Five Great Chicago Gyms for Fitness and Body Building

Gyms and Fitness Centers in Chicago

If you are looking at gyms in Chicago for fitness and body building, you have come to the right place. At 2^nd Story Counseling, we advocate that our clients engage in regular exercise, strength training and fitness activities as a way of maintaining wellness.

Research suggests that partaking in regular physical activity, such as strength training, can help to naturally treat mood related issues like depression and anxiety.  And everyone knows that in Chicago, we have a unique situation related to our weather that has been known to cause things like cabin fever and the winter blues. Specifically, we are talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Five Chicago Gyms

What follows are five great Chicago gyms for fitness and body building that you may want to consider on your path to increasing or maintaining wellness. There is no time like the present to start a gym membership. The more you put it off, the longer you will have to wait to realize benefits. Overcoming procrastination is often best accomplished by just doing it!

Before you join any gym, including the ones mentioned here, make sure you get the green light from your doctor and then make sure you know the basics of gym safety. Finally, gym memberships can be expensive so keep this in mind as you look around for a fitness facility and budget accordingly.

OK – are ready for our five gym recommendations? Let’s jump right in!

1. Quads Gym

Location: Lakeview, Boystown, Uptown areas

Address: 3727 N. Broadway Street, Chicago, Illinois 60613

Phone: 773-404-Pump

Website: www.quadsgym.com

Cost: $75.00 a month, Six-Months $395.00, 1-Year $600.00 (No Contracts!)

Ideal Gym For: Serious strength trainers, body builders, athletes and muscle growers.

Quads Gym is no-nonsense, no-frills, hard-core gym for people interested in building impressive, muscular and defined physiques. If you are looking for a gym with swimming pools, saunas and tanning, Quads will not be a good fit. If you are looking to grow your body to massively however, Quads just may be the ticket. We are somewhat bias towards Quads because several of our counselors hold memberships here – including the author of this article. The gym itself is HUGE with two levels. The top floor has every type of free weight and machine you can think of, including Hammer Strength Machines. The bottom level of the gym is mostly cardio equipment but also has a good deal of free weights and machines.

Many well-known Chicago sports celebrities train at Quads. Most of the members however are basic, down to earth, regular Chicagoans just looking for a good place to train. Quads Gym has no contracts. You can join for a month, 3-months, 6-months or a year. If you are a couple wanting to join a gym, ask about their special rate.

2. X-Sport Fitness

Locations: Lakeview, Logan Square, Old Town, Portage Park, Avondale and many other Chicago locations.

Address: Check XSport Website for locations near you.

Website: www.xsportfitness.com

Phone: 1-877-417-1450

Cost: $49.00 a month plus $35.00 initiation fee. (Check Website)

Ideal Gym For: Fitness enthusiasts, folks that want training and classes

The X-Sport chain of gyms are popular among many Chicago fitness enthusiasts. Most of their fitness centers have a large number of free weights to choose from – plus lots of cardio equipment. Many body builders go to X-Sport because their facilities tend to have all of the equipment they need for personal wellness goals.

The chain also offers personal training to patrons from experienced fitness professionals. Many of the X-Sport gyms in Chicago offer tanning, nutritional supplements and fitness classes (Cycling, Yoga and Zumba). This is a solid gym if you are looking for a place to work out and get additional guidance from a trainer.

3. Fitness Formula Club (FFC)

Locations: Lakeview, Boystown, Gold Coast, Loop and several other locations

Address: Check FFC website for locations near you.

Website: www.ffc.com

Cost: $65.00-$85.00 month plus initiation fees (check with the club).

Idea Gym For:  Gym enthusiasts looking for a full-service, luxury experience

We have to say that the FFC chain of gyms is impressive, offering a cadre of strength training and cardio equipment. There is no question about it – FFC caters to clients who are looking for amenities, such as Spa services, swimming pools, saunas and steam-rooms. Most clubs even provide members a towel for their workout needs. Upscale, clean with the latest workout equipment.

Members of the gym come from all walks of life, including college students, business professionals, executives and entrepreneurs. Most facilities offer personal training.

The chain also has a number of group training programs, such as Pilates and yoga. Fitness Formula also offers patrons various nutritional programs.   

4. Chicago Athletic Clubs (CAC)

Locations: Lakeview, Loop, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Bucktown and others.

Address: Check CAC website for location near you.

Website: www.chicagoathleticclubs.com

Cost: Fees for membership can vary and depend upon length of membership and specials being offered. You will want to contact the club location nearest you to inquire about membership costs.

Ideal Gym For: People looking for a full service gym with amenities, classes and training

Chicago Athletic Clubs offer excellent gym facilities for individuals looking for a full service gym with training classes. The Lakeview Athletic Club at 3212 N. Broadway in Chicago is one of the chain’s largest facilities at 47,000 square feet in size.

If you are looking for fitness facilities with lots of strength training equipment, including free-weights and cardio machines, CAC may be what you are looking for.

Many of the fitness centers have a variety of classes, including yoga and group exercise programs. Personal training is also offered at all of the CAC centers. Be sure to check their website to learn about specific amenities. Photographs of each club are offered on the website.

5. Edgewater Athletic Club

Location: Edgewater

Address: 1040 W. Granville Ave (Enter on Kenmore)

Website: www.edgewaterathletic.com

Cost: $54.00 a month with annual contract – No initiation fee. Other membership options are available. Check the EAC website for details.  

Ideal Gym For: People looking for a neighborhood gym with solid equipment and friendly staff

Edgewater Athletic Club (EAC) is a really nice, local gym that offers pretty much everything you might need for general strength training and conditioning. The gym itself is in the old (and historic) Sovereign Hotel. EAC’s facilities offer a modern cardio room and a large weight room.

The club also offers personal training to patrons, swimming in their junior Olympic size pool, aerobic classes, personal training plus yoga/pilates classes. They also offer massage services with reasonable prices. Clean gym with super friendly staff to help you with your fitness needs.

Final Thoughts

All of the gyms mentioned here are solid and offer a variety of services. As mentioned previously, gym memberships can be expensive. You are encouraged to ask about any specials the gym may be offering. For example, some gyms offer discounts for couples who join together. Other Chicago gyms will give a price break to people employed in certain industries or for students. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Above all, remember, a gym membership should be considered an investment in your health and wellness. We’ve included a poll below for fun!

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