8 Questions to Ask When Considering Joining a Gym

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.