Before I joined the Y, I was looking at a lot of gym options. We used to belong to a small 24 hour good enough for the average joe gym and I was considering rejoining based on the fairly cheap cost of $40/month, guests always allowed. I was also doing a lot of research on CrossFit. I’ve been reading a couple of different Paleo blogs and CrossFit seems to be a favorite in that community. What I’ve read online is that people compare it to an adult team sport, where you have a coach and everyone cheers you on and calls you if you miss “practice.” It’s a quick but super intense workout and people get obsessed with it. It’s right up my alley.
Oh and it only costs $119/month for 2 workouts a week! Eek. I don’t know about you, but that’s a bit much for me. My beloved Planet Fitness, only a 1-2 minute ride from my parents’ house, cost me 10 whopping dollars per month! It spoiled me. We ended up settling on the YMCA at $89/month for Dave and I with access to an awesome weight room, multiple pools, free classes, and more. And I love it. I’ve been going a few times a week, which makes me feel like I’m getting a jump on making it a habit before the new year. I’ve run some laps and sprints around the indoor track, taken advantage of the variety of cardio machines, and started to navigate the weight room.
And then the LivingSocial deal I’ve been hoping would come along pops up: a deal for CrossFit Valley Forge offering the Four-Class On-Ramp Course (required for you to learn all the fundamental movements) for $49 (a $160 value), only a few weeks late! I love LivingSocial and Groupon and I get a ton of awesome deals, this would’ve been a no brainer before I signed up for the Y, but I debated for a few days. I feel like I have so much already going on: an upcoming yoga groupon, the membership at the Y, a cheer practice once a week starting in February, and volleyball. Oh my that’s a lot typing it all out…
But then I went for it! I just couldn’t pass this up! And I bought Dave one too, he’s not super excited about it (yet?) but he agreed to go along. What a good boyfriend. I figure that we’ll take the classes and we’ll either say “wow this is awesome, I need to be a part of this!” or “that’s not for me, but now I can do all the moves they taught me at the Y.” I think it’s a win win.
I don’t know, I’ve been thinking about really committing to the Paleo lifestyle, but I’ve been sort of lurking online just taking it all in. We’ve definitely been eating closer and closer to the guidelines of it (meats, veggies, oils, fruits, and nuts, no grains, legumes, dairy, sugar, and all processed foods), but the holidays were indulgent and now I feel bloated and I can feel the difference in my energy. Giving CrossFit a try along with the motivation of the new year may be the push I need to take the next step in my food journey! But that’s a whole other post.
Tomorrow is Friday, yay!
Do you think I’m crazy for buying the deal? Do you like to try out different gyms and classes?
I find, at least for me, the cheap gym membership works really well. I get to do my daily workout of cardio and weights, and then don't feel guilty when I take outside drop in classes like hot yoga or cardio kickboxing for extra.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to this dilemma! This past summer, I left Planet Fitness and joined my local Y because I wanted more options available to me (the pool, classes, etc.). I've been there for 6 months now and I love it, but part of me is also dying to try CrossFit. I would've done the same thing as you, bought the deal and tried it out. Why not? I'm waiting for a deal to pop up at my local CrossFit gym..but you're right. It's so expensive! I just can't justify it yet.
ReplyDeleteI've had about 5 different gyms in the past 5 years. I LOVE my gym now. It's a health club and I feel happy every time I go.
ReplyDeleteAn affordable membership is definitely one of the attractions of a gym, but what I really look for is friendly, understanding, patient staff and trainers, and up to date machines. A sauna and/or spa would be nice too!
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