Rambling about gym decisions

I have to decide what I want to do about my gym membership. In September I started taking a weekly Zumba class through community education at a local elementary school and I immediately loved it. It’s a full hour of dancing and fun. I work up a sweat. I feel it in my muscles. I actually enjoy exercising for maybe the first time ever. Then in December with a Groupon, I was able to get 12 weeks of classes at another local gym for $20 and I picked up their Zumba class as well so at the very least I’ve been doing Zumba twice a week for the last 3 months—and this class is fantastic. I could not say a single bad thing about it (well...except for the mirrors. I don’t like to see myself do it.). I also belong to the cheapy gym around the corner from us. It’s cheap because they don’t do classes and convenient because it is a 2 minute drive and they open at 5am so I can go before the kids get up. I do that 2-3 mornings a week. We’re at the point now though where I need to decide if I want to do all of it or some of it.

My Groupon ended yesterday, and I think I would like to continue to take this class. Continuing the class would mean getting a full membership at the big-box gym and while doing so is a lot more affordable now then it was 8 or 10 years ago when I originally belonged to such a gym, I don’t know if I want to pay for the full membership. Granted, they have every amenity I could ever want in a gym, but based on their proximity to my house (15 minute drive), I don’t know that I would ever use it for more than the classes. So, I need to decide—is $30 or so bucks a month worth for between 4 and 8 Zumba classes within the same payment timeframe. I also hate the idea of a contract.

I have no intention of stopping the Community Ed. class. It runs in 3 sessions throughout the year, and I do it with friends 1 night a week. It doesn’t happen in the summer.

I don’t really see any reason to cancel the cheap gym membership. Hub and I have some sort of family deal, and we pay something like $22/month total for both of our memberships with no contract. It’s convenient to go when I can, and I don’t feel guilty if I only make it for 30 minutes.

So I guess the only decision is whether or not I want to sign the contract and pay for the big-box gym. I think it could be worth it in terms of happiness with an exercise program. They also have childcare, kids classes for the children of members, and a real bevy of other things (chiropractors, nutritionists etc.).

And if I do decide to do it, I should also decide on a better form of birth control. I swear I get pregnant every time I sign a long term gym contract.