I love the gym, I love the gym not....

It's summer. The birds are chirping, the trees stretch confidently toward the sky.

It's summer. Flowers pop and flip flops flip-flop on hot sidewalks toward ice cream trucks.

It's summer... and I just joined a gym. 

I just joined a new gym, and while I have been 100% completely satisfied with my experience within the gym's four walls, I have a few qualms with my gym experience outside of the building. 

Flashback to sign-up. I found myself in a sticky situation. One in which I was unable to continue with the sign-up process unless I put at least one person down for the gym to hound. Hmm. As I am fairly new to the area, I know only a handful of people, all who currently have gym memberships elsewhere. No family nearby... except... for... my... husband. So, I quickly scribbled down his information and proceeded on a tour of the facilities. 

Since sign-up, both my husband and I have received countless, okay not countless, maybe 5 or 6 telephone calls from gym associates. Different numbers each time, so we never know if we're walking into a trap or if we're the next winners of $100,000,000. It's cruel, really.

My husband's calls have included an overview of the gym equipment, classes he can join, and requests for appointments. One call, however, was shockingly different from the rest. A woman from the gym called my husband and proceeded to tell him that he was signed up for an appointment at 5:30 pm that night and that they expected him to show. Hmm. I don't want to jump to conclusions, it is possible that she was mistaken and looked at the wrong prospect information prior to calling. It is also possible that she was "assuming a sale" that had already been turned down numerous times. Either way, it left a bad taste in both our mouths. 

My calls have included a very brief check-in on how I am enjoying the gym so far, followed by a more extensive interrogation regarding my husband's propensity to join and a request that I bring him along with me next time. 

Call me crazy, but in my personal opinion, it would have made a lot more sense to focus solely and sincerely on making sure my gym experience is phenomenal for a few weeks. Then, rely on me to return home from the gym each day floating on air made of giggles and hearts only to immediately share my experience with my husband. 

Perhaps then a call would have made more sense. Or perhaps a spouse night event where I am encouraged to bring along my health goals supporter to honor him for supporting the accomplishment of my goals would prove beneficial.

I tend to leave the marketing brilliance to the pros here, but I do know that the best strategy to get my husband to set foot in that gym is probably a far cry from their current approach. 

Support for this claim? He's checking into Bowflex.