Gym Memberships - Using it free!

[lisajane]

Okay so I had this idea. I notice here in Canada that there are a lot of GYM's offering 1 week free, 2 weeks free, 30 days free etc... without a contract. If you were to travel a bit, I suppose you could actually have a free gym membership all the time.

Here in Ajax, ON we have Roo's Gym, which has passes for 1 week free. Can only be used 1 time every 6 months.

There is a promo with 2 UPC's from Dare products that you, use to bring to Curves and get a free 2 week membership.

Anyone ever thought of an idea like this?

Lisa

[abowers]

I've thought about that before too!-- when we moved to Princeton we got tons of free offers in the mail. It seems like it might be a pain to deal with all the paper work at the beginning of each free trial, and the pressure of the gym employees when you leave. But it definitely beats the $50-60/month some gyms charge!

My boyfriend gets to use the University gym for free as he's a grad student. As the girlfriend, I qualify for the "spouse rate" of $35/year. (Or I didn't do this til January so I had to pay $25/half year)

PS, speaking of Dare products -- one of the families I babysit is from Montreal - and they always have these tasty chocolate covered marshmallow "cookies" that are by Dare

[Ima saver]

No, I would only do that if I was serious about joining. I tried out a week free at curves and then joined. I probably would still be a member but they close from 1-3 everyday and that is my best time to go.

[lisajane]

Wow, why would the gym close between 1 and 3, that would be my best time to go too.

It's something i think I'm going to explore a little more to find out if I can actually put together a free gym membership for myself. In the process I'm sure I'll know which gym membership is worth actually joining.

abowers: I think your talking about Wagon Wheels, I don't think they are considered a cookie, but they do taste great, but way to sweet for me as I'd probably just subsist off them for days and forget I have to care about my nutrition.

[abowers]

The good thing about the university gym is that it has ridiculous hours as it is meant for students and faculty-- it opens at 6:45 on weekdays, and is open til 11:45 at night. Weekends it's still open from 8:45(?) til 10:45 I think. Lots of flexibility!

[Bruce Wayne]

If you're just looking to do aerobic work then you can already do that for free by jogging or cycling around your neighbourhood. You can do most resistant exercises around the house too if you're creative in what you use as weights.

[lisajane]

Oh how I would love to be a jogger. The problem is, with my back a treadmill is the best bet as it absorbs most of the weight. It jars my back alot. But when the spring comes, you bet I'll be trying to run anyhow. Even though I'll pay for it.

I can't run in the winter, or the cold, I lose my breath.

I really like weight training though. Still burns alot of calories. As I don't sit forever between stations.

[Bruce Wayne]

A brisk walk is also great because it isn't as intensive and you can wrap up nice and warm. Having a dog is great for this because they need regular walks so it gets you fit too.

[lisajane]

I wish I had a dog, not allowed. We have a cat. I can have fun watching her play around, and she'll chase me around the house. But she'd run up a tree if she went outside. Can I borrow your dog? :P

[Bruce Wayne]

Haha, yeah he certainly keeps us in shape. We don't so much walk as run

[funnyvalentine]

I also joined my alumni association, which gives me full use of the gym and pool for about 100. a year.

Originally Posted by abowers

I've thought about that before too!-- when we moved to Princeton we got tons of free offers in the mail. It seems like it might be a pain to deal with all the paper work at the beginning of each free trial, and the pressure of the gym employees when you leave. But it definitely beats the $50-60/month some gyms charge!

My boyfriend gets to use the University gym for free as he's a grad student. As the girlfriend, I qualify for the "spouse rate" of $35/year. (Or I didn't do this til January so I had to pay $25/half year)

PS, speaking of Dare products -- one of the families I babysit is from Montreal - and they always have these tasty chocolate covered marshmallow "cookies" that are by Dare

[funnyvalentine]

It sounds demented, but if your community college has a gym, it would almost pay to register for a course to audit it, (maybe a gym course....) so you could use the gym....

[boefixepa]

I have three Alaskan Malamutes. If any one wants to borrow one for a "walk" your free to come over. They love it! Fair warning they weigh about 85 lbs each...but hey if I'm not scary enough I don't ever have to worry about someone trying to 'get me' when I'm out!

PS -- they "jog" - the malamute trot at about 9 miles an hour and I swear they could go all day. Thank goodness for bikes and rollerblades!! (And yes watch out for those trees! and cats! and other dogs! and $%&% why is the snow melting ALREADY!)

That said. they are very well trained and heel beautifully...just don't head for the park!

[boefixepa]

Um...on the real purpose of this thread. I gave up on the gym...though I did for year and spent thousands...but I did have great abs....

Really, I have three huge dogs and I have a house to maintain. I have a nice Mountain bike and I live less than an hour from at lleast 5 nationally ranked ski resorts.....um money better spent elsewhere....get out there and work it off and accomplish something or have some fun!!! It's great in the summer they have these hooks for the Bikes on the ski lifts....so the goal is not to kill yourself on the way down....It's kinda funny.

[abowers]

While I belong to Princeton's gym, I do still exercise outside. My boyfriend and I have bikes -- and I've been riding it on the towpath along the canal that is right behind my apartment, and on the roads, and I've gone for a jog a couple times -- we have a "wildlife refuge" behind my apartment too-- really it's just a nice chunk of undeveloped land that you can't hunt on -- it's nice to run back there.

I used the gym a lot when it was still winter, I use it now when it's rainy, or when I work late and don't want to exercise by myself outside late at night. I was going to the gym about 3-4 times a week January - March, and with the weather warming up I'm going 2-3 times a week still, but also doing something outside 2 or 3 days a week on top of that.