Secrets of the City

So what’s the goal? I hired a personal trainer (specifically fitness together in minneapolis). The results have been fantastic. If you are just going to any old gym and putzing around without a clearly defined plan – then no recommendation is going to help you.

Uppercut Boxing Gym on Quincy Street has some Bag and Focus classes that start at 6:30. Tough workouts.

The Uptown and Midtown YWCAs each have classes starting at 6:30 and a few after that.

The Blaisdell and Southdale YMCAs have classes after 6:30 with the Southdale having at least 2 classes after 6:30 each day.

Both Ys meet your requirements of not having tanned bimbos (at least not many) and being fun. I’m trying to decided between the two right now.

I’ve been a member at Lifetime since 2002, and I love it. I’m also a fan of fun aerobic classes (dance, hip hop, step, kickboxing) – Lifetime DOES offer great classes at all times of the day, including evening. It really depends on what location though – all of their group fitness class schedules are on their website, so you might want to check out the schedule for the club that’s closest to you.

I thought about joining the Firm – can you offer any insight on why you had a love/hate relationship with it? I’d be mostly interested in their step or hip hop classes.

I used to be a member of Lifetime and if you want to stay away from tanned bimbos (or tanned wealthy housewives), stay away from the Bloomington location. They do have nice facilities though.

Don’t understand the concern that there may be fit people at a gym.

cue “suburban”

Joanie – The Firm is a great gym, it will kick your ass. It’s expensive though. The reason I love/hate it is because it has really intense, fun classes that I love, but none past 6:00pm really. This does not comply with my work schedule. If you can make it to the gym in time for a 5:15 or 5:30 class, and can afford the $100 a month, then check out The Firm.

I have heard great things about the classes at Lifetime. I’m interested in the St. Louis Park location. Anyone a member there?

You could join a rural militia — there are probably a few posters here that are members of some. There’d be jumping through tires, scaling walls, lots of aerobics to libertarian disco (just like the old Free State Olympics sketch on “Mr. Show”). Shooting off AK-47s into a burned-out car chassis will do wonders for your self-esteem.

(I’m sorry I don’t have real advice. I am terrified of gyms. I dated a girl once who went to the gym every day and when she kindly asked if I wanted to join her sometimes, and I jumped out a three-story apartment window and bicycled ten miles to Northeast and drank vodka gimlets and cried uncontrollably for six hours until some volunteer firemen beat me up. Don’t let that happen to you!)

Rat, who expressed a concern about fit people at a gym?

Read the original post, kc.

Just because someone stays fit, they have to be a bimbo?

Don’t understand the concern that there may be fit people at a gym.

It’s partly an intimidation factor, for someone that is starting out, rat. There can also be a snobbish/condescending/sneering attitude (the same one that people complain is present in the bicycle culture) that many of the “fit” people ooze towards newbies/the less fit in the gym.

From the post:
I need a gym that’s not full of tanned bimbos, lowering my self -esteem.

I don’t see how that has anything to do with people being fit. Plenty of tanned bimbos are not fit. And I know exactly what the poster means. Women who are very thin, very tan, and very stupid walking around so people LOOK at them, not because they want to get healthy or fit.

I like the Y specifically because there are very few of these people. There are a lot of very fit people, but they tend to be focused staying that way, not showing off. And for the most part, they are also very helpful and nice, unlike a tanned bimbo.

Don’t understand the concern that there may be fit people at a gym.

It’s not that they’re fit, it’s the category of women who “work out” with full makeup, their hair fully did, loads of jewlery, and teeny tiny “work out” clothes. Their work outs also consist of flirting with the free weight rats.

I’m humbled often in the gym. Guys 20 years younger than me, hit me in the face. Hard. Sometimes I don’t even see it coming. Like they had a third arm that I didn’t know about.

I like gym sluts. You can look at them without ever having to interact with them.

alie, you think these chicks may have just come from work and have all their makeup on still?

Norwego- The SLP location has a free open house this Saturday. My husband and I are going to check it out.

My fiance is a member at SLP lifetime–she goes to yoga, and she really likes it. Quite a list of classes, but I think the are pricey.

alie, you think these chicks may have just come from work and have all their makeup on still?

No. No I do not. Sometimes you just know (it’s a girl thing).

My comment about tanned bimbos and self-esteem was just a joke people. Obviously my sarcasm did not come through. This happens to me in real life too. Sigh.

Maybe the Twin Cities will get one of these places

Planet Fitness: The Judgement Free Zone.

An alarm goes off if you grunt.

Here’s the schedule of fitness classes at SLP LTF. Looks like they have some evening classes.

My wife is a member there. Although she doesn’t do the classes, she’s told me that it’s a much nicer facility since LTF took over. Lots of renovations.

I’d rather there was an “Average Joe’s” Gym.

The Firm is indeed great, but Norwego is right. There are maybe two or three classes that start at 6 or later. And since I’m not a strip tease sort of guy, I didn’t like my (lack of) options.

I actually joined Snap Fitness since then. I like the 24/7 aspect, and I don’t necessarily need the classes. Though I really loved the classes I took long ago at Uppercuts. That place is truly pricey, however. And they don’t seem to have ever heard of financing or pay as you go.

And since I’m not a strip tease sort of guy, I didn’t like my (lack of) options.

Damn it, and me with this fistful of singles, too!

I am a member at the SLP location. Membership is ~$80/month (this location is in Lifetime’s “premium” tier, due to its convenient location – or so I’ve heard) Their classes are top notch – I’ve been to most of the lifetime locations in the TC, and SLP, by far, has the best classes. If you like dance/hip hop classes – they have the BEST (and offered in the evening!)

It’s recently been remodeled – it used to be very 80’s-looking in there, but now it’s much better.

The one downside to this location is the parking lot. It’s PACKED for the after-work crowd, and gets nearly impossible to find a parking space during Jan/Feb/March (new year’s resolution crowd).

Whoa. Singles.

Generous.

I’d say the YMCA is what you’re looking for. Your membership lets you use all of the locations in the Twin Cities, and most of them have later evening classes at least some nights during the week (you’d be able to find one every night if you’re willing to hop around locations.)

Membership is $60 for a single person, and I get $20 back from my insurance for going 12 times a month (which I’m not that good at accomplishing.)

And though I can only really speak for the Blaisdell location, there are people there with NORMAL bodies and non-orange skin tones.

I am a member at the SLP location. Membership is ~$80/month (this location is in Lifetime’s “premium” tier, due to its convenient location – or so I’ve heard)

Well, that counts me out.

Thinking about joining Bally’s, but I heard that the contract is neigh impossible to get out of.

Whoa. Singles.

Generous.

I make it rain.

I’m humbled often in the gym. Guys 20 years younger than me, hit me in the face. Hard.

I think this probably explains an awful lot.

All this talk, and no one’s mentioned LA Fitness?

Thanks for all the advice Mnspeakers! I think I am going to check out the St. Louis Park Lifetime. They look like they have great classes that I could get to right after work. Or maybe even have time to bike to.

Another thing I didn’t think of, Community Ed has great classes, in aerobics, dancing, yoga, you name it! Registration opens Sept. 2nd. I haven’t decided what I am signing up for this fall. Previously I have done belly dancing (super fun and a great workout!) and power yoga (almost died).

All this talk, and no one’s mentioned LA Fitness?

No one mentioned Curves either. There will be no tanned bimbos there, or women under 40.

Has anybody been to the new LA Fitness on University and Hamline? The contract is month-to-month, and they allow you to suspend it for those times when you’re getting your exercise outside. Dues are cheap compared to LifeTime.

Has anybody been to the new LA Fitness on University and Hamline? The contract is month-to-month, and they allow you to suspend it for those times when you’re getting your exercise outside. Dues are cheap compared to LifeTime.

I belong to Life Time. I use the downtown (Target Center) club most often, and I like it well enough because it is not fancy, but it is clean and updated enough. I only go to yoga so couldn’t tell you what people are like elsewhere in the club. I think there is a lower number of gross orange-tan people; there are more business-types.

The only other location I use is the SLP and I just decided this morning I don’t like it (as I was biking past). HOWEVER they do have some really good yoga classes, so I recommend it for that alone.

Why I don’t like the SLP location
*They did major upgrades both inside and out. I don’t care for my fees going towards granite waterfalls and huge snack bars and seating areas with tv. I mean, WFT?

*They took out the tennis bubble and are putting in a parking ramp. So more people can drive to go exercise. Absurd.

*The room with all the treadmills and weights is pretty yucky. It is a huge space with a bunch of TVs and machines, so what you get is a room full of slack-jawed yokels kind of like gerbils on a spinning wheel staring up at TV screens.

*The steam room at SLP does NOT get hot enough! The one downtown does.

That said, I’m not planning on ending my membership any time soon. The worst part is the orange-tan people, and if you avert your eyes, you will be fine.

I used to be a member of a fairly new YMCA in the Northdale area (which also has a new LA Fitness). If there were tanned bimbos (or himbos) at the Y, I didn’t notice.

Lifetime kind of scares me with their non-stop advertising. Plus, I’ve gone to a few with friends as a guest and they keep calling me. Anyway, I belong to the YMCA and like it because it is the polar-opposite of the Lifetime. While the big Lakeview Lifetime had nice facilities and everything, it kind of felt like a big megachurch or something. The Y doesn’t give a damn and has nice pools.

That’s me anyway.

I primarily use the Y to swim. Another fun option is to take up climbing. Vertical Endeavors is a great gym and a great workout. The membership sales twice a year gets you a yearly membership for around $230. Open until 10PM with lots of great people who are really open to new people. Plus, it’ll get you ready to climb outside which is where he real action is. Not for everyone, but it’s worth trying one of their bi-weekly learn to climb clinics that cost $20 or something which includes try. There are also always coupons in the various mags around town.

There’s a huge new fitness place in the old Mervyn’s location across from Wal-Mart on University.

I’ve been a YWCA member for four years and I really like it. Uptown is a little small but Midtown is huge with plenty of machines and various equipment so you can mix up your workouts. There’s plenty of people who are ripped and fit but zero condesencion. Plus some health plans will give you $20 off monthly dues if you go a certain number of times (sorry state employees, our plan doesn’t count).

Still trying to wrap the idea of the YWCA as a fitness club. Where I grew up they were solely in the battered women’s shelter business.