need suggestions on a Gym/Fitness Center

[pure]

I'll be moving up to OKC soon from Lawton and one of the first things that crossed my mind is a gym to join. I don't want to spend too much monthly, less than $30 a month, the cheaper the better. I tried Anytime Fitness in Lawton and I know they have a bunch of locations in the metro but I was paying a little over $40 a month and I really didn't need the 24 hour access.

I just need your input, prices you've paid, joining fees, etc.

[ddavidson8]

Not All American.

[bravoland]

There is a new place that has opened up on the NW expressway right by Academy and Jason's Deli (approx Nw Expressway & Portland) I forgot the name but the sign says $12 a month no contracts. Place looks Huge!

[BBatesokc]

Probably depends on your location. If the gym isn't close to your home or work, then most people are less likely to use it. Also depends on the type of workout you like (ellipticals, free weights, classes, etc.).

I've been a member of several gyms over the years. I was with All American for many years. I liked the fact you could actually 'buy in' at some point and only pay a small yearly fee. Back when I was a member it was only about $80/yr. after a few years - but that was several years ago. I don't know how they do it now. I cancelled when I moved and wanted to use the MWC location and they said I couldn't without paying more because that location was not open when I joined.

I did 24 hour fitness for a short time. It was okay, but I didn't like the crowd (meat heads) and they didn't offer any classes or extras. Plus, when my wife wanted to join to, there was no family discount that made it worth it.

We then started a family membership at the Y. We really like it and use the downtown and Midtown locations. You've got a pool, saunas, free weights, ellipticals, lots of classes and usually very friendly people.

The only thing I don't like is you never "buy in" and sometimes management is a bit baffling.

[adaniel]

I'm a member of the YMCA and go to the midtown and downtown ones. Truthfully I could probably find something cheaper (At $38/month, it may be a little high for you). However, I've noticed the cheaper the gym the longer the contract, i.e. they are getting the same amount of money out of you in the end. My gf recently got a membership at a gym on the southside. It was only $15 a month, but for 3 years and had to all be paid up front. My YMCA membership is paid monthly and can be cancelled at anytime. Just something to think about.

EDIT: I will second BBates in that the YMCA is usually very clean and and good selection of free weights. The crowd is also very professional, mostly downtown workers, pretty much free of d-bags showing off,

Welcome to OKC!

[EBAH]

I will third, or forth, or whatever, the YMCA. I think they are the best in the city for the "total package". Good rates, good facilities all across town. I use 3 locations consistently (Edmond Rankin, Downtown, and Northside) all are very good facilities. My only little beef is that there is no racquetball downtown, I'd kill for a closer racquetball court, and it's the only reason I ever go to the Northside locale. The downtown location is, in all other ways, as nice as any health club/gym I've ever been too. Very clean, modern, well equipped, and well managed.

[bombermwc]

I go to All American, and I've been lest than impresed with the place. The people in Tulsa that own the business are all assholes. Plus all they want to do is suck you into multi year contracts for EVERYTHING. On top of that the staff at the facilities changes so much, they never know their rear from a hole in the ground.

The one good thing about the place is (at least at the MWC location) there is enough equipment that you don't have to wait for someone else to finish an exercise because almost every single thing has at least 2, sometimes 3, of them. No pool in MWC, but I've found I don't care. The big crapper is you can't use your membership at any EXCEPT the one you register at. So they tend to screw you over there too. They also throw in a random "improvements" fee every October for them to do work at the facility. Personally I feel like that's something they should do out of their own normal funds, but they took 10 years to do anything in MWC (and only after a lot of complaining). I think most of the time the cash went into the new Broken Arrow facility, which is much nicer.

There are at least 5 more gyms in the Mid-Del area that I know of....but $40 is probably an average. We paid $55/month for 2 of us, then after the 2 year contract was over, it went down to $15/month.

[oneforone]

You must have a restricted membership. We have a membership and we visit both MWC and the NW Expressway Gym to use the pool on a regular basis. We were told we could use of any them except the Fitness Xpress locations. We had to go to those locations to establish memberships because they require an access card that unlocks the doors because the Xpress locations are unmanned after a certain time of day. I will admit All American could be better but, we found it was the most user friendly for us because everybody else in Midwest City closes at 8, 9 or 10. That does not work well for us because we like to go after we get off work at 11.

[warreng88]

I have a friend who has a membership at Aspen Athletic Club at Penn Square Mall. He says it has a lot of good equipment but most of the clientele look like the cast of Jersey Shore. Me? I got an alumni membership at OCU and pay $50 a year.

[okclee]

I will give another recommendation for the Y.

I've been a member at many other fitness centers all over the metro and for me the Y is the best and most professional.

Also if you travel much, you can visit the Y in other cities with your membership, over 2000 locations

[flippity]

YMCA is great, not sure how much it costs on a normal basis it is $29/month plus tax thru my wellness plan at work.

[BBatesokc]

YMCA is great, not sure how much it costs on a normal basis it is $29/month plus tax thru my wellness plan at work.

We pay like $56/month for a family membership.

[rondvu]

Try calling Snap Fitness on NW 39th and MacArthur. The owners are wonderful people. Snap Fitness (405) 603-7451 www.snapfitness.com

[BBatesokc]

I do have to say though, recently I've been getting annoyed with the Y - mostly their management. Recently, several of the best instructors of their classes have either quite due to management or are being sent over to teach classes at Devon. Seems the Y has a new contract to provide fitness instructors for Devon. To do that they are sending all the experienced instructors there and leaving the Y members with brand new instructors who haven't a clue. Very frustrating the last couple of weeks!

[td25er]

I like the Y, but their free weight sections are very small.

[JayhawkTransplant]

I really wanted to go to the Y downtown, but the Y's hours are ridiculous, in my opinion. I went there last summer to go sign up, and got there at 5:30 on a Saturday and they were closed. And 1 to 5 on Sunday??? Really?

I go to Transformation Fitness Center in Edmond. The hours are a bit better, and the group classes are pretty darn good. It's nice not having to pay extra for them. I pay $34 a month and it's month-to-month.

I really, really, really miss my college gym. Open 24/7, HUGE, amazing equipment, and free to students. I would actually pay good money to have that kind of gym available to me again.