DAVID BARTON GYM

I have mentioned previously that I intend to visit a bunch of other gyms located in Chicago, with an emphasis on gyms that have other locations around the country that I can use. I already do belong to the YMCA and I admit the more that I take advantage of my membership at the YMCA,  the more I appreciate what it has to offer.  Andy yet, I keep on wondering what I am missing at other places.

Yesterday, I made arrangements to check out the DAVID BARTON GYM.  This gym has 11 locations in the United States.  I was very surprised to learn that membership in one gym at one location provides no reciprocal privileges in other cities.  Each of the eleven gyms is a business unto itself - apparently the only thing in common with other David Barton Gyms is that they are connected by name and on the same website.

David Barton Gym - perhaps this place is simply too hip for me.

As I approached the front desk, the ambience of the gym seemed more like a trendy nite club than a gym.  (Not that I know what a trendy nite club looks like these days - or even in the old days or that matter)   I guess I can see that there was some modern and ultra modern furniture and architectural design elements.  Once one actually entered the gym - It looked like a gym. The lighting keeps the place very dark (another element making it seem like a nite club) even though I was there in the middle of the day.  Mirrors on opposite sides of the gym made the gym appear to be huge beyond all imagination.

The Chicago David Barton Gym that I visited look more like a nite club than a gym - I presume that that is the point.

It turns out that this gym was in a huge office building occupied largely by the corporate headquarters of Groupon in Chicago.  This gym caters mostly to corporate clients and does not seem to be seeking neighborhood memberships too aggressively.   Although I had made the appointment, I will say that there was no 'hard sell' put upon me.  In fact, if I had not inquired about the price of membership - I don't think my 'tour guide' was making any effort to sign me up at all.  Maybe I don't look cool enough for this club - who knows?

I was able to enjoy my visit by working out for two hours on a LifeCycle Elliptical machine.  I was also trying my new Bluetooth headphones as my first pair stopped working properly...  The workout was fine.  The locker room had some amenities that I have not seen before in a gym: deoderant, mouthwash, shaver, shaving cream - but not enough to justify an $80/month membership to a stand alone gym with no reciprocal travel privileges.

The David Barton Gym was certainly interesting.  They treated me extremely well during my visit - but this club is not really an improvement over the YMCA for me.   I am still going to periodically visit other places at times permits.

Sure the philosophy is a bit risqué - but nothing about it I disagree with... Fit people look better in clothing.
(and presumably fit people look better naked as well!)

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 Sunday MENU

breakfast  three poached eggs, oatmeal, center cut bacon                          590 calories 
lunch        MARIANO'S SALAD BAR, figs, ginger, cacao chocolate       927 calories     
dinner       spinach salad, salmon burger, potato pancake,  asparagus         300 calories                                                             
SNACK   wasabi peas, cherry vanilla granola                                          1470 calories

total calories consumed 3288 calories

calories burned at DAVID BARTON GYM
maximum time the elliptical machine could be set was 60 minutes.
I did two consecutive sets.  65 minutes each includes 5 minute cooldown.

65 minutes LifeFitness elliptical   965 CALORIES
65 minutes LifeFitness elliptical   940 CALORIES

CALORIES BURNED 1905 CALORIES

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Saturday net calories 1383 calories

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first 65 minute workout at David Barton Gym

second 65 minute workout at David Barton Gym