I have a few questions regarding some generic info on gym memberships. My boyfriend and I are weighing our options as far as which gym in town we'd like to go to (there are three options total). What are some key things I should take into account regarding fees or other information? One has some really bad reviews and based off that and the fact the price is higher across the board we're writing it off at the get go. One is a community center but since we aren't married it costs us $240/person vs $270 for a married couple (maybe I should just con him into getting hitched right? LOL). The other option is a more lock and key 24 hour gym that seems to have a lot more equipment. They run $19.99/mo so for the price its going to be the same per year per person as we'd have to pay at the community center more or less. Community Center DOES have a pool but the boyfriend isn't a swimming fan. We'd like to workout 4+ days a week and timeframe is of no consequence at the moment between the gyms.
We're both close to 300 pounds, I'm 5'4 he's 6'2 (I think) so he holds the weight a bit better then I do. The 24 hour gym also has spinning classes which I've heard things about. I'm a pear shape so my hips and thighs are my major problem area. The Community Center offers Zumba classes which is another thing I've looked into. I'm not a social butterfly and I think that the Community Center equipment is a bit older/outdated vs what little I saw of the other gym. Also, in college I had that stigma when I went to workout there that the gym was just for sports jocks keeping fit and felt very out of place. We've been to the community center twice now and I don't feel that way as much but has anyone ever been negatively met by a gym when you are packing a few extra pounds? (it seems redundant as crap to me that people would think this way but I definitely felt it in college =|)
Do any gyms ever give great promotional fees or couples sign-on discounts of any sort, or is $19.99 what I'm looking at aside from getting married/community center/sub-par equipment. I've checked the 24 hour gym's facebook page and it seems they give a free month here and there if you find it (tends to only last a week).
Any other advice as I attempt to contact this other gym about details? Is there any conduct as a 'gym-newbie' that I should be aware of going into this? lol Probably some silly questions but this is uncharted territory for me haha!