I have an interview with Bob Harper!!! Not really, it’s from fitsugar.com
- Before working on The Biggest Loser, Bob had never worked with obese clients. He explains that before the show aired, “I was working with Selma Blair and Ellen (DeGeneres) and you know, I was working with Gwyneth Paltrow. These are like thin, thin women . . . The day that I met my first team on season one, I really thought I had my work cut out for me because I was going to have to use everything that I learned and knew I was going to be put to the test because I had never worked with people of that size.”
- Bob’s favorite form of cardio is running and he has run three marathons, but feels no need to run 26.2 miles again. When logging miles on a treadmill he tries to not listen to music, explaining, “I really think that I’m avoiding my reality [with music]. I want to be able to, like, feel my body, know my body, my alignment as opposed to just, like, kind of checking out.” He added that he tries to find the meditative quality in running.
- The first book Bob put on his Kindle was Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. He thinks Americans eat too much meat and need to get more imaginative when thinking about plant-based proteins. “There is more than soy,” he insists, and suggests trying chia and hemp seeds ground into powders.
- Bob no longer trains individual clients; he doesn’t have the time between two seasons of The Biggest Loser a year, working with Dr. Oz, and writing a second book. He does, however, occasionally teach spin classes at Crunch in West Hollywood.
- For Bob, exercise is the best stress relief ever. He admits that if he doesn’t work out he can be a bear, but says, “I do work out way too hard sometimes, but it’s something I love.”
Ok I’m off to the gym to look busy do something.
Question: Do you have a gym membership, if so to where and how much do you pay?
Is that too personal? Well, tough luck. I’m not asking for a date or your social #.
I belong to 24hourfitness; there’s 2 within a couple miles of my house which is nice. And I only pay about $21/month because they sponsor skinnyrunner.com Just kidding, it’s due to dear old sugar daddy J’s corporate rate.
We go to the Super Sport club which is really special because it has things like VIP locker rooms, cafes and smoothie joints. you know, the really important stuff.
Today might be the day I finally pick the elusive lock on the VIP door…


January 28, 2010 at 8:13 AM
What does your hubby do? I can’t remember if you had said before. I work out at a local chain which SUCKS in one way b/c I can’t use it when I travel but in Charlotte, NC there aren’t bigger chains. There’s a bally’s but it’s so far out that it’s not convenient. I used to work out at Gold’s in DC which was awesome b/c I could use it when I travelled. I wish we had a 24 hour fitness. I know they sell memberships at Costco.
January 28, 2010 at 8:24 AM
in his mind, he’s a professional ps3 call of duty player, but he works for a large computer company.
January 28, 2010 at 8:35 AM
I have a membership at LA Fitness. I only pay a measely $15 per month, but I can only use the local one, and I can’t use their childcare (I have 3 younger children)… which means that its 5 or 6am for me to workout so I can be home before Peter Piper leaves. I go very rarely if the weather is nice and I can be outside. (Childcare adds $10 per month per child to your membership fee… no thanks!)
And since you asked us something… I want to know your stretching routine… I am, admittedly the worst about actually stretching, and I’m currently putting in around 18 miles per week, and figure its only a matter of time before I injure myself.
January 28, 2010 at 8:36 AM
I live in NYC and belong to Crunch Fitness. The gym is great but a little over priced in my opinion….$80/month. My company is very big but doesn’t have a corporate membership to this gym which really annoys me.
January 28, 2010 at 8:39 AM
I have a gym membership. I just joined a couple months ago and for the boyfriend and I it runs about $70 a month. Its $40 for one and $30 for additional members. I LOVE it and I think it is wroth every penny! I can use the classes, all the equipment, the only thing I wish is that the gym was open 24/7 so I could go in before 5:30 in the mornings.
January 28, 2010 at 8:41 AM
Sweet, I love Bob
.
Hey, I have just given you an award. Head on over to my blog to see it!
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You answer lots of questions on your blog though so give it a miss if you can’t be bothered
.
Ciao!
January 28, 2010 at 8:41 AM
I signed my life away to Gold’s. It’s 3 minutes from my house and only a year old, so all of the machines are very new. I pay $25/month, which I guess doesn’t break the bank all that much. It’s a small price to pay to get in a good run when it’s monsooning outside or 20 degrees!
January 28, 2010 at 8:52 AM
I would kill for a $21 membership!
However, the gym (Equinox) I go to is 1. in my work building, so I can’t leave work before working out-super convenient! and 2. it is ALWAYS clean and there are some super awesome classes with motivating instructors. Plus good magazines and I’ve never had to wait for equipment.
That says a lot for a gym.
I pay $125 per month and that’s with the building discount! YIKES! But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Plus the decor is modern and chic.
January 28, 2010 at 8:53 AM
la fitness – $25/mo. but i’d switch to 24 if they were in tucson. phx has some posh gyms – i think they’re called life fitness?? i’ve heard good things. my gym has ghetto spin bikes – wish they’d install new ones but then i’d prolly hafta pay $100/mo for that luxury. i used to spin every week…haven’t spun in over a year. miss it.
i think there should be a biggest loser spin-off in which compatable mates are matched up to bob and jillian. or at least a good punching bag is matched up with jillian. you think she cries and pouts in her closet?
January 28, 2010 at 9:25 AM
My gym is a local no big name one for $34/month (military discount). It has a smoothie bar and small cafe. Just sucks its a 15 minute drive and in the snow that’s not fun. More importantly it has something called an Arc Trainer which few gyms seem to have. I’ve used one in Boston where I discovered and fell in love with it in college (and lost lots of weight) and one here in Ohio. Let’s hope they have one in Colorado at the military base we’re moving to or I’ll cry and gain lots of weight back.
January 28, 2010 at 9:28 AM
For now i use the gym at my apartment. It is smaaaaall, but free!
January 28, 2010 at 9:33 AM
I belong to two gyms – a great one at work that cost $18.46 per month (deducated from my paycheck) and a local gym near my house that costs $10 a month but I think they charge for extra for classes.
January 28, 2010 at 9:53 AM
I belong to 24 hour and my husband and I joined about 2-3 years ago and we paid for 4 years in advance which worked out to $12.50 a month!!! It’s pretty awesome! We go every day, sometimes I go twice a day so I can workout with my friend at night. It’s super fun and I love it!!!
January 28, 2010 at 9:54 AM
I belong to Bally’s and I pay $99.00 for the entire year. It has everything I could ever ask for. Awesome classes, tons of cardio machines, smoothie bar, tanning bed, pilates studio, etc.
January 28, 2010 at 10:08 AM
It’s interesting seeing the difference in what people pay. I pay $34.99/mo for LA Fitness. It’s nice, but I would love to have a place with a smoothie bar and all that.
January 28, 2010 at 10:12 AM
Anytime fitness, $32/month and I get access to their gyms across the nation and at international places too. Ours is REALLY small. 5 treadmills and a closet space for stretching or whatevs. They have tanning beds but I dont tan so I didnt upgrade to that. Another downer for this gym is no private locker and the place to put your stuff is at the front of the gym and everyone out on the road can see you when you’re getting ready.
my price already includes a discount from working for the University.
January 28, 2010 at 10:15 AM
I actually cancelled my gym membership to 24-hour fitness recently. The one closest to my house sucks, and I just don’t have time to go to one farther out. Plus my work has a gym that I love (ie it’s FREE).
January 28, 2010 at 10:21 AM
The YMCA here in Nashville is where this lady works out– $30 a month so not too bad and I feel like it’s very worthwhile!!
January 28, 2010 at 10:22 AM
I’d love to try a 24 hour fitness…if there were any near me. How much is the regular rate?
I pay $29.99 at my gym. It’s a local gym in my town called Bayshore. The place is massive and crawling with body builders. The price isn’t too bad considering the size of the place and all the equipment they have. All classes are included in that too which is nice.
January 28, 2010 at 10:22 AM
My husband & I belong to the YMCA. It think it is about $95 a month for the two of us. A nice perk of being a Y member is that you can go to almost any of their locations in the US for free…great when traveling.
January 28, 2010 at 10:23 AM
I have really enjoyed reading your blog. It has motivated me to become a runner. So I have signed up for a 10 week “learn how to run a 5K” program which will give you food ideas, coaches, and other great information. My training is already full and it doesn’t start until March 15th (crazy right??) (they one take 100 people). Running has gotten to be very big in the North Alabama area (you know you got to keep up with “The Jones”). Anyway. Keep up the good work and give any advise you have.
I have a gym membership it’s $50 a month for a family (this is with childcare and aerobic classes.). It’s a Sports Therapy Place called SportsMed. It’s very nice and clean. But, what sold me on the deal (other than being the cheapest in town) was each cardio machine has it’s own TV screen. Just bring your headphones and watch what you want. My husband and I have been going for a couple of weeks and so far it’s wonderful!
January 28, 2010 at 11:54 AM
awesome on signing up for a race! i love it!!
January 28, 2010 at 10:27 AM
running without music is a slow torture. no wonder he is a trainer, he’s crazy! I belong to a local gym cause I’m in the middle of nowhere. Closest “chain” gym is gold’s which is 40 min away.
January 28, 2010 at 10:30 AM
I go to a local gym that’s a block from my house and it’s $19.99/month. Not too bad!
I was paying about $40/month at Gold’s when I lived in Dallas.
January 28, 2010 at 10:49 AM
I go to California Family Fitness- luuuurve it!
January 28, 2010 at 10:51 AM
I belong to Vida, in Washington, DC.
http://www.vidafitness.com/
There are three locations; I go to the one in the Verizon Center. It’s pretty cool to go to a fancy gym in one of the city’s biggest athletic/concert venues, plus, it’s only two blocks from my office and right in Chinatown, where there’s always something fun going on.
I pay $79/month, which is a corporate rate. Gyms are expensive in DC but worth every penny.
January 28, 2010 at 10:53 AM
I belong to a large local gym – membership is about $42/month. It’s not super fancy (no plasma TVs in the loo, and other such comforts), but it’s huge and there’s never any wait for equipment.
I’m amazed by anyone who can run on a treadmill without music. And I like running in any venue (treadmills included). I’ve done it a few times when my ipod died, but felt murderous afterwards.
January 28, 2010 at 10:56 AM
I belong to a local small town gym. They have women only places (one right near me like .5 miles away) and a few other places around town. I like going there because theres one by my work and one by home. I like taking classes there too. It costs 35 dollars a month. My company does sponsor some gyms but not the one i go to and I would have joined the other ones but my two friends go to the womens gym so I thought it would be better to have ppl to workout with rather than paying 10 less a month.
January 28, 2010 at 11:05 AM
i pay $25/month to work out at Bally Total Fitness (1 club access only)…it’s normally more $$ but I got in on a deal…I think its kind of a rip though (to pay more than $25). It’s close to my house and machines are always available. It also has a pool and I love their 5 am boot club class. The cons are that they don’t open til 8 on weekends (some people wake up EARLY ha!) and besides boot camp, the class offering kind of sucks. Oh well…better than doing p90x videos in my living room and “destroying our house”, as my hubby complains!
January 28, 2010 at 11:16 AM
I work out at The Natatorium, a full service gym and swim center that is run by the town we live in. Our resident cost for two people is 50$ a month!!!
January 28, 2010 at 11:19 AM
I belong to two gyms, Gold’s Gym, which is $29 a month and I can use any Gold’s Gym in the Nation ( good to know if I ever travel…
) And I belong to my gym at work which is $24 a month. It’s convenient because I can get in at least three miles indoor on the treadmill or running around the work campus.
January 28, 2010 at 11:29 AM
omg i <3 bob. too bad he doesn't train clients anymore. i'd probably sell my soul to have him train me
January 28, 2010 at 11:33 AM
I belong to a local gym called rush. It’s $42/month for 2 of us (he’s 28 and I’m 14 or something that actually equals 42)
January 28, 2010 at 11:35 AM
No gym membership for moi. We do own an antique elliptical in our garage and live next to a nice bike trail and equestrian trail so no excuses for not running really.
So now that you know Bob teaches a spin class at Crunch in West Hollywood are you going to go?! I totally would. Is that close to you?
(btw, sorry if this gets posted twice, wordpress issues grrrrrrrr)
January 28, 2010 at 11:47 AM
I belong to our local YMCA–it’s the only gym within 50 miles! My law firm pays half, so for both the hubby and myself, it’s only $17/month.
January 28, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Nope, no gym membership here. Run outside (in Texas the weather just isn’t terrible summer or winter) or on the treadmill during the dead of the summer. Brilliantly thinking we were saving money until I quickly realized I needed the shoes, capris, pants, socks, tanks, shirts, jackets, and now…sunglasses, garmin,…haha.
January 28, 2010 at 12:24 PM
I have a 24 hour membership. I pad 200 dollars for 2 years and can go to any 24 hour I want. I love it!
January 28, 2010 at 12:36 PM
A local chain gym, they have 3 locations, convientently at each place I’ve lived in the last 15 years. Even now that I’ve moved 130 miles away, I moved to the one town they had a gym at … it was meant to be.
I pay 40 a month, it’s a corporate discount, but I’m pretty sure without the discount it’s 42 … what a huge difference that discount makes, right?
January 28, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I am a member of sports & fitness that has about 4-5 gyms in the Charlotte area. I pay about $20. I actually have a gym in my condo, but I love to go to a class called Group Power (exactly the same as Body Pump). I looked into other gyms that charge per class and found that most charge $5+ per class so I was getting a great deal with $20 for a complete gym membership.
January 28, 2010 at 1:14 PM
I belong to Bally’s. I’ve been there a few years and pay $25 a month. I can go to as many classes I want and includes a daycare. I really like it but I have to admit that some of the machines are pretty old. It’s convenient though.
January 28, 2010 at 1:19 PM
I pay for 3 gyms – I know, I’m nuts. At home, my student price for a year long membership was $100, so basically $8.75 a month, which is amazing. I know I pay for the school gym on campus but it’s built into my tuition so I’m not sure of exactly how much. AND I just joined a gym off campus (local chain) for $20 a month, but I’m only using it for the next 3 months. I’m surprised how little I pay for 3 gyms compared to some pepople!
January 28, 2010 at 1:31 PM
I get free gym membership at the University because I am an employee. If I wasn’t an employee it would cost $92 for one semester since I am a grad student.
January 28, 2010 at 1:46 PM
I go to a New York Sports Club in Manhattan it’s $74 a month for the cheapest membership. No smoothie bar, either, which is sad. Daylight robbery. I’m depressed reading others’ responses to this, but that’s what you get for living in a city that exists to eat all your money.
January 28, 2010 at 2:09 PM
I was just wondering this morning if Bob still trains clients, or just works on the biggest loser!
I belong to Anytime Fitness. For both my husband and I we pay $55 a month, which is only 10 dollars more then I was paying for JUST ME to use Gold’s. I actually like the smaller anytime fitness, and enjoy that there aren’t any personal trainer/sales ppl lurking around trying to sell me training packages and supplements….
January 28, 2010 at 2:14 PM
I belong to LA Fitness and go there just for the spinning classes, that’s $29/month. And I also work out at Burn 60 (in LA) twice a week, I do their night classes which are $20/class. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it for me, the classes are excellent.I hate doing weights by myself. I feel lost in the gym.
January 28, 2010 at 2:25 PM
BTW, I heard that Bob goes to Burn 60 sometimes, but I’ve never seen him. If I ever do, I’ll tell him you love him
January 28, 2010 at 3:09 PM
I pay about $65 a month at the Alaska Club. I also have a pass at Golds in Thousand Oaks because I live part time down there.
Tha Alaska Club in Eagle River is much nicer than any Golds I have been to though.
January 28, 2010 at 3:41 PM
I go to David Barton. Its like $105 a month, which is pretty expensive. But its so nice and clean and dimly lit. Plus Bumble & Bumble hair products in the locker rooms and really great classes.
I think paying so much also sort of forces me to work out more.
January 28, 2010 at 4:19 PM
I go to 24 hour fitness too, and pay $24 per month. Absolutely worth it to be able to work out at 4:45 in the morning!
January 28, 2010 at 4:37 PM
I belong to CourtSouth, a local club. I thought my price was good at $40 a month, but after reading these responses, I am in the middle!
I love my gym, great group classes, tons of machines, multiple locations including one with a beach!
January 28, 2010 at 5:36 PM
I go to this gym right across the street from my loft building – INCREDIBLY convenient and totally worth the $35/mo. Classes are free too (well except spinning, but who the hell wants to do that?)
January 28, 2010 at 5:50 PM
Wow gyming is a LOT cheaper in the US than in Australia! Back home I paid $49 a month for a Local Government Recreation Sports Centre so it was very no frills, ok classes, no TV’s on the equipment, no juice bar
. Most of the high end gyms back home are around $80 to $120 per month plus joining fee. I paid the $49 rate for about 3 years so it probably went up in that time. Here in Hong Kong it’s another story. The gyms are super expensive so when I realised that I started looking for apartments with gyms in them (since I don’t really do classes). The apartment we have offered to lease has THE MOST PIMPING apartment gym I have ever seen! I’m so excited for if we move there (photos will come). (Believe me, I’ve seen some crap gyms while house hunting). It even has a Kinetic machine – anyone used one before? I am also contemplating joining a yoga studio which would let me do unlimited classes (no more than 1 a day though) for a year for about $500 Australian (which is good value I think!). Time to stop rambling…
January 28, 2010 at 6:06 PM
24 Hour! Paid a lump sum of $1000 for the first three years and now I only pay $20 a year! You really can’t beat that and there’s a pretty decent one 5 minutes from my house.
January 28, 2010 at 7:25 PM
Since I’m a college student away from home, I joined a local gym by my school and its $128 for the whole semester. Not too bad! And at home, I’m a member of the YMCA…all of the YMCAs in our area are really, really nice and I miss it when I’m gone! I pay a student rate there of $28/month.
January 28, 2010 at 8:31 PM
I pay $35.95 a month for 24 hours fitness (that’s for any 24 hour fitness in US). My mom sent me an article that most insurance companies have discounted rates for gym memberships…sadly aetna, the insurance the school district provides me with, doesn’t give discounted rate for 24hr…it does for bally and other small gyms though! I think I should just find me a sugar daddy, then it would be so much sweeter to workout
January 29, 2010 at 5:14 AM
Your blog is one of my absolute faves! I must work on commenting more..
I pay $39 a month for my gym membership – it’s 24 hours and right up the road from my house, but doesn’t have any group fitness classes.
On top of that, I pay too much money to have six personal training sessions each month.
January 29, 2010 at 7:23 AM
I go to Lifetime Fitness. It’s a chain that started in MN and has branched out to Michigan (where I’m at) and a few other states. I pay about $56/month. There are 3 that are in a reasonable driving distance for me and I can go to any Lifetime. It’s a huge facilty with an indoor & outdoor pool. They have awesome fitness classes that are included in your memebership plus childcare, towel service, climbing wall, etc. They also have a cafe & a salon on site. I usually just walk on by those.
January 29, 2010 at 8:26 AM
I work out at Lifestyle Family Fitness in Tampa & I pay about $87 per month for my husband & myself. Actually, he is a total couch potato and if he walked into the gym I’m afraid some natural disaster would surely result, so basically I pay $87/month for myself. That does include tanning, all the classes the offer, as well as the use of all of their clubs. I would love to belong to a private local gym in my area but that would limit me to one location. Depending on my schedule, I’ll use 3 – 4 different locations a month.
January 29, 2010 at 12:22 PM
I pay a whopping $16.05/mo w/tax. I got in during a crazy low promo and had the $150 enrollment fee waived. But it doesn’t have any classes or anything fun like that. It’s basically my t-mill provider for the bitter ass cold months.