It all seemed so perfect: top-of-the-line equipment, a loaded class schedule and the promise of the body you’ve always wanted. But somewhere along the way, something went wrong.
You starting giving more and getting less, feeling more like a number and less like No. 1. And when you tried to break it off, your gym pushed back. Indeed, cancellation fees, though they vary based on contract, are par for the course, experts note, save for a legit medical excuse or out-of-town move.
But do all fitness relationships have to be so complicated?
Follow your head — not your heart.
It’s easy to dive headfirst into a relationship with a gym or fitness studio, but protect yourself from heartbreak by doing your research before committing, advises Josh Leve, founder and CEO of the Association of Fitness Studios, a trade association based in Evanston, Illinois. “Don’t sign right there on the dotted line — take [the contract] home and read through the fine print,” he advises. You may find that you’re locked in for a year when you want month-to-month, or that the facility tacks on a one-time annual fee — on top of your membership fee — for expenses like upgrades, he says. If it’s offered, take advantage of gym trial periods, during which you should talk to other members about their experiences, test the equipment and classes, and see if you feel at home, Leve suggests. Already locked into a gym? Here are 10 signs it’s time to kiss it goodbye:
1. It’s a long-distance relationship.
Austin once loved a gym so much, he thought he’d be willing to drive 30 minutes to get there and back. He was wrong. “I found … it was way easier to go use the smaller gym at my apartment complex than go get a full workout,” he remembers. In effect, his fitness took a hit. Ease of access is a key factor in picking “the one,” notes The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, a Boston-based trade association of health clubs and other fitness businesses worldwide. As stated in its guide to choosing a club, “The more convenient the club’s location is to either your home or your office, the more likely you will be to use it.”
2. You have mismatched schedules.
Convenience is not just about location, but also hours of operation and class schedules. “I have broken up with gyms because the class schedule didn’t fit my schedule or wasn’t adequate,” says Caitlin Croswell, a 27-year-old marketing professional in Boston. That’s a fair reason to choose — or dump — a gym, according to the IHRSA, which notes that while some facilities are open 24/7, some only operate during “mothers’ hours” — typically when the kids are in school — or offer different rates at different hours. “Make sure, based off your lifestyle, you’re getting the biggest bang for your buck,” Leve says.
3. You have different values.
The same technique that lures college kids to extracurricular meetings (free pizza!) turned Austin off from one gym. “I quit one gym after a week because they had ‘Pizza Fridays,'” he recalls. “I couldn’t help thinking that they were trying to keep people fat so that they would keep their gym memberships.” Whether you love such “perks” or prefer to leave them, it helps if the facility’s offerings suit your priorities. Consider getting stung by a fee hike to support new showers, for example, Leve says. “It’s a very valid concern for a member to turn around and say, ‘That’s great, but I shower at home.'”
4. It has let itself go.
Just because a gym’s locked you down doesn’t mean it should stop trying to impress you. Faulty equipment, moldy showers and other hygienic concerns all raise red flags, Leve says. However, keep in mind that gym upkeep is also members’ responsibility, adds Marissa Gannon, a personal trainer and former gym manager in Menominee, Michigan, who once worked at a gym that comped fees of (vetted) members who signed up to help clean. Regardless of whether you’re compensated, do your part by putting away weights, wiping down equipment and leaving the gym the way you’d want to find it.
5. You don’t feel special.
You’re not the only member in your gym’s life, but your loyalty should still be valued, says Gannon, noting that facilities that emphasize member retention (and not just recruitment) may have “member of the month” promotions, host giveaways for membership anniversaries or protect longtime members from rising fees — at least temporarily. “When the members are looked at as numbers rather than people, there’s a red flag,” she says. For Brian McGee, a personal trainer in the District of Columbia who’s been in the industry for more than 16 years, that lack of personal attention was precisely what drove him to open his own studio. Now he has “greater engagement, loyalty and, most importantly, results,” he says.
6. It’s draining your bank account.
While the cost of equipment upkeep, cleanliness and paying qualified fitness professionals isn’t cheap, extra charges or membership fee hikes shouldn’t come as a surprise if you’ve read your contract thoroughly, fitness pros say. “I hate fees and gyms love them,” gripes Croswell, whose gym charged her a $50 “annual fee” last week, which made her want to cancel her membership. The only thing stopping her? “I’m afraid to find out they have a cancellation fee,” she says. Cancellation fees can indeed be in store — unless folks can show that the gym somehow violated its end of the contract, Gannon says.
7. You have communication issues.
Got a problem with your gym? Speak up, says Leve, who suggests asking to talk to the manager or reaching out ahead of time to schedule a meeting. “Nine times out of 10, if it’s a well-run facility, they have answers for the most common complaints and they’re making improvements to make [members’] experience more enjoyable,” he says. If your concern isn’t taken seriously or is ignored after several days, you can do better. (You can also file a complaint with Leve’s association, which will investigate the issue.) Communication should work both ways, Gannon adds, with good facilities being upfront about their faults by, for example, putting signs on broken equipment that say when a machine will be fixed.
8. It doesn’t get along with your friends.
Austin once altered his workout schedule simply to avoid a fellow gym-goer. “He would come over and rearrange the weights on the squat rack I was using — while I was squatting,” Austin recalls. Since that guy wouldn’t change his ways, Austin changed his. If your gym is packed with rude staff or people who annoy you, it’s probably not a place you’ll want to visit often, Gannon points out. “A gym is place where people are laying their vulnerabilities out,” she says, so find one in which you feel comfortable.
9. You need to focus on you.
In her more 15 years in the fitness industry, Gannon’s heard some member complaints that just aren’t the gym’s fault. Her favorite? “I didn’t lose weight. I’m quitting,” she says. Needless to say, joining a gym is only the first step to better fitness — it’s up to you to show up and do the work, or to enlist the help of a personal trainer or other staff member who can help keep you motivated and accountable. “You’re responsible for you, and this is a tool to help you become a better you,” she says. The key, she adds, is making sure you like the tool.
10. You’re noncommittal.
Joining a gym, or carrying on a membership, isn’t the only way to stay fit. You may prefer to exercise outside, use your free office or apartment gym, follow workout apps in the comfort of your living room or vary your routine by signing up for a service like ClassPass, which allows you to visit many different studios while committing to none. “Everybody’s needs are different,” Leve says. And if yours are best met flying solo, all the more power to you.
10 Signs You Should Break Up With Your Gym originally appeared on usnews.com
