i found out that my parents won’t renew my health club membership. we got a family membership (5 people), and i was the only one in my family going consistently (4-5 times a week). the rest of my family went probably about 10 times a month, combined. since my brother’s leaving soon, and since he was the one who went to the gym more than anyone else (besides me), we really don’t need a family membership. the problem is that single fees are $50 a month, and my parents aren’t willing to pay that.
does anyone have any ideas to how i can convince my parents to continue my membership? i’m only 17, and i don’t have a job, so paying for it myself might be a little hard (i know i could afford the $600 for the rest of the year, but i’d have no money for college).
my parents are spending more than $100 a month for my sister’s stupid piano lessons, $40,000 a year for my brother’s education, yet they can’t afford a measley $50 a month so i can live longer.
$50 a month is a lot for a gym monthly. i’d find a cheaper gym or drop the membership hopefuls and just invest in building your own sandbag, dragging sled, and lurk around for a place to do dips and pull ups. Better rewards. Hmmm…they pay for your internet access too?
best jobs i ever had when I was your age was the crappy job. the job that hardly anyone wants. usually those are vacant, pays money and benefits. then again it seems young people try to apply at the “cool” jobs and trendy ones too. scoop shit and clean kennels. kennels usually always need the help. Even jerk-off joints need a spooge cleaner for the booths.
Cheap Home Gym. went to www.walmart.com and priced it for you.
55-Pound weights with bar - 19.66
60-Pound Dumbbell Set - 19.66
4 - 25 lb Cast Iron Plates - 8.75 each
215lbs for $75
Do NOT get a cheap bench unless you know how to brace it. I have a Wal-Mart bench but also visited a hardware store and bought enough steel bars, nuts and bolts to make it safe. A cheap bench will break on you when you are under it.
Bet you could get a chin up bar pretty cheap.
Ian King has a lot of one-legged moves that use no weights.
And if that cost too much, check out the review of “The Naked Warrior” in T-Jack.
As sugarfree said, “The Naked Warrior” is a great book by Pavel Tsatsouline, that’s good for people in your case. It tells you how to develope strength - real strength with only your bodyweight. Of course, you can also develope strength-endurance, and explosiveness, the obvious ways, but strength with bodyweight is the unlikely solution.
Start doing workouts religiously in the house. Drop your sandbags on the floor. Grunt and scream and stink and sweat when everyone is around. Play loud metal to get out more reps.
Well, you get the idea. After a while $50 will seem cheap…
Tell the gym management your situation. They might be sympathetic. Here there are a few gyms that will let you clean equipment for one hour a week in exchange for a free membership. Ask and you might be surprised. Let us know how it goes.
Jonnyel’s advice is the best! Also, would the local police or fire department sponsor you training at their personal gym? (Some do, if your parents sign their waiver).
Have you read the article out here called The One Dumbbell Workout? Do a search. It could be an answer to work for you for a while anyway.
I went to work on the family farm this summer for a week. Since I was out in BFE, I took a 50 pounder with me and used it to do several exercises. Believe me, you can get a hell of a workout with just one lil’ ol’ dumbbell.
~ On another note, if your parents are willing to spend a butt-load of money on your sister for piano lessons and not afford you the same respect, then you better buck up and accept that your parents see you as a man who needs to support yourself. I’m not saying that it’s right or wrong, but it just seems that your parents either don’t respect you as much (for whatever reason), or they simply think you are ready to learn the hard stuff of life. I’m like DPH. I had a little business at the age of 12, and I’ve bought my own way through life ever since. I’m very happy that my parents did meet me half-way on my vehicles and provided a roof, utilities, and groceries.
Hey jo3 this doesnt have much to do with your gym problem but I noticed you said youve applied for some jobs but have yet to hear them. Its always very helpful to contact places youve applied and ask if theyve received your application, how the hiring process is going, if you can speak to the manager, etc. It shows the employer you have ambition and are not lazy, rather than sitting back and waiting for them to call you. You have to distinguish yourself from the others who have applied for the position. Take care and good luck with your situation.
Adam
What about your high school??? Don’t they have a weight room?
ALso, IMO GET A JOB IN SALES. Door-to-door is fine. It will pay off exponentially in the long run, trust me. Your social skills will improve, you’ll think quicker on your feet, you’ll prob be able to get guys to like you and women to f@ck you more, and you will have the confidence that no matter how old you are,if you ever lose your job, you can always walk into a car dealer or furniture store or whatever and make a living.
And if you go to college, you can then make BIG bucks in corporate level sales. Stock, bonds, pharmaceuticals (shudder), advertising, etc.
Listen to beef215. Good advice. When I worked at a shoe store while in college, they were looking for some one to hire. They got several resumes. One that we all laughed about was hand-written on spiral notebook paper, torn out, and written with PINK FELT TIP PEN! But guess what… She got the job because she was the ONLY one who came back and asked about it.
As for the gym – am I the only one who works out at home? I have a pretty nice set up that I got for less than $350 TOTAL, all through classified ads. Cage, bars, plates, heavy bag, dip stand, bench… And really I’ve got more than I need. Dude, you could set yourself up pretty cheap.
as far as a job, go to every Sonic in your area. car hops make decent cash. Great place to meet girls too. Are you out of high school or in final year? Apply at two restaurants a day, minimum. Take what you can get. Bussing tables, waiting. Make it your job for now.
