Gym or YMCA?

 I am wondering where people work out the most? Do you prefer one over another? Why? 

I'm planning to join the Y in June (hopefully I'll have had surgery in May), and I'm looking forward to swimming. The gym around the corner from me is a Planet Fitness, so it's just bare bones. I'm not discounting it, but I feel like I need more variety for the long-term. 

Hi I prefer the YMCA. It has a lot of classes and the people are friendly most of the time. Also the hours are good and I enjoy the weight room as well as the various classes. I am not saying that you won't find that at the other public gym mentioned, but for the monthly price of 34.00 per month at the Y, no one can beat it. Good luck with your surgery.

For me, the local bare-bones gym was the way to go. I swim in the lake when the weather's appropriate (we're boaters), and I figure skate several times a week, and do neighborhood walks to stores and such (makes a good 3-4 mile walk, carrying stuff on the way back), so all I needed was the bare bones stuff. Our local gym was $20 per month, the Y (after an $84 joining fee) was $30 per month.

Take a look at what YOU want to do for movement, and then choose the facilit(ies) that best meet YOUR needs.

 Thanks! Yeah, I've been trying to figure it out, since I was a member of PF before. I really liked it, and for $20/month, it was a good deal. I just feel like I need more now.

You're in a good spot with the lake so close by.  That's awesome!

With me it is all about location.  The gym I go to is 5 minutes away.  Time is a premium for me.  The local Y is 20 minutes away so that would be 40 minutes round trip.  I like the family programs the y has, but during the school year I don't think we would use it enough to make it worth the money for a family membership.  The gym I go to costs a little more a month, but it has everything I need including classes, personal trainers, and a pool.  I go often enough that the personal trainers and other members recognize me and I have developed friendly relationships with them. 

 I joined the YMCA because it is a mile from my house and I wanted access to the classes and the pool.  Keep in mind that your surgeon might not let you swim until your incisions are completely healed.  Mine would not even let me swim with scabs.  There is something called a program membership that is $90 a year and then you pay $5 each time you workout (less if you qualify for their open doors program).  This was the way to go for me.  

 Yeah, I'm not planning to swim with scabs. LOL I'm looking forward to swimming after clearance from the surgeon. 

Glad to hear that's been working for you. 

Love the Y. I am in the pool every morning before work. My knees are shot so the pool is the place for me to walk, jog and use weights. I use the recumbent bikes a few other machines to mix it up. The Y is a bit more costly but for me it's worth it.

 I began working out at the Y about a year ago.  I love the classes and have many friends that I look forward to each day.  I now work out at least 2 hours /6 days a week.
I now work part time at the Y too.  It is close to my house and the price is good.

Our local Y has high dues (I think it's because of the location, I'm in suburbia - the Sal is overpriced here too). I joined Planet Fitness and wasn't impressed, then I found the gym I'm going to now. I really like it. It's small, the classes are great, I know most of the front desk staff. I landed a great trainer. It's close to home.