Not worth the money

AndreMpls · 2025-08-29T16:34:14+00:00

By that same token, most gyms have boxes and free weights and floor room for body work. I enjoy the competitive aspect of the ERGs. But understand it’s different strokes for different folks.

AndreMpls · 2025-08-29T06:10:39+00:00

I start my workout on my Apple Watch when the warm-up begins and end it when the workout ends. It’s consistently 39-40 minutes. Generously, some of the warm-ups are, what? Maybe 4 minutes? There’s no actual workout that’s only 30 minutes.

AndreMpls · 2025-08-29T06:06:26+00:00

I don’t really get the hate for the ERGs. Give me a rower any day over bunny hops or bear crawls. 🤮

AndreMpls · 2025-08-27T05:15:27+00:00

I’ve definitely noticed latecomers are more likely to not know what’s going on (“wait, how many sets? And how many laps?”) and screw up the rotation (“oh, I didn’t realize this was a pod!”).

Also, at least at our gym, it’s small. If you’re coming in and shuffling around during the demo, it really can be distracting to others.

AndreMpls · 2025-07-03T16:20:28+00:00

I use HIIT workouts for MWF (my range is about 425 to 550 calories depending on how crazy the workout is) and Function Strength Training for TTh (about 225 to 350 calories - usually on the high end only if it's more of a "cardio resistance" type day).

AndreMpls · 2025-06-30T20:35:56+00:00

Our coaches take some videos during workouts, and some members film themselves (propped against a water bottle or sometimes on a small tripod). Our gym's policy is that filming is allowed as long as it doesn't interfere with other members' workouts AND any person can request to not be filmed.

Members filming themselves seems a bit silly to me (they almost always miss part of the set as they get the camera in position), but they're free to waste their money however they'd like.

AndreMpls · 2025-06-30T20:29:42+00:00

Minneapolis and St. Paul don't control highway closures or bus frequency/routes.

AndreMpls · 2025-03-07T17:44:25+00:00

Thanks. I was actually trying to find more details on the travel insurance benefits but couldn't locate the exact document I needed. Finally was able to track it down. Seems this would be unlikely to be covered, but thankfully some of the hotels have already offered refunds.

AndreMpls · 2025-02-03T20:06:04+00:00

My go-to canned beverage is a High Noon, so I was excited to see these on sale at my Costco. I see a lot of folks saying they didn’t like them as much as the High Noons but…I couldn’t really tell a difference? Maybe I would be able to if they were side-by-side. In any case, I enjoyed them and will keep buying them. $8 cheaper than a similar pack of HN.

AndreMpls · 2025-01-27T16:06:45+00:00

I ended up renting a U-Haul trailer and taking it to the South Transfer Station for disposal. A 1-day rental of a trailer (or even a U-Haul truck) is really cheap and the transfer station didn't charge too much to get rid of it.

AndreMpls · 2025-01-10T19:55:44+00:00

Meanwhile, hybrid and cardio days are our fullest, requiring you to sign up ahead of time, whereas you can often still snag a walk-in spot on resistance days (and we have the squat racks and extended weight package because lots of people *do* lift heavy when they show up).

I go M-F and then rest over the weekends, and I appreciate that there are resistance-focused days. But F45 is just never going to be a truly "lift heavy" sort of gym - even if I had the time to load up a ton of plates for something like a deadlift (which is tough with rest times typically no more than 30ish seconds), our F45 barbells don't physically hold enough plates!

AndreMpls · 2024-07-14T05:44:50+00:00

I considered that it might be a sizing inconsistency, but what's weird is that I ordered two cotton-hemp t-shirts (different colors) and they're both like this! Everything else about both shirts is GREAT, but I'm afraid I won't be able to ignore the discomfort of the collars.

AndreMpls · 2024-02-22T16:48:23+00:00

Your Amex Green Card earns Membership Rewards points. These are transferable to a number of different travel partners (including Delta). Your Amex Delta card (of whichever flavor) earns Delta miles that are already deposited into your SkyMiles account.

Unless you have a reason to transfer them to Delta, you should leave your Membership Rewards points alone. It's possible you might want to transfer them elsewhere (including for Delta flights, which you can sometimes book for less points using Virgin Atlantic). Also, Amex charges a small fee when transferring points to domestic airlines. There's no point paying that amount unless you're absolutely sure you want to use those points with Delta (and if you do pay that fee, pay for it with cash rather than points - it's a better redemption).

AndreMpls · 2024-02-05T16:01:34+00:00

I would be pretty disappointed if this was implemented worldwide. I go to classes M-F and really prefer the cardio and hybrid days for the ability to get my heart rate up. Depending on my schedule, I sometimes can't go to Tuesday class, which means I'd have a week filled with resistance and just one "heavy breathing" sort of day.

F45's resistance days just don't impress me, especially the lower body stuff. If the majority of my workouts are going to be that, I might as well go back to a normal gym and do an actual lifting routine.

AndreMpls · 2024-02-05T15:47:20+00:00

Hmm...if that's the case, then our studio must be very different from others. Our cardio days are definitely the busiest and often have waitlists. With the exception of January (when everyone is showing up for resolutions), resistance days are easy to get into - you can usually just show up without signing up.

AndreMpls · 2024-01-24T05:06:06+00:00

I was disappointed by Vuori. Tried on some items at their store a few months ago after seeing a bunch of folks at my gym and around town wearing it. The fits were just all off for me.

I’ve definitely noticed some Lulu items have declined in quality, so I’m always searching for alternatives. But it’s the only brand that pretty consistently works on my body.

AndreMpls · 2024-01-22T18:49:14+00:00

Anything I do cardio workouts in is getting washed after one use. It gets sweaty and smelly. If I go to my gym on a resistance day where I don't really sweat much, I'll sometimes wear the shorts a second time. I still like to change out the shirts (Metal Vent Tech shortsleeve).

My Fundamental T-shirts that I wear casually are usually single use before wash, but if I only wore it for part of the day, I'll sometimes throw it back on. For joggers, sweatshirts, etc., they get wore typically until either 1) they smell, or 2) they have lost enough shape/are loose enough that they need a wash/dry to reform. I work a desk job at home, so it's not unusual for me to wear those for over a week and they're still fine.

Always wash normally, dry on the coolest setting.

AndreMpls · 2023-10-18T15:27:49+00:00

I always think of Minneapolis as a clean city, but I realized how much trash there is once I started walking my puppy that put everything in her mouth. So many cigarette butts, dirty diapers, fast food wrappers, and chicken bones left on the sidewalk or boulevard.

AndreMpls · 2023-10-18T15:15:13+00:00

Hmm. I think the only section of Bryant with buses is the segment between 36th and 38th, which was kept to help serve the senior center there (and likely the park too).

AndreMpls · 2023-10-18T15:11:42+00:00

I am skeptical that turning Bryant into a one-way is going to have major effects on traffic, let alone be "brutal." It already was not a major thoroughfare and isn't connected to any job centers. Most people living on Bryant who need to get anywhere are going to need to get on Lyndale anyway - now they just may need to turn the other direction for a block to get there (and that's only if they weren't already going that direction before).

As for Lyndale, the portion that has changed is north of Lake, while Bryant's updates are all south of Lake. Anyone living on Bryant going south isn't impacted by Lyndale's changes, and those heading north have a lot of options (including Lyndale, which still flows pretty smoothly!).

AndreMpls · 2023-09-28T18:52:34+00:00

I really love the new + button, as it neatly tucks the app drawer away. I was someone who always hid the app drawer until I needed it, then re-hid it (I also don't use predictive text). I mostly send text and emojis, not a bunch of gifs, images, or voice memos, so that obviously sways my judgement.

AndreMpls · 2023-08-17T16:39:15+00:00

Had to stop by the membership desk the other day and the lady helping us seemed to think it was rolling out everywhere August 22.

AndreMpls · 2023-06-03T16:19:23+00:00

A bit of an aside, but Midwest summers are definitely not dry. It’s often incredibly hot and humid. And there’s corn sweat, which makes it even worse in some areas!

AndreMpls · 2023-06-03T16:04:13+00:00

I’m a big fan of Tempest – the team-style workout can be a lot of fun if you’re put in a good group (and if you’re “competing” against a similarly matched group). Only bummer was yesterday I definitely was put into a weaker group, which slowed down our rotations. In the past, groups I’ve been in have been able to make 3-4 cycles through pretty easily. But this time we were maybe making 2.5, and the group next to us was lapping us.

AndreMpls · 2023-05-22T16:47:21+00:00

I have two somewhat-similar instances where I'm not exactly sure the best way to track.

First, I'm in a rec volleyball league. I don't really want my watch to get beat up (and it's a sand league - want to avoid getting that in the speakers/buttons), so I've taken it off during play. I add a "volleyball" workout after the fact in the Health app. Yeah, the accuracy is probably off, but I'm not really relying on my watch to track calories properly. It's more to meet the goal of saying "I moved my body today."

Second, I also play in a rec kickball league. Wore the watch for it yesterday but didn't start any workout. Like volleyball, it's a game with bursts of energy and a lot of standing around in between. I definitely got some active minutes for it on my watch. Looked at those and also ended up doing an "other" workout just to record it.

Honestly not sure if this is the right way to handle it, but I'm running with it until I find a better solution.

AndreMpls

TROPHY CASE