Jeremy Glass

My problem began in a fairly typical way: I resolutioned myself. For the past decade, I've been one of the nearly half of Americans making fitness-related resolutions. For five consecutive years, I was also among the people who used their gym memberships less than once a month. Put the two together, and I had a comfortable little cycle going, always optimistic that I'd take the plunge and really commitbut that type of thinking, at least for me, wound up getting me into trouble.

What made me really wasteful was that I kept thinking that a change of scenery would be the spark that lit my fitness fire. Fueled by changing jobs, moving apartments, and general laziness, I allowed myself to stay indebted to Crunch, Planet Fitness, and Blink locations in far-apart neighborhoods. At a certain point, that needed to change.

<h1> Why You Can't Just Drop a Gym Membership </h1>

Why didnt I simply quit one gym before joining another? Why wait years before making this decision? Friends, I ask you: Have you ever quit a gymor, more accurately, tried to quit a gym? The difficulty of quitting gyms is a high-end problem designed to be a high-end problem: Companies want your money, want to keep your money, and know damn well that youre not likely to jump through hoops to save $20 a month.

Gym memberships are notoriously hard to quit because most gym clubs do not want to allow the member to cancel their contract once they realize the hard work and commitment involved in becoming fit, says attorney, David Reischer, Esq. Gym club contracts are drafted in such a way as to not allow a person to quit without suffering a penalty. They are legally binding agreements that can can only be breached when the terms of the contract are unconscionable or otherwise specifically prohibited by law.

\"Its important to read the entire contract before signing.\"

And the gyms have one thing that you (probably) don't: legal know-how. Simply put, the contracts are so complicated because they are drafted by attorneys, says attorney, Steven M. Katz, Esq. Attorneys typically have seen every loophole or angle that a customer can use to wiggle out of a contract, so the drafting attorney has tried to seal up every potential loophole.

Many make it notoriously difficult to end memberships, overcomplicating the supposedly simple service and making the contracts air-tight to ensure they live up to the phrase 'health is wealth'. Most gyms force people to send a certified/notarized letter or to appear in person, often while paying a cancelation fee.

If you want to push the matter further to break your contract without a fee, you'll probably not find much help. Far and away, the most important thing to remember as a gym-goer is that courts strongly prefer the concept of freedom of contract, Katz, the lawyer, told me. If you sign your name to a contract, you are likely going to be bound by all terms contained in the contract. So, its important to read the entire contract before signing.

I wondered why it took me so long to quit even one of the gyms. Id walked past all of them during off-hours, but could never muster the energy to go actually go in and do it. In the spirit of taking control of my bank account and limit the pull of my gym guilt all in one fell swoop, I decided to embark on an odyssey to quit (that is, cancel my membership to) all three in one day.

<h1> How I Went About Quitting 3 Gyms in 1 Day </h1>

The first was Crunch ($9.95/month), about a 10-minute walk from my old apartment, a half hour from my new one, and far too long a ride from my current job to justify my membership. I originally joined before my wedding to buff up and lose the beer gut Ive cultivated roughly since birth. This was three years ago, when I felt I had the world at my fingertips. Once I decided to end the contract, my morning plan of heading to the actual location in person was immediately shot to shit after I took too long to leave the house. I vowed to return that night.

With a day packed with meetings and a dinner reservation in another neighborhood, I wasnt going to have time to go across town to quit gym number two, Planet Fitness ($10/month), which I joined after starting a copywriting job nearby. The low fee enticed me, even combined with the Crunch membership. Whats the harm in spending $20 a month in the name of fitness? Naively, I thought Id visit both, but obviously never did. In fact, I only went to Planet Fitness a handful of times in my year at that jobI couldn't shake the guilt of lifting in the middle of the day.

I decided to see if I can get the PF cancellation done over the phone. The chipper representative informed me that it is pretty difficult to quit Planet Fitness without going in person, although it can be done by sending a certified letter stating your name, reason for quitting, and gym ID number. My ID number couldve been five digits or 500 and I wouldnt know the differencebut I could get two out of three, so I gave it a shot.

For my letter, I went to the post office and scribbled down that I no longer work for company near gym. I was a little confused about what a 'certified letter' actually entails, but the chill guy at the window explained that once received, the gym would confirm receipt. I paid $4.65 and left the post office in a surprisingly good mood: One gym down (I thought), two to go.

I called Crunch to see if my luck would carry over and gave my spiel. After waiting on hold, I was told its pretty much impossible to cancel over the phone. In my heart, I know that's probably not all trueI cannot fathom how such a low-stakes contract is so hard to negotiatebut such is life. I's have to show up in person to avoid being charged for the following month.

Blink ($15/month + $10 towel service), the final gym, should've been the easiest to quit as it was the closest to my officebut I couldn't manage to find a spare 20 minutes to march over. Before I moved into an apartment with a gym in it, I only went three times in nine monthsit was a dash too far away to justify going at lunch. The first time I tried to go, I received an urgent Slack to come back to the office and had to change back into my work clothes without showering. I did not smell cute.

On my way over to Blink after a meeting. But that finally changed. I got to Blink, filled out a form, and paid a $24 prorated fee which gives me access to their facilities until the end of that month. Two down.

To finish my quest, I was intent on making it to Crunch after dinner. That would be a tight window: My wife was pregnant and would want to turn in early, I had a Skype interview with two comedians at 11, when the gym closedtoo many things all at once. When I left the restaurant, I was reconsidering plan Gym Zero. But I was resolute.

I walked to Crunch (burning about 40 calories!) and marched into the sweat-and protein-scented facility. When the woman at the desk asked for my signature and why I was leaving, I considered telling her that I was just following through on a personal fitness resolution. My third gym downand the first fitness resolution that I've ever actually accomplished.

<h1> How You Might Be Able to Quit Your Gym Without the Headache </h1>

Not ready for a marathon of phone calls and gym visits like me? The lawyers have some strategies.

Reischer adds that the easiest way to break a gym contract is not by my approach. Instead, calling your credit card company to dispute the charges and prevent further charges is the way to go.

\"Breaching a contract is always the last resort.\"

Typically, a person that unilaterally cancels the contract will not face a lawsuit because most gyms collect sufficient fees up front that they will not waste their time pursuing a lawsuit for the remaining money due, Reischer says. Alternatively, try talking to the gym management and see if the membership can be transferred to another family member or temporarily frozen. Breaching a contract is always the last resort unless a person is willing to suffer the consequences of a potential lawsuit even if the chances of the gym bringing a lawsuit is extremely remote.

As far as easier methods, Steven Katz reveals one more trick up his sleeve: a doctors note.

There is one argument against the in-person cancellation policy that I have used successfully, Katz says. If the person is cancelling the membership due to an injury or other unforeseen circumstances, the customer may be able to fax or email a doctors note which will often negate the requirement for the customer to cancel in-person.

<h1> You Might Want to Wait On Quitting Your Gym for Now </h1>

Bill Tompkins CoronaVirus COVID-19 Archive

Bill Tompkins CoronaVirus COVID-19  Archive

Committing to quitting will save me over $500 annually. This speaks to how self-improvement is an easily exploitable tool of capitalism; a means of making a quick buck off of the insecurities of millions of Americans (particularly, me). But then again, I'm not exactly innocent in this situation, eitherI easily could have avoided this mess entirely by being more responsible, or, y'know, actually using any of my memberships. Still, this experiment wound up helping me to get more realistic about my commitment to fitness while taking more control of my finances.

Right now, though, you shouldn't worry too much about your gym membership eating up your bank account. I reached out to Crunch, Planet Fitness, and Blink for comment about how they've adjusted their policies in light of the current coronavirus pandemic. Reps from Planet Fitness and Crunch both confirmed that dues have been frozen for all members while clubs are closed due to the current situation. A rep from Blink declined to comment on cancellation policy, but noted that Blink members had their memberships frozen at the time of the club closures and have not been billed since then.

Ill probably join more gyms in the future, whenever I move jobs or house again. Will I make the same $45-a-month mistake then? Id like to think Ive learned my lesson, but my impulse control is a little like my muscles: If you dont use it, you lose it.

As we continue our quarantine, let us remember the luxuries of the past that we can no longer indulge. Bars, theaters, barbershops, andmost painfully for our physical well-beinggyms. During this time of isolation, I've taken a moment to reflect upon these places and think, 'Do I really miss this place?' For me, the gym was one luxury that I ended up not needing after all. At least, none of the three gyms that I once held memberships for (at the same time!) during one ridiculous period.

I Tried to Quit Three Gyms in 1 Day and Ended Up a Stronger Man

Im looking forward to this, says Meadows, kinda sorta The 47-year-old bodybuilder talks about how the MMA workout differs from his typical gym routinebut he still manages to get himself in the mindset to take on the training and see what he can do.

John starts with a five-minute cardio warmup on the assault bike, aiming to burn at least 30 calories in each two-minute ride before restingno easy feat even for a pro. Meadows pushes through, grunting and sweating as he powers though the pain. After hes finished, John collapses onto the gym floor before readying his body for circuit training.

Thats where the death happens, says Palmer as Meadows prepares for the first rep of this seemingly impossible Magnificent Seven circuit.

The Magnificent Seven

<ul><li> The Grappler Clean with the Press </li><li> Bosu Squat </li><li> Dumbbell Snatch </li><li> Jack Curls </li><li> Plyo Jumps </li><li> Laying Down Pulls on TRX </li><li> Skater Lunges </li></ul>

This is gonna be a little bit different than a CrossFit clean, Palmer says. Were trying to achieve something that grapplers and wrestlers need, which is the hip explosiveness. Meadows springs into action by making sure his hips pop up to get the massive weights in the air.

Next, the guys prepare for the Bosu squat. Palmer goes into detail on the movement, explaining how lifting on the ball puts the body in a position were not used to, which is vital for MMA fighters who needs to keep sturdy and centered while in the ring. A red-faced Meadows squeezes his glutes and pops up onto the ball, trying to keep his form. On his third exercise in the Magnificent Seven circuit, Meadows looks completely exhausted, but manages to knock out 41 reps of the dumbbell snatch in before taking a much deserved one-minute rest.

For the plyo jumps, Palmer brings out a massive 30-pound medicine ball for Meadows to play with.

I would suggest throwing your ball up with yourself, adds Palmer, so youre not trying to carry the ball, youre gonna pop it up as you go. Itll make the jump a lot easier, I promise.

After breezing through the plyo jumps, Meadows takes another well-needed rest on the floor. Two more to go! You can see Meadows total exhaustion as he powers through laying down pulls on the TRX, squeezing the grip to aid in the exercise.

Next up are skater lunges. The key word Palmer keeps saying is: explode. This part of the circuit is aims to get Meadows to explode laterally, from wide side to the other. While Meadows cant help but slow down towards the end, but still manages to officially finish the intense and grueling workout.

When asked about the most difficult part of the first set of the Magnificent Seven, Meadows blames the bike, saying it felt like he was breathing fire the entire time, while comparing the rest of the experience of holding the heavy weights to holding a small child all day. With his face red from pumping blood, Meadows seems to be in disbelief by the feats he just accomplished.

Watch This Bodybuilder Take On an MMA Workout

Bodybuilder  s method to fitness madness is showing his audience how older athletes can crush the fitness goals just as easily as his younger counterparts. In a recent video, Meadows teamed up with professional MMA champ   to give viewers a crash course in a grueling combat sports training workout.

(a.k.a ) served in the U.S. Marines for four years before taking to YouTube to vlog about life after the military. While hes not training with and teaching powerlifters , Nava can be found demonstrating the extensive lessons he learned from the Marines while putting his body through hell. In a recent video, Nava brought his friend and fellow veteran, Marcus Perez in front of the camera to see if they could both take on the .

Nava's version of the test wasn't exactly what you'd have to take on if you were trying to be a SEAL yourselfthe <a href="https://www.sealswcc.com/navy-seal-training.html" id="d0fbddef-6029-3e7a-adb5-0825597c7628"> standard test </a> calls for a 500 yard swim in 12 minutes, 30 seconds, 50 pushups in 2 minutes, at least 50 curlups (situps) in 2 minutes, at least 10 pullups in 2 minutes, and a 1.5 mile run in at least 10 minutes and 30 seconds. Nava and Perez flip the order and do the run first, then skip the curlups entirely. Since they're not planning to enlist, we'll cut them some slack.

The first portion of the test is a 1.5 mile run, which Nava knocks out in 10 minutes and eight secondsabout 6:39 per mile. Perez time is considerably slower but finishes in just under 17 minutes.

I havent run in a minute, says an out of breath Nava, but this is a good start. With Marcus running in the background, Nava reminds his audience to use his video for inspiration as what hes doing is easy to watch, but hard to do.

Next up: pushups. Navy SEALs need to do at least 98 reps to qualify for the "Optimum" distinction; Nava and Perez are aiming for 100. The guys hammer away at the 100-pushup goal, sweating through the pain as Nava narrates.

The only way youre gonna get better is by putting yourself through that pain and that suffering, because thats whats going to mold you and thats whats going to make you a stronger individual.

Seventy pushups in, Nava is unable to continue and taps out of the challenge, while Marcus just makes it to 100. As the guys rise from the floor, physically shaking, they head inside to handle the next portion of the fitness test: pullups.

Nava and Marcus only have to make it to 15 to meet the Optimum requirement, but they aim for 20. After each hitting the target reps, Marcus and Nava head out to conquer the very last challenge: a 500-meter swim.

We pushing through this pain, says Nava as he prepares to swim 10 laps, and so should you. Lets go finish this test.

The guys absolutely go beast-mode during the final swim, clocking in at eight minutes and five seconds.

Im sore and hungry, says Marcus, Im just glad I attempted it.

As the video wraps, Nava once again tells viewers to not only watch his videos but go out and actually do what hes doing yourself. After a 1.5 mile run, pushups, pullups, and a swim, Nava showcases the physical toll the body goes through to make the cut for the elite branches of the military.

Marines Try the Navy SEALs Physical Fitness Test

How do U.S. Marines stack up when it comes to conquering the Navy SEALs fitness test?

Watch 2 U.S. Marines Take on the Navy SEALs Physical Fitness Test

Featuring menswear clothing staples such as a distressed leather jacket, faded henley shirt, and a rustic linen-blend messenger bag, the collection ranges from a $98 graphic T-shirt to a $2,698 hand-dyed leather jacket. The rich textured materials and <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/tabyk/10-great-color-palettes-inspired-by-game-of-throne-1ik8?utm_term=.mmvYQMqY3n" id="dfab48dc-d05c-3159-a2e0-cd21d729f935"> medieval color palette </a> donned by the characters in Game of Thrones perfectly compliments Varvatos ruggedly masculine aesthetic. The collaboration gives the old-old-old-old school style of the series a modern twist for serious GoT fans to represent their favorite show in their everyday lives, without looking like theyre wearing basic Comic-Con merchandise or costume garb.

The question remains: why the sudden (and, frankly, surprising) love from Varvatos? Turns out the designer is a massive fan of the series.

From the very first episode, I have been inspired by the incredible costumes in Game of Thrones, said Varvatos. To have this opportunity to collaborate is a dream come true.

Its not just the Varvatos side whos geeking out over the collaboration-Vice President of Licensing and Retail at HBO, Jeff Peters, had this to say about the landmark collaboration.

John Varvatos has delivered a stunning collection of high-quality pieces that are fashionable and wearable, while also capturing the shows essence through its details and ornate design, said Peters. We couldnt be happier with the final product and are excited to see how fans react.

The John Varvatos x Game of Thrones collection will be available on <a href="https://www.johnvarvatos.com/" id="8e80b35f-6fed-3277-a87d-e81ad8ff8c85"> johnvarvatos.com </a> and at select boutiques. The March 14 release date being exactly a month before the premiere of the final few episodes of Game of Thrones cant be a coincidence, but hey-thats showbiz, baby!

Keep in mind, this is the only luxury menswear brand to launch a GoT collaboration this season with HBO, (other collaborations being Oreos and <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/style/a26789289/game-of-thrones-adidas-ultra-boost-sneakers/" id="f5dc18ea-a8db-3551-a2fa-0e1db8c82e17"> Adidas </a> ) making pieces like the ridiculously badass Winterfell Leather Jacket all the more special.

So, as youre watching the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones in your Dragonstone Jacket with your Heritage Henley underneath, remember that youre adorned in one of the few GoT collaborations with the official HBO stamp of approval. No word yet on how the Linen Dragonstone Jacket stacks up against a fire-breathing dragon, but we assume the worst youll get is a first-degree burn.

GoT Merchandise Gets a Major Designer Upgrade

No matter how feel about the acclaimed HBO series it seems there is no escape from the influence of Game of Thrones. From <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a26788766/game-of-thrones-wine/" id="8f4a77f4-fda2-3f51-a322-da1ebfa4c45a"> wine </a> to <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19525588/game-of-thrones-workout/" id="f94afb4c-283d-38ee-aa68-bd81786296f1"> Lannister-style workouts </a> , there is no shortage of Game of Thrones-inspired gear and-wow-apparently <a hre...

‘Game of Thrones’ Merchandise Gets a Designer Upgrade From John Varvatos

The thought entered my mind one night when I removed my watch in a pre-sex ritual that I hadnt even realized Id adopted since wearing a watch regularly. My viewpoint has always been-and will always be-a resounding yes. Its weird to wear a watch during sex.

Casually mentioning this query to my close friends, I expected everyone to be on my side, but quickly learned I was in the minority. I created a <a href="https://twitter.com/CandyandPizza/status/1085272818449829888" id="65d81779-3583-398d-ade1-aeaa9f722ed0"> Twitter poll </a> , where 57% of people said wearing a watch during sex isnt weird, and the remaining 43% were on my side.

It's a weird step to take off the watch, one friend said. Its inserting yet another speed bump into the process. Honestly, I took off my watch like five times in 2018.

I soon learned that my seemingly-innocuous hypothesis actually straddled the line between divisive and friendship-ruining. Why is it that an issue thats basically a non-issue is such a schismatic concept? In my attempt to understand the root of the watch question, I did what I do best: snooped around.

I associate my watch with my outfit, said another friend whos for pre-coital watch removal and compares wearing the accessory to not being fully disrobed. I wouldnt leave my socks on, so why would I leave my watch on?

To me, a watch during sex is a lazy, braggy way of drawing attention to yourself and asserting your overt manliness and style to your date, partner, or what have you. Consider basically every single James Bond movie in existence-theres hardly a scene where Bond isnt wearing a watch, and that definitely includes this smokin-hot scene from . We get it-James Bond is one of the manliest figures out there and has a lot of sex, thus imitating his style might get you a lot of sex (iffy logic, to be sure).

But when does the watch come off? asked comedian and podcast host <a href="https://twitter.com/anitajewtina" id="5193c088-1cbd-31e5-a3a2-ed0d55151820"> Anita Flores </a> . Do you break off the kissing and say, I have to take off my watch before we have sex? But Flores, too, thinks the act of wearing a watch during sex is creepy-a very Patrick Bateman move.

The argument for keeping the watch on is, simply enough, the spectacle of being the kind of person who keeps his watch on during sex. And, sure, pure convenience. With this knowledge rattling around my brain, I took to some trusted watch brands and aficionados to seek a definitive answer on my controversial question.

Im not sure what purpose your watch serves during sex, says Jeff Isaacson, an esteemed watch collector and vice president of bar operations for Ark Restaurants. If youre trying for marathon porn sex, maybe keep it on to time your session.

I say keep the watch on, says John Tarantino, founder and CEO of watch brand . It's one less thing to take off and it shouldn't get in the way. Plus, you can check the time if you want to make it quick. I'd go with something with a leather strap instead of a metal bracelet so you're less likely to scratch your partner. Too much metal could be dangerous here. I recommend the . Its smooth lines and lack of sharp edges make this a low-risk endeavor.

A watch during sex is like socks during sex dont, says Vishal Tolani of the beloved watch brand, repeating the socks analogy. A chunky watch still on during sex whiffs of a little porno vibe.

There is only one tool necessary [during sex], and it ain't a watch, says Mario Jutronic of the newer watch brand . Jutronic goes on to say that if one must wear a watch during sex, they should go for something sporty, stylish, rugged, and able to adapt in a variety of settings with confidence.

Based on this not-quite-scientific reporting, one could surmise that approximately half of people think its weird to wear a watch during sex. And the other half? Slightly unclear. Sure, there are definitely some people out there who do it to peacock; they want to be seen wearing a watch during sex. But there are of course the guys who do it out of pure absentmindedness.

I admit that I put a lot of thought into taking my watch off before sex out of anxiety of being seen an asshole-or, uh, getting sex stuff on my watch. There is no right or wrong here, despite my innate feelings, but for the men in the world unsure of whether they have to wear a watch to impress their partners, I offer you this advice: Do you want to be with someone who gives more than two shits about whats on your wrist during moments of intimacy?

Every so often, I accidentally stumble upon a seemingly trivial issue that somehow manages to both divide and unite people from all corners. Recently, it was the deceptively simple question: Is it weird to wear a watch during sex?

Is It Weird to Wear a Watch During Sex?

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