Anytime Fitness

on October 8, 2009
in All Posts

This morning I went to Anytime Fitness in Winter Park, Florida to check out their gym and try their morning yoga class.

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I quit the gym a few months ago (I belonged to LA Fitness) because I hated the crowds, bad music, weird hours, old equipment, and lame classes.  Anytime Fitness seems to be everything that LA Fitness was not.

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First of all, it’s open 24 hours a day!  Each employee has a key that allows them to enter the building – even if no employees are present.  To stay safe, you can wear an emergency sensor that will call 911 if you injure yourself alone.

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My ‘in case of emergency’ face.  🙂

 

I wish I could join this gym (we can’t afford a gym membership right now even though Anytime Fitness is reasonably priced) because all the equipment is SO SWANKY!

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Plus, the yoga studio was great.  I typically despise gym studios because they leave on the icky fluorescent lights.  It just never feels like a true “yoga studio.”  But this one was perfect:

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Megan and I really enjoyed the class.  It was more relaxation yoga than workout yoga, but that’s exactly what I needed this morning.  I think I actually fell asleep during one of the meditations.   The class ended with an excellent quote about how “life is perpetual possibilities.”  🙂

 

Before class, I had a slice of bread with jam (I skipped the PB toast because I was late):

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And after class, I had this AMAZING pumpkin scone from Whole Foods:

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Megan helped me eat it, thankfully.  :)  My tummy is happy!

 

Namaste!  See you for lunch!

 

Do you belong to a gym or not?  I found it was relatively easy to break the gym habit, but of course – I live in Florida and can work out outdoors all year long.  I do miss the weight room, though!

 

PS – You can follow Anytime Fitness Winter Park on Twitter!  They actually have a really fun and interesting twitter feed, especially if you’re a local.

{ 75 comments }

 

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is October 8, 2009, 10:50 am

    We have an Anytime Fitness near us too, it is very nice!

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat October 8, 2009, 10:58 am

    That is such a neat concept! I don’t belong to a gym because we have one here at work, but I would love to join a place with great equipment and classes are definitely high on my list of priorities. Thanks for the review, have a great day.

    p.s. That pumpkin scone looks amazing!

  • brandi October 8, 2009, 11:00 am

    We had to quit the gym in May because of $ and I do miss BodyPump classes, but I only like running outside, so that has worked out. We may end up having to join again during the winter, though, because we could go weeks without being able to really run outside, and I don’t want to do that.

  • Anne Marie@ New Weigh of Life October 8, 2009, 11:03 am

    Looks like such a cool gym! I also quite LA Fitness and joined Planet Fitness, which is open 24/7. I LOVE it!

  • Erica October 8, 2009, 11:03 am

    Fun gym trip! I do belong to a gym…but I am lucky in that its free because I teach. I think its very cool that they have those in case of emergency buttons. Yummy pumpkin scone

  • amanda @ fake ginger October 8, 2009, 11:04 am

    That scone is ridiculous! I wish we had a Whole Foods just so I could get one!

  • Megan October 8, 2009, 11:04 am

    I belong to a pretty fancy gym (Equinox), but I’m thinking about ending my membership because I’d much prefer to run/walk outside or go to my fav donation-based yoga studion. Butttt….NYC winters can get pretty rough. The thought of running through snow and ice is making me think long and hard about my decision! That scone looks delish, I love pumpkin 🙂

  • Diana October 8, 2009, 11:05 am

    I do go to the gym. I started going some weeks ago actually and I’m really enjoying it. People are mostly nice, they have awesome new equipment and I have more variety in terms of my workout. I still haven’t tried the classes just because I’m shy and I’m waiting till I’m a bit more comfortable ahah 😛

    Any gym that is open 24 hours a day must be awesome. 🙂

  • Leah @ L4L October 8, 2009, 11:07 am

    I belong to a small local chain gym. I hardly go. I’ve been debating cancelling my membership. I love that they have TVs on all the cardio equipment. But the weight room is cramped. And I didnt like the two group classes I tried.

  • Stephanie October 8, 2009, 11:08 am

    I belong to the Y, and use it mainly bc they have awesome classes (kickbox!) and also for rainy days/cold days which we get here in VA. Otherwise I am a work out at home kinda gal – love to do videos, so much variety!

  • Jess October 8, 2009, 11:08 am

    I go to LA Fitness up here in NJ. That’s funny you had such a bad experience with them, mine is the total opposite! They have great yoga and spin classes and great hours. The only complaint I have is that there are TV’s lined up for all the people on cardio to watch at the same time so you cannot change the channel. My old gym had a TV on every machine and you could flip through channel on your machine, of course it was more than twice the monthly price of LA Fitness!

  • Amber from GIrl with the Red Hair October 8, 2009, 11:08 am

    It’s too cold and snowy where I live to workout outside ALL year long – in the winter I join a gym and cut my outside runs down to two or three a week, whereas in the summer I’m running outside five or six days a week!

  • Matt October 8, 2009, 11:10 am

    I just go to the rec center at my school. Thank God it is free!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite October 8, 2009, 11:11 am

    Looks like a pretty nice gym!
    I LOVE pumpkin scones… I have yet to have one this season.
    Have a great day!

  • Tracey@tropicalhappiness October 8, 2009, 11:12 am

    I belong to a gym. A few months ago, I felt like my gym was a little boring. I considered LA Fitness- they have a relatively new facility near me with beautiful locker rooms, a nice cardio area, quite a few exercise class rooms, and an amaaaaazing pool. The pool almost locked it in for me, but I just couldn’t get over the weird LA Fitness vibe. Most of the guys were the stereotypical meatheads. The salesmen were like vultures. And everyone was completely made up with full makeup and hair done and they were all sitting around on the machines. It was like happy hour at the gym!
    So I signed up for another year at my gym. It’s on the smaller side and it’s not new, but it has a good crowd. My morning crowd is nice… everyone is super friendly, and it’s very much a capri pants (or shorts or whatever) and t-shirt kind of gym. At least in the mornings people don’t have on tons of makeup or aren’t all done up. So I like it.
    I’m in FL too, so I definitely get outside year round, but I like the variety that a gym offers.

  • Jessica (A Fete for Food) October 8, 2009, 11:12 am

    Woohoo! I work part-time as a personal trainer at ANytime Fitness in Massachusetts. I actually posted an Operation Beautiful note on the scale there last week. I like that it’s open 24/7/365. This is a huge benefit for my clients who can’t always make regular gym hours.

  • Abby (Abby's Vegan Eats) October 8, 2009, 11:14 am

    Looks like a nice, clean place! I am not a gym-goer. I was a tad obsessed back in college, so vowed never to step foot in one again. I walk/run outside and do yoga in the living room. Seems to work for me but on really, nasty, rainy days sometimes I wish I had a place to go to!

  • Abby (Abby's Vegan Eats) October 8, 2009, 11:15 am

    One more thing.. I didn’t have to pay (parents did) in college, so it was easier to belong to a gym!!

  • Paige October 8, 2009, 11:15 am

    Wow, that equipment looks awesome! I belong to a gym called The Workout Company.

  • Julie October 8, 2009, 11:17 am

    I belong to a gym and I really use it…with my job, I rarely see sunlight in the winter (or sometimes the summer, ugh) so I generally feel safer running on a treadmill at 6AM or 9PM than running in my super dark neighborhood…I also enjoy the group classes…my gym is also a 24/7 operation

    the price tag for the gym membership is what motivates me to work out!

  • Stacey October 8, 2009, 11:18 am

    My gym is open 24 hrs too! It’s not as swanky as that one, but it serves it’s purpose AND it’s only $10 a month for basic membership..anyone can afford that! Glad you’ve had a good morning 🙂

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance October 8, 2009, 11:19 am

    I wish there was an Anytime Fitness over by me in Orlando…..=( I would go for sure!

    I currently have a “Bally Total Fitness” memember ship that is due to expire in 4/10 and I will most likely renew as it is the close gym to me…….but I would prefer one a bit newer as it was built in the 80’s and I think some of the equipment is still from then. =O

    I run outside mostly now (used to be inside treadmil only but have convereted successfully this summer), however I still use the gym to lift weights and do “cross training” as well.

    =) Laura @ Finding A Healthy Balance (after a 100 POUND weight loss)

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels October 8, 2009, 11:20 am

    Can you believe we have like NO 24/7 gyms in downtown Toronto. It’s honestly impossible for me to workout on Saturdays and Sundays since I work during the day.

  • Megan @ Megzz Wins At Life October 8, 2009, 11:20 am

    I just re-joined the gym.. I took it off for the summer because I wanted to run more outside.. My gym only cost $33.00 a month which I think it pretty reasonable!

  • Dori October 8, 2009, 11:23 am

    That gym looks so nice and sounds great. I quit the gym in May, but I am able to use my boyfriend’s apartment building gym. And I just bought a rebounder!

  • Meg C. October 8, 2009, 11:25 am

    I hate to admit it, but I’m a gym rat. I’m in the gym at least 5 times a week. I need the cardio – I can’t run every day because of my hip/knees/joints so I need the machines. I love my gym though – Healthworks – it’s amazing.

  • Mellissa October 8, 2009, 11:26 am

    I love my gym, but I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. I pay almost $60 a month to go to Lifetime Fitness but it is literally connected by skyway to my parking ramp and my office. I park once, go workout and then drop my gym bag off and head to work. On the weekends we go to a huge Lifetime near us that is amazing and has every piece of equipment you could ever need.

  • skinnyrunner October 8, 2009, 11:26 am

    we belong to 24hourfitness which is nice but i really dont go that often because its much nicer to run outside!

  • Aggie October 8, 2009, 11:27 am

    I belong to the Y in Lake Mary and it is my saving grace! It has the best childcare for my kiddos, a pool to swim laps in and all my other mommy friends go there too! So, needless to say, I do spend a lot of time at the gym…it’s a good thing for me! I wish they had better yoga classes though…

  • Kelly October 8, 2009, 11:27 am

    I can easily skip the gym in the summer but I live in Boston so in the winter- I need the gym haha.

  • Jamie October 8, 2009, 11:32 am

    We signed up for 24 Hour Fitness when they had a super cheap special going on. I only use it in the winter and when it is rainy and cold like today! Otherwise I’d much prefer to run outside.

  • Kristin October 8, 2009, 11:36 am

    I belong to our local YMCA. Actually I teach fitness classes there so I get to belong free. Even if I didn’t teach that is where I would belong. We are very fortunate to have an AWESOME Y that has two locations and really great facilities and classes. I know not everyone is as lucky as we are. When lived another part of Wisconsin for awhile I checked out their Y and it was nothing like ours!

  • Marisa (Trim The Fat) October 8, 2009, 11:40 am

    I joined the gym for the first time this summer. I have been working out on my own, in my dungy old basement on dinky equipment for about 2 years now and decided it was time to “break out”! I also joined a 24 hr. gym, called Planet Fitness. It’s awesome! I love the variety of weight machines. ellipticals and my new fave, The Arc Trainer. They are also known as the “NO JUDGEMENT/ NO CRITICS” gym, so not intimidating at all!

  • Therese October 8, 2009, 11:40 am

    I just quit the new 24-hour fitness in dowtntown Orlando. I loved the gym but I couldn’t keep paying $37 a month (x 2 for the husband) when I was doing so many of my workouts outside…

    Do you have a gym in your condo complex that has weights? We have a decent facility so if you ever want to do some strength training together let me know 😉

  • Sammi October 8, 2009, 11:41 am

    i JUST joined a gym last week! I didn’t really have much of a choice.. Gold’s is the only one semi near me here in Sarasota. But it had an awesome deal.. instead of 40 dollars a month it was 30.. and they had all the classes I wanted to take..spin, kickboxing, pilates, etc. It also includes 5 free sessions with a personal trainer. I used to belong to LA fitness back home when I was younger and they were nowhere near as friendly and inviting as Gold’s Gym. The lady at the front knows everyone and every time I need help or have a question someone is there and willing to help. One of the workers even helped me set up my bike on my first day of spin class.

    I sound like an advertisement haha.. but if you have a Gold’s by you I’d say try there maybe.. but Anytime looks awesome from your photos.. it looks so modern and pretty! And 24 hours? that’s amazing!

    ps i’m jealous of your scone! Hope your babies are doing better 🙂

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) October 8, 2009, 11:45 am

    That’s pretty cool. Our gym used to be 24 hours but I guess no one was really using it late at night (we live in a tiny town) so now they close at 11 and open again at 4. Stinks sometimes because I used to go late and stay till 11.30 on really long days. Guess that has to change.

  • Amanda October 8, 2009, 11:51 am

    I wish we had a gym that was open 24 hours. That would be so convenient for me since I’m used to being up all night for work.

  • Angharad (Eating for England) October 8, 2009, 11:59 am

    I’m a member of the YMCA which is pretty cheap! $60 a month and only $40 if you go 12 times a month which is much more do-able in the winter! I don’t know how much I will want to run outdoors in January so it’s kind of essential! I also LOVe Bodypump and yoga so…I heart the Y.

  • angieinatlanta October 8, 2009, 12:05 pm

    That looks like the gym of my dreams!

    Seriously, I really believe that all gyms should be 24 hours. People have crazy lives and weird work schedules and they should still be able to work on their fitness when they can.

  • Gloria October 8, 2009, 12:07 pm

    I had a scone for the first time ever in London a few months ago and since haven’t had one in the US even come close to the first’s deliciousness, but PUMPKIN?! We might have a winner here! I’ll be swinging by Whole Foods on my way out of work today 😉

    I belong to a gym but I only use it for pilates, spin class when the weather stops me from cycling outdoors, and the weight room. I know I could just do strength training at home, but it’s more fun to do it in the gym environment and I get a better workout in. I also don’t have the patience for those home yoga downloads so I go to a separate yoga studio. I know I would save soo much money on memberships if I just had a little self-discipline but this is me, so I gotta roll with it!

  • Julie October 8, 2009, 12:11 pm

    Wow, that gym looks wicked nice. I kind of wish my gym was open 24/7, but it seems kind of scary being there alone!!

    I just changed gyms. I used to go to Planet Fitness and now I go to a neighborhood gym. PF was cheap ($15 a month), but it was tiny and cramped and had no classes. I needed a change in my routine so I tried my new gym free for a month and fell in love. It’s huge, never seems crowded, has tons of equipment, 2 cardio decks, and classes galore. I fell in love with spinning and go 3 times a week. It’s more expensive ($30 a month) but totally worith it to me.

  • Sheri October 8, 2009, 12:14 pm

    We quit the gym a long time ago. Over time we have outfitted our basement with everything we need…now I have the greatest gym right at my finger tips and no excuses not to workout! 🙂 I love it.

  • Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion October 8, 2009, 12:23 pm

    I have a gym membership. If I lived in FL I would no though working out outside is so amazing! Boston winters are just too cold and dark for that.

  • jen trinque October 8, 2009, 12:26 pm

    I don’t belong to a gym right now, but live in the mountains of NC, so I usually join one for the three coldest winter months. Otherwise, I prefer to be outdoors!

  • Jacqueline October 8, 2009, 12:29 pm

    I canceled my gym membership over a year ago and bought a few free weights & an exercise ball. I find that I exercise more now than I ever did at the gym. I prefer to be outside so now I run and love it too!

    http://chickfood.wordpress.com

  • Erin October 8, 2009, 12:37 pm

    Oh man, that scone looks GOOD!

    I do have a gym membership mostly for the elliptical and the classes. I used to do a lot of weights, too, at my old gym but I don’t like the weight areas at my new gym. I’m actually thinking of changing to a different gym because it’s bigger, newer and has more class options. I need to do a tour first, though.

  • Evan Thomas October 8, 2009, 12:42 pm

    I can’t believe a gym that’s open 24/7, thats perfect!

  • Amber@theminimalistdiaries October 8, 2009, 12:44 pm

    I totally broke my gym habit also. Santa Barbara’s only options are swanky overpriced gyms or dirty packed facilities. No thank you! I have started running and when I want to pay to work out I treat myself and go to a nice yoga studio 🙂

  • Jessica October 8, 2009, 12:51 pm

    Nice looking gym! I signed a two year contract with Gold’s gym a year ago and I’ve gone maybe twice in the last 7 months. I’ve tried getting out of my contract but have had no suck luck. It sucks because I am wasting so much money!

  • megan October 8, 2009, 12:52 pm

    I don’t currently belong to a gym but I’m thinking of joining for the coldest winter months because I live in Vermont and I have snow banks 4 feet high on my road for part of winter. I’m totally bummed because I fell in love with running this year and I’m afraid I’ll HATE the treadmill. But I just couldn’t give it up for the winter so I’ll deal with it!

  • Lara (Thinspired) October 8, 2009, 1:10 pm

    A 24-hour gym is so perfect with your busy schedule, Caitlin! Looks like a good find!
    I do belong to a gym and I love it for the most part, but it’s so small that it doesn’t offer group classes 🙁 I think I would really enjoy those so in my next gym search, that is what I’ll be looking out for!

  • Chloe (Naturally Frugal) October 8, 2009, 1:13 pm

    I belong to a gym but I’ve been debating quitting it for a while now. I can only make classes if I leave work early, and they hardly have any on the weekends. I call it the “stay at home mom gym” becuase the classes all go from 8-5. It’s ridiculous.
    Glad you found one you like!

  • Brenna October 8, 2009, 1:15 pm

    I live in MT so exercising outdoors is definitely not an option, unfortunately! I joined Anytime Fitness about a year ago and LOVE it! My old gym was absurdly busy before and after work, but AF is dead when I’m there at 6:30 am. There are a couple of other regulars so it’s nice to see friendly faces that early in the morning and not have to worry about waiting for a machine or the gym being closed on certain days. That pumpkin scone looks heavenly!

  • Jenna October 8, 2009, 1:19 pm

    glad you liked anytime fitness, looks great! and yeah i belong to a gym 🙂
    jenna

  • Felicia October 8, 2009, 1:20 pm

    I do belong to a gym, and luckily, I get a discount through work. I live in NYC, and for me, I wouldn’t do so well without my membership due to some cold winters here.

    Unfortunately, when I first joined two years ago, I would go weeks without stepping foot inside the gym. I definitely wasted a lot of money, but now, I can happily say that I go about 5-6 times a week – a much better investment. 🙂

  • Siobhan October 8, 2009, 1:21 pm

    I just started a grad program in nursing and one of the major perks to being back in school is the amazing gym on campus. Good thing you’re going back to school for PT 😉

  • Lindsay October 8, 2009, 1:23 pm

    My apartment complex has a gym. It’s small but since it’s there I can’t really justify paying for a membership.

  • Emily (Emily Eats and Exercises) October 8, 2009, 1:34 pm

    I LOVE my gym. To be fair, it is a wonderful wonderful gift from my Dad which is definitely the only way I could afford it. This summer I put my membership on hold because I was training outside for a triathlon. Unfortunately, I found that my strength training really suffered. Plus, the classes help me keep lots of variety in my workouts.
    My mother’s logic: If you go 5-6 times a week it costs less than a coffee from Starbucks!

    Sounds like you are well organized in both your finances and your exercise though – you’ll find what works for you.

  • Tammy October 8, 2009, 1:36 pm

    I belong to a local athletic club…I mostly stay for the classes. Sometimes, I like to put my workout in someone else’s hands (so to speak) and not have to plan out a wkout on my own. I have also met some great gals there that I socialize with outside of the gym! I think if I absolutely had to quit, I have some tools at home I could work with..weights, a step, mat, several dvds and a spin bike…

  • Angie (Losing It and Loving It) October 8, 2009, 1:39 pm

    Yep, Kev and I are members of LA Fitness. LOVE IT! We have been there since Feb. and are more than happy with what they offer. We take spin classes at least 3 times a week. It’s a new facility so all the equipment is great. So much more variety than our old gym.

    I really enjoy going to the gym!

  • Valerie (College Girl Eats) October 8, 2009, 1:39 pm

    I belong to a gym when I’m up at school becuase it’s included in our student activities fund. When I go home though, I’m gymless! I miss it, but it forces me to be a bit more creative with my workouts. 🙂

  • Joanna October 8, 2009, 2:00 pm

    I belong to an overpriced gym but I wouldn’t trade it. Lots of class options and muliple locations keeps me motivated. Totally worth the $$!

  • Jennifer October 8, 2009, 2:00 pm

    I love my gym (Urban Active). It’s brand new to my area and has a Cardio Movie room! That’s awesome for days I need a little distraction. Plus everything is nice, new and shiny!

    Glad James is doing better!

  • Nicole (dishin') October 8, 2009, 2:01 pm

    That scone looks yummy! Love the frosting!

    I belong to a gym but it varies how often I go. Right now it’s dark when I wake up so I workout at the gym but all summer I was running outside. I do like the option to take classes and use a variety of equipment. I used to pay a lot more when I started by now my gym costs $25/month. Not bad!

    Enjoy your day!

  • Aynsley - WrenLife.com October 8, 2009, 2:42 pm

    My husband and I both belong to our town’s natatorium which has a second story track, pool, jacuzzi and sauna room which you need in Ohio b/c it’s winter half the year!

    It only costs us $53 a month total and it’s nice to cycle or swim or get on the treadmill when you can’t be outside.

  • Tay October 8, 2009, 2:49 pm

    Is the pumpkin scone better than Starbucks’s? I want to try one – but only the best!! I go to my campus gym because it’s included in tuition and man it’s crowded! And awkward, b/c so many people are there just to check each other out, etc. Aww well.

    • Caitlin October 8, 2009, 2:53 pm

      I haven’t tried the Starbucks one but this one was sooo good.

  • Rebecca October 8, 2009, 2:57 pm

    I love my gym!! I go to Gold’s. I love the spin and pilates classes. I joined while they were running a special promotion and I only pay $20 a month. 🙂 Plus I can walk there from my apartment.

  • Steffi October 8, 2009, 3:31 pm

    I actually belong to LA Fitness AND Snap Fitness. Snap Fitness is just like Anytime…24/7 and $29 a month. I LOVE IT. I was tired also of LA Fitness for all reasons you point out. Now I can workout at 7 am on Saturday and Sunday, and I know have personal trainer that knows what he is doing!

    I sadly still belong to LA Fitness as I love my am spinning class. And only 2 miles from home, as SNAP is 10.

    If you have SNAP nearby, check it out. FREE FOR A WEEK, and cheaper then ANYTIME!

  • Courtney October 8, 2009, 5:33 pm

    I had to join a gym for a pool to train for my triathlon after quitting my gym to save money. Now I’m going to try and squeeze pennies elsewhere so I can keep going because I find it is the best motivator for me…plus I live in Chicago area. Winters are COLD!! And SNOWY!! Plus, I need access to heavier dumbbells and weight equipment than I currently own.
    Courtney
    Adventures in Tri-ing

  • Rebekah October 8, 2009, 5:37 pm

    My school (a community college) is where I fell in love with step aerobics and I’m pretty sure I could use the weight room if I wanted to. I also have a YMCA membership ($126 for our family of 6, but we all use it). Their step aerobics classes s-u-c-k (no fans? wth?), but it’s open 5am-10pm, each cardio machine has its own tv, and it’s brand new and clean.

  • Megan October 8, 2009, 6:34 pm

    I belong to Planet Fitness in NY and love it. Its a nice, cheap, no frills gym but it has everything I need and for $10 a month it can’t be beat.

  • Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) October 9, 2009, 12:21 am

    pumpkin scones are so good!

  • RJ October 9, 2009, 5:27 am

    Just rejoined the gym for the coming long, dark, Scottish winter! Really selling it right?! But I’ve enjoyed running, cycling to work and working out with Ms Michaels during the exremely light, bright, summer months. I am a member of Edinburgh Leisure. I can workout at any of the 16 leisure centres in the city .Gym, swim, classes and now in my handiest centre…. Spinning! I am a spinning virgin but it will be a good way to keep up the biking fitness.

  • Kate October 9, 2009, 3:43 pm

    I currently belong to a yoga studio and attend classes about 3x/week. I was thinking I’d be able to avoid joining a gym, but the cold weather we’ve been getting already has me re-thinking that choice. I do have free access to the university’s gym, but as a staff therapist on campus, it can be strange sometimes to run into patients.

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