Why Join A Gym and Not Go?

Often at health fairs I ask, “Are you currently exercising?” and am immediately greeted with a laugh that makes me feel like a standup comedian.  It is not a funny question, yet people laugh or snicker along with answers like “not as much as I would like to be” or “not enough.”. Yet they usually say they have gym memberships.  It astounds me why people would throw this money away and not try to get some value for the money they are shelling out.  Here are a few suggestions for the fair weather gym goer.

You could actually go to the gym.  After all, you did join to go, right?  Spending money on your health is the best investment you can make for yourself. In New York City, a gym membership can cost anywhere from $300- $2000, or more per year.  It all depends on your needs and what you are willing to spend.  However, there is no relation between spending more and going more.  Some people just don’t care what they spent.  However, one thing is true in all instances, no matter what you spent the cost per visit goes down the more often you go.

Since New York City is the financial capital of the world, many may find it strategically a good idea to invest in a gym.  With the number of financial minds in NYC, while the best intention is to go to the gym, some may spend more time looking over the financials of a gym, rather than utilizing the weights.  As an investor, you may decide to buy stock in a publicly traded fitness company or possibly be an angel investor for a local personal trainer to fulfill their dream of opening their own gym. By investing your money, that would have otherwise been thrown away, you may see a financial return on your investment.  Although, keep in mind, you have done nothing to improve your health.

Finally, you could get a personal trainer.  Gyms in New York City are not cheap.  It is hard to justify paying into the gym and not go.  For the cost of your gym membership, you could end up getting a personal trainer Queens for anywhere from 5-12 sessions, depending on the cost of your annual gym membership.  Given that many people may end up paying that amount per visit to the gym without the expertise of a Queens personal trainer alongside of them, this would make perfect sense.  A personal trainer will make you accountable for at least those dozen or so sessions.  Then again, you may even feel motivated to go the gym on your own after working with one.

Think again, if you are going to look for a way to throw away your gym membership fees.  Find a better alternative before it is all gone.  Who knows, you could invest in a gym, negotiate a free membership as part of the deal and score a few personal training sessions from your benefactor.  Now that is a shrewd investment!