“I’ve
Gobbled Too Much and I Can’t Get Up!”
The
Skinny on Staying Fit on a Budget
Fitness seems to be consistent with most of us…
consistently on the “to do” list! Yet January heightens
our awareness as our waistline seems to expand at about the same
rate as that pile of soon-to-be due assignments. Coupled with
that are those ads with the super slim, hyped up, fit fiends (what
are they on anyway?), jumping around telling us how they can get
us fit, quick. Why it’s enough to make you want to jump up
off the couch and head straight… for the cupboard for that
last double-chocolate-fudge brownie!
Those ads combinrd with our yearly resolutions
tugging at our conscience, can lead us to some pretty drastic
and often costly action, in pursuit of the “hot bod.”
But often, the biggest reduction that comes from the pursuit of
fitness, can be in the size of our bank account.
Your best bet is usually the campus fitness facilities,
since they’re often included with mandatory athletic or activity
fees. However, if they don’t offer the particular facilities
that you are after, or they don’t have the hours that fit
with your schedule, you may be lured to a commercial fitness centre.
But before plunging into the fitness pool with all the others,
here’s some tips on things to check out below the surface.
The limited-time offer: A select tactic
of the health clubs, this is a particular favourite when the fitness
salesperson gets a commission on each person they sign up. Clubs
love this because it keeps you from shopping around and comparing
prices. Keep in mind that these clubs want you to join, so in
most cases, coming back in a week’s time will yield you the
same, if not a better deal. I visited one club that tried this
tactic, came back in about a month and ended up getting a deal
about 1/3 less than what they originally offered - and that was
without even flirting.
Your best defense can be your ability to cancel.
It’s easy to get caught up in the sales pitch and to be intoxicated
by all the adrenaline and hormones floating throughout the facilities.
But what if you sign up only to arrive home with a change of heart?
Most provinces allow you, appropriately enough, a “cooling
off” period - meaning you may have a few days to cancel and
get a full refund. But this varies from province to province.
In British Columbia, for example, you have 10 days to cancel;
in Ontario, you have 5 days. To be safe, make sure the cancellation
clause is clearly written into any contract, which you’re
asked to sign.
The fear of commitment: Although the thought
of being “fit for life” may sound appealing, avoid the
“Lifetime Membership” pitch. Limit your contract to
a maximum of 1 year, and if you are starting out, opt for a plan
that allows you to pay monthly until you test it out. Many provinces
actuallyt have a limit on the length of the contract a club can
sell you - usually one or two years. They may also require all
clubs to offer a month-by-month option - a good safeguard in case
the club takes a run - into bankruptcy.
Play them off. It’s a competitive world
out there. If these purveyors of athleticism don’t understand
competition then perhaps they’re in the wrong business. If
you get a good deal at one club, but prefer another, get them
to beat their offer, or at least match it.
What’s their track record? Check on
the length of time that they have been in business. If you go
for a trial workout, talk to the other members and find out how
they like it (is the equipment in good working order - some clubs
have equipment that’s a lot like a postal employee - down
at the slightest sign of overuse!). Also stop someone on the treadmill
and ask him or her what sort of deal they got on their membership
- this will give you an idea as to what sort of deal you may be
able to work.
Play your student card to the fullest. Many
clubs have student specials. With others, you may have to negotiate
your student deal. Start by getting the initiation fee waived.
You’ve probably already stared that ugly initiation dog in
the face when you started school or rushed the frat (fortunately
most health clubs will not involve any livestock in their rituals.)
Also, ask them if they allow you put your membership on stop time
when you’re unable to use your membership - a feature that
can be particularly valuable for students who end up out of town
during the summer or work term.
Take a test drive. Many clubs will give
you a pass - sometimes for a week or two. Check out a few clubs,
and you may end up with a month or two of freebees.
A good reference: Some facilities will offer
a referral incentive for everyone you prod from the couch and
sign up as a member. Some clubs will spring for your spandex,
while others will give you a free month for each new recruit.
Sorry, that’s confidential. A club
may ask you what you paid at your old club. Claim amnesia (“I
can’t remember as I was having an adrenaline rush when I
signed up”), or give them a low-ball figure. If you said
$50 a month they might try and push a so-called "deal"
at $40, if you say $30 a month they may come in with a deal of
$25.
Clarify what’s included in the membership.
Some clubs are “all inclusive”, whereas others charge
you a rate based on the equipment or the type of facilities you
will be using. Want to use the Stairmaster? -- $5 more per month.
Want to play squash? -- $7 extra per month. Towel service?-- $4
month. A drink of water? -- $1 per gulp. The point is: these extras
can sometimes as much as double the basic cost. Always, always,
always get the details of what’s included and what are the
extra costs, in writing!
Location, location, location! Joining the
best, high tech club that is a chore to get to can be a complete
waste of cash (even though clubs love absent members since they
pay the dues, but put no wear and tear on the equipment). So often,
the number of times you use your club membership is directly proportional
to the proximity to where you live or attend school. So the slightly
lower tech, but closer club may be a far better buy if you actually
end up using it. If you’re like most people, the mental and
physical energy exerted on getting to the fitness club is more
than the energy spent on the workout itself!
Cheap alternatives:
Trade your skill! Why not be rewarded for
keeping fit? If you teach aerobics, swimming, martial arts or
other fitness or athletic activity, inquire as to whether you
can teach a class in exchange for either use of the facilities,
payment or perhaps even both.
Join a running group. Many running stores
offer these at little or no cost to join. Plus, you have others
to motivate you. If there is not a running group you can join,
organize one among your friends or on your floor.
Check out community clubs, which often have
student and / or lower rates and are usually less prone to going
out of business. Check with your city recreation department to
find a community club close to you.
The post resolution sell-off: If you do
buy home equipment, go the used route. New Year’s resolutions
gone astray, or gifts from spouses with ulterior motives often
mean some great deals. Check garage sales and classifieds where
the condition of the item can more often than not be described
as “like new.”
If you do go the home workout route, avoid rushing
out to get the latest fitness contraption despite what Susanne
Summer is peddling this time… I guess, you have more time
to use this stuff when your show goes off the air! Remember that
many of these contraptions are more often used to dry laundry
than to actually exercise, as those well intentioned home workouts
can give way to the distractions of your humble abode. (I always
found that I spent too much time on my favourite exercise-- “the
fridge door press.”)
Regardless of which option you choose, the real value will be
the use you make of any equipment or facilities. If you join a
club, ask them to set you up on a program that meets your goals
and keeps you interested. If you’re doing it on your own,
consult free library and on-line resources for information on
setting
up a personal fitness routine or articles on
personal fitness and training.
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