Ever since my physical therapy treatments ended I’ve been trying to figure out how to continue to strengthen my core and build endurance. My plan fell through when the exercise regimen selected turned out to be other than expected.
The two main reasons I determined it wasn’t going to be the fitness answer for me was that it was too much too soon and I knew it would quickly become boring. Despite how great it sounded, the combo pilates/ballet/yoga workout was not a fit.
Doctor’s Recommendation
My doctor suggested two types of exercise regimens to me. Her preferred one is pilates and the second is yoga. After researching the various options in my area, I’ve determined she thinks I have more money than I do. Classes range from $11 – $15 AFTER buying multi-class passes. Otherwise, a single class is $20-30. That alone helped me rule out a lot of fitness providers.
Even with monthly passes the cost is prohibitive with the least expensive coming in at $105 a month. I needed to look at other options.
Home Fitness Options
Some people are very successful with home exercise. It’s fairly inexpensive to buy free weights, exercise DVDs or games and other exercise accessories. A bigger investment would be a treadmill, rower or another piece of equipment.
I’ve bought inexpensive and expensive items without any success. The only exercise program I kept up with was walking when I was training for the then-named San Diego Marathon. Unfortunately, walking as my only method of exercise was one of the factors in my piriformis injury. I know I need more variety and motivation than I can get at home.
Evaluating Gym Memberships
There are three national gyms in my neighborhood. There are other chains within 7-10 miles but having to travel further than 3 miles is a recipe for failure. The three brands are 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness and Chuze.
I belonged to the local 24 hour Fitness previously. It’s the oldest gym in the area and you can tell. I would like to try a different brand for a new experience. Chuze seems like a more basic type of gym. You can $10 a month for just gym access and double that for classes, tanning and hydromassage. I don’t want those last two things and the limited class schedule doesn’t seem worth doubling the price.
LA Fitness is an all-purpose gym with a full class schedule, including mat pilates and yoga, as well as the gym, racketball and child care. I don’t need those last two here either but my friend was successful in negotiating a lower price for removal of these benefits. Many of my co-workers work out here as it’s the closest gym to our office. I may be more likely to go if I know I’ll see a friendly face or we can go together at lunch.
My plan is to make a decision next week. How did you choose the right fitness plan?
Hi Kay Lynn. I guess I just made the decision that I was really going to do it this time. I find that doing my workout or run first thing in the morning is the best for me. If I leave it for later in the day I just don’t feel like doing it. I think it puts me in the right frame of mind for the rest of the day too if I do it first thing. If it’s only 8 in the morning and I already feel good about what I’ve accomplished it sets me up for a good day. Seeing changes, getting compliments and shrinking out of my clothes are great motivators too keep going too.
Hi. I have lost 110 lbs in the last 16 months and I’ve done it without buying a gym membership or going to expensive classes. I started out with doing “the Biggest Loser the workout” dvd’s every day. It was encouraging for me to see others working out who had a lot of weight to lose like I did. After I had lost about 50 lbs I added jogging. I followed a beginner joggers schedule that I found online and amazed myself that I could actually do it. I can now run 10km! So my current exercise regimen is running 3 times a week and doing an exercise dvd 3 times a week. I’ll also go for a walk whenever I can fit it in. It has worked for me.
Mary-Ellen, that is fantastic! How did you keep yourself motivated to exercise at home? I’m not very good about making it happen!