peterh – after several years at FF I thought I’d give Elite a go for the all the reasons you mentioned. Best move I ever made – better results, better staff, less money.

Duke said :

Well good for you Belray. Being that there is more than one FF in Canberra and dozens more around Australia, it is entirely possible you had a different experience from mine.

However I know two members of FF Civic who both complain they can’t get help on the floor but instead are directed to hire a personal trainer.

Maybe they didn’t like me? Entirely possible. Maybe they feel sorry for you? Also possible.

just go to elite physique. my employer has a program whereby we can use FF, but in comparison to the rates at Elite, they were way over the top.

nice layout, helpful staff, individual programs. on townshend street in phillip, open early, closes late.

perfect for me, as I train before work.

I go to Club Lime Tuggers. Equipment isn’t bad, just wish they had a few more mirrors in which I could admire myself.

Well good for you Belray. Being that there is more than one FF in Canberra and dozens more around Australia, it is entirely possible you had a different experience from mine.

However I know two members of FF Civic who both complain they can’t get help on the floor but instead are directed to hire a personal trainer.

Maybe they didn’t like me? Entirely possible. Maybe they feel sorry for you? Also possible.

Duke said :

Belray – I base that comment on my years of training in gyms of all different sizes, from the small independents to the multi-nationals.

A simple test to prove the worth of a gym is to ask one of the staff to spot you when you’re doing benchpress. A good gym will always have somebody to help. Gyms like Finance First will make you pay $70 per hour for a personal trainer if, heaven forbid, you need a spot on the bench.

That’s just one of the reasons I left FF.

Maybe they don’t like you. I asked a trainer at FF to watch as I go through my two routines to ensure my form was still correct. I didn’t have my program developed by them, I am just a paying member. It took about an hour or so to go through everything with tips and comments at the end. It cost me nothing! Zip. Naddah.

It was a freeby because I am a member. $70.00 to spot you? Get real.

Belray – I base that comment on my years of training in gyms of all different sizes, from the small independents to the multi-nationals.

A simple test to prove the worth of a gym is to ask one of the staff to spot you when you’re doing benchpress. A good gym will always have somebody to help. Gyms like Finance First will make you pay $70 per hour for a personal trainer if, heaven forbid, you need a spot on the bench.

That’s just one of the reasons I left FF.

I’ve recently joined club Lime/Pink at Tuggeranong and I’d highly recommend it!

All the equipment is brand new, there’s plenty off it and well spaced out. The staff are really helpful too.

I’m pretty sure they have a thing going at the moment, where you can try the gym out for a day?!
It’s definitely worth a look.

Duke said :

Get results, avoid Finance First and other franchise gyms. Join an independent gym for less and where the guy behind the counter owns the place and actually wants to see you improve, not just take your cash.

What do you base this comment on? Which gyms don’t want you to improve and only take your cash and how many of them have you been a member of?

Join Crossfit.com
have a gym where ever and whenever you like
its free, all it needs is you

and you get to pick the music too

Here is a good place to get started on your home gym

Get results, avoid Finance First and other franchise gyms. Join an independent gym for less and where the guy behind the counter owns the place and actually wants to see you improve, not just take your cash.

I’m a member of lime and I think it’s pretty good although can get quite crowded on weekday evenings. You can usually get on to machines though and the class timetable is convenient. Not sure that it’s anymore expensive than Fitness First etc?

As long as you don’t plan to breastfeed anywhere near the facility ;o)

I have free weights at home so I wouldn’t know. Aside from the ANU gym, gym memberships seem to be prohibitively expensive. As long as it isn’t Fernwood though, go for it.

it is good there. I really like what is on offer. Just make sure if you use the pool to get out and into the change rooms before 9pm or you will be going home wet and cold!! They have a very strict rule and the life gaurds dont care how cold it is outside if it is 9.00.01pm then you will miss out on being able to use the change rooms. YES it happened to me 🙁

Sure, it’s great, but you pay through the nose. The pool next door at tuggeranong has a gym, bit small, but good enough for most, plus the added benefit of a pool. And its 30-40 bucks a month cheaper.