HOW TO FIND A GYM AND START EXERCISING

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HOW TO FIND A GYM AND START EXERCISING

Copyright 2005

There is hardly a week that passes without an article or

study touting the benefits of exercise. Exercise to cure

cancer, exercise to lose weight, feel better, live longer,

and stop dementia, the list appears endless. The benefits

of exercise sound fantastic but there is just one problem.

You have to exercise to gain the benefits! For many, this

is a big problem.

So, what can you do to get yourself motivated to join the

wonderful world of exercising? A great solution is to join

a gym where you are in the company of like-minded people.

Joining a gym for the first time or after a period of

inactivity can be a little scary. I hope this article will

make your fitness journey a little easier.

Aren’t all gyms pretty much the same?

The short answer would be. ……. NO. Every gym has it’s own

personality both in the equipment and the type of people it

attracts. Some gyms cater to weight lifters with lots of

free weights and little else, while other facilities might

cater to working women and offer activities such as yoga,

spinning or aerobics. There are locally owned gyms and

nationwide chains. Small gyms as well as mega fitness

centers. There is a gym for everybody but it will take a

little footwork to find your perfect fit.

What’s the most important feature when looking for a gym?

In my opinion, location must be considered before anything

else. Absence will not make the heart grow fonder. A gym

more than 10 minutes from your home or office will end up

not getting used. If you like to work out in the morning

you might want to stick with gyms close to home. If you’re

a lunchtime sweat maven then a gym near work could be a

better option. Some of the larger chains may have

facilities by both work and home. In addition, if you

travel, gyms with multiple locations may let you work out

for FREE, or at a discount, if they have a facility at your

travel destination.

Other Features to Consider

Membership Clientele – Check out the other patrons in the

gym you are considering. Each gym has it’s own

personality. Is it mostly women or men? Is everybody

wearing fashionable workout gear or is it a shorts and

t-shirt crowd? Does it cater to families or is it an

adult’s only gym?

Equipment - The quality and variety of equipment is very

important if you plan on starting a comprehensive fitness

program. Is the equipment well maintained? Check to see

how many machines are “out of order”. Check to see if free

weights are offered as well as machines. Is there an

adequate cardio section with plenty of bikes, climbers and

treadmills? These tend to be high use pieces of equipment

so it is important that the facility have several.

Hours - Everybody has different times for his or her

workouts. Make sure the gym you choose will accommodate

your schedule. If you are an early bird and your gym opens

at 10:00 a.m. then you are probably going to end up not

using it despite the other features you find appealing.

Price - Don’t get fooled by a low-ball price. Make sure

the membership includes the use of everything of interest

to you. Some gyms have a low membership fee and then

charge extra for using the tennis courts, pool, classes

etc. Read the fine print. Also, there are all-inclusive

low priced gyms that are in the business of selling

memberships and don’t really care what happens after you

sign up. You may find that half your town has a membership

and you have to wait in line to use the equipment.

Management - Is there an active owner or manager on the

premises? What is there policy regarding restacking your

weights and the playing of loud music? In some gyms,

anything goes and you may hear 3 or 4 different stereos

playing at the same time, weights are thrown around and you

can never find the equipment you would like to use. This

is a sign of poor and inattentive management and should

probably be removed from consideration.

Everybody is different and there is not a single solution

for picking the ideal gym. The key is to find a place that

you feel comfortable and that you will use on a regular

basis. Working out is a habit that takes time to form.

Don’t make an impulsive decision that will cause you to

lose your desire to get in shape.

Before making a commitment, visit and workout at a few gyms

that you are considering. Most facilities will let you try

them out for a few days. Make sure you go at the times you

would if you were to join. This will give you a feel for

how crowded the equipment is at that time. Now, the only

thing left to do is just go out and GET STARTED!!

Here is a list of several gyms with nationwide locations.

These will offer a good starting point on your quest for

the perfect gym. Check for locations in your area.

http://www.powerhousegym.com/

http://www.goldsgym.com/

http://www.worldgym.com/

http://www.ballyfitness.com/

http://www.24hourfitness.com/

About the Author:

Mike has been a life long follower and proponent of

the fitness lifestyle. Through his avid research, Mr.

has come to the realization that being healthy is a

choice and encompasses not only proper diet but also a

fitness regimen that includes the mind, body and soul.

Mike is the publisher and editor-in-chief for the

health information site http://www.Ultimatehealthreport.com