew my membership at the same rate. Blah!
I want to see those shoes 😉
Yep, I’ve definitely spent some unnecessary money on fitness things. I’ve bought a couple workout DVD’s that I didn’t like. I didn’t use my gym membership at all in December (oops, it showed on the scale). The ultimate was a few years ago when I moved to a new area, knew nothing about it, and signed a 3 year contract at a gym I didn’t even feel safe at. Dumb move. They were using high pressure sales tactics saying that I would get a huge discount for signing up right away. I took an early buy-out for the contract, but it still cost me $700!! I’ll never do that again.
YES! Most recently, I was in LOVE with my yoga studio but then moved 40 minutes away and there were tons of other yoga studios nearby (I live in Vancouver, yoga central lol) and so I tried them out.
They all have an unlimited classes for $30 deal so I signed up for as many of those as I could, but all it took was one class to know if I loved or hated a studio. You just feel it. So I basically paid for a whole load of $30 classes, which is a high cost per class! It would have been much smarter to just pay for a drop-in at each studio. I guess I just underestimated my ability to just know when a studio was right or not haha.
Ah yes…my 6 mth membership to kickboxing comes to mind. I went to 5 classes for a total of $600. That one still stings a little.
Yay for saving money! I use my school gym and I love it. It’s free and just as amazing. I mean I don’t have or take any classes, but I’m perfectly fine with working out on my own honestly.
$80 pole dancing shoes? 🙂
Hahaha, oh my goodness, I cannot believe that you have $80 poll dancing shoes! That is over the top. I have for sure had my fair share of spending to much money on things before I knew I could be invested. Ahh, live and learn, right?!