Gym decision

buffnav214 · #1 November 13th, 2005, 07:49 AM

I was thinking (well, more then thinking, I want to go for it) of joining a gym, and I have three options I'm tossing around:

Balley's Total Fitness
Powerhouse Gym
Lifetime Fitness

What I don't like about joining gyms is the fact that they don't give you pricing information unless you talk to them via phone and/or go into the gym in person, so they can hit you up with their sales pitches. So my first question would be directed to those of you that attend any of the above three gyms. What is the best deal offered and by which one? From hearsay I know Powerhouse is the least expensive, and Lifetime is the most expensive, and I know jack squat about Balleys. So any information anyone can give me on pricing would be appreciated (I don't know how much region affects pricing, but I'm going by the assumption that it averages out in the end. The region in question though is southeast Michigan) But let me say what factors will influence my decision:

1) A nice variety of weights and machines, for reasons everybody here is aware of, so I'll spare the explanation.

2) A relatively decent selection of cardio equipment.

3) Good hours of operation. I'm an early person, and prefer to workout early in the morning.

4) PRICE. This is the big one. I'm willing to pay extra if necessary, but not for things I never plan on using (ie a swimming pool).

Now, I have weighed the pros and cons of each one individually, and this is what I have so far:

Lifetime Fitness Pros: Good equipment, open 24 hours.
Lifetime Fitness Cons: From what I hearing, membership pricing is a tad extreme

Powerhouse Gym Pros: Good equipment, nice hours.
Powerhouse Gym Cons: Haven't heard of any, which in itself is a con. Where's the catch?

Balley's Total Fitness Pros: I have no idea.
Balley's Total Fitness Cons: I've heard from several people that Balley's is the place to go to check out women, and people that go there spend more time doing that then working out. Being gay, I'm immune to females. But I dislike females coming MY way (and it has happened, and I don't see it as something to brag about), so I thought maybe staying away would be a good idea. Ultimately, the deciding factor here will rely solely on good pricing.

So that's the deal. If anyone who's attended any or all of these has any information or advice they'd like to offer, by all means, please share. Any opinions would be appreciated.

CelticMuscle · #2 November 13th, 2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffnav214

I was thinking (well, more then thinking, I want to go for it) of joining a gym, and I have three options I'm tossing around: Balley's Total Fitness, Powerhouse Gym, Lifetime Fitness.

According to Bloomberg, Bally's has gone into Chapter 11 so that's a non starter. As of the other two, I would tend towards Powerhouse (as it's a name here in the UK that doesn't seem to be doing too badly at all)

buffnav214 · #3 November 13th, 2005, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CelticMuscle

According to Bloomberg, Bally's has gone into Chapter 11 so that's a non starter. As of the other two, I would tend towards Powerhouse (as it's a name here in the UK that doesn't seem to be doing too badly at all)

^ Now THAT'S something I didn't think about...

dallasmsl · #4 November 13th, 2005, 11:34 AM

Go with Powerhouse. It's more geared toward bodybuilding.

DaBigGuy1 · #5 November 13th, 2005, 12:12 PM

The best gains that I ever made were at a Powerhouse Gym.......great atmosphere, friendly staff and real BIG muscle working out and did not mind talking to you, helping you out or training with you. As I was a beginner at the time it really motivated me.

Wish I could find another Powehouse Gym like that n my area.....gym i'm at now is okay, but definitely not a Powerhouse Gym...

CelticMuscle · #6 November 13th, 2005, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaBigGuy1

Wish I could find another Powehouse Gym like that n my area.....gym i'm at now is okay, but definitely not a Powerhouse Gym...

The following Powerhouse Gyms in Texas

Powerhouse Gym - Austin, TX 512-474-1800
907 W. 5th Street

Powerhouse Gym - Austin, TX #2 512-474-1800
4210 West Braker Lane

Powerhouse Gym - Brownsville, TX 956-541-0227
1900 N Expressway, Suite J

Powerhouse Gym - Houston, TX 281-861-9494
6136 Hwy 6 N

Powerhouse Gym - Houston, TX #2 713-838-9690

Powerhouse Gym - Laredo, TX 956-235-3293

Powerhouse Gym - Missouri City, TX 281-208-9080
4799 Lexington Blvd

Powerhouse Gym - Saginaw, TX 817-847-5456
816 Willow Court

Powerhouse Gym - Weatherford, TX 817.596.4579
148 College Park Dr

Powerhouse Gym - Wichita Falls, TX 940-689-8100
3127 Lawrence Road

Or if you are so desperate to train at one, why not start one up yourself

muscle_mastah · #7 November 13th, 2005, 04:22 PM

If you really get into this sport, I think you'll like the powerhouse gym better in the long run. The fact that it's cheaper is just topping on the cake. If you're going to hit it first thing in the morning, then you'll likely be avoiding the huge crowds in the early evenings and will have the pick of the equipment.

Go for it and get huge!

glammaman2000 · #8 November 13th, 2005, 06:12 PM

Yes,I went to Powerhouse.No,I didn't like it.It was the one on 23rd.(now Steel Gym.&much nicer.)Back then,there was so much"steroid attitude".&that was just the girls!(ba-rump bump!)The guy wanted to know if I was going to join before he would show me the place(?!)Kept his back to me all the time he was showing me around&barked if I had questions.Happy to hear that other franchises in the chain are better.Bally's was always kind of cheeseball&had pricing schedules the salespeople barely understood.I'm very happy at a Crunch.Prices are upper-middle(or lower-upper).

buffnav214 · #9 November 13th, 2005, 08:18 PM

One of my friends is choosing Lifetime based purely on the fact that it has a pool and Powerhouse doesn't. I'll most definetely go my own way, because you couldn't get me within 100 miles of a swimming pool even if the slightest contact with the water caused an instant transformation into a muscle man (well, in that one case maybe I'd consider dipping my toe, lol). Plus my friend is large trying to get small, and I'm small trying to get large, so our goals kind of conflict. It's kind of a sad state of affairs really, because we both went through some heavy emotional trauma. I dropped down to under 110 lbs as a result and he got fat. Anyways, getting back on the subject, it looks like I'm leaning towards Powerhouse at the moment.

RadRx · #10 November 14th, 2005, 01:43 AM

Even if Bally's weren't going into Chapter 11 I would avoid it at any cost. Their contracts are iron-clad and impossible to break. Stories abound about how sales people said one thing, and the contract was written differently. I even read one where they refused to break a contract for a girl's mother who'd passed away.

Lifetime has great hours, newer, cleaner and have lots of cardio options. May be lacking in more of the specialized pieces of weight equipment, although I saw some great builds in there. They also have a variety of classes for cardio and stretch conditioning.

Powerhouse is probably the best for someone who wants to focus on size. Gravity works the same on weight here as the other places.

UKBeefy · #11 November 14th, 2005, 04:48 AM

It is interesting observing this thread and seeing what gym options are available or being considered in the US.

Here in the UK the big chains rarely seem to cater for or are patronised by bodybuilders. Typically in a town you will have 3-5 chain places which cater for the fitness/mixed population. Then there will be a independent more spit and sawdust place for the big guys run by someone as their sole business. Typically this will be in a more secondary location eg on an industrial estate or in a more working class neighbourhood with much less spent on decor or facilities but a crowd of big big guys.

Here very few of the chains get or even procure a site like they do in the US. They would not planning permission (Zoning) for a big "shed" gym wiht huge square footage with lots of parking in most towns (such development is very hard to do given very tight planning laws on such low density uses) so choose instead a city centre location to get an office crowd that can walk there for more fitness type exercise. Hence the chains very rarely have a huge amount of equipment that caters for those of us wanting to work out with free weights.

Are there not the individual sole proprietor gyms in the US aimed at the serious bodybuilding end of the spectrum? Have they disappeared as the chains have marched forward?

glammaman2000 · #12 November 14th, 2005, 06:12 PM

...ARE disappearing;&bigger chains are gobbling up smaller chains.I'ts all about real estate.&it's led to a personal aversion;underground weight rooms.I'll go WAAY out of my way to workout in a gym with natural light.

buffnav214 · #13 November 14th, 2005, 07:06 PM

Solo EVERYTHING seems to be disappearing in the US these days...

DaBigGuy1 · #14 November 14th, 2005, 09:37 PM

<<The following Powerhouse Gyms in Texas

Powerhouse Gym - Austin, TX 512-474-1800
907 W. 5th Street

Powerhouse Gym - Austin, TX #2 512-474-1800
4210 West Braker Lane

Powerhouse Gym - Brownsville, TX 956-541-0227
1900 N Expressway, Suite J

Powerhouse Gym - Houston, TX 281-861-9494
6136 Hwy 6 N

Powerhouse Gym - Houston, TX #2 713-838-9690

Powerhouse Gym - Laredo, TX 956-235-3293

Powerhouse Gym - Missouri City, TX 281-208-9080
4799 Lexington Blvd

Powerhouse Gym - Saginaw, TX 817-847-5456
816 Willow Court

Powerhouse Gym - Weatherford, TX 817.596.4579
148 College Park Dr

Powerhouse Gym - Wichita Falls, TX 940-689-8100
3127 Lawrence Road

Or if you are so desperate to train at one, why not start one up yourself >>

Thanks Celtic my friend, but NONE of those gyms are anywhere near me, but thanks for the info...

As far as opening up one, it would be a great idea but the last thing I need is to start yet another business...I'd never be able to keep up my workouts!

Keep pumpin!

Ron