Affordable Gym for ALL near Downtown Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Upper NW DC? (Washington: apartment complexes)

[13stars]

Hi. I am looking for a single adult membership in the area of Downtown Silver Spring, Takoma Park, or Upper NW DC, preferably east of the park.

- I need cardio and weight machines. Classes aren't on my radar, but that could be a bonus;
- Monthly shouldn't exceed ~$50/month, hopefully. I'm planning to move out of the area in about 6 months, so I also need a pay structure that doesn't kill me to end it in 6 months time;
- Workout windows are 5-7am and 8-10pm;
- Free and safe parking or immediate and safe access from the Red Line is a must;
- I need the motivation of a populated gym, but not CROWDED;
- I'll be going to work my way back to fitness (toning and weight loss), and I am not interested in anything on the super-social/pick-up end of the spectrum.

There's a Curves in Takoma Park - too bad it's minimal, poor-looking equipment. Are there any nicer apartment complexes with nice gyms that allow the community to join? I've read mixed reviews about the LA Fitness in Downtown SS, as well as Rock Creek Sports Club in Bethesda. I would expect Washington Sports Club in Downtown SS to be a very busy meat market, especially during the hours I can work out. SS YMCA doesn't give their pricing online but I would expect them to be a bit more expensive than my budget, and they are about as far out as I can travel (still doable if I am wrong on expense).

Thanks for any leads or additional information on the gyms I have mostly ruled out.

[K 22]

Originally Posted by 13stars

Hi. I am looking for a single adult membership in the area of Downtown Silver Spring, Takoma Park, or Upper NW DC, preferably east of the park.

- I need cardio and weight machines. Classes aren't on my radar, but that could be a bonus;
- Monthly shouldn't exceed ~$50/month, hopefully. I'm planning to move out of the area in about 6 months, so I also need a pay structure that doesn't kill me to end it in 6 months time;
- Workout windows are 5-7am and 8-10pm;
- Free and safe parking or immediate and safe access from the Red Line is a must;
- I need the motivation of a populated gym, but not CROWDED;
- I'll be going to work my way back to fitness (toning and weight loss), and I am not interested in anything on the super-social/pick-up end of the spectrum.

There's a Curves in Takoma Park - too bad it's minimal, poor-looking equipment. Are there any nicer apartment complexes with nice gyms that allow the community to join? I've read mixed reviews about the LA Fitness in Downtown SS, as well as Rock Creek Sports Club in Bethesda. I would expect Washington Sports Club in Downtown SS to be a very busy meat market, especially during the hours I can work out. SS YMCA doesn't give their pricing online but I would expect them to be a bit more expensive than my budget, and they are about as far out as I can travel (still doable if I am wrong on expense).

Thanks for any leads or additional information on the gyms I have mostly ruled out.

If you're looking for under $50 - you may want to rule Sports Club out which I believe is close to TWICE that. I have a passport membership with them through my job. Whenever I'm in town, I go to the one near Dupont Circle on Connecticut Av. While it's very good and you have access to all of their gyms in the cities they're in (Boston, NY, Philadelphia, DC) - it doesn't sound like it fits in with your needs.

[KStreetQB]

$50 seems pretty tough to find, but check your health insurance. I get my gym membership through Aetna, and a $100/mo gym costs me $68/mo.

[13stars]

Thanks. I have BCBS - haven;t heard of it helping with membership, but I will definitely look into it. I am not stuck on $50, but I think the Y is just over $70, so I'd probably go that route if I can't find anything reasonable in the $50ish range.

Any comments on LA Fitness? Yelp reviews are not awesome.

[KStreetQB]

I had BCBS last year. They definitely do it. Here is the program.

https://member.carefirst.com/wps/por...fitnesscenters

[MrKnight]

Originally Posted by 13stars

Hi. I am looking for a single adult membership in the area of Downtown Silver Spring, Takoma Park, or Upper NW DC, preferably east of the park.

- I need cardio and weight machines. Classes aren't on my radar, but that could be a bonus;
- Monthly shouldn't exceed ~$50/month, hopefully. I'm planning to move out of the area in about 6 months, so I also need a pay structure that doesn't kill me to end it in 6 months time;
- Workout windows are 5-7am and 8-10pm;
- Free and safe parking or immediate and safe access from the Red Line is a must;
- I need the motivation of a populated gym, but not CROWDED;
- I'll be going to work my way back to fitness (toning and weight loss), and I am not interested in anything on the super-social/pick-up end of the spectrum.

There's a Curves in Takoma Park - too bad it's minimal, poor-looking equipment. Are there any nicer apartment complexes with nice gyms that allow the community to join? I've read mixed reviews about the LA Fitness in Downtown SS, as well as Rock Creek Sports Club in Bethesda. I would expect Washington Sports Club in Downtown SS to be a very busy meat market, especially during the hours I can work out. SS YMCA doesn't give their pricing online but I would expect them to be a bit more expensive than my budget, and they are about as far out as I can travel (still doable if I am wrong on expense).

Thanks for any leads or additional information on the gyms I have mostly ruled out.

In the Dupont/Foggy Bottom areas, both the LA Fitness on L Street and the Golds Gym on 19th Street should both keep you just under the $50 range and both have a good selection of equipment and decent hours.. The Farrugut metro stations are fairly closeby to both, a few blocks away in a very safe area of NW DC..

[13stars]

Originally Posted by KStreetQB

I had BCBS last year. They definitely do it. Here is the program.

https://member.carefirst.com/wps/por...fitnesscenters

Ooh - that looked so encouraging, but the links within that page aren't working for me. Defunct program? Anyone know?

[KStreetQB]

Oops, the BCBS program is called "Healthways - Fitness Your Way" now. Looks like it's the same type of deal.

https://www.blue365deals.com/daily_deals/56509

[13stars]

Originally Posted by KStreetQB

Oops, the BCBS program is called "Healthways - Fitness Your Way" now. Looks like it's the same type of deal.

https://www.blue365deals.com/daily_deals/56509

Thank you!!