One of the things I planned to do this year was join a gym. Exams and work shifts meant it was difficult in the first half of the year. I've now moved to a place which is further out from home but is very close to a few gyms, so I can drop in on the way from work, or during my midday break.

One is Virgin Active and one of my colleagues goes there around lunch time almost every day, so I can tag along with her.
The other is David Lloyd and my boss goes there after work. He's happy to drag me along with him.

There's fitness first but that's further in to Solihull so more effort to get there on the way back from work. Ditto with The Village. The smaller gyms around my area are tiny and have very few equipment (one or two running machines, a cycling machine and maybe some free weights).

Does anyone have any experience of Virgin or David Lloyd?

I've been a member of a David Lloyd before, but always found myself having a calorific meal and a pint in the bar afterwards.

How did you find it? Pros? Cons?

Because of our close sporting affiliations, Speedo people have always had access to the David Lloyd while in our old building, at corporate rates, now we've moved to our new building we have a corporate deal with Virgin Activ. Feedback so far is that people vastly prefer Virgin, the facilities are better, staff are more helpful and they feel more inclined to go than they did previously, even though they now have to travel across the bottom of town rather than just up the road as they did with DL.

I can't speak from personal experience, but I do know that some of our visitors have chosen one particular hotel in Nottingham over others simply because of its proximity to the Virgin gym. YMMV so my suggestion would be to ask for a weeks trial price at each place before you commit.

The colleague who goes to Virgin Active has some free passes that she's happy for me to use to try out, so that's not a problem.

Have a look here www.britmilfit.com. There might be one near you.

I used to have a gym membership and never used it. This is cheaper and more social and more structured (ie someone is instructing you and it's always varied etc). I've been a member for nearly 3 years and I'm fitter than I have ever been before in my life.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=52.409755,-4.056931

Is she fit? If so, it's obviously working so it's a no-brainer.

Yes in terms of physical fitness. Attractiveness? Maybe but she's not my type.

I looked into this but because of work, I could only attend the nearest one at the weekend. Looking at it again, the one that suits timing is farther than the gym.

I think I want to build up to a level of fitness that means I can do these things. I've become so lazy over the last few years that I can sprint maybe 200m fine but anything requiring more effort than that and I wouldn't survive!

I plan on doing the couch to 5k program as starters.

What, a fit British MILF?

Cool! Thanks for this, there's one starting in my local park, going to sign up for it.

Just joined Virgin Active today.

ION I just ate a chocolate sundae. It was so delicious, I had another!


EDIT: Added the word "ate" to avoid post a meme.

The whole thing? Both of them!

They were asda's desserts, nothing posh. Around 200 cals each.

Will have to make up for it at the gym!

You missed the word "ate"

It looked like this