Which gym?

[Gazelle]

I'm thinking about switching gyms but I'm not sure which option is better for me. If anyone has any thoughts, I'm sure it would help me decide.

Current gym PROS:
1. free towels
2. clean, new and fancy (with things like a whirlpool and a bouldering wall - both of which I have never used)
3. usually not too crowded (I HAAAAAATE CROWDS)
4. trainers leave you alone
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Current gym CONS:
1. small and quickly reaches critical mass in terms of crowding
2. have to walk by heckling bums and vomit to get there every morning
3. missing some key equipment (no assisted pullup, flat hyperextension, power cage, etc. and only one squat rack)


Old gym PROS:
1. nicer walk
2. very big with plenty of equipment

Old gym CONS:
1. no free towels
2. new trainers always bothering you, trying to sell sessions
3. heavily used, old grungy equipment and bathrooms
4. bigger crowds (though with more equipment, it doesn't feel so claustrophobic)

Not sure how I would weight all of these. I hate crowds and trainers who bother you, but I also hate the bums and vomit. The restrictions in space and equipment is a factor, but I don't HATE it.

There is a third option, which is the new gym opening in July. I won't know how much space and equipment they will have until they are done building it out. It's closest to my apartment and will be clean, new, and fancy, but it may also be crowded.


Hrm. Thoughts?

[Tina]

Maybe wait it out until the new gym is built. Then you'd have a better idea of your options.

[LisaBunny]

Hmmm...this is tough. You mention the walk is a big factor. Do you feel safety is an issue when walking to your current gym? Also, at your current gym, is the 1 squat rack usually in use? My gym only has 1 squat rack, but it's rarely used.

When you workout, do you use an ipod/mp3 player, or anything? If these trainers really bother you at your old gym, maybe headphones will help? I find when I have headphones on, people leave me alone.

What you could also do, which I think may be the best option, suck it up at your current gym right now. Wait till the new one, you only have to wait a month or so. See what this gym has to offer, and see if that can help with your decision :)

[Gazelle]

Thanks guys. I am definitely going to wait to see the new gym. My membership at current gym is up in August, so I won't need to make the decision until then.

Headphones help with both the bothersome trainers and the bums. The walk with the bums is totally safe, just really really aggravating and extra stress I don't need to be subjecting myself to right now. They are really rude and obnixious and I don't think the anger and raised blood pressure is good for me that early in the morning.

My one squat rack usually isn't in use but this morning two other people used it (for 1/4 squats with the bar only, for instance) so I couldn't use it to load the bar to do heavy CDLs. There were a few other issues with equipment sharing today which just made me feel claustrophobic.

[ShaliHead]

I just want to let you know, that I love my old, dirty, stinky gym. It's like a second home.

[Fet]

"I hate crowds and trainers who bother you, but I also hate the bums and vomit. "

Give the options of too-agressive salesmen/trainers, vs bums and vomit, I would choose the bums and vomit.

[Gazelle]

Originally posted by FetQueen@Jun 12 2006, 12:30 PM
Give the options of too-agressive salesmen/trainers, vs bums and vomit, I would choose the bums and vomit.
:lol: Good point, when you put it that way.

[Fet]

At least the bums and vomit aren't telling to go on a 1200/cal diet, and to be careful lest you get bulky.