I just racked up $30,000 in exercise-related medical bills. I was jogging in order to shed my post-baby pounds. I slipped. My ankle rolled. I didn't. One metal plate, three screws, and a big-ol'-cast later, I'm back where I started. On my behind.

include classes - yoga, kick-boxing, etc. 

I, personally, am too cheap to do the cool new thing. I want to buy a house someday, maybe. haha.

The worst though, is when you try something new, buy all the equipment, and then stop going/doing it.  

My personal example of this is getting my dive permit. I took the course, went to the class dives, got my license. In the meantime I bought a tank, mask, and wet suit.  I don't regret the license since it's a lifetime thing, but I should have just rented all the equipment. 

As far as spending money on exercise, I think it's worth it for leagues - like soccer and basketball. Team sports are alot of fun and totally worth it.  I will also pay to participate in the occassional dodgeball/volleyball tournament.

I changed gyms about seven months ago, to one where group classes are included in the cost of membership (which is about $130 each month). About five months ago I started seeing a personal trainer twice a month (about $75 per session). I go to the gym at least five days a week, and take at least two kickboxing classes with an occasional yoga class thrown in. It's become part of my evening routine and I can't imagine cutting that out.

To cut down my spending, I've been swapping books with friends instead of buying them, traded in my morning coffee runs for tea at my desk, and stopped highlighting my hair. However I feel like my gym membership is a key element to keeping myself healthy and balanced.

I just dropped our gym membership, which was $65 a month plus an additional $40 per month for the kids, because we are moving to a house with a pool and I plan to swim there. however, the pool is not heated and it is, of course, winter, so we will see how that goes. 

I want a new bike, a racing bike, to the tune of $650 used. My running shoes cost about $100 every 4-6 months, and I purchase tools for exerising at home from time to time, like my stability ball and weights. Oh, and I am a magazine addict so I have about five different workout magazines I subscribe to lol!

However,   I think it is all important for me, personally./ I don't spend money on clothes much, or otherthings. I have never been a shopper per se, but I'm interested in the outdoors and working out/exercising/being outside. So I am ok paying the money for running shoes, or a new pair of running shorts, or a new bike (though that one MAY hurt since I have a perfectly good bike, just not a perfectly FAST bike!). I figure it is in my best interest to be fit and feel good, and I only feel this good when I am really working out.

I see the other side, too, since I'm doing personal training now-though I do believe that some of the prices I see charged for sessions are pretty high, and like you said they don't work for the majority of people. I've looked at ways to cut those costs in my practice by offering classes to groups of people so they still get some one on one but not at the high price they would pay for just one trainer.

It can get really expensive to stay fit, but it can also be as inexpensive as bying a pair of running shoes and getting out on your own and running.   I think part of it depends on how motivated someone is, too, because if they will do it themselves it will obviously be cheaper (in most cases) than if they need someone (a class, a group, a trainer) to get them motivated.

Kathy

Allbusiness:Working Mothers

Mama Marathoner

I'm willing to spend money on fitness since it improves my overall health, but the threshold is definitely set at different price points for individuals.

One of the biggest factors besides price may be motivation-- we pay for new experiences so we continue exercising. My gym membership is actually $20 a year since I've had it for 5 years
now, and includes free classes.  However, my schedule doesn't work with
the classes, and I've been getting a little bored.

So, I recently got a foldable Pilates machine for home so that I could add that into my workout.  I probably spent $300 on the reformer, book, and dvd, but I've gotten quite a bit of use out of it-- and at $75 (min) for Pilates classes, I make back the price in 4 uses. Getting the equipment was well worth it since I use it much more frequently than I would've attended class, and it also sits at home and reminds me to do something while I'm watching tv.

In the end, your health is really important-- exercise is free, but if extra equipment/classes help improve your health and keep you exercising, it may be a worthwhile consideration.

Here's my thought process on joining my gym:

http://renaissancetrophywife.wordpress.com/2008/09/18/getting-back-on-tr...

and there are some deals that I posted about, but not sure if they're still going on:

http://renaissancetrophywife.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/a-way-to-get-your-...

RTW

renaissancetrophywife.wordpress.com

alihooper - wow. I'm so sorry. No medical insurance??

I workout at home. I refuse to pay to get fit because it's unnecessary. 

I do pay a lot for skiing in the winter but that's paying for a thrill that I can't get at home. 

---

Mommy Blogger Wannabe.

I manage my kids' activities at UpToUs.