My New Year's Resolution: Don't join a gym!

I made the biggest financial mistake of my life in 2008. And it was all because of a stupid resolution to get in shape.

Allow me to set the scene of my physical situation: I get winded after carrying a gallon of milk up a flight of stairs. I'm pretty sure Olive Oyl can take me in a fight. So when a new L.A. Fitness opens up next door, I figure this is a good chance to start an active lifestyle. I'm sure my roommate Amanda is tired of opening my pickle jars for me.

I have never been motivated to exercise since I have a somewhat-high metabolism. As they say in Back to the Future III: "Run for fun? What kind of fun is that?" When I went to school at UF, I had access to several free gyms, but I only visited them a few times. But now, years later, I figured I'm sure going to get use out of this gym if I have to pay $35 a month for membership. The guilt of a bill will force me to go to the gym... right?

And at first I did go twice a week. And then once a week. And then once every two weeks. It wasn't long before an employee spotted me looking like death, switching between cardio machines. He tells me if I join the training program it will help me do it right.

I think to myself, well, if I pay for a trainer and I have appointments with a trainer, I surely will have to exercise! So I sign my life away to pay another $80 a month for someone to train with twice a month.

I explained to the trainer that I'm not active and I'm doing this just to be a little more in shape. But does he listen? No. He goes by the book because he is a machine, and all customers are the same piece of meat (or so it felt like). They worked me so hard that each time, I couldn't walk right for a week. This of course does not motivate me to go to the gym between training sessions.

Trainers kept changing on me, because that's how the program worked. But they each gave me the same workout, not listening to me when I said I just want to be somewhat active and I'm miserable.

Soon I just didn't show up. The head trainer called to see why I wasn't coming. A few times I made up excuses about being sick, but eventually I just stopped going all together because it was making me miserable -- mentally and physically. Although the trainers thought it was motivational to call me a wimp - and I know they were just teasing - deep down I still felt pretty lousy.

And because I was stuck in a contract, I ended up paying $80 a month (plus $35 for normal membership) for something I didn't even use. I wasted hundreds of dollars. The guilt of that stupid decision made me so sick for months that it gave me anxiety attacks when I thought about it.

My financial lesson learned from 2008: Paying for a gym isn't going to motivate me to exercise. Same goes with anything else in life. Unless you are naturally motivated, paying a monthly fee won't do any good for encouragement. Maybe that works for some people, but I guess not for me. And signing a year-long contract for something expensive like a personal trainer is something I should have went home to think about before agreeing to -- and maybe even talked to my friends and family about.

I now have my Wii Fit. I suppose if I ever feel like using it, I know it's there for me. I don't need no stinkin' monthly fee to use it!

Comments

[Ashley]

I did the same thing! LA Fitness wasn't great with their "customized" (yeah right) trainer programs. After a few months of wasting the cash at LA, I cancelled. I figured out how many months of paying $37.09 (after tax!) it would take before I could afford my own elliptical, since that and the treadmill were the only two machines that I used anyhow. After 8 months, I was able to buy everything I needed for my own home gym. First I bought a yoga ball, a jump rope, and some very light weights. I use Netflix membership to get fitness videos or stream them from web sites for free. Next on the list: Proform Razor XP with automated workouts at beginner, intermediate, advanced, and a "manual" mode. I saved cash by having Luis help me put it together. As for missing the treadmill, I got an intervals workout for free as a promo on Itunes, plus a Nike+ chip (around $50 bucks). I turned it on when I would walk and it would track my miles, great for those hikes to and from the bus, etc. Anyhow, now I can use my elliptical in front of the TV, and since I leave the yoga ball blown up all the time, I climb on it whenever I feel like I need a stretch.
Of course, if you feel adventurous, you could always try the Hawaii chair *insert sarcasm here*: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHiqVygN-w0

[Miriam]

I use Joe Lupo's gym at the Grand. You pay month to month (no contract), have a view of the water and they give you free towels and lockers. Love it there. Ask for Jackie.

[Nick]

LA Fitness is the worst. Their Personal Trainers are all salespeople after their commissions before any real concern about their clientele.