How Stopping my Cardio Classes changed my Life
By Sian on Jul 29, 2010 with Comments 14
Perhaps I shouldn’t be admitting this as the co-owner of this fitness blog, but I have lost my motivation to get to the gym since the kids have been out of school. I used to drop them off at school for 830am and than I would go straight to the gym. I didn’t even think about not going, it was just automatic. BUT since the kids have been out, I have lost all of my motivation to get my butt into the gym. I really do not have an excuse but if I had to make a couple..I could use these two excuses…..
Click on image for a larger picture. Do you see the 'Curve' like weight system that takes up 1/2 of the gym. The tiny free weight area is in the corner.
Firstly, my gym used to be called Just Ladies Fitness and they had these awesome classes. They also had this crazy cardio class with a crazy instructor, Collette on Thursday that I did not miss for over one year. I loved that class and I loved how hard she worked us. She was so passionate about fitness and it really showed. They also had Body Pump with the weights, which I adored with many great instructors. The classes were always packed to the brim. Especially on Thursday! Just Ladies also had child minding which I could take my kids to on holidays and weekends.
BUT, than the stupid greedy unskilled executives at this gym changed it to She’s Fit and took away ALL of the CLASSES AWAY and replaced the space with an area similar to Curves. Haven’t they heard that Curves closed 1,000′s of gyms across North America? Perhaps the stupid exe’s should have researched this before changing MY gym! Urghhhh….so now I am left to my own motivation on free weights and cardio machines. I have NOT once left with such a great sweat that I once did when I took my beloved, Collette’s class.
My second excuse, is that I just can’t trust my kids alone at the moment. I think they may kill each other. At the ages of 10 and 12, they are just so close to age that both of them want to take charge. Boy oh boy, they fight like cats and dogs. Just to back pedal a little, I have taken the kids on bike rides, walks, swimming and to the park. We also just got a brand new puppy, which we have been taking on short walks.
My hubby, is taking my lovely kids to a dude ranch for two weeks very soon, while I slave happily work away. I will be using that time to search out for a new gym in this area, but the picking are so slim for this growing town. So frustrating. I may have to travel further to get to the gym I will be excited about going to.
I know I really don’t have any excuses not to get my weight training in. But I would like to blame my gym, because I know if my classes were still there, I would be in that gym everyday.
Do you like your gym? What would like to see change? Is there anything at your gym that would be a deal breaker if it changed? Any new trends that I should know about? (I heard one had a media room where you do your cardio in the dark while watching a big screen, too cool!) Please do share and maybe those gym Executives will take note.
I’ve worked out in a theater-room. I would run on the treadmill. It’s a lot of fun at first, they show a movie and you get into the movie and forget you’re on the treadmill. But they play movies that are two hours long. I’d get so caught up in the show that I would run for the whole movie, and I’d really regret it later. I know that it just takes a little self-control to get off the treadmill, but it’s so easy to get lost! Great idea, though. Got me on the treadmill in the first place!
I hate gym, i hate classes! better off alone and do it for myself. For me its a waste of money. You can do home exercises and used your own tools
I personally don’t like classes either. I like my own workout regimen and do it at my own pace.
I like a gym I use to belong too, the people were nice and you felt more like home. It was too expensive, so I left and am now at LA Fitness.
I don’t like it near as much, its not personable at all and the muscle heads drive me crazy.
Other than that, I like the equipment and I get what I need out of it.
Good luck with finding one you like!
Me, I am not a class peson but we all have to do & find things we love & really want to do so I understand. Maybe for now, you can sneak in there every so often & d weights .. I would say that!
And the treadmill & other machines will work your butt & cardio at the same time!!!
I sure hope you find another gym!! Curves stuff… UGH, what are they thinking!!!!
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My gym is my living room. My classes are P90X, Insanity and several yoga videos. I can’t make excuses that I don’t have time to go to the gym, because I’m already there. That being said, I don’t have all the equipment to do some exercises I would like to do.
I LOVE my gym…they are really good at keeping up with all the changing classes…they did a pussy cat class with all of there tunes and really cool dance moves…it keeps me going and fwd to different types of classes…good luck in finding a new gym!
Yes, I did hate that part. We had to sign up at least 15 min before the class started to get a spot. But, I would usually do some free weights
I hate it when it’s always so packed after work and you have to stand around and wait for a cardio machine. I wish also more classes were offered after work.
I recently started going to a new gym that I loved loved loved, mainly because I had an awesome trainer who pushed me constantly. She was awesome! But then she left, mainly due to the fact that she was lied to by the (ahem) higher ups about her contract and she quit. Now the gym I love(d) so much has a black eye and I’m afraid to start with a new trainer, develop a routine, only to have that trainer leave as well. I’ve since heard that another trainer left for the same reason. It all has me scratching my head now. I find it difficult to get the motivation to get there, especially if the faces of the gym aren’t being treated properly.
I was the same way. I loved the classes at my gym. but got tired of doing the same thing every week. All the movements stayed the same, just maybe I would up the weights here and there.
Then I found CrossFit. See if you have one near your town. Its high intensity and it will keep you coming back and you get cardio and weights all in one workout.
That’s the problem, all the instructors were GREAT! They really made me work hard for my hour. Man, I miss them! I would love to try the cardio theaters! Thanks for the support!
I used to love the classes at my old gym. They offered Zumba, but only at 4:30pm. What about us working moms? I didn’t get off work til 5pm. They never changed the schedule or mixed it up, so I was only able to take certain classes over and over again. Used to tick me off.
I feel for you! Change can be hard, can’t it?
I don’t take classes at my gym even though they do indeed have them. Why? Because I’m really picky about my instructors and if I’m going to spend an hour in the gym it has to be time well spent. As a result, I typically train alone.
BTW, our gym has one of those cardio theaters…it is cool…but a tad over-rated, in my opinion!