Gain money, lose weight?
July 7, 2009
I’ve decided to cancel my gym membership. I’ve had it for many many years now, perhaps three (perhaps longer), and for the last year and a half at least, I have failed to get my money’s worth. Instead, I pay my nearly $16 every two weeks (which is really a great deal, so great that I have used that as an excuse to keep the membership in the past) and stay firmly out of the gym.
Since my mortgage payments will be starting soon (please God, please; also: more on this later), I need to look for opportunities to save money and this is an obvious one. I was looking forward to canceling my membership two days ago, but there was nobody at the gym with the authority to get things in motion. It was so disappointing. I managed to get it done yesterday.
For someone who has wanted to lose weight for a solid 18 years, canceling a gym membership seems counterintuitive, because without a membership, the chance that I’ll act on the urge to work out and head to the gym is much reduced. However, there are things I can do without a gym membership: walking is obvious, or perhaps running again. Also, my problem isn’t physical activity (though it is in desperate need of being increased, don’t get me wrong) so much as the quantity of unhealthy food that rhymes with ‘candy’ that I consume daily.
Another thing that will help is being carless. Although I don’t have an automobile, my parents had generously allowed me to use their second car while I got settled (and got most of my belongings moved). I think we originally thought within two weeks I’d return the car. Well nearly three months later, the ability to hop in “my” car when I felt like it has come to an end. It seems my brothers and sister need to practice their driving skills with it (seeing as that was the original purpose of the second car).
Having full access to the car made me lazier: for the last month I have been driving the car to the bus station and taking the bus from there because that meant I could sleep in a few more minutes. And on the way home I’d stop for groceries, when some of the stores are within walking distance of my house.
On a funny note, I need a scale and every time I go to Walmart to buy one, I end up picking up candy too. The shame of coming to the cash carrying both has made me return the former to its location twice now. Let’s hope there won’t be a third time.
Good work canceling your gym membership! :) Clearly having that membership wasn't enough to get you there and exercising, so now you can come up with new ideas.
Walking is great! I am a big fan of walking. Oh, I wish you and I could walk together. That sounds fun. Being without a car will be inconvenient sometimes I'm sure, but I do think it's also a great thing. I do have a car, but when I'm able to walk somewhere instead of drive, it's amazing how much more of a living, interesting experience it is. I notice tiny flowers in the grass, I breath in the air, and I feel my body working. It's good.
:)
Yeah, having a gym membership can make you feel virtuous but if you're not going, there's just no point. Good for you for acknowledging that the gym isn't the solution for you.
I really appreciate your support, Emma and Jess. I'm working on finding the right solution for me, and I have to accept that the process will likely take a while.
I had to stop my gym membership as well. Eventually I realized that it just wasn't working for my lifestyle or my budget. I just couldn't justify the cost when it was so hard – or seemed so hard – for me to get there when I could by a home machine (we got an elliptical) for about half of what the gym membership cost per year.
Walking is definitely the choice of many people I know, but having the elliptical in the flat means I can't avoid exercise even on a rainy day. :)
Bravo! It's odd, because for the first time in my life I am also without a gym membership. For 12 years I worked in the industry and never had to pay for a membership, and for the past 8 years I've paid for it, assuming I needed it.
Now that I live in the middle of the wop wops (boonies!) I just swim at the local pool, cycle into the country and run on the quiet roads. So much nicer!
I'm saving a whopping $136/mth without my membership. Why do you think I can afford my fantastic shoes?
You CAN do it Jummy!
I have the perfect solution for you!
Country roads!
No one sees you out here AND if you came out here you would have the company of MOI!
It might not save you money, though, what with the cost of gas and all.
But still!
Hey, I just stumbled here from blogs.ca, and I have to comment that I LOVE your banner and tag line.
Also, my fiance and I just moved to a house near the subway and are living car-free, and we've both lost weight because of it.
Do you have stairs at your work? I find taking the stairs (I get off at the 7th floor and walk up to the 10th.. I'm not going to walk all ten flights!) helps squeeze in exercise too.
I am so excited for you that you're going car-free (although I have to admit it is more for the environment that I get a little giddy about it!).
I think you're totally capable of gaining money and losing weight :)