After the new year is a good time to keep weight loss resolutions. In Apple Valley, Minnesota, that means you have a multitude of gym choices for your workout. There are no less than five general purpose exercise gyms in Apple Valley: Life Time Fitness, Curves, LA Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Snap Fitness, and Fitness Together. I am going to review the three of these that I have used in the past or have been a visitor to: Life Time Fitness, LA Fitness, and Anytime Fitness. I can not review Curves because it is a fitness center for women.
Life Time Fitness: For me this one is by far the most impressive gym and I have been a member here for multiple years. It costs, for an individual 59 dollars a month and about 120 for a family. You can get special deals or purchase a “Founder’s membership” from a classified ad and only then pay around $20 a month. A “Founder’s membership” goes for around $2,000.
Life Time Fitness has personal trainers on duty at all times that you can ask questions of. Upon joining you get a free session with a personal trainer to help you with your weight loss goals.
You can also enroll of various free instructor led classes. My personal favorites are the instructor led cycle classes. They are have the normal set of equipment: treadmills, stationary bikes, weight machines, free weights, rock climbing wall, etc….Finally, if working out is boring for you, they broadcast the major local network channels, Foxnews, and MSNBC onto large televisions and a small FM transmitter the sound.
Towels, locker rooms, locker with keys, and other amenities exist at this club so the only thing you need to bring with you is workout clothes. Generally, I found Lift Time Ftiness a little better kept in terms of neatness and up to date equipment than other two reviewed.
LA Fitness: I went to this facility once when it is first opened and it is slightly smaller than the Life Time fitness, but still includes all the basic treadmills, bikes, free weights, etc…that you would expect from a gym. The class roster is slightly smaller, but they do have cardio kickboxing which is unique to this gym. Another unique feature of LA Fitness is that you can track your personal training workouts online. Locker room towels and locks are not provided. You will need to bring your own.
For a single person, you will need to pay some level of initiation fee – the standard is $399, but deals can be found. You then pay about $40 a month in dues, so it is slightly cheaper than Life Time Fitness.
Anytime Fitness: Anytime Fitness is a basic cardio and weights workout club. It also takes a slightly different approach to trainer on site at all times – they do not do it. The Apple Valley club is staffed Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Othertimes are available by appointment. But you do get a card with a pin code to be able to workout anytime (hence the name).
They have all the basics: treadmills, bikes, weights, etc…with no frills. The other two clubs have pools and childcare, LA Fitness does not. On the other hand, if all you want is cardio, weights, and the occasional talk to the trainer, Anytime Fitness offers the best value at around $30 a month.
