Back in May 2025, I spoke with Julia Pugachevsky as she was creating a story to raise awareness of young women who manage to afford expensive gym memberships. I worked with her to explain my story and I’m delighted to have been published in October 2025.
“I moved home after a breakup and felt like a failure. Joining a gym helped me find my partner and make close friends.”
You can read the full article here:
I wanted to raise awareness that gym memberships can be so expensive. I went to David Lloyd’s gym (quite a pricey gym in the UK), but I had my reasons. I’d recently left a relationship, and had moved back home, so I was only paying the bank of mum and dad a contributing amount to rent; and I had no majorly large bills, and no kids etc.
So although the £99 monthly membership felt like a ‘splurge’, it was a treat I could afford, and wanted to give myself some well deserved love back.
I absolutely loved going to David Lloyd. It was super local, so I could drive to it. I loved the pilates and dance classes. The gym itself was very fancy and it just gave me such an amazing headspace. You could also take a friend for free for 1 time, so I remember taking my mum or dad for a mini day there.
David Lloyd’s gym membership was pricey but worth it for me
I wasn’t a member for years, in fact it may have just been months. But it gave me the confidence I needed again.
Soon enough, I was running outside again – because, you know, that’s free – and loved that again (I always have, and I’ve always come back to running). And so, I was so grateful to have been able to treat myself.
I then cancelled the membership when I re-discovered my habit of running (and love for it). Now, you can find me over at Life of a Miss Fit.. And on TikTok and Instagram, encouraging anyone who wants to start running, to just…. start.
Written by Katie McDonald, 10th October 2025
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