GymBetter: A better way to get active

As a Medibank member I was looking forward to the release of GymBetter.

In a nutshell GymBetter is an app that allows you to attend a network of gyms on a pay-as-you-go basis – and after eight visits in one month, all subsequent visits in that month are free.

I used to hit the gym regularly but over the years found myself going less and less and had eventually cancelled my membership. I was mixing up my exercise outside the gym, adding in more cycling, running and swimming, and while I loved my gym sessions, I was finding it hard to justify the expense for just a couple of visits a month. I also started travelling more for work and had no access to a gym when I was in different cities.

The launch of GymBetter sparked my interest in getting back into the gym – the pay-as-you-go model seemed risk free and allowed me to try out different gyms to find ones that suited me and my exercise needs.

After giving it a go for a few weeks now, it’s great to see how much gyms have evolved over the last four years – there’s much more on offer than just dumbbells and treadmills! Adding the gym as an option to my regular weekly exercise has reinvigorated my week, and allowed me to sneak in a couple of extra sessions that nicely complement my current training plan.

The increased flexibility in options is a bit of a no brainer too – no longer does a rainy Melbourne day mean a cancelled workout, I’ve now been able to go to the nearest and most convenient gym for a session. And not having to pay expensive casual prices is fantastic – you no longer question going for a one off session.

The other major benefit I have found is the range of gym locations – I can now get in a morning session near my house, a lunchtime session near the office or if I am travelling, there are a range of gyms nearby that I have access to – my excuses for not exercising are disappearing!

Are there any downsides? Not that I have discovered yet – it’s really flexible, affordable and there are a great range of locations. You don’t commit to a contract so the power and flexibility is in your hands. The app is really easy to use and so far all the gyms I have been to are really welcoming and happy to show me around before I get into my workout.

I’d definitely recommend people check it out – even one extra gym session a week can make a big difference to your health.

Find out more about GymBetter.