Most people don't have the space or the money to buy a bunch
of home gym equipment to meet their weight loss program needs so they join a
local gym to get their workouts in. For some they only have a local YMCA to
join or some small local gym. However, for those that a few options to chose
from this article will give you some questions to ask or think about when
comparing gym memberships and facilities.
1. Is the membership monthly or locked in for a period of
time?
Many places try to lock a person up with a long membership
or a onetime lump sum initiation fee. Others might be a little more flexible by
allowing you to by as you go. For instance, I'd be more likely to use a gym
during the winter than I am during the summer. Being able to quit when I want
is attractive to me. However, just because a place tries to lock you up or make
you pay a lump sum should not be automatically looked as a negative. They place
could be very popular or the demand for a membership is high where the upfront
cost or commitment would be worth it. It is good to look into which membership
fits you and what makes you feel comfortable.
2. How busy is the gym at the hours that you want to work
out?
Go to the gym when you intend to try and workout and see how
active the gym is or if the equipment you want to use is being monopolized. If
a 30 minute workout lasts over an hour because you have to wait for a machine
or a weight to free up could get frustrating really quick. Some gyms can handle
this traffic because they have a ton of equipment and weights to use. Try to
get feel for the gym before committing a membership.
3. Is there a free trial membership?
Most places offer at least a few visits free so you can get
the feel for a gym. If they don't they either have something to hide or they
are doing well and don't want nonmembers visiting the gym. Some gyms are the
"it" place to train at and they don't need to convince people to train
there. However, for most normal people having a free trial will allow a person
to see if the gym fits them or not.
4. Are aerobic, yoga, and other like classes included in the
fee?
At first the price of gym might be seem high to you but that
price may include being able to take part in a spinning class, a Turbo Jam
course, or another aerobic session. If this is something you'd be interested
then that is something that needs to be factored in when comparing other sites.
Another gym might have a lower membership but if the class is an added cost it
might not be as good of a deal as originally thought. The more added features
to a membership the better the value as long as the features are of a high
quality.
5. Is physical training advice free all the time or for a
limited amount of time?
If you want one on one physical training with a fitness
expert you will likely have to pay for that service. However, sometimes a gym
may offer an introductory physical training period where advice is for free.
Some places include occasional advice and help free of charge. On the flip side
physical trainers working on a commission may not want to invest time on
freebie lessons in fear of being taken advantage of. This will vary greatly
from gym to gym so it is an important feature to ask about.
6. What type of gym equipment is being used at the gym?
Some places focus on Nautilus machines and aerobic machines.
Others may be more free weight focused while others combine both. The more
variety often means a premium price, but if that is what you want then that may
be a justified coast for you. However, if you don't need all the bells and
whistles then a smaller more specific gym maybe what you are looking for.
Besides the types of equipment a person should consider the
condition or the age of the equipment. Some gyms have more modern and
up-to-date equipment than others. It is also not ideal to be working on
outdated or even damaged equipment. A place using older equipment may pass the
savings onto you which could be ideal for some, but your workouts may suffer
because of it. Just something else to think about when it comes to gyms
equipment.
7. What is the gyms atmosphere?
There are gyms geared to woman (Curves), or to men (Gold's
Gym). Some gyms are better suited for families, to youths, elderly, and even
towards gays and lesbians. A gyms atmosphere can be just as important as the
price or equipment inside the facilities. The more comfortable and excited you
are about the gym you go to the more likely you are going to stick with your
weight loss program or fitness plan. Ask friends, family, and members of gym
about the gym to get a feel for it before joining.
8. What weight loss programs or fitness programs do they
offer?
A person can go everyday and workout but if the workouts are
not organized or a part of a proven fitness or weight loss program results can
vary greatly. This may fall under the physical training programs at a gym, but
some gyms offer clubs that do P90X, a specific weight training program, or a
Weight Watchers group. A gym might provide step by step workouts for you to do
and how to eat to meet your goals. Joining a group or a club may give you the
support and guidance needed for success. Basically, see how they would plan to
educate you if that is what you need.
There are plenty of questions to consider when looking at
different gym memberships, but what it really comes down to is your commitment
to a program and your health. A gym could be absolutely perfect, but if your
mindset is not right then none of the above will matter. However, answering the
questions above can greatly swing the odds of success in your favor.
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