I Are Baboon

We've been using our free one week trial at our local Powerhouse Gym this week. In my opinion, here is why it is better than the Bally's I am a member at:

Two squat racks vs one
Four Smith machines vs one
More bench racks (both flat and incline)
Basically, more of all equipment
All of the weight plates are racked and SORTED.
NO weight plates on the floor (at Bally's they are all over)
No garbage on the floor
No sign up for cardio equipment (Bally's makes you sign up for them)
Lots of TV's in the cardio area (Bally's has a couple that you can barely see)
Free aerobic classes (Bally's charges extra)
Juice bar (Bally's does not have one)
Closer to home, great location
Nicer people!

Bally's has some advantages:
Bigger locker room, five times the number of showers.
My membership is $12 a month, vs $45 at Powerhouse.
More cardio equipment (if you can actually get one)
A pro shop.


Decisions, decisions........

ZONE

Powerhouse if you can afford it... or better yet... if you have the room.. spend $500 and buy a good bench, rack, weights and work out at home. This way for $500 you have a weight room when ever you want, that will last for years to come..won't be paying everymonth.. easy commute... but then again if yo don't have the room go with the powerhouse

Thoughts are more powerful then Matter

I Are Baboon

Yeah, we have no room in our apartment for anything. It's bad enough most of our wedding gifts are in the mother-in-law's basement until we get a house.

The guys at Powerhouse are frickin' HUGE compared to the Bally's guys. It could be intimidating for a smaller guy like me, but it's not because I can still kick their asses.

ZONE

well thats another bennefit of the powerhouse Gym... gives you incentive to catch up...

What are your stats anyway... I saw on another thread that you did deads with 225....

O yeah what the heck are doing responding so quick .... don't you have a JOB???

Thoughts are more powerful then Matter

I Are Baboon

I have a job, but I am easily distracted.

Not really sure what my stats are other than height (5'11") and weight (185). I can deadlift 225 a few times when I having a really good day and I do them before squats. I usually keep it around 185 though.

I agree about the incentive to catch up. The best way to get better at something is to do it surrounded by people who are better than you are.

EagleEye

The question I have is, can you do everything you want to do at Bally's right now? If yes, then it's a matter of convenience. Now, you're not talking more than 3 times the $$$ for Powerhouse, but you're talking about over 7 times for both of you.

Sure you'll have the nicer facility, juice bar (will you really use this? Cheaper to bring your own.), clean floor, etc., but is it worth going from $24/month to $90/month? Tough question.

The aerobic classes are only good if they fit into your schedule. If you normally like to do your aerobics outdoors (like me) it's really not that much of a benefit.

However, the most important things are the last 2 items you listed:

Closer to home, great location
Nicer people!

These, to me, are the most important things to joining the gym. I like a gym where I'm surrounded by friendly people who are there to workout because they enjoy it. This puts me in the right frame of mind when working out, which means I will get the most out of my workout. This convenience is priceless for me. I've visited other gyms and still think my gym is the best (for me) because of the people there. Sure, some of the gym I've visited had better epuipment than my gym, but they people at my gym keep me coming back. They can always put better and more equipment in a new gym, but they have no control over the people that goes to it.

Having a gym that's convenient to get to (great location) is huge on my list too.

So, IMO, if you can afford it, go for it. But, man, the increase cost per month might be a little hard on your pocket book at first.

Funny, but if you asked my wife this, she would say go Powerhouse, without thinking twice. I, on the otherhand, am more frugal (cheap). LOL. Just my thoughts, hope this helps.

MtnBikerChk

We are having the same problem between us. I mean I can appreciate the differences in the new place - but the money

Powerhouse has spinning classes - we like that! In fact, the class schedule is pretty good! We've even taked a cardio kickboxing class.

Another thing I really like - no one at Powerhouse SLAMS the weights on the floor when they are done!

I don't know what to do

Moderator - Sexual Health and Open Chat

IronMagLabs

Come ride the Monkey.

Full time professional thread killer

Prince

Bally's = Health Club

Powerhouse = Real Gym

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I Are Baboon

EagleEye, thanks for the input!

Powerhouse takes five minutes to get to, as opposed to 20 minutes for Bally's. And it's on a realtively quiet road. Bally's is located in a traffic WAR ZONE!

Some big guy I've never seen before actually said to me this morning, "Hi, how ya doin'?" I was shocked! And the people at the counter are so friendly. At Bally's, the chick in the morning usually keeps her head down and just grunts at you. Speaking of which, you swipe your own card to get into Powerhouse. At Bally's, you have to wait for someone to come check you in. It's a real pain when there are people asking questions...you get stuck waiting in a line just to get into the place.

The money isn't that bad. Bally's charges something like $10 per spinning class. Powerhouse charges $5 per month for unlimited spinning (it's the only class they charge for). I'm planning on taking up to 10 spinning classes a month if I join Powerhouse, so that's $5 vs $100 at Bally's. (need to build upmy stamina for Spring mountain bike racing)

MtnBikerChk

NO arguments here!!

Bally's is a very scary cult corporation too! Once they get ya, they don't like to let you go!

Moderator - Sexual Health and Open Chat

IronMagLabs

Come ride the Monkey.

Full time professional thread killer

Slim Jim

If your planning on doing some of the aerobic classes, then it seems to me that Powerhouse would be cheaper or just as cheap in the long run anyway.

At least you'll have the option to do what ever you want when your there without having to fish out a couple of buck for the class at Bally's

"EAT ME"!!

EagleEye

Sounds like you guys have already decided. What's the terms for Powerhouse and Bally's. If it's month-to-month, you can always go back to Bally's if you can't handle the cost of Powerhouse.

Try not to justify your cost, ie. $5 vs $100, 'cuz there will be times when you can't make (or don't want to go to) all those spinning classes and it may make you feel guilting. Instead, make a lifestyle decision. If joining Powerhouse is the lifestyle you want to live, then find the means to support it, whether that means cutting back somewhere else or getting another job (just kidding).

Prince is right, Powerhouse is a real gym, and from what I've gathered, you guys want to this lifestyle. So, I say go for it! 'Cuz the extra $$$ you're paying is indirectly going to bettering yourselves and your lifestyle. You are essentially investing in yourselves and your well being.

I Are Baboon

Not sure of the terms yet. We took the trail membership just to see if we like the place. We'll talk money when we decide to sit down with them. The $45 a month was the initial price they gave us, but gym memberships are negotiable. When I joined Bally's six years ago, I was stupid and did not know about different membership types and such. So I got roped into a lifetime membership, which actually worked out ok for me. But they didn't exactly explain my options. They just tried to sell me the most expensive membership, and it worked.

We live very active lifestyles. We're just looking to a find a new gym that doesn't suck like Bally's does.

ZONE

Well I think that says it all

Thoughts are more powerful then Matter

MtnBikerChk

Anybody want to buy two lifetime bally's memberships?

Paid in full, monthly dues of $9 and $13.

You can use it anywhere in the country.

DON'T MISS THIS DEAL!!

Moderator - Sexual Health and Open Chat

IronMagLabs

Come ride the Monkey.

Full time professional thread killer

MuDHoG

I think that the powerhouse gym sounds like it suits the two of you better....the money thing is hard to get over, but consider how much better your workouts will be with people around you who are friendly and most likely helpful, a shorter commute, unlimited spinning (which equals ass kicking power and speed come mtb season), and not having to deal with grumpy, under paid staff.

I Are Baboon

We have decided to join Powerhouse. The dealmaker? They have 100 lb plates, which I used when I worked legs last Friday. Bally's doesn't have 100 lb plates.

MtnBikerChk

Well, that and my superior negotiating skills!

Moderator - Sexual Health and Open Chat

IronMagLabs

Come ride the Monkey.

Full time professional thread killer

I Are Baboon

Didn't I mention that?

MuDHoG

Those are handy (the 100 lbs plates). I once read an article about a bodybuilder who didn't work his biceps.......ever.....He figured he got enough out of his arms just changing plates on his other various lifts and presses.........oh and the guy did have some massive arms, I can't remeber his name offhand but I'll look for the article and get back to you guys with it

EagleEye

Congrats, guys! I think you've made the right decision.

Let us know how good the juice bar is.

101Tazman

Change is good! You'll see a difference in your workouts.

Tazman

Shut up and Train!

I Are Baboon

You know, when we signed up last night, they gave us each a coupon for one free drink from the juice bar. Had we known that sooner, maybe we would have just gone ahead and paid full price!