The strange world of medical checks for the Gym

The first month at Citywell gym proving to be very successful, we were keen to sign up for a year, taking advantage of the better pricing. It was a little unusual as it is a 10-month contract, with most people not coming in July and August, and then renewing in September. So not really a year at all, then...however it ends up about the same as the UK so fair enough.

Some confusion arose over the need for a medical - apparently a pre-requisite. Initially we thought that Alessio was saying that we had to go to have a full-on fitness test at the doctor's surgery - ECG, treadmill session, VO2 max, etc etc - the works. After much checking back and forth, this is only needed if you plan to enter competitions, and that a check-up at the gym is sufficient for a standard membership.

Of course this is then only available every other Tuesday.. so we booked ahead and were told to come at 7.30pm for 40 minutes each. Seemed all a bit over the top to me but..it was obligatory.

We arrived as requested at about 7.20pm to find a queue of people. Giorgia at the desk said 'Ciao' and then announced that 'you are the sixth' and then we realised, this is the Italian booking approach - you all arrive at the stated hour and then just wait your turn, in order of your arrival.

7.30 rapidly became 8.15. We had a lovely chat with a lady from Rome (she was 4th in the queue) who now lives in Marsciano, and who said quite wisely 'this check isn't for you, it's for them, to cover their ar*e if there are problems'. How true. Finally, our time with the doctor - a charming man with some English, but mostly in Italian, who did a quick stethoscope check, blood pressure and a quick ECG - and then we realised that it was not 40 minutes each, it was €40 each! Cash to be paid to the doctor right away.

So there we are, an hour later, €80 lighter, smelling slightly of lubricating jelly, none the wiser about our health..but at least we can join the gym for a year.

And in a year we can do it all again, as the check is an annual way to shed the pounds (in your wallet..)...