5 Signs You Should Cancel Your Gym Membership

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By Leta Shy, FitSugar
I love my gym for many reasons: it adds structure to my workouts and motivates me, the class selection is amazing, and the people — both trainers and members — can be very inspiring. But I know that many times a gym membership isn’t the most cost-effective solution for getting fit, and going isn’t for everyone. Are you wasting your money? Here are five signs it may be time to cancel your gym membership.

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1. You’d rather be outdoors: The thought of being cooped up indoors has you dreading — and then skipping — your workout, but you continue to hold onto that gym membership “just in case.” Some people find gym workouts boring, so if you’re one of them, start getting creative outdoors. Even if you’re not a runner, you can still have an effective workout outside; find an open space where you can do your circuit workout, invest in a bike, or grab your yoga mat and seek out an inspiring place to stretch.
2. You only use one piece of equipment: Take a look at your gym workout. Do you just make a beeline for the treadmill and leave? If you’re not utilizing your gym’s classes or equipment or asking trainers for help, you may be wasting your money. Instead of paying $50 a month just to use a treadmill, save the money to buy a piece of gym equipment for your home or just go for a run or walk outside.
3. You waste time once you get there: The hardest part about going to the gym may be getting there, but that shouldn’t be the part of your workout that burns the most calories. Whether you find the gym uninspiring or whether you use it as social hour to catch up with friends, if you’re not dedicated to your workout once you’re there, you’re wasting your money along with your time. Take a look at your gym workouts; if you can’t find any type of exercise at the gym that inspires you, try something else.
4. You also belong to a studio: Having a favorite yoga, Pilates, or barre studio that you also shell out big bucks for — on top of your gym membership — can mean sinking hundreds or thousands of dollars on fitness fees in a year. If you’re a studio rat but haven’t been as enthusiastic about your gym in awhile, it may be time to drop your membership. Instead of feeling obligated to go to the gym, find creative ways to supplement your studio-going with these tips on how to exercise for cheap.
5. You’ve already got the equipment: At-home essentials can be cheap, and once you have just a few basics, you’ll be ready to work out no matter what time of day. Of course, working out at home depends on a variety of factors, like whether you’ll stick with it or whether you’ll wake up your whole apartment complex, but if you have what you need at home, why waste all that money on a gym membership?

Of course, the biggest sign that you should cancel your gym membership is if you never go! Have you canceled a gym membership for any of these reasons?

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Man Writes Breakup Letter to Planet Fitness When He Moves Away

Ending any important relationship requires some care and attention—even if it’s just your relationship with your local gym.

That’s what Reddit user Mastrrbasser discovered when he attempted to cancel his membership at his neighborhood Planet Fitness.

Told he couldn’t cancel over the phone, he typed up one of the most magnificent breakup letters we’ve ever read and posted it on Reddit under the title: “Planet Fitness wouldn’t let me cancel over the phone and required a certified letter to cancel since I live in a different state now. I dropped this in the mail today.”

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The letter is truly a work of art. “It is with deep regret and a heavy heart that I write this letter,” he began. “Certain events in my life have put me in a different place, and while it was one of the more taxing decisions I’ve had to make of late, it is the right one. The purpose of this letter is to end my relationship with Planet Fitness Orange.”

He explains that he’s moved on—to a new gym in his apartment building “with a state-of-the-art whatchamacallit.” Like any classic breakup, he offers his condolences and expresses his lingering adoration. “I don’t want you to be jealous, or to judge me based on this decision. That’s not the Planet Fitness that I know and love. I still love you, but more like a friend at this point. I’m sorry things couldn’t have been better between us.”

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The gym does indeed state pretty clearly on its website that breaking up—err, canceling a membership—by phone or email isn’t allowed. “We hate to see you go! But if you must, the process is easy,” the website states, although Mastrrbasser might beg to differ. “You can fill out a cancellation form at the front desk of your home club, or send a letter (preferably via certified mail) to your club requesting cancellation. Memberships can’t, unfortunately, be canceled by email or phone.”

No word yet on whether or not Mastrrbasser has unfollowed Planet Fitness on Instagram and blocked its texts. But he did amend one final gem to his letter: “P.S. My wife also needs to cancel her membership.”

Update: Planet Fitness has responded–in style.

In an email to Health.com, a public relations representative said the gym “received the message loud and clear” and wanted to write back. The gym has graciously bowed out of this relationship with a classic line: “You know what they say though, if you love something set it free… You’ll come back, they always do.”

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New Exercise Guidelines Say Move More, Even Just a Little

It’s now easier than ever to get your recommended amount of exercise, according to new physical activity guidelines released Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). While the total number of minutes per week has not changed, one important detail has: Now, the government says, every little bit of activity—even just one or two minutes at a time—counts.

The update, officially known as the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, was announced at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions meeting. Previously, the guidelines stated that physical activity must be done in increments of 10 minutes or more to count toward your weekly total.

“Some physical activity is better than none,” the updated guidelines state. “Adults who sit less and do any amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity gain some health benefits.”

The change is important, experts say, because many Americans simply aren’t meeting the guidelines set for adults—to get at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity, per week. According to research published in JAMA with the guidelines, only 26% of men and 19% of women are getting that much.

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The guidelines (original and updated) recommend that children ages 6 to 17 get 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day, but only 20% of adolescents meet the recommendations for their age groups. And now, for the first time, the guidelines make a recommendation for children ages 3 to 5—that they should be physically active throughout the day.

“The new guidelines demonstrate that, based on the best science, everyone can dramatically improve their health just by moving—anytime, anywhere, and by any means that gets you active,” said Admiral Brett P. Giroir, MD, assistant secretary for health, in an HHS press release. The guidelines cite research suggesting that an estimated $117 billion in annual health care costs, and about 10% of premature deaths, are associated with not meeting these daily and weekly activity goals.

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They also list several benefits of physical activity that have been discovered since the initial Physical Activity Guidelines were introduced in 2008. These include improved bone health, weight status, and cognitive function for children; reduced risk of eight types of cancers (up from two in 2008); brain health benefits; reduced anxiety and depression risk; improved sleep quality; and reduced risk of falls for older adults. Physical activity can also reduce the risk of health complications for pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions.

Ideally, the guidelines say, adults should get a mix of different types of activity, including moderate aerobic activity (like walking), vigorous aerobic activity (like running), and muscle-strengthening activities (like weight training). All three of these activities are good for your muscles and for your heart, research shows. For example, a recent University of Iowa study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that lifting weights can reduce risk of heart attack or stroke by 40 to 70%, and it took less than one hour a week to see the biggest benefits.

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The new guidelines also acknowledge that there are immediate health benefits attainable from a single bout of activity—such as reduced anxiety and blood pressure, improved sleep quality, and improved insulin sensitivity. Overall, the guideline authors wrote in JAMA, the evidence is clear: “Physical activity fosters normal growth and development and can make people feel better, function better, sleep better, and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.”

Of course, most health experts have been singing this tune for quite a while—and we’ve long been proponents of the idea that every little bit of exercise counts. That’s why it’s so important to sit less, at work and at home; to take more steps every day; and to find creative ways to sneak in physical activity, even when you’re not doing an official heart-pumping, sweat-inducing workout.

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