# Do I need a gym membership?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-gym-membership/306554>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 2, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-gym-membership/306554 "2005-06-02T15:32:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-gym-membership/306554/41 "2005-06-03T15:32:56Z")

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Hmm… from a cursory glance at Swiss Ball training in Google, it seems like people agree with **Ultrafilter**. That’s just as well; I’d just feel better on a bench instead of some squishy, rolling thing.  
Well, thanks a lot guys. You’ve cleared up a lot of stuff for me. I think that the distance to the gym is going to be more of a hindrance to me than motivating myself to workout at home, so a weight set it will be.

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**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-gym-membership/306554/42 "2005-06-03T18:43:07Z")

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Check the classifieds for some great deals on exercise equipment.

Do you have an [Craigslist](http://www.craigslist.org) site for your area? If you do, check out the extercise equipment for sale. Some good deals there, too.

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**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-gym-membership/306554/43 "2005-06-03T19:25:20Z")

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I suggested a Swiss Ball (so that’s what they’re called) because it fits in a smaller space and is (in my mind anyway) more functional than just a flat bench. You can do flat bench or incline on it as well as tons of different ab exercises.

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**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-gym-membership/306554/44 "2005-06-03T19:28:06Z")

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I’m thinking about just lifting until I get to my weight (~145-150 lbs). Would a Swiss ball support myself plus that?

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**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-gym-membership/306554/45 "2005-06-03T21:52:07Z")

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Audiobottle, if you like exercising at home, might I suggest checking out this website: [www.collagevideo.com](http://www.collagevideo.com)? They sell exercise DVD’s and video’s of various fitness experts and I’m sure you could put together a whole library of video’s that will train you. You might like Cathe Freidrich, the Firm, Billy Blank’s Taebo Series, etc.

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