Is a $ 10 Gym Membership Really Worth It?

There are many ways to start an exercise routine, and As pointed out here, Not always worth the attention to detail. But is it important which type of gym you attend? Gyms with squat racks and barbells have many options for getting stronger, but you rarely find a cheaper gym. On the other hand, boutique fitness studios, Crossfit boxes and yoga studios tend to be ridiculously expensive. How much do you actually sacrifice with something like Crunch or 24 Hour Fitness?

You don’t get flashy extras, but maybe you don’t need them

Purchasing the minimum required gym membership may allow you to use your equipment at certain times of the day, but nothing else. If that’s all you need, you can go.

Upgraded membership in luxury gyms and cheaper gyms includes more perks. These include towel and laundry services, 24/7 access to the gym, the ability to go to multiple locations in the chain, the ability to take guests, admission to group classes, free sessions with personal trainers, or May include sauna or use of pool. Expensive gyms may also have more sophisticated equipment. If you have something specific that matters to you, be sure to ask about it before signing up for membership.

But if the main reason to go to the gym is to pick up weights or jump on the machine, you can get it done without the rest. Whether you need to bring your own towels or take a shower at home, it’s not the end of the world because you’ve chosen a place that’s so basic that there’s no real locker room. I trained in such a gym for years, and I got well. You can do it too.

Barbells are not everything

As I train primarily with barbells, I understand the urge to ridicule in places without barbells.Longtime readers may remember it We’ve put together an exercise program for senior food and editor Claire Lower, When she needed to be strong to be able to bow hunt elks. Her gym at the time was Planet Fitness. Well, I thought. But this is what we had to work with, as she was already in attendance.

What was available? Cardio machines, strength machines, cable machines, Smith machines (what look like squat racks except that the bars are permanently attached), and lots of dumbbells. yes,I thought, Now you can work.. This choice is fairly typical of cheap gyms. You can also find some kettlebells, resistance bands, and other items.

This is good news: this is fine. If your goal is to be stronger and / or healthier, you can do so with this device. You don’t need a barbell. Well, if your goal is to compete in barbell sports like powerlifting, or if you just want to use barbells just because you think they are cool, yes, you have a gym that has them. You need to look for it. Otherwise, you can stay in your current location.

Machines can make you stronger

Cheap gyms tend to use machines instead of barbells. This is because it is much easier for beginners to get close to the machine and understand how to use it without damaging themselves. It also makes it easier for gym staff to keep things organized. No need to chase plates or collars throughout the room.

Let them also benefit you. You can find out about the machine just by looking at the picture of the machine, and if you have a problem, you can look it up on YouTube. (We too We have collected a video explaining the 10 most common gym machines,In case you’re interested. ) Training is perfectly normal and no problem. Fully machinedNo free weights.

Smith machines in particular get bad laps from people who don’t know how to use them properly. Trying to squat on a Smith machine, like a squat rack, can be very uncomfortable. However, if you know that you need to put your foot in front of the bar and lean back, you can move your foot easily and effectively. There is a trick similar to doing a bench press on a Smith machine.You may want to read Here is our smith machine guide..

Don’t sleep with dumbbells

Another important feature of cheap gyms is that they tend to make good dumbbell choices. If you are very big and strong, you may find that the dumbbells are not heavy enough. They can be up to £ 75 or £ 100 respectively. If you are a big person and you get very strong, you may go beyond the equipment your little gym has to offer. But if you are a beginner or just a small person, you may be happy with your choice for a long time.

There are many lifts you can do with dumbbells, and yes, Dumbbell-only training program.. In addition to obvious presses, curls and rows, you can also do dumbbell lunges, step ups, Romanian deadlifts and more. Lifting a pair of dumbbells tends to be more difficult than lifting a barbell of the same weight, so don’t be fooled by the numbers.

View pricing

Cheap gyms are so cheap that you often earn money from places other than $ 10 a month (or whatever it is). Be prepared to resist upsell as there may be additional hierarchies of membership or add-on services that offer benefits not included in your basic membership.

They may also try to lure you into a personal training contract. It’s great to pay for personal training if it’s appealing to you, but there’s a reasonable option to read the fine print of your contract and cancel if that doesn’t work. Please Confirm.

And don’t forget the hidden charges. Some gyms charge an admission fee or an annual renewal fee. But if you set all the prices and feel you’re getting the value of your money, have fun! Even basic membership will give you a lot of work.