I'm a big fan of the Y. Not sure if you are single or if you have a family? But if you have a family, its the best deal in town - there are so many activities your kids can choose to participate in. It certainly helps entertain the family on a budget, in addition to being a bargain for a workout. There are a range of locations in the area, including some new facilities that are nice and on par w/most of the private (and more expensive) gyms in the area.
(Still a bargain for a single person too, of course.)
posted by mom2 at 10:50 A.M. EST on Fri Feb 23, 2007 #
Depends on what kind of workout your looking for. For example, my hubby likes weight lifting so instead of the $20 a month deal at 21st. we invested about $300 on equipment about 5 years ago that has more than paid for itself by now.
posted by tm at 11:12 A.M. EST on Fri Feb 23, 2007 #
I dont have my own family, but I have heard good things about the Y. I'm mostly looking for a place to do weight lifting and aerobic exercises. How much is the Y and where is it located?
I've also heard good things about Super Fitness on Alexis, any comments?
posted by jshriver at 11:14 A.M. EST on Fri Feb 23, 2007 #
I've also heard good things about Super Fitness on Alexis, any comments?
Thats where my husband used to go. You can usually get a deal of about $20 a month there.
posted by tm at 11:16 A.M. EST on Fri Feb 23, 2007 #
My husband used to work out at Super Fitness on Alexis, but once we moved to Sylvania he didn't renew his membership. (Was too much of a haul, plus w/the kids we decided on the Y for all the activities as I mentioned above.) He liked it well enough, but given our situation we get a better value from the Y.
The Y has multiple locations all across the city. Are you near the Super Fitness on Alexis? (Am guessing you might be in that general area, since you asked about it.) You can look on the website www.ymcatoledo.org to see all the locations (if you get a Max membership, you can work out at any of them). They also have different aerobics, yoga, etc. classes at each location (schedules are viewable in PDF on the website too).
The Francis Family YMCA is in Temperance at Jackman and Dean - its a new building and very nice. (One of the advantages of the Y is that many have indoor pools as well.) Also over on that side of tow is the West Toledo branch - which is located on Tremainsille near Start HS, I think.
The good thing about the Y too is that if you have any interest in other sports beyond weights/aerobics, you can play basketball (either on an adult league or open gym), raquetball, volleyball leagues, swim, tennis courts, there was even an adult dodgeball league at the JCC/Y (on Sylvania near McCord) this winter.
posted by mom2 at 11:49 A.M. EST on Fri Feb 23, 2007 #
I'll chime in for the Y as well. We got one for the family about 2 months ago, and it's been pretty phenomenal. Now I just gotta get my rear in there more often. :)
posted by TheTalentedMrC at 01:10 P.M. EST on Fri Feb 23, 2007 #
I vote for the Y as well, plus you have the pool at the J during the summertime.
posted by LTLOP at 09:46 P.M. EST on Fri Feb 23, 2007 #
I've enjoyed Lifestyles for ladies, not knowing your gender that may or may not be an option for you. Personally I think the cost of the Y is outrageous considering on top of the monthly payment they expect you to also pay for most every thing else they offer outside of the gym equipment and pool.
posted by OhioKat at 12:07 A.M. EST on Sat Feb 24, 2007 #
The Y has some advantages: if you're a max member, you can work out at about a dozen locations. If you have kids, they offer childcare and children's activities. If you go to Francis Family or the Perrysburg Y, you'll have brand new facilities. Also, West Toledo is building a new facility that will be very nice.
As a single adult, I find the biggest drawback to Y membership is that parents think that the rules don't apply to them or their kids. So women will bring boys as old as 12 into the ladies' locker room -- nevermind that at Francis, there's a family locker room they can use. Women also ignore the signs that say certain areas of the locker room are adults only. So if children (and their lax, rude parents) annoy you, you're better off at Wildwood or a for-profit facility.
Of course, if you're a guy, no worries. It's not like a man would bring his 12 year old daughter into your locker room.
posted by dersprokkett at 03:07 A.M. EST on Sat Feb 24, 2007 #
I've enjoyed Lifestyles for ladies, not knowing your gender that may or may not be an option for you. Personally I think the cost of the Y is outrageous considering on top of the monthly payment they expect you to also pay for most every thing else they offer outside of the gym equipment and pool.
I used to have a membership at Lifestyles immediately prior to joining the Y (and as I mentioned above, my husband had a Super Fitness membership). I have found the Y to be a much better value than Lifestyles - at least for a person w/a family. Child care while you're working out is automatically included in the Max membership vs. having to pay a surcharge at Lifestyles. Y membership gets you use of pools, raquetball courts, tennis courts, etc., while there is no such similar option at Lifestyles. Even taking into consideration the $15 for the core classes (aerobics, yoga, etc.) per 6 week session, I still don't think that's a bad value.
A single person might not find the same value at the Y (but again, it depends on what things you use), but my husband and I are very pleased w/what we're getting for the money - especially compared to the 2 separate gym memberships that we were paying for prior to joining the Y. Y membership is only slightly more than what we were paying before, but we get access to many more things.
posted by mom2 at 09:57 A.M. EST on Sat Feb 24, 2007 #
It really is sad that the Y is such a value for familys but for singles it's almost double what comparable facilities charge. Kind of ironic, seeing as how they started out as a place for young men to go...
My wife enjoys Curves - The idea appeals to our lifestyle - the machines are set up in a circle, you come in, run around the machines a couple times, and you leave. No massive facilities, or even a locker room - no need, it's right around the corner, and she wears her sweats in, and then comes home and showers.
There's a similar outfit called 123Fit that unfortunately has no franchises near here, but they cater to both sexes. Theyre growing fast, and as soon as one's here in town, they'll have two members.
posted by billy at 10:46 A.M. EST on Sat Feb 24, 2007 #
The YWCA(downtown) is offering a Healthy Heart Plus program. It's free and children are welcome. They meet twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. You exercise to a great cardio workout for about 30 - 45 mins. where they record your heart rates. While your working out, the children are in a nutrition class where they learn about healthy foods. After the workout class, you then go to a nutritional class, where you learn to read labels and healthy foods and the children then get to workout. It's a good time. You can call the YWCA at 419-241-3235 for more information.
posted by ToledoLatina at 10:53 A.M. EST on Sat Feb 24, 2007 #
You might also want to check out The Collingwood Center located at 2275 Collingwood Blvd. It has a fitness area and an indoor pool and offers memberships at a reasonable rate. It is operated by the Lucas County Educational Service Center.
posted by Judy at 06:05 P.M. EST on Sat Feb 24, 2007 #
I can tell you one place to not go. Do not go to Bally's Fitness on Airport Hwy. The Monroe location is pretty good but the Airport location is terrible...dirty, antiqueted machines, lazy employees. It honestly is a dismal place to work out. I was there a year and still regret it wasting my money on it. I am joining 360 Fitness in Maumme. Its not cheap at 360 but its a awesome gym with people that actually seem to care. I have also heard 21st Century Gym is nice....Y is cheap also. Just avoid Bally's on Airport at all cost!!!
posted by douglasadietz at 10:20 A.M. EST on Fri Mar 30, 2007 #
I'm a long-time Bally's member. I almost always use the Monroe St. location 'cause I live in Sylvania. I love it, though there was ALOT of complaining when they remodeled four-five years ago and took out the running track and pool. I was never a fan of the Airport Hwy. location and understand your beef with the employees there.
posted by McCaskey at 11:07 A.M. EST on Fri Mar 30, 2007 #
Yeah the Monroe location is definitely a much better location. The Airport location disturbs me...people never wipe off the machines but this is in part because the lazy, "could careless" employees never refill the sanitizer or towel dispencers. There are countless times I had to go to the desk and say "hellooo you're out of towels...again!!!" I wouldn't be suprised if people have gotten sick from that place it has to be a breeding ground for mold and other moist attracted things.
It is very apparent that the staff has lost their ability to care, of course if I had to work there, I may not care either...the gym is just depressing. Monroe is definitely the polar opposite. Oh well...if I lived closer to Monroe I would have just transferred my membership, but 360 is awesome - absolutely no complaints here.
posted by douglasadietz at 12:28 P.M. EST on Fri Mar 30, 2007 #
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