Get Fit New York

I was lazy and sat on my butt all winter. I'm dreading going to the Hamptons given my current physical state and know I need to join a gym, but don't want to get sucked into a long contract since I plan on assuming my position on the couch once the weather gets cold again. What are my options?

Liz, East Village

First of all, what do you mean by "cold again"? For the second weekend in a row, New York has had rain, probably ruining the plans of many Hamptons-goers. We're not sure it ever wasn't cold. Are you there, Summer? It's me, Ask Gothamist.

Plenty of New York's popular gym chains offer month-to-month memberships, although if you're only planning to join for three months you might want to be careful. While monthly rates at New York Sports Club (McGym, as it's known to many) can be less than $100, you might have to pay an initiation fee which, amortized over the summer, could pump up your bill more than your muscles.

In Park Slope, the local branch of the YMCA charges only $47 per month (call to find out if they are currently charging an initiation fee). The new YMCA branch in Chelsea is similarly inexpensive and the state of the art facility compares with some of the city's finer gyms and even boasts a 25-yard pool.

If you're really in a pinch, try hiring a personal trainer. For the same price as a summer-long gym membership, you can usuallly get a week or two of services to help whip your butt into shape. Knowing a) that you've paid for sessions and b) that someone is waiting for you at a gym can be strong motivators. Ask Gothamist recently began seeing a personal trainer and can't recommend him enough. Sessions last less than an hour and have so far helped immensely in our battle of the bulge. Check out Patrick Panico's website for more information.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Doug Gordon in Miscellaneous on June 7, 2004 9:50 AM

Comments [rss]

Anonymous

Right on!

Patrick

You should try and check out Dolphin. Not really the trendy kind of gym, but you'll be able to get fit.

Lux

Ditto Erin: When I signed up, I was led to believe I could end my three year contract at anytime, provided I paid a cancellation fee of $50 -- and that if I moved a certain distance (I think 25 miles) away from a Crunch, or if I had some serious illness, I wouldn't have to pay the fee.

When I decided to cancel, I was first told that there was no problem, as long as I paid the cancellation fee (which I did). Then I was told that I wasn't allowed to end my contract at all, unless I had moved away or had a doctor's note -- and that I'd have to pay the fee unless I had a doctor's note. I got a doctor's note and asked for the fee to be reimbursed, but was instead told that I had to pay $6 more, because of some prorated nonsense (nevermind that this was April and I'd paid through the end of May.

So yeah. Crunch is good if you want to stick with them, bad if you need to get out.

Jen

Crunch and Bally's have really bad systems. Join the Y and go with a friend to help make sure you get in the door. As long as you maintain what you eat, and add exercise, you'll do good. But eating a little less (or eating more healthily - sub your chips for carrots or at least whole grain crackers), adding more weight training, doing cardio...that'll help too.

Erin

Most chain gyms (Lucille Roberts, for instance) offer pay-as-you go deals where you don't have to sign a long contract, but those rates are higher than the yearly contract monthly rates. Also, if you're going short-term, don't join Crunch. My roommate had some bad experiences with them and tried to end her contract, but they were stubborn and she wound up paying them quite a bit of money to not use the gym.