Okay, the time has come. My husband and I really want to join a gym/athletic club so that we can lose weight and get healthier. This is a serious thing for me as I am hoping to lose about 80-100 lbs. We have three children who live with us and we would like them to come along with us and have a safe place to play while we work out. Does anyone have suggestions for a place like this, in or near Gresham, that won't "break the bank?"
Zenana spa in SE Portland offers yoga and pilates and provides childcare. not a gym but will help you slim down.
Hey B....I just joined a 24 hr fitness. They have a kids area my Kiddos enjoy (2,3). My monthly payment is 29.99 and I get 2 20 visit punch cards for the kids for 55.00. I went there for the pool and price. I'm a SAHM on a budget too!!! They have lots of different options and you can get really good deals.
Good luck finding the right place!!!
We are members at Firstenburg Community Center. They are part of the Vancouver Parks & Rec and are located on 136th near Mill Plain Blvd. Their cost for the whole family is only $58 mo, no fees or contract. They have a teen center for your 13&15 yrold. They have a great child watch for your 2 & 6 yr old. And I believe the 8 yr old can swim in the awesome pool area on his own, too. Just pay attention to the child watch hours - they are a little unusual. Also, since the pool is so popular, make sure you give yourself time before open swim begins because it meets capacity quickly. There are awesome classes, huge gym, indoor track, rock wall and more. It's not your "average" gym...check out their website. http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parks-recreation/facilities... See you out there!
We belong to Club Sport. It is awesome for kids of all ages - a bit pricey but worth every dollar! Also the SW Community Center has kids care. You might want to check the YMCA as well. But really, Club Sport is worth the money and drive wherever you live. Good luck!
Most if not all 24-Hour Fitness facilities have child care areas - particularly the 24-hour Sport clubs...and you can go whenever you have time =)
Cascade Health Club in SE Portland is very nice. There is a "Kids Club" daycare area and on weekends you can take the kids swimming during the "Family Swim" time. They are reasonable and the classes and trainers are great. It is not an intimidating place to work out at all. People of all ages and sizes exercise there.
I go to LA Fitness and it's child care is $10 per month for the first child and I think $5 more for additional children. That's for 2 hrs a day, 7 day's a week. I recently checked out Bally's and they were willing to give the same deal. I think the gyms (regardless of where) may negotiate prices including child care. So ask a lot of questions and tell the gym what you're looking for and what you want to pay. Good luck!
24 Hour Fitness has children's areas in all of their gyms. Unfortunately it is cost prohibitive if you have more than one child. A book of 20 visits to the childcare center costs $40 per kid. There is also a 2 hour limit.
What I would suggest is you pay your teens to watch the kids. You would save money, and they would learn responsibility, if they haven't done babysitting already. The money stays in-family, as an added benefit, and they won't be coming to you for cash so often if they have their own money in their pockets that they've earned. "Mom, I saw the cutests skirt--would you buy it for me?" Is something you would be hearing less.
You can also use the babysitting and earning cash as lessons in money and saving for the future. Encourage saving, so they can buy a car, go to school, get a new computer, etc. If kids buy something themselves, the pride of ownership is HUGE. That goes for the little things, too. You might find they take better care of their stuff.
Of course, if the teen stepkids don't live with you, that makes that solution problematical. I would look for other parents who also go to the gym and swap babysitting.
Congrats on your decision to get healthy. I too, need to lose about 80lbs and have been working on it. At one time I needed to lose 110lbs. but year by year I've been losing 10-15 lbs. It isn't easy.
That's my two cents.
H.
I have 23mo old twin boys. My husband and I have joined LA Fitness on Burnside in Gresham. We only pay $15 a month for our two boys to go to the daycare. The girls that work in the daycare are great. We haven't been to the gym for some time now but when we did go, the daycare worked out awesome. Good luck.
Hi B.. Cheers to your decision to get healthy. I'm not sure where you are located, but I belong to 24HR Fitness and there is a childcare center. I would wait to join when they have specials since the fees can be a choke. We got a good deal and pay $56 per month for 2 of us. Also the hours of the childcare centers vary per location so I would check to see if they will be adequate to your needs. Also the YMCA is another option for your whole family. While you work out the kids can do rockwall, basketball, swim etc.. Good Luck!
