Stats:  Gym whose hours vary but usually are from 5:00 am - 11:00 pm

Cost:  Varies depending on special, as low as $35.00 a month

Review:

When I try out a gym for size, I look for a few things: accessibility to classes, availability of equipment, cleanliness of facilities, and friendliness of staff.  Each gym is going to be different based on location, but typically a company will maintain the same standard of quality throughout the organization.  I have visited several Gold’s Gyms and found them to be consistent in this area. 

The accessibility of classes and the classes offered has been good.  They seem to keep the class selection updated, offering dance workouts, yoga, pilates, and of course the ever-popular cycling class.  Some of the classes get full due to popularity, but I haven’t noticed a huge problem getting in.  The instructors are also friendly and seem to know what they’re doing.  

The equipment is maintained and is fairly new.  It’s usually accessible too - there may be one or two times (during peak workout hours) that the machines are be full, but I normally don’t see a problem.  The Gold’s Gyms that I’ve visited have all been clean and relatively new.  In fact, several of them have been very modern and “funky.”  One thing I will say is that the Gold’s Gyms are popular and tend to attract a younger crowd in my experience.  That is not a bad thing, of course, but I often associate Gold’s Gyms with a certain social scene that either you enjoy or you don’t.

Pros:

• Located in 42 states
• Offers discount plans and membership rates
• Now offers a month-to-month plan for $64.99 ($79.99 enrollment fee)
• Is usually modern, clean and well maintained
• Offers new and edgy classes
• Usually has some sort of personal training program

Cons:

• Tends to draw a younger, social crowd (this could be a plus or minus, depending on what you are looking for)

Website:  www.goldsgym.com

Rating:  4 Stars

Posted by: Tracy

Stats:  1 and 2 year memberships/Mth-Mth memberships

Cost:  $49.99-$99.99/month

Review:

You have to know up front that I am not really a big gym person.  I go through my phases where I join a gym, attend for a while, and then it loses its appeal.  Not that I don’t want to go, I just let excuses get in the way.  At the top of the list is this one: “I’m not as fit as everyone else so I don’t want to go.”  It may sound silly, especially to men, but the last thing someone should have to worry about while working out is intimidation and low-self esteem. 

That is why I joined this gym.  It has “normal” people.  Don’t get me wrong, there are beautiful and fit people too, but there are also moms and dads.  I don’t feel like I stand out or that people are looking at me for not being dressed in the latest workout attire.  Instead, I wear my husband’s undershirt, a pair of workout pants, and I’m good!

The gym offers specials just like other gyms.  I took advantage of their “tax-time” special.  The monthly cost (for one year) is $49.00 and includes five other locations for that price.  I paid $10.00 extra to get the new location up the street added.  (There are month-to-month memberships that cost more.)  The first month and a half was free AND the membership fee was only $50.00.  Now here’s the kicker: my membership fee is refunded if I workout on average 3x’s a week for the first eight weeks.  What a great idea!  A gym that is actually trying to help you get in the habit of working out.  Nothing will motivate like the promise of money!!

The hours are good too: 5-11:00 and 7-8:00 on weekends.  The location is great, centrally located and there are several in the area.  All-in-all, I am very pleased with the gym and look forward to months of convincing myself to go!

Pros:

• Cost - low for the area
• Hours are good
• Staff is friendly
• Patrons are “normal”
• There’s not usually a wait for equipment

Cons:

• The Arlington, VA location is a little bit older, but the equipment is new

Website:  www.sportandhealth.com

Rating: 4.5 Stars