[graciegirl]

I am guessing that less than ten per cent use the gyms.

I am not saying that those ten percent's needs do not need to be addressed and are not important.

I am just guessing that would be the percentage.

What percentage play golf?

Pickleball?

Just sayin'.

I bet that this has been addressed in some demographic research.

Maybe we should do a ...whatchamajigger to see how many use the gyms. I probably am wrong.

[Russ_Boston]

Golf isn't really a form of exercise?

Maybe not if you get in a cart and ride but a full length 18 hole walk is about 4.5 miles over the course of 4.5 hours. Granted it is done in 200 yard segments but it is still 4.5 miles.

More importantly we say things like "we should lobby for this". Where do you propose the money would come from for new more lavish (never mind free) gyms? Our amenity fee is based on the current setup. Lobby all you want it won't happen. There are not that many new centers left to be built and they are not going to retrofit the old ones never mind make them free.

Another point that I've made many times when talking about gyms is this: If it were such a needed thing that everyone uses (although I think Gracie is correct about most people not using them) then why doesn't an outside business venture step in and start creating them like crazy on 466 or 466A or 44? MVP is the only outside vendor to date and the jury is still out to see if they will be financial successful at current rates.

The reason that many other real estate developments offer free gyms is simple. They don't have what TV has! They need to offer something to entice buyers. Many of these developments are failing. TV is still closing 300 homes a month (give or take).

[chuckinca]

Can Village residents use the school gyms after school hours?



.

[manaboutown]

On my visit to TV I checked out the exercise facilities within the development where I could and to be honest I found them to be sadly lacking. I am not too interested in golf but I do cardio workouts on ellipticals and recumbant bikes several days a week and use free weights and some machines 3 - 4 days per week. Gotta have a gym convenient and reasonably priced near where I live.

At TV I drove to the gym in Spanish Springs on a Sunday morning and found it was closed! After it opened I found it was very expensive and quite small although adequately equipped for a small number of attendees. Where I live I pay $15/mo for a fully equipped gym which is open 24 hours a day (24 Hour Fitness). Personally, I cannot live a healthful life without a gym since that is how I get the most exercise in the least amount of time.

If I do another lifestyle visit I will look for a gym nearby but off the reservation or consider building and opening one myself.

[2 Oldcrabs]

Is there a YWCA or a YMCA nearby ?

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

or consider building and opening one myself.

First real solution anyone has offered. My guess is that others will try as well. If there is such a demand as you all think then it would be a no-brainer, right? My money is on 'not'!

[Avista]

I do not play golf, I do not play pickle ball. I DO go to the gym almost every day. Prices need to come down or special pricing for different times of day.

[Taj44]

Originally Posted by 2 Oldcrabs

Is there a YWCA or a YMCA nearby ?

Unfortunately there is no "Y" nearby. I've never seen anyone walking the 18 hole courses here, and I used to do it all the time up north. They are not set up for walking - long distances between some holes, and there are pace of play issues.

We have no way of knowing how many people would use a gym/health club without doing a survey. We can all guess any number we want. But the thing is, if the gyms were here, there would obviously be more people using them. People don't have any uncrowded gyms to use now!

To advertise the Villages as an active retirement community, and not have the gyms to support the residents is a major gaff in my opinion. As to whether or not the facitlities should be provided - what percentage of Villagers do clogging? how about polo?, how about billiards? how about paddle tennis? We provide facilities for all of the above and many many more - there is a small niche of people who support each activity. If I recall there were no paddle tennis courts at all so no one was doing it until they installed the paddle tennis court up by Seabreeze.


Of course there are people who sit in the house and don't exercise for various reasons - infirmities or illness, lack of motovation or interest, etc., but for those who do need to exercise it would be great to have the facilities. We really have no idea how many people that would be without doing a good survey. Some people can't walk long periods of time or jog or play pickleball which by the way, is one of the most injury prone sports in the Villages, but they can exercise on a treadmill or elliptical. As someone else mentioned, if you are a babyboomer, you are part of a group that has fueled the rise of healthclubs since the 1980's. I've read various statistics that show the percentage of health club members that are aged 55 and older ranges from 20-30%. That is huge. When we don't offer the health club facilties in the Villages, my opinion is that we are really missing the boat. You try living here in the summer when the heat index is 110 degrees and walk an 18 hole golf course. Good luck - they'd be scraping you off the cart path. I ride 20 miles/day on my bike, and had to be on the bike before 7 a.m. or it was just not do-able because of the heat. An airconditioned facility where I could do aerobic activity would be bliss.

[l2ridehd]

Such a lively discussion and so many opinions. Sounds to me like a great business opportunity. One of the downsides to all the clubs off campus is they are not golf cart accessible. And one of the BIG advantages of TV is being able to go everywhere by golf cart. So leasing space near Walmart on 466 and in Colony Plaza and someplace along 441 that is golf cart accessible and starting a really good fitness center seems like a business that could not fail. Anyone want to buy stock? When you have lemons .......

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Such a lively discussion and so many opinions. Sounds to me like a great business opportunity. One of the downsides to all the clubs off campus is they are not golf cart accessible. And one of the BIG advantages of TV is being able to go everywhere by golf cart. So leasing space near Walmart on 466 and in Colony Plaza and someplace along 441 that is golf cart accessible and starting a really good fitness center seems like a business that could not fail. Anyone want to buy stock? When you have lemons .......

My wife and I have talked about this for the last two years. Like you said, if you could get some space that is golf cart accessible, drop in a Planet Fitness or Golds, I think it would do well. We have talked about it, read about it, but alas, I simply do not have the

[graciegirl]

..

[Ajack]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

That is why I mentioned the 'home' resistance items (dumbbells, resistance bands, push ups etc.). Yes, you can build (maintain) muscle tone at home without machines. I'm just saying that going to a center isn't the only way. I think some people are using it as an excuse why they don't go and that shouldn't be an issue.

You don't need a whole room dedicated to a gym. My equipment fits in the very corner of my den/office:

I have a pull up bar that attaches to the door (10 seconds to install when needed) which also serves as my push up device and roman chair sit-ups. $30

I have 5 levels of resistance bands that fold up into inches when not used. Less than $30. You know the type that they use at physical therapy.

Variable adjustment dumbbells that range from 5 to 40lbs. Somewhat expensive at $50-$75.

An exercise ball for balance exercises and stretches (you know the type) that is my largest item at 36-40 inches around. $25

I'm not insinuating that I'm in great shape but that is only due to my own laziness and lack of dedication to the pursuit. But I don't use not getting to a 'gym' as an excuse.

I do understand the skin cancer issue but are early morning/ late afternoon walks out of the question?

If those of us that could use something other than the gyms did this then there would be more room at the gyms for those that must use them due to age or other restictions.

With respect - Russ

I agree with you Russ. Wife and I have walked every day in New England were the weather is far from ideal. We walked when it was 15 degrees with a chill factor below zero and we walk last summer when it was in the mid 90's and humid.
I have worked out with "home resistance" which my gym teacher called isometrics, for over 30 years for practically nothing. They could put a facility in my back yard and I would not use it. I have incorporated my workouts as part of my lifestyle. To me it is something I do daily, like brushing my teeth or eating healthy food. My "workouts" cost me zero dollars and I will compare my results to anybody who uses costly facilities.
OK. I concede that some may lack the discipline to do it on their own, but you will be surprised what you can do if you really focus and keep distractions at a minimum.

[Taj44]

Actually I was referring to a survey of actual residents, not TOTV'ers. People who sit in their house and spend a lot of time on the computer may not be a good indicator of those who go out or would go out and exercise. And many people on TOTV don't even live here, or do not live here full time so they wouldn't be familiar with the climatic conditions that make an indoor gym desireable.

[NJblue]

First, I'm not an accountant, so I might be missing something in this analysis, but, a quick look at the budgets for both the VCCDD and SLCDD shows that the fitness centers are huge profit centers for the CDDs.

Here are the links (go to the bottom of each report where the fitness centers have their own section):
http://www.districtgov.org/departmen...et%20VCCDD.pdf
http://www.districtgov.org/departmen...et%20SLCDD.pdf

Note that on the actual expense/revenue results for 2008/2009 (on page 22 of the VCCDD report) that total revenue for all centers that were open in that year was $695,546 (plus some sort of transfer line item of an additional $95,689)and that total expenses were $400,707. Thus the profits were somewhere between $300,000-400,000 or almost double the expenses.

What does this mean? Even if you agree with the notion that fitness centers should not be part of the amenities covered by amenity fees, it would seem that the complaints of being over-charged for this service are valid. The rates could be roughly half of what they are and still cover expenses. Of course, lowering the fees will increase usage and hence will either result in more waits for each equipment piece or the need for more centers with a corresponding increase in expenses. It is safe to say, however, that there should be a happy medium between reduced rates and increased number of centers.

One thing that I find very interesting in looking at the budgets is the fact that the fitness centers are treated as a separate category in the overall budgets. I wonder if this is a sign of a future intent of the CDDs to eventually sell these off to a private firm. By singling out all the budget items for these centers, it makes it easy for a prospective buyer to see what the profit margins for them are (huge).

[Larry Wilson]

The last few posts are good posts. My wife complains all the time about this and said all the exercise classes here are already overcrowded. In Jan-March, she just gives up as you have to arrive an hour early and wait in line or you get turned away. Half our neighbors drive to some gym outside the Villages. We have been here 8 years and if we ever leave it will be for an indoor pool and gym we can use everyday for free.