24 Hour Fitness: Between Bally's and Gold's Gyms
Written: Sep 18 '00 (Updated Sep 19 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Big and comfortable
Cons: Crowds at peak times
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| psugrowler's Full Review: 24 Hour Fitness |
I joined 24 Hour Fitness a few years ago when it was still flying the Family Fitness flag. It was time to get my rusty body back into the gym and find some semblance of shape. I saw a new facility under construction a few miles from my house so I drove over, walked in and signed up.
My initial membership fees, about five years ago were $80 for my initiation dues and $17 a month. At the time, living in Southern California, those were affordable, competitive rates compared to other gyms in the area – Bally’s, Gold’s and a few others up and down the fitness food chain.
The gym looks impressive upon first inspection. Piped in music splashes off Miami Vice corals as you inspect row upon row of exercise machines. Icarian, Flex, Hammer Strength, BodyMasters, Cybex and Nautilus to name a few. Coming from a collegiate weight room in a fraternity house I was somewhat skeptical about pumping iron with the masses. I was used to the solitude of working out at home, listening to you own music and taking your sweet old time.
24 Hour Fitness, I soon learned, was the Starbucks of the fitness world. They wanted you in, they wanted you on, and they wanted you out before the concrete burst at the seams. With 24 Hour selling many memberships open to all locations the gym swells at peak times and makes working out, in itself, a challenge.
I soon made my workouts mid-afternoon and was able to have the run of the facility most of the time. My 24 Hour Fitness is separated into two parts. All the fixed machines previously mentioned and the Aerobics Room are situated on one side of the gym, and the Free Weight Room is on the other side. The rest of the gym an office area, locker rooms, babysitting and a juice bar.
Fitness counselors are available should you need their services. This is generally a constant core of young people available to sell you memberships and advise you on your training should you wish for this service. They can be a little redundant at times constantly bugging you to upgrade your membership. The turnover is quite frequent but for the most part they are helpful and informative.
You can chose from a variety of machines for which to train your body. Most of the equipment is kept in great condition and updated frequently. There are rows of Stair Climbers, Life Cycles, Treadmills, Versaclimbers and Precor machines with seldom a wait. The aforementioned systems, Icarian, Cybex, Hammer, etc. are in meticulous rows throughout the gym. Much of the equipment is lined up by brands making circuit training a convenience.
The Aerobics Room offers step, slide, spinning and numerous other group classes from morning until night. Energetic instructors lead the classes and the fitness levels always appear varied yet full of pep.
The Free Weight Room is stacked with Hammer Strength systems which are endorsed by professional athletes. These machines will put your body through the wringer no matter your fitness level. The walls are lined with mirrors and a massive dumbbell rack running the table from 2.5lbs to over 120 lbs. Universal Cable systems are available as well as Hack Squat machines, Smith Racks, Curling Benches, and multiple benches for your other physical rudiments.
24 Hour Fitness is the America’s Mall for fitness. The gym is oversold and packed at times with a mass of people all in various stages of fitness. This can be a plus or a detriment - whichever way you look at it. The hours, cost, knowledgeable staff, variety and expanse of exercise systems make this an ideal place to work your body whether new comer or seasoned veteran. Odds are your road to fitness is already in a neighborhood near you.
Recommended:
Yes
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