There are a few, but a dirty secret is because gym attendance is EXTREMELY cyclical. Jan/Feb are loaded with people signing up as part of their new year’s resolutions. If they are month-to-month, then they cancel before April. Locking them into annual contracts means they can’t cancel once they realize they aren’t going anymore.
There are a few that genuinely do monthly contracts from the beginning. Planet Fitness is the best known, and they use it as a selling point for people that know they probably won’t stick to it. It’s also cheap enough that they don’t feel any urgency to cancel, and can let it ride for a long time while promising themselves they’ll get back to it.
There are many. They charge a lot more and act like personal trainers - service is why they exist.
your cheap doesn’t charge enough for everyone who is a member to go. They need all these people who pay but don’t attend to pay their bills (and then more to make money)
So basic gyms are money pits that can’t profit unless they lock you into a contract? If true then gyms shouldn’t exist. Yet for some they are a necessity.
Some people believe (falsely) that buying a membership will incentivize them to go more often.
As someone who has struggled with weight loss but is in better shape than I was a few years ago:
if you want to lose weight, dieting is REQUIRED. You simply won’t burn enough calories in a day even with exercise to lose weight.
the gym is for people who want to swim, or if it’s too cold, or if you require special equipment (rowing machine, etc.). Just about any exercise you can do at the gym you can do at home with dumbbells you can buy at Good Will
consistency is better than intensity. If you work out everyday, even if it’s 5 minutes, that’s better than you skipping a day here or there. Be consistent and build your strength slowly
DON’T tell people you’re trying to lose weight. There is psychology out there that says that doing so will short circuit your reward dopamine with people encouraging you
there is no short cut to losing weight and keeping it off. If you lose weight fast, you’ll gain it back fast. If you lose it slow, you’ll likely keep it off.
don’t wait until the new year to lose weight or exercise. Start now. Even if it’s 5 minutes, just do it.
5 minute rule is good, also because people coming into a gym or starting a new exercise routine have a lot of energy and no muscular endurance nor is their body used to working out the joints, tendons etc. they will push themselves to “work hard and make progress” and then be in pain and it builds fear and reinforces negatively working out. Many a ship sunk by not really, really easing in.
Even a super out of shape body is amazingly capable of exercise and movement if you ease into it. Then when you have some baseline with your body “ok we can walk for 20 minutes now”/run for t minutes now/do x situps etc., then you can slowly start to add intensity, weight, etc.
Wish I could start a gym that is month month no contracts. How come there isn’t a single gym that operates this way?
There are a few, but a dirty secret is because gym attendance is EXTREMELY cyclical. Jan/Feb are loaded with people signing up as part of their new year’s resolutions. If they are month-to-month, then they cancel before April. Locking them into annual contracts means they can’t cancel once they realize they aren’t going anymore.
There are a few that genuinely do monthly contracts from the beginning. Planet Fitness is the best known, and they use it as a selling point for people that know they probably won’t stick to it. It’s also cheap enough that they don’t feel any urgency to cancel, and can let it ride for a long time while promising themselves they’ll get back to it.
There are many. They charge a lot more and act like personal trainers - service is why they exist.
your cheap doesn’t charge enough for everyone who is a member to go. They need all these people who pay but don’t attend to pay their bills (and then more to make money)
So basic gyms are money pits that can’t profit unless they lock you into a contract? If true then gyms shouldn’t exist. Yet for some they are a necessity.
Some people believe (falsely) that buying a membership will incentivize them to go more often.
As someone who has struggled with weight loss but is in better shape than I was a few years ago:
5 minute rule is good, also because people coming into a gym or starting a new exercise routine have a lot of energy and no muscular endurance nor is their body used to working out the joints, tendons etc. they will push themselves to “work hard and make progress” and then be in pain and it builds fear and reinforces negatively working out. Many a ship sunk by not really, really easing in.
Even a super out of shape body is amazingly capable of exercise and movement if you ease into it. Then when you have some baseline with your body “ok we can walk for 20 minutes now”/run for t minutes now/do x situps etc., then you can slowly start to add intensity, weight, etc.
Go slow, go light, succeed.
Only reason I get one is if I was going be a vanlifer. For the showers. Working out I can do at home.
Yes, this is a good exception. The gym is great for showers and other bathing options if you do not have the facilities.