Bally Total Fitness

This location offers a lot of classes and the instructor are very informative on how to get the most out of your workout. It’s also very close to public transportation and there’s a parking garage connected to the building which makes this location very easy to get to.

Yeah, I’m updating this again, and here’s why.
My trainer left me! She left LAF and so with that I had a month or so left in my contract for personal training and set out to find a new one. Unfortunately, the newer staff here sucks. When I first started personal training, the project manager at the time made it a point to call me when things would change (canceled appointments, etc.), but it got to the point where no one cared. In fact, I was surprised to not even get a call from corporate when I cancelled my contract. Meh.
Anyway, after my trainer left I got stuck in a revolving door of people who just didn’t give a f*ck with the exception of Ken, who I hope is still there for the customers’ sake, but not necessarily his. Ken was great and listened to what I needed. No longer being new to fitness, I have an idea of the goals I want to achieve as well as what my body can handle, not all trainers will listen to you. You might also have trainers who never show up – both happened to me within a week.
My advice to you if you’re looking to personal training whether it’s at LA Fitness or elsewhere is to find someone who will work with you and your needs, not only listen to what he/​she has read in text books. Every body is different and a good trainer should be able to think on their feet and customize your workouts since these sessions aren’t cheap.
I still come to LAF for their pool and their weight machines, but have since found KRU and they’re pretty amazing.

Okay my reviews keep reducing a star because there’s always something that makes this place even more disgusting than the last time (but alas… I still come to work out… total hypocrite!)
This place is seriously a health hazard. (BTW — it’s LA Fitness now so it’s a bit better but still sucks!!). I’m pretty close to writing a letter to management or something because I feel my health is in jeopardy coming here!
1. This happened early this week where I was leaving the gym around 10:50pm and going down the elevator… and then a janitor worker comes into the same elevator WITH A HUGE TRASH BIN FILLED WITH TRASH AND HOLDING A TRASH BAG ALSO FILLED WITH TRASH!!! GROSS. Don’t you guy shave a separate elevator for that?
2. A few days ago I was running on my treadmill and another janitor worker was cleaning the machine next to me… which isn’t a huge deal as long as she’s not cleaning MY machine (see bullet 3), but the fumes of the cleaning supplies were so strong that I was pretty much breathing it in as I was running — NOT SAFE!!! I felt a little sick afterwards… DEFINITELY a health hazard!
3. A few months ago my friend and I were running side by side on the treadmills, and the janitor worker was cleaning OUR machines as we were using them!!! WTF? Pretty sure that’s not okay.
4. And one of my biggest annoyances is that they don’t put the AC higher. Especially in 90 degree weather! It’s always so hot in there. That can’t be safe either! After I get done working out I’m SUPER sweaty and hot. It’s ridiculous
5. This place is dirty in every aspect.
6. I don’t know why I still keep coming — prob cuz its cheap as hell but seriously guys… someone could sue you if you dont shape up!
UGHH

Reasons why this gym is awful.
1. They hold your driver’s license hostage until you pay them and join upon your first visit.
2. They won’t let you use your free 3-​day trial card until you become a member. I literally said no so many times that I couldn’t say it anymore. But the fact they wanted to me join before trying the gym out was outrageous! I wont buy a car unless I drive it, so why join a gym before even taking a tour and working out?
3. They pressure you into signing up by promising you lots of amazing gym perks… i. e You can cancel in 7 days if you don’t like the gym, LA FITNESS is going through a complete renovation, they have a juice bar, low fees, never busy so there won’t ever be lines for a cardio machine… etc etc. When I was there the juice bar was not open and looked deserted, the gym just looked old and there was no sign of construction, the smell in the room was muggy and overall it was dark and dingy.
4.The equipment is old and the cardio machines don’t even have televisions in them. At least XSport has tvs in the treadmill machines. Here when you workout you have to watch whatever is on the community TV’s or the LA Fitness television channel along with everyone else — tip: have a magazine and an Ipod because even if you do watch tv there isn’t an earbud hookup in the equipment to listen to what your watching… hope you enjoy reading closed captions!
5. The staff seems clueless. I know working a front desk isn’t exciting but have a smile and say hello please.
6. After I gave in and got the week gym trial, I went home and found a contract in my email welcoming me to LA FItness. UM I didn’t see a contract nor did I sign one at that gym. All I signed was the credit card machine after I paid for the trial week. When I told them this upon canceling, they said its an «agreement’ not a contract. Um ok… look up synonyms for agreement and you will find contract. Once again, they are sneaky, tricky and liars.
7. When going into cancel my membership and receive refund, I was harassed. The operations manager told me I wouldn’t get a refund because that only happens when you cancel with 3 days of signing up. I told her that I was told 7 days by the fitness manager. She looked at me with a rude smirk and said thats not how we do things around here. I said the whole reason I paid to join was so I could try the gym out a little longer. I was lied to and once again no one knew what was going on.
8. When I cancelled, the computers were down so I didn’t see the cancellation email until the next day… yet, I am still waiting on my refund a week later. I have sent 2 emails and called customer service. I am about to call corporate if I don’t get my money back soon.
9. Even when I was in the process of canceling I was still harassed about it. «How will you workout?» «We can offer you cheaper» «Why are you canceling?» «Was it a bad experience here»…yeah your sales tactics were the bad experience.
Honestly, I would rather pay the extra bucks and join a nicer gym like LPAC or FFC. 50 dollars a month for this gym is outrageous. If you want to be surrounded by car salesmen and uneducated employees, then this is your gym. I would recommend going elsewhere.

It is not closed.
New name
New owners
Same equipment
Same dirty bathrooms
Same high pressure sales tactics

I’ve only been going here a few days and I’m already having mixed feelings. I signed up to use the pool and paid first and last month so I’m pleased that I’m at least not locked in to any contract.
I just want to swim.
That being said, can someone please inform me when the least skeezy douchey time of day to do that would be?
Crowds of men literally sit in the hot tub and STARE at you while you swim. At first I thought it was because they were waiting for a lane, but no, those eyes follow you when you get out of the pool, and as you rush to grab your towel to hide your body from said perverts.
Guys will literally stand in the lanes and not swim, just stand and STARE.
Several men today alone took off their swim trunks IN THE POOL AREA and WALKED WALKED AROUND.
NAKED.
IN THE POOL AREA!
One guy was doing a hand stand in the whirlpool (as if that wasn’t douchey enough) while his junk was hanging out of his shorts.
Another guy wearing TINY white speedos was just squatting by the pool so that if you opened your eyes, there were his balls.
I already hate everyone who goes here.
Can management please do something about this? I am not paying to be ogled and to be made to feel uncomfortable.
I had been warned that this was the place people went to hit on one another but that’s not why I’m here.
Ladies in the locker room are putting on make up, perfume, and brushing their teeth BEFORE workouts. From the pool it’s easy to see everyone cruising everyone else out on the gym floor. People appear to be getting drinks of water just to make conversation.
Unfortunately, it’s the only gym near me with all day open swim, so I can do laps whenever I want. But I’m glad I got the most modest swimsuit money can buy because I’m being eyeball raped for an hour every day.
If you can afford better, I highly suggest going elsewhere.

So I recently joined LAFitness (yuck). I joined the Signature (not!) club by my office downtown on Randolph. The only good thing about it is the location. When I signed up turns out I got access to the recently acquired Ballys gyms which is nice because I live in Lakeview.
I made a smart move and visited the gym before I actually used it. I had never been here before, but… gross. First, you need to bring your own lock (fine). You also need to bring your own towels (!). They have a swimming pool here but no towel service which means that people are sweating all over this nasty equipment. They offer no wipes for the equipment, but instead a spray bottle and paper towels.
The girl at the front desk said they were getting towels… soon. The locker rooms are probably no better than a high school gym. The group workout room is rancid with ‘water’ coming up out of the floor, but it’s also a weird shade of yellow and green at times. That room is absolutely filthy!
The gym is gross. Where is a good gym with a pool in Chicago?!

I stand by my first review, in the sense that, indeed, the place gets the job done. Results from going to gym will always and forever lie with only one person: yourself. So, of course I still go, though less than before, and that’s due to one thing alone: cleanliness.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand that I’m paying a very low rate, comparatively. What bugs me is that this place seriously just needs to clean. it. up.
The men’s locker room features a host of lockers that are rusty, have debris and garbage left inside lockers, and floors that are consistently not clean. Add to that a host of clientele who seem to enjoy using the space as a cruising spot… well, you get the picture. It’s just an uncomfortable, crowded, and dirty environment. And gents, let’s be clear… I like looking at hot men just as much as the next gay dude, in fact looking at hot men is one of my FAVORITE pastimes– but good lord. Get it together.
Moving on to the machines. I’m a cardio hound, so most of my time is spent on treadmills when I cannot run outside due to weather. So, it sure would be great to approach and use a treadmill that does not have gunk all over it. Further, it would be wonderful if the gym would post a policy that members should clean machines immediately after use– although, I suppose members are just taking a page from the same playbook as Bally’s itself, and not worrying about it.
While on that topic, the machines often simply just give out and don’t seem to be properly maintained. Most treadmill tracks show signs of significant wear and buckling, and some treadmills simply stop working in the middle of a workout. That’s really just unacceptable, no matter how much your members pay.
I guess I could go on, but I won’t. I think these are my major complaints, and the main reasons why I am now looking for another gym that is somewhat affordable but also maintains a high level of hygiene and takes care of its members.

Bottom Line: It gets the job done.
It’s by no means a fancy gym, but it has all the basic equipment to get a great workout. The gym itself just looks a little old, but it is really not as ghetto or terrible as some of the reviews say it is. The equipment is not brand new, but it is also not archaic or falling apart. There are sometimes one or two machines broken, just like at any gym, but there are always enough to go around. In working out at Bally’s for six months now, I’ve only had to wait for a treadmill once. At my previous, much more costly gym, I had to wait for a machine many times.
There is cleaning spray and paper towels in two spots downstairs, though not everyone uses it; it is convenient enough to get your own spray if someone has left a particularly dirty machine. Rather than each treadmill having their own TV screen, there are several communal big screens that are always playing ESPN, news, and some form of entertainment television. Personally, I don’t really like to watch anything when I workout, but if you do all of the TV screens can easily be seen from all the treadmills, ellipticals, etc. Another bonus: no obnoxious personal trainers soliciting your business while your trying to have your own workout. I’ve only been asked once if I wanted a personal training session and was not pressured when I said no. I haven’t tried any of the classes, but intend to in the future and according to the schedules I see posted, there is quite a variety of classes.
The locker room is also mediocre, but has always been clean and is spacious enough for the amount of people that work out at this club. The only thing I don’t like is that you have to bring your own lock, mainly because this is hard to get used to when you were spoiled at your previous gym.
For $ 20 – 30 a month, Bally’s is worth it for anyone who does not need a fancy gym.

I did find it as clean as a gym can be — each time I go, there is cleaning staff taking care of the equipment. I’ve learned not to go on mondays — too crowded.
Atmosphere is nice — the people at this Bally’s is friendly, much more friendly than other locations. classes, pool, sauna, two floors of good machines, everything I would want in a gym.
And if you have the luxury of working with a physical trainer, all them are energetic and happy and comrades with one another. windows give lots of natural light too.

The thing about Bally’s is: you can’t beat the price. The other thing about Bally’s is: you get what you pay for.
The Lincoln Park location is not that BAD as Bally’s spots go. There are a ton of cardio and weights machines, a good selection of free weights, and some great classes (spinning, pilates, weights, etc). Yes, It’s usually crowded, and, yes, if you touch anything in the locker room you may die of sepsis, and yes, the hot tub looks like a pot of old man stew, but, hey, it’s cheap, and it’s not BAD as Bally’s spots go.

This place does the job. There’s plenty of machines, quite a few classes and a pool. And it’s reasonably priced per month.
It just looks run down. The walls could be painted and some of the machines updated. Times are tough, I get that, but that’s why you get a three.
And if I couldn’t walk here from my apartment, I’d be pissed because it’s expensive to park in the garage, even with the validated ticket.

You get what you pay for. Not much.
The front desk staff is super friendly. I like that there is a pool, and I enjoyed every yoga offering I tried.
But frankly, I should have been forewarned by the plethora of red flags before I’d even signed a contract. For example, I signed up online for a «free» one-​week trial membership and thus began a hyperactive campaign by one of the membership managers to try and rope me into sitting down for a one-​on-​one sales pitch. My phone and email began blowing up. I felt one part hunted to three parts annoyed. Cue Destiny’s Child ‘Bug A Boo.’ I do not like to talk to anyone when I go to the gym, least of all someone with such a transparent agenda. I was already planning on pursuing a full membership at week’s end, and expressed this to the man — I required no persuading — so, seriously, leave me in peace. But the phone messages continued. Seven days of a Bally trial membership makes one weak.
I also received a complimentary training session. I perused the wall of trainers– they each had aggressive favorite quotes about ‘no pain, no gain’ and ‘pain just being weakness leaving the body’ etc etc… The woman I ended up with completely ignored my one specific request for free-​weight tips and instead treated me to a meaningless half hour of dietary advice (Special K Red Berry contains too much sugar, and I should eat a boiled egg before going out to eat). Then she asked me to squeeze a hand-​held device that somehow accurately measures your BMI. She told me that ladies should aim to become firm while maintaining a ‘feminine softness’. And apparently, I was not there yet. Once again, it was a sales pitch and she didn’t seem willing to give any actual useful advice until I had hired her.
Absolutely no frills at this gym: no towels, no overnight lockers, no free locks on the lockers, no cold drinking fountains.
But maybe worst of all is the simple fact that the only way to cancel your membership is by sending a letter via certified mail to the Bally’s HQ in DC. What is that, Bally? You have a twitter page but still maintain archaic, pre-​internet cancellation practices. Perhaps because you know more disgruntled members would bail if you made it easier?
I’m switching to Cheetah. No more soulless factory-​gym. Yeah bro.

The longer I’m a member of Bally’s, the more I dislike it. It’s cheap and I like the pool and some of the classes, but I’m frustrated by the equipment and the staff.
The equipment is often broken, meaning that I often have to wait to use an elliptical or treadmill. This is especially annoying in the winter when all the outdoor runners come inside and the New Years Resolution people decide to work on their fitness.
The staff doesn’t at all listen to my needs. I recently asked if a trainer could teach me how to use the weight machines because I want to start lifting, but I don’t want to hurt myself. Instead of a tutorial, I got a hard sell on personal training sessions. During this session, the trainer told me: 1) I need to lose 20 lbs, 2) I am at risk for obesity, and 3) I can’t accomplish this goal without professional help. I found this incredibly insulting because while I probably could stand to lose a few pounds (see all of my restaurant reviews), I am pretty healthy and certainly not obese. And after I was done being insulted, I still had no idea how to use the machines because we never touched a weight during my session. Furthermore, I did some research when I got home and discovered that my numbers were all within the «healthy» range for my height and weight.
I’m not high maintenance when it comes to a gym, but I like when the equipment works, and I don’t like being insulted. If you have the money, go elsewhere.

2.5 really but I’ll round up to be nice
If it looks like a gym, acts like a gym and smells (eww) like a gym, it’s time to work out. The one word I would use to describe this Bally’s is efficient. They have managed to use all of the space allotted to them very well. They squeezed in a lap pool (one star for the pool alone), sauna, hot tub, running track, hundreds of treadmills, ellipticals and weight machines. They even have a snack bar in the front. Add on a low monthly cost and it should be perfect, right?
Not really. This gym works best when you go at non peak times. When the after work crowd rolls in the lines for treadmills will be 5 deep. Although they are doing some renovations, overall the facility feels dated and could use a good scrub down and some serious ventilation.
The standout for me was the running track due to my loath of treadmills. But at only ¹⁄₁₀ of a mile long, you start to get dizzy after just a little bit. The track and the upstairs do offer spectacular views of downtown and lakeview courtesy of floor to ceiling mirrors.
I’m not a person that likes gyms and Bally’s didn’t change that. But if you need an efficient place to work out that is convenient to get to for a steal, then take them up on the week free offer and see for yourself.

Okay, this place definitely warrants a Pros/​Cons list.
As follows:
Pros:
–Cheap ($ 25−30/month), no longterm contracts mandatory
–Easy to get to (Clark/​Diversey/​Broadway)
–Friendly staff (the manager, Anthony, is super nice and always around if you need anything… he’s definitely the highlight of the place. When I was a «hot-​streak» at the gym, he commented, «I am very proud of you for coming in 8 days in a row, so make today 9!!!» — that’s the kind of motivation you want!)
–Robust group exercise class schedule
–New pool/​hot tub area
–Located in Century City mall (movie theatre, Express, Victoria’s Secret inside, Jamba Juice, Red Mango down the block)
–Free personal training session with membership
Cons:
–Dingy equipment (squeaky-​ass ellipticals) and antiquated technology (no flat panel TVs here)
–Broken everything (lockers, machines, cleaning systems)
–Funky smell
–Some group exercise classes (Zumba) cost money ($ 10)
–Some group exercise classes get insanely crowded with annoying people
–You have to take an elevator to get to the gym (7^th floor)
–Locker room is sick nasty and you need to bring your own lock
BOTTOM LINE: If you don’t want to spend a lot, and don’t mind the potential of contracting a venereal disease during your 30 minutes on the stairstepper, go for it!

And the winner for the dirtiest gym I’ve ever seen goes to: Bally Total Fitness on Clark.
I’m sorry, I’m not the biggest neat freak in the world, but I do know that when a bunch of sweaty people congregate together to lose some lbs, there is a lot of germs spreading around, sweat dripping all over, and smells that start to linger. The solution: Bleach and a cleaning team. This gym just doesn’t have it.
They do offer sanitizer, but it’s never filled. There are no towels or anything to wipe down your machine.
I joined because it was down the street from my old apartment, but quit about a month after.
Oh and I’m not going to get started about the hot tub/​pool area. ew.

I am very particular about my gym time. I get in and get out. I do my thing, no need to dick around, chat, try to meet people. No. That is not why I came. I am sweaty. I smell. And I am probably already planning the meal that will follow. So Bally’s totally works for me.
There are no frills about it. In fact, other than the main front desk area and the little power bar/​GHC store at the front, the gym is maybe a few steps up from Average Joe’s, with a few more attractive people and way more space.
Are there better gyms out there? DUH. But you are going to pay up the butt, and most likely have some sort of contract. With Bally’s it is about $ 30, month to month. They have everything any other gym has, only about three steps down in quality. When things are out of order, they will probably stay that way for a while. I busted a band in the training room and I’m pretty sure there won’t be a new one until 2012. But it’s cool. That’s just how things work here.
It’s dirty, it smells funk, things are broken, and you won’t find anything cheaper. (if you do, please tell me.) Join Now…

Breaking news: You don’t have to bring/​buy water here anymore as they finally upgraded the water fountains to make the water COLD!
This club continues to work for me. Just don’t go around 7pm on Mondays or you’ll be stuck waiting for a treadmill (I’d imagine most gyms hit peak insanity on Mondays). Also, meter parking on the street in front is a better deal than the validated garage parking.

What’s with the bad reviews!!! This has been my gym for the past 5+ years and I have no complaints. It’s super affordable, they have a ton of machines, and it’s right by my place. I’m not the type who will enjoy a fro fro gym. I used to belong to Bannockburn, EAC, and a handful of other upscale places, but what’s the point?
I rarely go during the peak hours, so I haven’t had issues with crowding. If you are not picky this place has everything that you need for the best price around.