Originally Posted by
DieselDan
Two other advantages to a trainer: dial in your fit and a stand to perform maintainence.
After numerous dealings with gyms and the YMCA, I no longer see any advantage. Too much broken equipment, understaffed, corrupt management, racist policies, lazy staff, rude staff, not to mention the problems just driving to one.
If you have a corrupt management at a YMCA, find their head of the public run part of the staff and get it taken care of. We don't have that problem here, we have a problem of too many people wanting to spend all of their money on pot, beer, and big screen tv's to get fatter. If you see broken equipment, report it to a staff member, so they can get it repaired or replaced. A lot of times the people working the areas, don't use the machines, as they are only there for the money, as there are no benefits. If it is still broken the next time you are there, report it to someone else. At our YMCA, it only takes one person to get a report written up for someone to look at a problem. Heck, sometimes we see the problem and fix it for them.
I find rude staff, lazy staff at pretty much any establishment I go to. I see tons of advantages, but I also don't live 20 minutes from one. They have much better equipment than I will ever be able to afford. They maintain the equipment, so I don't have to, and I don't have it taking up space in my house or garage. I work harder at the gym, because I have people there, and that makes me work harder, as I don't want to be the person hogging equipment and doing it slowly or look lazy while doing it. There are people that read magazines while sitting on the bikes. As hard as I work on the equipment, there is no way I could read a book or magazine. Plus, they would be covered in sweat and not be readable anyway.
Our gym has towels that they have available, they wash and dry them, I don't have to. They have recumbent bikes, stationary bikes, treadmills, steppers, ellipticals, rowing machines for aerobic workouts, plus the walking/running track. They have free weights and machine weights for lifting. Some of the machines they have cost more than my membership has cost me the last 10 years I have paid for it. They have a pool and a hot tub, racquetball and indoor tennis courts. For the costs, I think I am getting off pretty easy.
To each his own. Do what you feel comfortable with.
I use the YMCA everyday of the year, and I ride my bicycle and run outside also.
To each his own. I will continue to pay a