Yikes! The Gym!

The GYM... Do you cringe when you hear the word? If you do, you’re not alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Trust me, after 22 years as a fitness trainer, I have learned some ways that will help you make the gym your best friend... and if it’s your best friend, you’ll want to go there all the time, right? Like a comfortable pair of jeans, your gym should fit you and your style. Finding the right fit is key to having a great relationship with the gym, and hopefully, with exercise.

How do you choose the right gym, so that exercise becomes a part of you and your life? Below is my list of the top 10 things everyone should think about before joining a gym:

1. List the most important things you want from a gym, your “must have” list. Things like group classes, women’s only, your favorite kind of treadmill, TVs, nice locker rooms, sauna, steam, etc.
2. Decide if you need your gym to be close to work or close to home. If you exercise before work, would you be more likely to go if it was close to work? Will that cause a problem for your weekend exercise? Think it through and remember that picking a gym that is far away is a set-up.
3. Make sure the gym is open when you need it to be. If you tend to exercise before work, make sure it’s open early enough for you.
4. Do your research. List all the gyms close to your home or work. Check their websites to see what they offer and match that to your list of must-haves.
5. Ask your gym-going friends for input: which gyms do they belong to and what do they like or dislike about them.
6. Visit the gym, and get more than just a tour – ask for a free trial pass. Most gyms will give you at least 3 free visits so you can get a real feel for the gym.
7. Check to see if they provide free sessions with a trainer to show you proper use of the equipment. Most gyms do this, but some of the larger chains may not provide this service. Feeling comfortable with all the equipment makes all the difference in your confidence and ultimately in your workout.
8. Visit the gym during times that you would actually be going there on a regular basis. You want to get a real feel for how busy it is and the clientele that is there at those times.
9. Try some classes that you might be interested in. Classes are a great way to make gym friends who will also provide some built-in accountability.
10. Finally, if the gym meets most of your needs but for some reason you just don’t feel comfortable there, then keep looking. Remember: you want your gym to fit like that favorite pair of jeans.

In the words of Michael Jordan... “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.”

If you belong to a gym, what do you love the most about it?
 

by LindaGrant on 08/29/2011 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: Weight-Loss, motivation, exercise, planning, strategies