Can't mention the name of the gym. Did it once before and admin said it was advertising and pulled the post. It's on 441 south, about a half mile south of 466A, right next door to the Fruitland Park Cafe. They have a big sign outside.

Wow - those look like big numbers to me. We belong to a very modern, nicely staffed and well-equipped athletic club here in Central NY, and pay nowhere near what the Wellness Center costs. We have a "pay by the month" contract covering us both at $30 per month, guaranteed never to go up (and even better, my employer refunds the majority of it). Looks like a year at the Wellness Center will cost us about $1300. For the difference, the purchase of home equipment may be the way to go for us. Thanks KathieI for the price info!

The Fitness Centers at the Mulberry Grove, Laurel Manor, Colony Cottage and Seabreeze Regional Recreation Centers are less costly than the Villages Wellness Center. If you join one of them, you can use any of them. I had a three month individual membership and it was about $30per month.
The Fitness Centers are not as well equipped as the Wellness Center, offer no group classes or personal training and have no lockers or showers.
The new place on Rt 441 in Fruitland Park (mentioned in this thread) is $30 per month and is full service.

Thanks. I'll check out the gym in Fruitland Park.

SeaBreeze is so close to us, it's difficult to leave that gym. I was a bit surprised, however, to see that TV gyms don't have lockers and showers. The new equipment in SeaBreeze is really nice though.

Thanks KathieI for picking up the dues list. It is pricey but will be money well spent if we go use it! Just got to be sure it fits in with our golf, swimming, pickleball, dancing, eating and drinking schedule! :thumbup:

Dr.'s orders
 

March 2009 my doctor told me to exercise. (I am at heart a couch potato!) St Pat's Day 2009 I joined the fitness center and have been going daily for one year now. (That is daily except when I'm traveling or on a cruise) But even on a cruise I go to the ship's fitness center. Happy Anniversary to ME! :pepper2:

There is also a new fitness center on North 441/27, in the same strip mall as Little Joey's Italian Restuarant. I don't know the rates, but the place sure looks clean and inviting.

Wow! Congratulations to both of you. That takes a lot of discipline and will power.
:clap2::clap2:

The best thing to do is before you join any gym, is to try it out first with daily membership fees.
We had first thought like many of you that the Wellness center was not worth the extra cost. So we started going to the Colony Cottage Fitness Center. Although they have lots of equipment, and they are well maintained and the staff is great. They are small and to us cramped with the amount of stuff they have which leaves very little, ok ZERO room for things that if you are serious about fitness you must do, like stretch and floor exercises, or areas to use the hand free weights. They have mats, but when you put them down, you get dirty looks and a number of people are rude to me and the wife when we are on the floor for the whole 12 minutes it takes us to do what we need to do. We tried the other Rec Center gyms South of 466 and even the new Seabreeze, which we were told would be MUCH bigger then the others, and they all have the same problem.
So we checked out the Wellness Center again, and to us it is a much better deal. Yes, it is more, but for a couple the General go anytime membership is only $150 more a year then a Rec Center gym, AND you get use of a locker room, Sauna, and a good number of exercise classes are included. If you do just an afternoon membership, it is even cheaper. PLUS they have more room, and areas to do things without crowds. So for us, it is our place of choice. Is it farther for us and cost the bit more? Yes, but to have a good gym we like and enjoy going to, it is worth it!

Army Guy

Great imsight
 

Thanks Army Guy for the comparison...I am a Certified Personal Trainer here in VA and we will be (hopefully when our house sells!) moving to TV FT this year. I looked all over for aerobiocs classes in the Rec ctrs Guide etc along with body sculpting classes ...After reading these posts , it is clear to me there may be a need for these where folks can go by golf cart and not pay a fortune to join a gym or be squeezed in at the small fitness ctrs. Everyone needs to incorporate strength training into their weekly routines. Strength training does not always have to be done with machines, and cardio does not always mean aerobics stepping up on a bench!! . I currently lecture and teach all forms of fitness classes incl weight training and cardio, etc with specialites in Senior Fitness... Question...Would folks be interested in weekly classes like this? I could hold them in community rec ctrs if everyone would purchase their own hand weights and mat...Let me know your thoughts as I may tackle this when I get down there to keep my own self in shape!!! Thanks...

wlou, I could not agree with you more. Me & the wife are certified "gym rats" so a good fitness center is a top priority for us. That is why we really tried out both places before we made the perm. choice.
We for one would love to see something like you talk about offered. At the gym we presently use, since we do not live on post, my wife uses a Personal Trainer and loves it. She definitely keeps my wife challenged!

Army Guy

Great info on the Wellness Center, Army Guy.

Can someone comment on the exercise classes held in rec. centers. Is there a fee for these classes?

We won't live there FT for another 2 years, but I would definitely be interested when we come.