If your significant other gifts you a gym membership or a personal fitness session(s), how would you react?

Obviously the most important thing is who you're getting the gift for and whether you are paying attention to their wants and needs. I told my husband when we got married that under no circumstances was he to ever get me an appliance as a gift. The one exception so far was a coffee maker he purchased one Christmas, which came with multiple flavored coffees (which I like) and his offer to make me coffee every morning. However it wasn't my only gift... Someone else mentioned the possibility of giving a gift of the wrong gym. That's a significant issue. But if you knew that the gift was wanted, it's a great idea. Note though - if you might be a little dense on what he/she might want, don't take that chance.

When I was first married my husband let it be known that exercising regularly was part of his life. So we used to go to Golden Gate Park and run around the track at 25th Ave. Later I learned the true benefit of such exercise to keep your body fit to avoid muscle loss when aging and prevent osteoporosis. If he offered me a gym pass as a gift I would have considered that a deeply caring opportunity to remain healthy into my older age. He took Tai Chi at the JCC but I wasn’t strong or agile enough for martial arts

Well, this did happen to me a few years back. I belonged to a gym, and my membership was about to expire and my wife bought me another year. She knew that I needed the gym due to that lifting was my way of relieving stress and plus my career at the time was being a Parole Officer and I needed to maintain my strength for my job. My wife knew me...and knew that it was something I was already passionate about...so that was a safe gift from her. Now that I retired from that career, and with not the stress and need for massive bulk/strength, we have built up a small home gym (cable machine, treadmill & dumbbells) we now work out together which is better quality time. Don't always look to the dark side of a gift...appreciate the fact that they cared to give one.

I used to follow Mark Twain's advice - when I got the urge to exercise, I laid down until it passed. But at a certain point, you really have to exercise. If I was in my 30s and my SO gave me gym membership (and I hadn't mentioned wanting one), I'd be a bit peeved. But as I'm going to be 60, and started exercising about five years ago, a free personal session would be welcome. BTW - I take Krav Maga now, started right after the 2016 election, and I've lost 15 pounds and actually have muscles. Who knew? Note that that's after four years of going to LA Fitness type places and making little headway.

I think it depends on the context of conversations before the gift was made. For instance if you have been trying to lose weight and couldn't afford a gym membership or perhaps the membership comes with personal training you might be grateful.

However if the person is constantly putting you down because of your weight or if they dont' think you exercise enough...that is a whole different problem that has nothing to do with you level of fitness.

The reaction depends on what conversation led up to the gift giving. For my wife and I we view exercise differently she enjoys going walking so if there is an indoor track at the gym it makes sense why I would give her such a gift if it was reverse it might of been that it has different fitness classes that my current does not offer or I may want to try as a conversation could of led up to it.

Now not having any information but to choices it leads me to believe that no conversation was had but was being given in a caring way but no one like to have one they care about hint at the fact they maybe out of shape, overweight or any other negative way

Gym membership offer many other options other then exercise equipment. Tanning beds. Massage chairs just a few options. I know when we lost power my husband had a gym membership. The area the gym was in did not lose power. He went and took showers. I did not have a membership at the time. Just another way to look at it. But overall, if your taking care of yourself and each other, it’s just another way to say I want to grow old with you.

I would see it as an opportunity for us to share in that time together and that he wants me to be there with him.

I would pick option 2 please! Seriously though, I would not take offence to my wife buying me a membership to a gym, because she already did. Back in December 2017, I quit smoking for the "I don't know how many times" time! But this time it was different, I was going to succeed for my sake, my wifes sake and my children's sake. It is true, I did gain a little weight by stopping smoking. However, my wife did not buy me the membership because she thought I was getting a little chunky, she bought it so I could replace my nicotine with something healthy. So far it is working wonders!

DEPENDS . . . if i had expressed interest in getting in shape, and my SO got me a gym

membership, I would take it as a show of support. And wanting me to be happy.

Most all men want to make their sweetheart happy. If that was the intention.
I would be forgiving.

Years ago my SO sent me to a fat farm. It may have saved my life.