When I am not in school, I use the country club that's in our neighborhood. It's a pretty new place and the workout facilities are incredible, not to mention that the dining area across the walk-way is also great to pick something up on your way out of the gym. www.cityclubatriverranch.com It's quiet and there are always personal trainers around if you need their assistance. It's nice b/c I can go lift weights without having a buddy to come and spot me...they do it for me.

When I'm at school, I just use the rec. center on campus. Actually, I take that back...I hardly go. The weight room is entirely too intimidating to go and lift weights in. I mean, if you're not benching 350 lbs you might as well leave. So, due to my extreme embarassment of my size, I tend to run the lakes around campus and ride 3 to 4 horses a day for my cardio and then I mess with the dumbbells that I have in my condo. Hey-you gotta do what you gotta do to keep in shape!

When I was a member, Lifetime Fitness charged about $50 a month, I think. It was worth it, in my opinion. Besides being VERY close to where I both lived and worked at the time, it's clean, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and I never had to wait for a machine. ILLINIgirl might be able to fill you in a little better, as she's a member now.

I quit Lifetime because I finally came to terms with the fact that I simply don't enjoy working out. I prefer my tight abs to just be the happy byproduct of some sort of physical activity that I truly enjoy. For me, sweating on an eliptical machine just isn't it.

THIS is more my idea of how to stay fit. Too bad I don't live near a Crunch (yet).

wanted to bump this thread to get some opinions...

I'm looking at joining a place near me here in West Palm Beach, and hopefully a place that I could cancel come this summer when I move back to Tuscaloosa.

I'm looking at: Bally's, L.A. Fitness, Gold's Gym and Curves.

I would LOVE to do Curves, but I've looked at most of the locations near me, and their last workout each day is at 7 p.m. That's right when I get off work! Boo. Maybe this would be a better option when I move back to Alabama.

Gold's Gym I think is filled with meatheads, but they do have a location in Tuscaloosa, so I could transfer membership over.

Bally's and L.A. Fitness look the best to me, but it seems like they hook you in and it may be hard to cancel a membership 8 months from now, as neither have Tuscaloosa locations.

Any advice?

I have a membership at a local gym, Rose Shores. I like it a lot because it's a lot cheaper, and less crowded than the national chains.

I recently signed up for LA Fitness. I haven't got to use it yet. They're building a brand new one only a mile from my house. It should be opening any day now. :)

My contract can be cancelled at any time, with 60 day notice.

i would ask if they have month to month memberships. if they do, then that is a better option perhaps than transfering membembership. i work in a gym and it costs a ridiculous amount to transfer your membership.

since there are so many boston friends who posted on the list...i too workout at a boston sports club. i like my location because it is tiny and usually quite. i also work there, so i get free membership. not bad for only working a few hours.

Sure beats hanging out with the icky people at 24 Hour Fitness and the university weight room: the Honolulu Club.

It's pretty upscale, but luckily I get a legacy membership (read: big discount) because my grandfather and aunt were early members.

I actually switched to Fitcorp when I moved in August and I like it so much better. I did not like the BSC on Newbury at all. Although, I'm curious as to what the new Copley one is like.

Bally's, the one closest to my house is brand new and very nice, plus I got a membership where I can go to crunch too.

One very nice thing about being in the Air Force is that they have very nice gym's and they are free. I also get at least 3 hrs a week off from work to go to the gym..

I belong to Spectrum. They have several locations in Southern California. They are absolutely lovely. However, I might switch to the gym in my office building.

HA! Now I do live by a Crunch. Anyone had any experience with them?

My firm gives us corporate discounts for NYSC. With it, I can go to any NYSC, along with any BSC/PSC/WSC, if I'm ever in Boston and need to get my workout on. It works out well for me because there's one near my apartment, and there are like 5 near my office (including a 24-hr one).

Planet Fitness - I love it!

That is very true. When I was at Lackland I would go to the gym located by the BMT squadrons and the international training billeting.