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Life Insurance vs a Gym Membership
I recently bought income protection insurance. Major reason was impending house purchase (although to be honest I haven’t found all that much recently). The insurance costs roughly $70 a month and means that if I get seriously sick, I have that income forever more.
Not something I generally think about and to be honest about the worst sales pitch you have to sit through. The whole thing was a bit doom and gloom really.
Now after yet another unsuccessful attempt at kick starting a regular running regime, I’m thinking of biting the bullet and getting a gym membership. This will cost roughly the same amount per month and it has always seemed like an utter waste of money.
The plan of attack NOW is to treat the gym membership like a pre-insurance, insurance policy. But knowing me, it will literally sit in my wallet getting dusty.
Any advice? Is there hope for lazy bums like me? (I’ve already tried justifying it by claiming that I’d otherwise spend the money on food…)
Hello, my name is Natalie, I have a business called 
April 27th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Fnd someone to motivate you to head to the gym. I know someone who’s a regular at exercise, I’m sure Ruth would be keen on company (well I’m not sure but I can imagine…)
April 27th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
these guys might have some ideas – http://lesmillsandme.ning.com
April 28th, 2009 at 12:16 am
I was going to say exactly the same as Ben and Joshua – join up at a gym that you have a friend that already regularly goes and who’d be happy to work out with you (I wouldn’t recommend joining with someone else who’s just starting because you’ll both be too easy on each other).
OR
Go to a gym that has scheduled classes. Les Mills has 2 or 3 gyms in Wellington, the classes are great fun, and you get into a routine where it just becomes a habit.
Go for it and have fun :)
April 28th, 2009 at 9:57 am
I have the option of signing up to a gym with friends and walking out of my way a bit to get there, or joining Les Mills which is about 2.5 mins walk from home or work (about halfway) which I think is probably going to be the safest bet.
OK I think I’m going to bite the bullet! I’m thinking lunchtime will be key (Could never go running at lunchtime because of lack of showers in the office and lets be honest 5pm onwards is after work drinks time)… See what I’m up against?????
April 28th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Keep the insurance
Forget the gym
Force yourself to go out of the office at 10:30, 12:30 & 2:30 every day and walk briskly for ten minutes, focused on something that is bugging you because it hasn’t got a “rountu’it” to offer.
Your health will be good
Your mind will enjoy the excercise
The income replacement insurance will feel like it’s free.
Enjoy.
(NB Briskly, means that your heart rate goes up by 10% – you DON’T have to run.)
April 28th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Dave,
Me and My Exercise Regime is like a soap opera. There are love affairs and bust ups galore.
What I’ve come to is that:
* If it’s raining, I will use it as a excuse NOT to go (and it rains all winter)
* If I’m not paying for it, I wont value it (I hope that by paying I WILL value it)
* I don’t feel like I’ve achieved anything unless I get exhausted from it – Walking just bores me.
Sooooo… Worst case scenario, I get this gym membership and then sell it on Trademe if I don’t use it.
Man I am afraid of commitment!
April 28th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Pay each month and not each year. By paying each month you see the money go by and it sparks you into using the gym. In fact people that pay monthly use the gym more – it’s backed by research that I am too lazy to look for.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
If you’re gonna go for Les Mills, just talk to the membership folks and tell them your situation and ask for a free one-month trial.
Also if you’re gonna go the group fitness way and want to go at lunchtimes, check out their timetable to make sure that the classes you’re interested as at times that work for you.
I’m guessing that you’re closer to Les Mills Extreme rather than Terrace:
http://lesmills.co.nz/lesmills_custom.cfm?&do=schedule&clubid=5
April 28th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
p.s. Dane does a great BodyAttack class on Thursdays at 6.30 p.m. you should check her out! :D
April 28th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Heres something else too – although more to make you realise that you are not alone: http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/blogs/are-we-there-yet/2366459/I-m-glad-you-asked
So many poor people however don’t have a younger sister who would be super keen to exercise with them. I bet they wouldn’t brush me aside so easily… :p
April 28th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Funny, I read your blog as I am curious about what young people in business think/do in New Zealand as I hope to be one of those in a year when I return… it seems that you have the business journey well underway but the exercise side just doesn’t get momentum which is the exact opposite of me…
If you want to exercise, understand your motivation. At the moment it is a negative one (not dying early, not dying fat). Maybe you are focused on the failure rate rather than the benefits of a little bit, regularly. And negative energy doesn’t motivate. I am hopeless at motivating myself for an early morning run so threw myself into a rugby team and after the season I am doing a physical challenge for charity in teams. Suddenly our group of 5 are getting in to work at 7.30 to climb 88 flights of stairs (tomorrow!). At home I would go for a jog but through the Wilton bush walkway, not on the road. Find a way to make it fun. Netball on Queens Wharf at lunchtime?
Alternatively, Ramit at http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com advocates making a public bet with his friends (for him to gain weight as a skinny Indian). If you have $10 riding on the goal – and a bit of banter and jibes in your inbox your pride might just get you working.
PS I have never joined a gym for the basic reason it just isn’t that fun to me more than once a week.
April 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am
If a gym works thats great. I just do body resistance exercises (like pushups and chinups) and go biking and swimming. You could get a pretty sweet roadbike for the price of a gym membership. Swimming at freyberg is awesome when the weather sucks too.
April 29th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Nat
Maybe it’s time for a lover – the excercise is much more fun :-)
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April 30th, 2009 at 9:56 am
Dave, I TOLD you, I have used EVERY excuse before :)
So I went to the gym yesterday and signed up. The contract isn’t so frightening, the bikes come with TVs so I can watch Oprah or something and Marie-Claire has offered to drag me to the gym on her way when I lose motivation
May 1st, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Then I wish you the very BEST of luck with the venture.
I myself have joined a gym three times in my life, and each time I put inches where they were not supposed to go. I now ensure my wrists and fingers are well exercised, my mind is regularly stretched, and my muscular structure regularly softened like chewing gum through immersion in pulsating hot water with nice spa-like bubbles.
When SWMBO is in a good mood, my back gets exercised too!
HAppy daze.