My Gym Experience

[Audrey]

I am currently gym shopping. We stopped by a gym today. We had an appointment to meet with the manager. We got there and he wasn't there but another employee helped us.

At the very end, this manager comes and says "I just want to say hi". I was annoyed. I believe he stood me up. I told him so. He should have said "I'm sorry". Instead he argued with me that he did not owe me a call and that I should be fine that his "assistant" helped us.

We were incredibly impressed with the gym and will probably join, but this guy really turned us off. We actually went to another branch and that is what sold us.

I'm not sure arguing with a customer is ever a good thing.

[Lori]

I'm not sure arguing with a customer is ever a good thing.

LOL - definitely not! Did you end up joining?

[Audrey]

We did join and we are enjoying it there. That manager sees us and says hello when he sees us.

[Lori]

Well - that's good. You must be in good shape Audrey! How often do you go?

[Audrey]

Lori,

I shoot for 7 days a week. I usually make it there 5 or 6 days per week. I'm in better shape than many my age, yet I feel I have a long ways to go.

[Lori]

Wow - that is really good Audrey!

We have a treadmill here which I never get on. Never, never. My husband uses it frequently though.

We also have a bowflex - which NOBODY uses.

I try to do yoga though :)

[Audrey]

I have never gotten into yoga. This gym offers so many classes, it's mind boggling. I am contemplating taking some of their classes.

[ALNMedia]

I agree that was bad cs on his part. Glad you are enjoying the gym though.

I joined our local YWCA last year and really enjoy it. I'm usually there 5 days a week.

I've thought about trying Yoga, but the class time isn't very good for me.

[Audrey]

So, it's kind of "funny". As I mentioned we were "shopping" One gym just did not interest us. In order to get the lower rate you could only go certain hours. I wanted to be able to go when I wanted to go.

In addition they had a fee for towel service and fees for other additional things. We didn't join.

A week after we joined the gym of our liking, the above gym mailed us a one day, yep one day guest pass.

The gym we joined gave us the rest of April free when we joined. They wanted us as members.

Now, every day, the first gym leaves us phone messages with a new deal. Had they given us their best deal the day we were there, we might have joined. By waiting and offering the good deals as a last resort, they lost our business.

I did call them today and told them we joined elsewhere hoping they'll stop calling us.

ALNMedia, we did belong to the Y, but they changed the rules on us. My daughter is a member under my membership. They knew her birthdate when we signed. Now, they came and said that she needs to take out her own membership, she can't be with me. Ok...after a week and a half they decided we could stay as one, but by that time, we'd shopped and liked our new gym and what's to stop them from changing their minds again in 6 more months?

Anyway...that's our gym story.

[keylime]

Wow, I don't even have the energy to "shop" for gyms, much less evaluate them , LOL. I just chose the nearest one to my office!

[Dawn~AturService]

We pay a lot of money for a gym membership that we never use! I am still working a full time job and feel guilty if I spend even 1 hour less a week with my kids. We haven't cancelled our membership yet because I'm hanging on to it so when I am working from home full time (hopefully sooner then later) I'll look forward to that guilt free escape! Wish me luck on that!:t10:

[Audrey]

Dawn,

I know a lot of folks that go at 5 a.m. Is that a possibility? What about weekends? I know once a week is not the suggested routine, it's still in the gym and working out. How old are the kids? Is it possible to include them in the exercise?

[Dawn~AturService]

My daughters are 1 & 11 yrs old. There are certain days of the week our gym offers family swim and open gym. The baby obviously couldn't participate in open gym but my older one & I have played basketball a few times pre-baby.
This past year has gone in a blink of an eye! I work 3rd shift so I'm at work from 9:30pm-6am. I come home get one off to the sitter & one off to school so I can sleep. Then at 3pm my day begins. That doesn't mean my kids get interactive attention. Their Dad's job requires him to work ridiculous hours so he rarely gets to be home when he has work which has been for some time now (he's works with the electricians on movie sets ). I carry ALL of the pressure of homework, feedings, diapering, bathing, dinner, housework, errands, my daughter's sports, packing diaper bags and all of the fun stuff. I'm not complaining really. It is very stressful but there is no point in feeling sorry for myself about it. It will all get better in time. I started my own home-based business and I hope to be able to be working from home full-time in the next few months. It will still not be all peaches & cream because I will still have to work 40hrs a week (and then some I'm sure). But hopefully I'll be on a strict regimented schedule. And again, I'll be home more and readily available to my children so some of this guilt should be lifted.
Now that it is getting nicer out here in IL, I am pretty disciplined when it comes to walking. When the sun is shining and it's warm enough for my baby to be outside, we go for a 2 mile walk. Additionally, we have a pool across the street so we are there like everyday in the summer. But now I spend most of my time in the baby pool :razz:

[Audrey]

Dawn,

Wow, your days are jam packed. I worked swing shift at one point in my life. It certainly does mix up your days and nights :)

[Dawn~AturService]

Yes, it is very hectic. My body surely takes a beating! I always feel off. I'm working very hard to make it different!