Gym

As much as I want to avoid joining the gym, I haven't been motivated enough to work out at home and it's been too hot to walk/jog outside. I've researched several gyms and the best fit for me I've found is the one I used to belong to several years ago. The cost is $18.99 every other week and it's a full service gym with machines, classes, and clean locker room/showers. While the price is reasonable, the problem is the location: it's 15 min away without traffic, and rarely is there no traffic. It's closer to 25 min with traffic and I just can't wrap my mind around getting there/back and still to work on time.

It's a $10 joining fee if I sign up for a year. It's a $99 joining fee if I sign up for month-to-month. If I join for a year and want to quit, I have to pay the remainder of my year to get out.

Beside for the traffic issue, here are a few other drawbacks:

- It's a women's only gym, which is great for me but that means I can't get my husband to join in ever. Even if I join one of their other co-ed locations which are all further away I can only bring the same guest once every 30 days.

- If I get a new job and it comes with a gym membership, this will be wasted. Big IF, but still a consideration.

- If I get a new job, my schedule will be tighter in the morning and I can't commit to going in the AM anymore. Not going in the morning means the chances of going at all are slim to none.

- I had a gym membership before and it was an effort to get my butt down there because it was a commitment of at least 90 min (drive there and back and then the workout itself). What makes me think this is different?

- There is a new LA Fitness location "opening soon" in a nearby area. If I hold out maybe I can join there with my husband. I know that if we're in it together both of us will benefit. But what does "soon" mean? They don't have a timeline posted anywhere online.

Every time I consider the pros and cons I always come to the conclusion that it's probably not worth it. On the other hand, if I'm willing to burn the $99 joining fee, I can try it out and quit without commitment if it's not working out.

There are also other locations closer to me, like $89/month at a place 10 min away and another one for $94/month even closer without any traffic lights even. There is another place for $29/month for first six months and goes up to $44/month after that but its biggest draw is the tennis classes. I'd love to start tennis but I also want the machines and fitness classes, and this place doesn't really have it. Their machines and weights are outdated and gross. I went for a tour and didn't even want to use my free 2 week trial.

I don't like working out where other people have been. It grosses me out to think someone else sweated or farted right there. This isn't going to stop me if I feel like joining a gym is the right move, but it's a consideration I'm trying to stuff to the back of my mind so that it's not stopping me from making this decision.

No matter what I need to get motivated to work out so that I can stay fit and lose weight. Either I have to suck it up and go to the gym or get off the couch and brave the heat outside. I'll take it one day at a time and see how this week goes. If I get get myself to work out at least 3x this week, I'll hold off on joining the gym.