Whether you’re a lifelong gym rat or you have to be dragged there kicking and screaming, these three fitness franchises will help you transform your pain into gains.

By Sabrina Rogers-Anderson

Please don’t hate on me, ladies, but I’m one of those annoying people who goes to the gym six days a week and complains when I have to take a rest day. Before you close this page because I’m far too unrelatable, trust me when I say I wasn’t always this way.

Gyms used to intimidate the living daylights out of me. I joined a few throughout the years, but I never lasted long. I mainly stuck to running because it was just me against the pavement and no one could judge me for my poor squatting form.

But after 20 years of running, my aching hips screamed, “STOP!” As a fitness writer, I kept reading about the importance of weight training for women in midlife (think increasing longevity, protecting your memory, keeping your bones strong and even fighting cancer). So, with an extra 10 kilos onboard after finishing chemo, I plucked up my courage and joined a gym.

That was almost three years ago and I’ve never looked back. I’m in the best shape of my life and I have girls half my age asking me how I do it. I even completed the gruelling Hyrox fitness race recently. I’ve never felt stronger or younger.

“Yeah, yeah,” I can hear you eyeroll loudly. “So, what the heck is your secret to being so annoyingly perky and disciplined?”

It’s as simple as this: you need to find the right gym for you. The one that makes you roll out of bed after swearing profusely at your alarm for 10 minutes. The one that feels like home the second you walk through the door and the smell of stale sweat hits your nostrils. The one where your gym buddies immediately text you to see if you’re OK when you miss a class.

Finding your perfect match may require some trial and error, so do just that: ask for free trials at various gyms (or pay for one-off classes if you must) until you find the right vibe. To help you narrow down your choices, here are my top three picks of Australian fitness franchises at every price point.

(Oh, and spoiler alert: everyone is way too concerned about how they look to notice that you can’t do a burpee to save your life, so breathe easy!)

Entry level: Jetts 

If you like to do your own thing at the gym, you work odd hours or you don’t want to spend all your retirement money on getting fit, Jetts could be the gym for you. Equipped with the latest cardio, functional training and strength equipment, Jetts gyms are open 24/7 for your convenience and your membership will cost you less than $20 a week.

Only a handful of Jetts locations around the country offer group fitness classes including HIIT, full-body strength, boxing and metabolic conditioning, so you may be out of luck if classes are your jam. But if you’re willing to splash out on a personal trainer who can help you reach your goals, most Jetts gyms have them.

I had a great workout when I tried my local Jetts recently. They had everything I needed to complete my full-body strength program, the staff was friendly and the facilities were clean. I love group fitness classes, though, and the location I went to didn’t have any. That would give me major commitment issues if I was searching for a new gym.

Pros: Affordable, open 24 hours and no lock-in contracts so you can cancel anytime. There are more than 200 gyms globally and you can use them all.

Cons: Staffed hours are limited and few locations have classes.

Price: Sign up for a seven-day free trial on the Jetts website. There’s a one-off access pass fee of $79 and an $89 joining fee, but Jetts often run promos with no joining fee and up to two weeks free. After that, you’ll pay $16.95 to $18.95 per week depending on your location.

Mid range: Goodlife Health Clubs

Want 24-hour access to a well-equipped gym, unlimited fitness classes ranging from HIIT to yoga, and perks such as a sauna and steam room? Goodlife gives you serious bang for your buck. Some clubs even have pools, squash courts, cycle studios, Reformer Pilates, coach-led Arena small group training classes and more.

The Goodlife near me is swanky with heaps of amenities and a ton of classes to choose from each day. The Body Pump workout I tried was energetic and got my heart pumping. There were members of all ages and fitness levels working out around me, so it wasn’t an intimidating environment.

I thoroughly enjoyed using the sauna and steam room afterwards, and I felt like I could really get used to being a member there.

Pros: Open 24/7, access to more than 90 gyms nationwide (depending on the membership level you choose), unlimited fitness classes, and great amenities and perks - all for a fantastic price.

Cons: Not all Goodlife clubs are created equal (some are older and have fewer amenities), so check out your local one before signing up.

Price: Get a free one-day pass here. You’ll pay around $69 in joining and service fees when you sign up, but keep an eye out for specials. Blue membership gives you access to one gym and unlimited classes starting at $20.99 per week. Platinum gives you access to more than 90 gyms nationwide and unlimited classes starting at $23.99 a week. Platinum Plus includes the same as Platinum, plus access to Reformer Pilates and Arena classes, starting at $35.99 a week. 

Luxe: F45 Training

Full disclosure: I’ve been an F45 addict for nearly three years. If you were paying attention during my intro, I’ve gotten into the best shape of my life there (shout-out to the F45 Sippy Downs crew!). I could join a much cheaper gym with more amenities, but I truly don’t believe I’d get the same fitness results or tight-knit community anywhere else. I’ve tried several gyms and nothing compares in my books.

So, what is F45? It’s high-intensity functional training, which means the exercises mimic movements you make in your everyday life to support your daily activities and prevent injury. No more throwing your back out when you sneeze! F45 combines cardio and strength training for full-body gains. Think kettlebell swings, rowing, burpees, deadlifts and so much more.

Each class is meticulously designed to challenge your body and the experienced coaches lead you through the workouts, offering support and modification suggestions if you’re not able to complete an exercise or have an injury.

From exercise newbies to experienced weapons, everyone bands together to get the 45-minute workouts done and dusted. The environment is so supportive with the old crew welcoming new members with open arms. I’ve tried a dozen different F45 studios around Australia and the vibe has been the same everywhere.

I literally have a six-pack at age 46 and my partner declined his mate’s help to move heavy work materials the other day, saying, “Nah, Sabrina’s got this.” Need I say more? 

Pros: You will get seriously fit, feel strong and gain so much confidence. All your aches and niggles will disappear (my back pain completely went away) because all the muscles involved in performing everyday activities will be strengthened. You’ll love the sense of community and your gym mates will end up feeling like family.

Cons: It’s going to cost you, but it’s so worth it. There are only five or six classes a day on average (depending on the studio), so you’ll have to fit it into your schedule.

Price: F45 doesn’t hand out free trials easily, but some studios will allow you to come in for a free session with a friend or purchase a low-cost unlimited one-week pass. Membership fees vary from studio to studio, but they usually sit around $55 per week.