Wake students, raise your hand if you're tired of going to the crowded, grimy Miller Center to workout and you can't wait for the new gym to open!

If you just raised your hand then 1) you are not alone! and 2) fear no more, there are solutions!

After recently exploring gym options off-campus with a fellow workout buddy of mine, I settled upon joining the relatively new (and state of the art, might I add) YMCA that's just minutes from Wake Forest's campus. I have never been truly satisfied with the fitness options on campus for the past three and a half years, and with such a health-conscious, active student body, it's about time Wake realized that we need to step up our game.

But in the meantime, here are some options to tide you over this semester until the construction of our new gym is complete.

1. Robinhood Road YMCA

With student rates at only $30 dollars a month for butt-kicking, unlimited workout classes and gorgeous facilities, I couldn't sign up for the Y fast enough. Not to mention, if you join in January they waive the new-member start-up fee and your first month is only $19. Stop by and take a tour to check it out for yourself; they are so warm and welcoming!

2. Top Tier CrossFit

Founded by a Wake alumni, Top Tier Crossfit is the place to go for some serious sweating. They have FREE "Ignite" classes every Saturday morning at 9 AM which I strongly recommend to get a feel for what their classes are all about. I personally love bringing a new friend with me each Saturday, and I always leave with a healthy endorphin rush. Top Tier also has reasonable student rates, but my only complaint is that they have limited number of classes that work for students' schedules.

3. Pure Barre Reynolda Village

Barre enthusiasts rejoice! Ditch the heavy weights and don't forget to pack your stamina because these fine toning, isolated muscle movements will leave your legs absolutely shaking. While Pure Barre's classes average about $18-20 each, they do have some student rates that help cut the cost if you average about 4-5 classes per week. Also check out their Spring Semester Unlimited pass!

4. LA Fitness Stratford Road

Although I have several friends who love LA Fitness and the facilities are beautiful, when I went to check it out and do a free trial I ultimately determined that it wasn't the right gym for me. They have a wide variety of workout classes and their staff was welcoming, but I just felt like it was all geared towards a slightly older clientele. Still a better option than the Miller Center, though!

5. Planet Fitness

Come one, come all! If you want a bare bones, no fuss gym experience then this is the place for you. With super reasonable monthly rates in a spacious, well-air conditioned building, Planet Fitness knows how to accommodate the college student on a budget. That being said, you don't get the benefit of a community feel and there are zero workout classes.

At the end of the day, you just have to investigate the options for yourself and know what kind of workouts you like best.