[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by dominick

Baby boomer age folks, especially, will demand state of the art workout facilities before even considering a move here.

While workout facilities are important to some I highly doubt if this is even a question for most, never mind a decision maker. TV already has 85K people which is about 72% capacity. Nothing short of an economic collapse will stop TV from from full occupancy.

[lefty]

I reviewed my last contract with the existing Wellness center and found that the new owners cost is a little bit lower and that does not put in the equation the fact that most, if not all classes are included. I checked the company on the internet and with BBB and found no issues there. I talked with the president of the new company and found him to be very open to ideas and he was very willing to provide specific answers to specific questions. How refreshing is that? I have no connection with the company in any way, form or fashion.

[Pats2010]

I never used a facility to work out. We are moving south so we can power walk and jog year round. You don't need much equipment to keep muscles in shape in your own home.

[elevatorman]

I spoke with the new people this morning and they told me they would be taking over the golf cart store on the corner of the building. They also said equipment would be upgraded and the classes would be included in the cost of your membership.

[jmitchell]

We won’t be moving to TV until the end of November and I was wondering if anyone had asked about partial year memberships (Snowbird and/or long-term travel)? Given that after July 31 there will be an Initiation Fee, even though the membership is month to month, my experience has been that if you want to stop your month to month and then resume later you would be change another Initiation Fee. Anyone have any insight?

Thanks.

[lefty]

Originally Posted by jmitchell

We won’t be moving to TV until the end of November and I was wondering if anyone had asked about partial year memberships (Snowbird and/or long-term travel)? Given that after July 31 there will be an Initiation Fee, even though the membership is month to month, my experience has been that if you want to stop your month to month and then resume later you would be change another Initiation Fee. Anyone have any insight?

Thanks.

All memberships are a month to month. There are no contracts say for a specific period except monthly according to the President of the company. They will work if you are gone for a short period but you would have to contact them direct to get more of an answer. FYI my current contract with the wellness center expires on 9 Aug and we are leaving town for 3 weeks. The new company will let me begin the month to month on 1 Sept so IL woun't "lose" a month. The initiation fee starts after 30 August. If you have the paperwork done prio ro that you won't have to pay the initial fee and you can delay your "start" date.

[jmitchell]

Originally Posted by lefty

All memberships are a month to month. There are no contracts say for a specific period except monthly according to the President of the company. They will work if you are gone for a short period but you would have to contact them direct to get more of an answer. FYI my current contract with the wellness center expires on 9 Aug and we are leaving town for 3 weeks. The new company will let me begin the month to month on 1 Sept so IL woun't "lose" a month. The initiation fee starts after 30 August. If you have the paperwork done prio ro that you won't have to pay the initial fee and you can delay your "start" date.

Lefty,

Thanks for this information. I will contact them to see if we can sign up now but delay our "start date".

[rockyisle]

We will be in TV for the first winter starting in November. I'm wondering what the current status is with the gym?? I'm specifically looking for a Pilates Reformer class... Is there anything like this in TV?
Thanks
Sue from NH

[Flying Dutchman]

As someone who was a member in the Old Villages Health Club from 2000 to 2005 and again now in 2010 I have seen many changes. When I returned they bumped my monthly fee up to $43 +tax and I have friends paying $50. Theys also pay an additional $70/month for Zumba lessons. With MVP who if you check them out on Google, Facebook etc have a very good rep, I only pay $39 +tax for everything and anything. I am looking forward to the wide range of equipment and sevices MVP has planned. One reason I left 5 years ago was because The Villages refused to get in any free weights and treated anyone who liked to lift heavy like a cancer. They continually viewed it as "UnVillagerlike" to want to train seriously. Someone commented on "no-one ever using the heaviest dumbells" or some such. Not true, I do and I know others who do as well. There are lots of guys who have been frustrated for years at the paucity TV provided. Many of them simply went up to Belleview's "Too Your Health" spa to meet their needs. The smaller gyms here, which I have often used, are not well equipped and often crowded. Hopefully MVP will carry out their usual format and provide lots of options to meet every level of need. For "Snow Birds" I think they have some kind of 5 month $5 fee or somesuch for one prolonged absence a year. And best of all, I can't wait for a healthy snackbar where I can grab a protein shake after a workout.

[18togo]

Originally Posted by Flying Dutchman

As someone who was a member in the Old Villages Health Club from 2000 to 2005 and again now in 2010 I have seen many changes. When I returned they bumped my monthly fee up to $43 +tax and I have friends paying $50. Theys also pay an additional $70/month for Zumba lessons. With MVP who if you check them out on Google, Facebook etc have a very good rep, I only pay $39 +tax for everything and anything. I am looking forward to the wide range of equipment and sevices MVP has planned. One reason I left 5 years ago was because The Villages refused to get in any free weights and treated anyone who liked to lift heavy like a cancer. They continually viewed it as "UnVillagerlike" to want to train seriously. Someone commented on "no-one ever using the heaviest dumbells" or some such. Not true, I do and I know others who do as well. There are lots of guys who have been frustrated for years at the paucity TV provided. Many of them simply went up to Belleview's "Too Your Health" spa to meet their needs.

I have been lifting with free weights for 10 years, and plan to do so for the rest of my life. I don't even mind getting older as I seem to be stronger and in a little better shape every year. What is the set up for benching, squatting, and deadlifting? How heavy do the dumbbell's go. Are the machines plate loaded or already have stacks installed.

If these centers aren't equipped for heavy lifting, are there more suitable gyms outside of TV? I'm spoiled where I live. Even though we are in a small area, the school district has a weight room that has been equipped better than most YMCA's through local grants, volunteers, etc. Best of all it's free as it's mostly staffed by volunteers.

[RichieLion]

Originally Posted by 18togo

I have been lifting with free weights for 10 years, and plan to do so for the rest of my life. I don't even mind getting older as I seem to be stronger and in a little better shape every year. What is the set up for benching, squatting, and deadlifting? How heavy do the dumbbell's go. Are the machines plate loaded or already have stacks installed.

If these centers aren't equipped for heavy lifting, are there more suitable gyms outside of TV? I'm spoiled where I live. Even though we are in a small area, the school district has a weight room that has been equipped better than most YMCA's through local grants, volunteers, etc. Best of all it's free as it's mostly staffed by volunteers.

Right now the dumbells go up in weight to 90lbs, and after 50lbs go up in 10lb increments only. That's not great, but it's what it is. There no Olympic weight benchs for barbells and only one Smith Machine. There is a stand of easy-grip fixed-weight barbells that come in handy.
There are no plate loaded machines, other than the Smith machine, as all the machines, and there are a good number of these, are stack loaded.
MVP reps tells me that there will be many upgrades in equipment and so I'm hoping that the deficiencies in free weight equipment will be addressed.

There are gyms available just outside TV if you desire and the biggest have what you're looking for if you don't mind the drive.

[18togo]

For the weight room here, I bought platemates, which are 2.5 pound magnets which attach magnetically to the end of the dumbbells. That way you can go up by 5's and buy in ten pound increments. They can be a pain, though, on our 85 and 95 pounders ( the highest we have so far) as they are pretty wide already, but better than not having them at all.