Get real. No place is going to let you freeze membership for only a month you cheapskate. I can't believe you would have the nerve to ask..what's it like 40 buck per month? The owner and staff has always been very friendly and helpful to me...sounds like you might have some personality issues to deal with.

Is the Philadelphia Health and Fitness (or whatever it's called) still right next to Whole Foods? Is that not close enough for the folks who wish Lifesport had some competition?

PSC (Phila Sports Club) is still right next to Whole Foods. Yea, I'd say that is still close enough to offer competition.... Especially since most people going there are looking for exercise, so a little further of a walk can't hurt.

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Slainte!

My husband loves Lifesport, and he's a cranky 61-year-old who has an opinion about everything. PSC is a chain gym and basically interested in churning trainer fees, etc., but it's perfectly fine. I'm giving up my membership at PSC, though, because even though it's open 24 hours it's just far enough away to be a pain to walk from my house (Lifesport's closer) and it's fairly anonymous.

I'm a member of Lifesport, but I'm not in love with the place. I'm looking at other gyms b/c I can probably get a better deal elsewhere through work. It is convenient and it's nice when it's not crowded. They do mention when you sign up that you can put your membership on hold for a month or two, so, strange as that may sound for some, it's not . The owner is self righteous, but seems to mean well and he's easily avoidable. It's not a meat market and, to give credit to Fairmounters where it's due, it's a mostly polite clientele.

But the equipment can be a bit old and have you ever looked up at the ceiling fans? Yech. Time to dust, kids.

And... I almost quit there about a year ago. When I politely turned down one of their counterpeople for a donation during a fundraising campaign, explaining my position on the situation and that I donate elsewhere, he said something waaaay too snarky, along the lines of "you'd be such a better person if you donate just one little dollar." I had two words for him that weren't "happy birthday" and then I walked away as the jaws of the rest of the staff within earshot dropped open.

Fortunately, this guy must have be an a$$hole to others because he was gone within days after my encounter. Their current staff is much better.

Lifesport does continue to fundraise, which is great for any business to do, but they are now much more polite about it. They don't even say more than hello to me anymore - I think they marked my card as "she's trouble" or something (and I'm OK with that, I can work out in peace, sans solicitors).

I am a past member of LifeSport. I quit only because I was leaving the country for a couple of months and I didn't know if I'd have time when I got back (I haven't).

I liked the gym very much. As someone who could never be accused of being atheletic, I just dug the vibe.

I also never had a problem with the owner, he was actually very cool.

They also didn't bother me at all about me leaving.

I had a good experience.

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The people get the government they deserve. --Alexis de Tocqueville

Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels. --Mark Twain

I've joined maybe 1/2 dozen gyms in my adult life (22 years). The BEST one was Better Bodies in Chalfont, near Doylestown. A friend referred me there and it was on my commute to/from work (no excuses to miss). 12th St. Gym is a scam as well and unless you live/work within a few blocks, its a pain in the butt.

Last year I got sucked into Bally's with their $19/month ad. It turned out you could only go on 3 set days per week and you needed a 3 year commitment. I could not find a plan on-line so I visited the one near my office (Drexel Bldg., 15th and Walnut) and sat with a sales manager who ran through the various perks of the ridiculously high monthly fees. I then threw at him, "what if I pay it all upfront?" and he played with a few things on the computer and got me in for $855 for 24 months. If you add the IBX $150/year reimbursement it works out to less than $25/month. I was also quick to tell their sales team (after a few weeks of calls) to stop pushing the training. If I need it, I'll ask for it. I haven't been bothered since. Don't be afraid to wheel and deal with them! They want to make the sale and you want to work out!!

At least 3 days a week I sneak out of my office around 11:30, get a good workout in, pick up lunch, then I'm back at my desk by 1. That, in addition to a more structured meal schedule, has resulted in over 30# gone in 9 months.

That freeze rule (which does exist) I think originated from all the rowers in the area (that are/were members). The typical competitive rowing season calls for very little weight training in the summer months. Given a lot of these kids come here to Philly, sacrifice a great deal and scrape by to shoot for the Olympics - that saved $120 or so can be a big deal to them.

I think it's great that they offer the short-term freeze.

I appreciate the input. So basically, it's reasonably priced, somewhat outdated, and you have time limits on cardio machines?

What kind of limits- 20? 30? Is there usually a wait to get ON the eliptical machines? I can deal with the time limits because I walk 2.5 miles home from work every day, but going to the gym to wait around for exercise isn't my thing (I should probably stop showing up at the gym at the rush hour, I know). Would I be better off planning a workout for after 7:00 PM?

Thanks again for all of your help!

Actually, a temporary membership freeze is pretty common..... instead of you cancelling your account and then shopping around later, the gym is guaranteed to get you back as a client within a defined period.