Selecting a Fitness Club: 10 Tips on Choosing a Great Gym

Place

If you choose a fitness club on the other side of your city, will you be capable to remain motivated and make an effort to visit regularly? Probably not. Particularly on those days when your determination is on a minimum and your work agenda is beyond busy. A good fitness club location will ideally be someplace between your home and your job. Having a fitness club in the area is going to reduce your stress level, keep you doing exercises and save you a lot of travel time.

Charges

Joining a fitness club can be a big financial investment. Gym membership charges aren't to be taken lightly and are often the main reason why people choose a specific gym. Inexpensive gym subscriptions may seem like a much better option in the beginning, but could be a poor choice if these gyms can't accommodate your needs. The same thing goes for more costly fitness gyms. You may be paying too much for what you are receiving. Additionally, many fitness gyms will require a registration fee. You might simply wait for any special offer to save on these fees, but you may also speak to the staff. Suggest that you're considering several other gyms as well and figure out what kind of offer they can present you with right away.

Services

Gym amenities and fees go hand in hand. If you are not planning on using much of the facilities the gym has to offer, you might be over paying. Alternatively, if you like a sauna or a decent swim after your regular workout, a less expensive gym without those amenities may not be right for you. Be sure to discover what the gym's facilities are and how regularly you will be using these. Modern facilities can be a good way to get your attention to sign-up, but you have to be sure you will need all the gym has to provide. If you need specialized facilities such as no cost car parking, group classes or group classes, see whether they are included in your membership or whether you need to pay extra for these.

Membership contract

An excellent fitness club agreement exists in order to safeguard both your own and the fitness club's interests. Find out how the personnel interact with you and if they can be pushy. If they expect you to join on the spot, walk away. Ideally you would want to carry the written agreement home with you, read it very carefully and think about it. Figure out just how long the written agreement is good for and if there are any concealed charges. Will your agreement carry over automatically? Hammer out a deal with the staff, view it as a sport and you can frequently get significantly lower rates. Request to try the facility before signing a binding agreement, but watch out for any paper that you need to sign. Less respectable fitness gyms could slip you a contract while saying it is a form for "liability purposes". Always look into the terms and conditions of your membership contract.

Opening times

Will your favorite gym be open during the hours that you might be thinking of working out? Many people exercise in the morning, some prefer the evening hours and there are fitness gyms that are closed during the weekends. You want to look for a fitness club that will suit your hectic schedule. Otherwise, you will be paying for a gym you can't get access to at times that suit you the most.

Staff

Excellent fitness gyms have good personnel, who are supportive, warm, friendly and skilled. The personnel should answer all of your questions, help you build-up fitness workout routines and even spot you during workout sessions. Make sure to ask about their accreditations and see how they treat you as a potential new member. In case you are struggling in getting your questions answered beforehand, be skeptical of the way they're going to treat you when you've signed up with the gym. Friendliness is a big benefit. A depressed facial expression as a welcome to your fitness club can drain all of the energy away from you.

Regular members

What's important is that you choose a gym where you will feel at ease exercising. You should not feel uncomfortable, threatened or confused. Find out what kind of folks are exercising at your fitness club of preference. Are they really your favorite type of people? If you want to exercise intensely, you will not like a fitness club where friendly chat is on the schedule. If you like meeting new folks, you are better off in a gym where there's a great personal ambiance and where people interact effortlessly with each other. In case you don't appreciate co-ed fitness gyms, you could choose a ladies only or men's only gym near you.

Gym equipment

Whenever you visit a fitness club of your choice, make sure to take a look around. Exactly what do you notice? Are there sufficient machines, weight plates and hand weights for everyone? Make an effort to find out if members are waiting around in line for well-liked fitness equipment and exercises. Some gyms are famous for using time limits on fitness cardio equipment. If you're intending to do a lot of cardio, this time limit won't be good for you. If you are a truly serious bodybuilder or want to turn into one, make sure that the available dumbbells, weight loads and weight plates satisfy your desires.

Care

There is absolutely nothing worse than a fitness club without any hygiene requirements. You'll want to sign up for a gym where they have clean fitness equipment, locker rooms, bathrooms and toilets. Look around on your initial visit. Are there sufficient towels to clean the gym equipment after each use? Also make certain that staff members enforce these requirements. While you happen to be there, take a look at the locker-room, showers and lavatories. If you don't appreciate what you're seeing, you can bet your money that hygiene standards are not being enforced in that club.

Good friends

Consult people you're friends with and ask where they've been keeping fit and if they're pleased. Many times, your friends and folks you already know can give you a great insight into great community fitness gyms and warn you for gyms you must avoid.

How to Deal With the Top 5 Annoying People at the Gym

The gym is an excellent place to work out for many reasons. For me, it's because of the vast amount of free weights and equipment and the hardcore atmosphere that feels particularly motivating for me.

The problem with working out at the gym is, it is after all a public venue. This means the moment you decide to sign up for a gym membership you will have to co-exist with the other gym members and deal with whatever peculiarities they have. This can prove to be very challenging especially when you are at the gym working hard on exercising to reduce tummy and the presence of some others are making it hard for you to do so.

I've seen how many people give up going to the gym or stopped following their training program because of some bad encounters they have at the gym. Moving from one gym to another doesn't help because some of these annoying people exist everywhere.

In today's post, I will list down some of the top 5 most annoying people you might see at the gym and how you can deal with them - if you have to.

The Chatterbox:
Every gym has at least one of them. This individual (sometimes a few of them) goes to the gym primarily to socialize, bitch, gossip and basically do anything but exercise. This person would chat with you between sets and if you get caught in the conversation, you lose track of your rest periods. Then your body and muscle cools down and you are no longer in the zone to lift your next set. Your workout gets ruined.

Sometimes this person would gossip about you - your clothes, your body part, your exercise technique, etc - and deliberately let you hear it. It makes you conscious about yourself and you lose concentration.

While there's nothing wrong with socializing, we should lose track of our main reason for going to the gym. Having an extended rest period can affect your training intensity and your focus on the next set. This is definitely not what you want to achieve especially if you exercising to reduce tummy. Remember, you can always socialize after your workout.

Solution: If you know the person, try keeping the chat within a minute or no longer than your usual rest period. If the chat goes beyond, gradually assume the position of your next exercise, smile and carry on with your exercise. Most people will get the point.

If they talk about you, glance at them and make sure they notice you. Let them know you heard them and continue with your workout. Who gives a s**t about what the others think? This is your work out!

The Hogger:
The people at my gym are generally very friendly and willing to share their equipment in between sets. But occasionally we have one or two of these possessive weirdos who simply won't share and insists on completing their exercise before anyone can use it.

If they have just a few sets left, that's fine. What's unforgivable is that they are hogging the equipment for the wrong exercise. Don't know what I mean? Here's an example:

Imagine someone hogging the squat rack to do biceps curl with the Olympic bar. The reason they need the squat rack is because they can rest the bar at the rack so that it's easier for them to pick it up at the next set... (long pause for effect). And by the way, in case you think these are strong people who need the Olympic bar to curl massive weights, you couldn't be more wrong. They are just curling an empty bar.

Hoggers are not just restricted to the weights section. The worst Hoggers are those on the treadmill. Because it's impossible to share the treadmill, users should be even more considerate and be conscious of the time they spend on the machine. Even though it's clearly stated that each user is limited to 30 minutes on the treadmill, some continue on, completely oblivious to the people waiting behind. And check this out, some even have the newspapers nicely laid out in front of them as they take a stroll on the treadmill while holding onto the handles...

As you patiently wait for your turn on the treadmill, homicide at this point inevitably comes to mind.

Solution: If they are using the machine for any other exercise than what it's meant for, politely tell them that there's an alternate machine that they can use. Usually this works. Otherwise, ask them to share. The switching of weights will eventually make one party give up. Usually it's them.

The Moaner:
I bet you can find one of these in every gym as well. Their voices echo throughout the entire gym. You know exactly when they are going to start their set and when their set is going to end. They psyche themselves up with a war cry that puts the New Zealand All Blacks to shame as they lift their massive weights (or weights which they think are massive to them), and throughout the set, the grunt, moan and groan until they eventually climaxed at the last repetition before dropping their weights to the floor.

Whether these people are truly trying to psych themselves or they are looking for attention, their loud moans and war cries are a distraction to everyone in the gym. Imagine if everyone in the gym starts doing this? Others might mistake the gym as a Taekwondo dojo or worse, an adult venue masquerading as a gym.

Solution: You can try to telling them to keep it down. But I've tried and it doesn't work. So, get yourself an iPod or a set of earplugs. I do like my friend's solution though, which is to exercise next to them and moan even louder.

The Big Bully:
A nightmare to both gym instructors and members alike, the Big Bullies are hard to miss. Walking around with arms flaring out as if there are potatoes in their armpits, these oversized muscle heads share many characteristics with the Hogger and the Moaner. They use your equipment between sets without asking and they never return any of the weight they use.

The worst of them even criticize your exercise technique without even giving you actual pointers.

Many of these muscle heads are just pure muscle bulk with no definition. Some even sport a belly. But they walk around thinking that everyone should marvel at their tremendous musculature.

Solution: Handling the Big Bully needs extra care. Remember to always be polite because these are the closest things that we have to a primate living among us. Perhaps the only stations you will never find Big Bullies using are the treadmill and the abs machine. But if a big bully is suddenly use your equipment without asking, wait for him to complete his set, then tell him politely, "Lets share between sets", as you pick up the weights. If he stops you or starts giving you aggressive looks, no problem. Move on to the next heaviest weight. Let him have it. It's not worth it. You watched Planet of the Apes? Just let the primate have his toy.

The Army Ants:
Usually in a group of at least seven or eight, these people are like army ants, ravaging every machine, treadmill and free weight they set their eyes on. If they are doing dumbbell presses, you can be sure that almost all of the weights on the rack will be gone. These people usually belong to a specific sports team and have decided to bring half their squad for training at a local gym.

Their disruptive presence at the gym is obvious and even greatly magnified when they are there during peak hours. If your gym is fairly small like mine, you can either wait for the ants to finish their workout or be prepared to wait for 5 minutes between each set.

Solution: Army ants or not, you are already at the gym. So get your workout in! If they are using the equipment that you plan to use, either find an alternative or workout another body part first. There's no point sharing equipment with the army ants because you end up wasting more time waiting to do your set.

Ok, I threw in this last group of people not because they are really annoying, but the way they are training is an utter waste of time and I've seen groups like this is three gyms I've been to already.

The Bench Press Boys:
There's this group of four to five overzealous teenage boys who go to the gym pretty frequently. I've only ever seen them train one body part.

Correction.

I've only ever seen them do one exercise - the bench press. Well, you can't really blame them. The obsession with having a huge chest is not just limited to women. Having a massive chest does make one looks just as impressive as having huge arms. The good thing is, at least they are choosing free weights over machines. But once they start to lift the weight, everything else goes very wrong.

They use a weight that's too heavy for them right from the first set. The boy performing the exercise has a spotter behind him, to his left and to his right. The scene looks almost like a pit crew carrying out a pit stop at a motor race event. What even funnier is the boy who's performing the exercise continues to add weight to the next set. As his spotters struggle to help him through his last set, he looks as if he has conquered Mount Everest and with that look of extreme satisfaction.

These boys don't really annoy anyone except sometimes if you really need to use the bench; you have to wait for them to get through their 10 sets of bench press, each.

Solution: Well, they are not really offending anybody. But if you need to use the bench, ask politely to share the bench. When they see you are lifting more than them and they give you that "Whoa! Awesome!" look, you can give them a few pointers and correct their bench pressing techniques.

When dealing with any of the five annoying people above, the key thing to note is, always remember to be polite. Never use aggression even if you are bigger and stronger than the other guy. Treat fellow gym users with respect and you will get respect in return.

The gym is not the only place you can get a satisfying workout. There are also many advantages to working out at home as well. The 10 Minute Corporate Fat Loss Plan offers you the quickest way to lose weight gives you a butt kicking work out without requiring any special equipment and all at the comfort and privacy of your own home.

Find out how I discovered the quickest way to lose weight and lost 8 lbs in just one week. Download your free fat loss starter kit office weight loss tips from the 10 Minute Corporate Fat Loss Plan site.

About Purchasing Wipes for Your Gym

Your gym is a resource for people who want to stay in shape or improve their body and health. It can be a haven for people who love to work out and come to exercise classes, and a place for people to meet, socialize and learn about health and nutrition. Your gym, in other words, is more than just a business- it can provide a lifestyle for your clients. In order to manage your gym efficiently and to help ensure that customers like coming there, it is important to maintain your gym and keep it clean at all times. It is also important to offer conveniences to your customers that they will appreciate. One way to both offer a benefit to customers and to help keep your gym clean is to purchase wipes for your gym.

Wipes for Your Gym

When you purchase wipes for your gym, there are a few different kinds of wipes that you should consider. Perhaps the most obvious type of wipes to buy are gym wipes. Gym wipes are designed for cleaning gym equipment between users. Your customers can grab a gym wipe from a convenient dispenser and wipe down the equipment so that it is clean and dry for the next person who wants to make use of the machine.

Gym wipes serve many important purposes in the gym environment. They allow for the machines to stay clean and safe to use, and they help customers to feel more comfortable making use of the equipment. No one wants to grab sweaty equipment that someone else has just been using without wiping it down first, and gym equipments make this easy. Equipment that is slick with sweat can also be dangerous, so gym wipes help to make your gym a safer place. Finally, because the equipment is cleaned more frequently with gym wipes, it will always appear clean to perspective members visiting the gym and to members who want a pleasant environment at the gym. Cleaning at the end of the day will be easier as well, since the machine is already clean from being wiped down with gym wipes.

In addition to gym wipes, you may also wish to purchase antibacterial wipes or hand wipes to keep around your gym. Like gym wipes, these have many purposes and many benefits to customers. For one thing, they can help to stop the transmission of germs. When people use gym equipment and sweat on that equipment, they leave behind more than just their perspiration- they also leave behind any bacteria, viruses or other organisms that were on their hands or body. This can cause other patrons at the gym to be exposed to these disease-causing organisms. Recent outbreaks of swine flu and other contagious diseases have underscored the importance of always making sure that you are protected from germs.

Customers will also appreciate the opportunity to use an antibacterial wipe to wipe their hands rather than having to go to the bathroom to wash them. This makes for good customer service and can help to improve the gym experience.

Gym Wipes: Helping To Keep Your Gym Clean and Keep Customers Happy

When customers are looking for a gym to become a member of, or when they are evaluating whether they are satisfied with their gym or not, they consider many different things. Some of the obvious factors include the convenience of the gym location and the selection of equipment that is available. These are things that are difficult for established gym owners to change, at least without making a large investment. Gym goers, however, are also looking at other considerations as well, including the cleanliness of the gym environment and the conveniences available to them at the gym. These last two factors are things that you have control over as a gym owner, so it is up to you to make sure you do everything possible to make your gym a clean, attractive and pleasant place to be. One way to do this is by making sure that you have gym wipes available and accessible at all times.

The Importance of Gym Wipes in Keeping Your Gym Clean and Your Customers Satisfied

Keeping your gym clean is an ongoing effort, as every time someone uses a machine or a piece of equipment it can become dirty with sweat and germs. While you need to have a regular cleaning crew available to clean the gym and the equipment, your cleaners cannot always be there to clean the equipment after each use. In fact, it would be too time consuming and expensive to have the equipment cleaned by staff after each use and this would likely turn gym customers off since it would increase the waiting time to use machines.

This is why gym wipes are such a great option. When gym wipes are readily accessible at locations throughout the gym, clients can grab them easily and wipe down the equipment either when they are finished using it or before they begin using it, or both. As such, this allows gym patrons to take some responsibility for making sure that the gym stays a clean place to be. It is faster and easier than always having professional cleaners around during the day or when the equipment is in use, and it empowers the gym clients and allows them to have certainty that the equipment is clean since they can wipe it down themselves.

Because of these factors, having gym wipes available can help to make your gym more attractive to potential customers and can help to keep regular, existing members happy. The cleanliness factor isn't the only advantage to gym wipes either. By making gym wipes available at multiple locations throughout the gym, you make their use convenient for clients and you improve their gym experience. They will feel as if you care out their health and safety since the gym wipes are there to allow them to wipe down machines. They will also enjoy and appreciate the convenience of having the wipes readily accessible.

For all of these reasons, it simply makes sense to have gym wipes available at all times and in various locations throughout your gym. Order gym wipes today to begin enjoying the benefits that these important cleanliness tools have to offer.

Common Gym Frauds and Rip-Offs and How to Avoid Them - Some Useful Tips and Hints

Going to a gym is considered to be one of the best ways to get back to shape and also to keep your figure fit and toned. You can try exercising at home, but the reality is that you do not get the kind of environment that you really need and you do not gain the rigorous workouts that you can do, using specialized gym equipment. Gyms offer many ways by which you can increase body fitness and health by doing workouts or exercise routines that are specifically targeted at various body parts.

Working out at the gym has become really popular now-a-days, but as someone considering to opt for a gym membership, it is vital that you enroll yourself into a reputed gym, so that you do not get taken advantage of by gym scams. Here is a look into some gym scams and pointers on how best to tackle them or avoid them.

Scams that you should be aware of:

One of the biggest scams is the one where you can't cancel your club membership. In fact, the problem of membership cancellation is one of the top complaints that have been lodged against fitness clubs with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently. Most often membership cancellation happens when a person decides to move to another location. The member assumes that by just informing the club about the move is enough, but the reality is that documented proof is required. The membership cancellation does not happen as a result and the resultant is often the loss of refund. In case of those who pay membership fees on a monthly basis this can translate into something bad like a low credit score or reminders for payments that are due for their period of membership.

Gyms have high-tech equipments, which if well-maintained do not pose any problem to users. However, what is noted in certain gyms is that regular maintenance is not done on time. It is not unusual to note people getting injured as a result of using equipment that is not working smoothly or accidentally because it was not checked or simply there was a design problem. Check the gyms maintenance and cleaning logs, so that you know for sure that the gym area is clean and that all equipments are working normally. Inspect a gym, its environment and equipment condition before signing up the gym contract. A gym that is overcrowded will never offer a hygienic environment and you might have to wait to use the gym equipments of your choice.

Always read the fine print on the contract. Often, the enthusiasm of joining a gym results in a person not looking into what they are in for and sales agents can be quite convincing in getting people to join. It is not uncommon for people to feel that they signed up for something that they did not opt for, like for example, they might find certain charges being made for usage of equipment, that should have come as a free feature of the gym membership. Though most gym specify everything in details in the membership contract itself, but there are times when they do not do this and this can result in you spending more. If the extra fee is a part of the contact and you did not notice, there is nothing that you can do. However, when the fees are levied suddenly, you can argue with the staff for a refund.

There can also be gyms that actually gloss over some details. For example, they may require members to attend gym sessions for a specific period of time, and not doing this can result in a penalty or an extensive membership period, which might not be in the best interests of the person who is joining. Such issues can be avoided by reading the contract terms carefully and also asking those who are also enrolled about how certain terms and condition apply, once you have joined.

There have been times when gyms have collected money from people for membership, but they never opened. Usually the offer is that of a discount or a lower rate for an early joining, but in the course of a couple of weeks, what happens is that money is collected from a lot of people but the gym never opens. Always go to a reputed gym, that offers a decent membership policy and which can show proof of a hygienically maintained environment.

It's not unusual to see gyms sporting certificate that authenticate their functioning. However, it is vital to check the accreditations to find out that they are from a really prestigious and note-worthy organization. Instructors in such gyms are trained and certified, but it is vital to check such certification as well. Often people with certain health problems visit a gym to get the pain caused by a particular problem treated by suggesting appropriate exercising routines. However, this does not work as well even if the instructor is a certified professional, because they do not understand the complete medical dimension of relating exercise to a health problem.

If you are someone with health problem, it is vital that you be realistic about the kind of exercises that you can do in a gym. Gyms always promise that you will get the kind of results that you really want from exercising, but they are not medical professionals, who define exercises and workout routines based on a personal health status. There have been many stories of people getting a sudden cardiac arrest, while working out at the gym. Practically, staff in most gyms is not equipped to handle such situation and so it is advisable not to take up workouts that can be tough on them physically.

You can avoid gym scams by researching about the gym that you are considering to enroll. If you check out the gym facilities thoroughly, you can find out whether the gym environment is well-maintained or not and this will help you determine if enrolling is worth it. These days there are many discussion boards and forums where people discuss gym facilities and the general environment of a particular gym, so you can gather useful information about different people and their personal experience.

Important Things to Consider While Negotiating With Gyms!

Keeping you body healthy, fit and well toned needs regular exercising and also intake of a balanced diet. Exercising can be done at home, but if you want to get the best results, working out at a gym would be a better choice. Gyms offer an environment that motivates you to get into various forms of workouts and exercising under close supervision. That will definitely show positive results on your mental and physical health. Today's gyms offer the best equipments, well trained and certified trainers, dieticians etc. so you can achieve your desired goals efficiently and effectively.
 
Every gym has its own terms and conditions, therefore to get the best offers on a gym membership requires careful research on various membership offers. Before you get down to negotiating on rates, it is important to check out on various factors.
 
Gym Type
 
There are different kinds of gyms so you have to look into what it is that you what to achieve by going to a gym. Do you want to enroll into a specialized gym, where you have a separate training instructor for yourself and a training course that is specially designed to help you meet your fitness goals else do you want to enroll into a regular gym where you are trained along with others. Those looking for a completely new approach to fitness training should consider enrolling into something like Yoga Studio.
 
Compare Gym Rates, Check Discounts and Other Offers Carefully
 
Plan ahead and see what you can spend and establish a budget for yourself and then compare gym rates. Some gyms have discount offers during the off season, while some give special offers to attract people. Look into the gym rates for various programs and check what their competitors are offering. Usually gyms offer membership discounts at the time of the New Year and some of the offers can be really lucrative like a couple of months of free membership, availability of free gym gear, or a two year membership available at the price of one. The best way to gain information on discount offers is to sign up for the gym's newsletter and have a close watch. Most gyms have their own websites, where they will put up information on monthly contracts and almost zero-enrollment fees.


 
Negotiate Skillfully
 
Once you have chosen a particular gym, you have to negotiate with them. Make an offer that is below you budget. Most often staff will state that they cannot change rates because of the gym policy on membership dues, but if the gym is a small gym or has started recently, they will be ready to consider. In case of larger gyms, you have to skillfully convince the staff that you expect a discount on enrollment. Specify competitor rates, but most often gyms are aware of what their competitors are doing, but it is a good approach to get a reduction.
 
In addition to bargaining on the membership rates, you should think about negotiating on trainer's fees. Usually trainer's fee is negotiable and it is not unusual to see free personal trainer sessions offered for those who become new members. When you decide to continue with the trainer's services, negotiate a rate that comes within your budget. Trainers are usually flexible and usually accept member rates.
 
What you need to understand about gyms in general is that they will always show out that their rates are non-negotiable, but the thing is that you can bargain with them and bring down the rates. The competition is high and every gym has to meet its monthly targets to keep it going. Usually gyms employ a staff of commission-based sales team with whom you can negotiate and they will be flexible, if you skillfully make your point on rate reduction.
 
As someone who is going to be using gym facilities on a regular basis, you should get your money's worth, so if you find a gym with rates that are satisfying to you, check out others.
 
Check Your Company's Employee Offer for Gyms
 
It's not uncommon for companies to have deals with local gyms by which their employees get a discount offer or rates that are highly slashed down to a third of the original rates or even free membership. So, if you are employed at a company, it would do well to check out on this with the staff at the HR department.
 
Do No Opt For Long-Term Membership or Advance Membership Fee Payments
 
Usually there is a lot of enticement from the sales agent to sign up for a long-term contract. Unless, you see yourself serious usually a long-term membership fully, opting for a month-to-month membership agreement is the right option. You can cancel the contract whenever you want and there is no need to pay any penalty. Sales agent may also suggest that you pay for a year in advance, but this is something that you should avoid because in case the gym suddenly closes or you have to move away, the paid money would be wasted as you will not be using the gym's facilities.
 
In case you are not planning to utilize the gym facility for throughout the week, ask the gym for a limited weekly access plan, because this will work out cheaper. Many people work out only three or four days a week, so cutting out payments for days that you would not be using the gym helps to save money.
 
Find Out On All Applicable Fees
 
The fees that you have to pay to the gym at the end of every membership period, should not come as a surprise to you, with hidden costs added, so much so that what you see on the bill is far above what you are expected to pay. This is where you need to be alert and check out what you are really in for by checking up with the sales agent on all payment related information. If you find certain fee demand to be too high or unacceptable, mention this at once to the sale agent. They might show you a program in which you do not have to make certain types of fee payments and enjoy just the kind of facilities that you really need for your workout sessions.

Joining A Gym? 5 Questions To Ask Yourself To Choose The Right Gym

There are tons of gyms to join these days in even small to mid-sized towns. How do you pick a gym to join? After all, it's pretty expensive, especially if there is a hefty up-front initiation fee and/or contract. Pick the best gym for you the first time around.

Here are the 5 steps and questions to help you pick the best gym to join for you.

1. What type of workouts do you do?

There are all kinds of gyms these days - free weights-focused, machine-focused, cardio-centric, running clubs, full service, strip-mall circuit training gyms, public centers, racket-centers, golf club-focused gyms... you name it, you can sign up for about any type of gym.

You need to think about what type of workouts you like doing. If you've never belonged to a gym before, do as many 1 week trials at gyms around you as you can and see what you use and like. Get scientific about it and make some notes or charts. Consider:

Do you only use the cardio machines? If so, find a gym with the best cardio equipment such as treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, etc.
Do you like the latest weight machines? Some gyms invest in some pretty cool weight lifting equipment. Try it out.
Do you like fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates, a running club, cycling classes, martial arts, etc. If so, see which gym offers the best classes. Make sure you check whether there are additional fees for classes.
Are you looking to play racket sports and/or golf.
Do you like swimming laps?
Do you like doing everything (like me)? If so, look for the best full-service gym.
2. How much can you afford?

Most gym memberships charge a monthly fee. Some charge an up-front fee and then a monthly fee. Other gyms require that you sign a contract committing you to a gym. I prefer an up-front and no contract.

IMPORTANT: almost every gym will negotiate terms to suit you. Do not accept the terms unless they work for you. The terms typically negotiated are up-front fees and contract length.

The monthly fee is what adds up over time. Expect to pay anywhere from $15/month (for a small retail circuit training facility) to $300 plus per month for a swanky, full-service urban gym. Most gyms cost $30 to $70 per month.

The way I look at is if I go twice a week, I'm getting my money's worth. Usually I go more often, but I almost always go twice a week.

3. Do you like using spa and other facilities at your gym?

Do you like using steamrooms, saunas, pools, hot tubs, etc.? I know this is a factor for me. These features help me unwind at the end or middle of the day. However, many people never bother with these pricey features. Are there other facilities you like such as studio space to do yoga or martial arts?

4. Is the gym conveniently located?

This is critical. Look for a gym that you will actually go to - whether close to home, work, or both.

5. Women: do prefer a women's gym only?

More and more full-service gyms offer a women's only area. There are also many strip-mall circuit training gyms cropping up as well.

Don't forget to give any gym on your shortlist at least a 1 week trial run.

Most gyms will let you try out the facility for free for one week at least. I strongly recommend you take them up on the offer and go there at least 3 times before making a decision.

Don't sign up at 4 gyms during the same week because you won't sufficiently try out each gym sufficiently to pick a gym. Dedicate one week to one gym. Then the next week pick out another gym to try, and so forth.

Regardless of which gym you're thinking of joining, you want to ensure it is clean (again, the 1 week trial run will help you notice cleanliness) and that the customer service is friendly and helpful.

If you're not sure about picking and joining a gym, maybe you're looking to establish a fitness regimen at home.

Do You Want A Regular Gym Membership Or Should You Buy Some Good Home Gym Equipment?

Is having a good home gym really better than going to a regular gym? Is a regular gym membership a more sound investment than buying home gym equipment? Many would say that it would depend on a person's physical needs and maybe even a person's physical abilities. Others would say that economics could play a vital role in determining whether the latter can be more practical than the first. To draw a more accurate conclusion, it may be better to point out the advantages and disadvantages of both subject matters.

What are the advantages of owning a good set of home gym equipment? For one thing, having the luxury of working at home doesn't put pressure on a person's daily schedule. The home gym owner gets to go home straight from work or errands to get some exercise rather than spend several minutes (or hours depending on the road traffic) going to the public gym. Another advantage is that the owner gets to workout at his or her own pace instead of waiting in line to use certain gym equipment or machines. Having a gym at home also eliminates the hassles of monthly fees and unwanted contact with other sweaty people. Owning personal gym equipment also avoids the possibility of embarrassment of falling or awkward movement during failure of certain exercise manoeuvres. Of course with advantages also come disadvantages of having a home gym.

First of all, initial investment on purchasing personal gym equipments or machines is quite pricey (unless one has the patience to search for used equipments). Aside from the price issue, there is also the matter of space. Gym equipments require a spacious and safe area especially if the owner has kids around the house. Finally, although not true for everyone, owning personal gym equipments can promote procrastination. Since everything is already there, the owner may have an excuse of putting off a workout since he or she has all the benefits of personal time.

How about going to a regular public gym? What are the advantages this option presents as opposed to owning good home gym equipment? Initially, a person wouldn't have to invest a big amount on membership. Twenty or Fifty dollars is definitely cheaper than 1,000 dollars. Another advantage is one can get the benefits of a training partner or gym instructor when it comes to performing challenging exercises. Some public gyms even offer members sauna, spa, and massage treatment - perks that one can definitely not receive when exercising at home. Public gyms also offer more variety when it comes to equipment and forms of exercises so a person may get a better workout. Public gyms also create an environment for interaction and socialization.

One may learn more or even meet interesting people for a larger set of friends. Disadvantages include having to drive through traffic or walk through heavy rains just to get to the gym. Also, although initially a gym membership may be affordable, in the long run, the cumulative expense comes much higher than the initial expense in the purchase of good personal gym equipments. Another disadvantage is waiting in line to use certain equipments. This not only ruins a person's exercise routine but also extends his or her time in the gym and away from home.

As it turns out, both subject matters present their own shares of advantages and disadvantages. So how are people going to determine whether they should just buy good home gym equipment or join a public gym? The decision would have to fall on the prerogatives of the individual. If a person can't afford personal equipments but feels the need to get a good workout, then he or she should just join a public gym. If a person has no extra time in his or her daily schedule to hit the gym or the person has to be home right after work or errands, then he or she would have to spend some money on good home gym equipment. The most important thing to do, whether one is exercising at home or in the gym, is to actually exercise.

Do You Want A Regular Gym Membership Or Should You Buy Some Good Home Gym Equipment?

Is having a good home gym really better than going to a regular gym? Is a regular gym membership a more sound investment than buying home gym equipment? Many would say that it would depend on a person's physical needs and maybe even a person's physical abilities. Others would say that economics could play a vital role in determining whether the latter can be more practical than the first. To draw a more accurate conclusion, it may be better to point out the advantages and disadvantages of both subject matters.

What are the advantages of owning a good set of home gym equipment? For one thing, having the luxury of working at home doesn't put pressure on a person's daily schedule. The home gym owner gets to go home straight from work or errands to get some exercise rather than spend several minutes (or hours depending on the road traffic) going to the public gym. Another advantage is that the owner gets to workout at his or her own pace instead of waiting in line to use certain gym equipment or machines. Having a gym at home also eliminates the hassles of monthly fees and unwanted contact with other sweaty people. Owning personal gym equipment also avoids the possibility of embarrassment of falling or awkward movement during failure of certain exercise manoeuvres. Of course with advantages also come disadvantages of having a home gym.

First of all, initial investment on purchasing personal gym equipments or machines is quite pricey (unless one has the patience to search for used equipments). Aside from the price issue, there is also the matter of space. Gym equipments require a spacious and safe area especially if the owner has kids around the house. Finally, although not true for everyone, owning personal gym equipments can promote procrastination. Since everything is already there, the owner may have an excuse of putting off a workout since he or she has all the benefits of personal time.

How about going to a regular public gym? What are the advantages this option presents as opposed to owning good home gym equipment? Initially, a person wouldn't have to invest a big amount on membership. Twenty or Fifty dollars is definitely cheaper than 1,000 dollars. Another advantage is one can get the benefits of a training partner or gym instructor when it comes to performing challenging exercises. Some public gyms even offer members sauna, spa, and massage treatment - perks that one can definitely not receive when exercising at home. Public gyms also offer more variety when it comes to equipment and forms of exercises so a person may get a better workout. Public gyms also create an environment for interaction and socialization.

One may learn more or even meet interesting people for a larger set of friends. Disadvantages include having to drive through traffic or walk through heavy rains just to get to the gym. Also, although initially a gym membership may be affordable, in the long run, the cumulative expense comes much higher than the initial expense in the purchase of good personal gym equipments. Another disadvantage is waiting in line to use certain equipments. This not only ruins a person's exercise routine but also extends his or her time in the gym and away from home.

As it turns out, both subject matters present their own shares of advantages and disadvantages. So how are people going to determine whether they should just buy good home gym equipment or join a public gym? The decision would have to fall on the prerogatives of the individual. If a person can't afford personal equipments but feels the need to get a good workout, then he or she should just join a public gym. If a person has no extra time in his or her daily schedule to hit the gym or the person has to be home right after work or errands, then he or she would have to spend some money on good home gym equipment. The most important thing to do, whether one is exercising at home or in the gym, is to actually exercise.

How to Choose a Gym That Is Right for You

Are you looking to transform your body and start working out? In this article, you'll find out how to choose a gym that is the right fit for you.

Buying exercise equipment to use at your home can be a costly investment. Plus you have to worry about fixing the equipment if it breaks. For these two reasons alone, many people choose to join a gym. Depending on your financial situation and where you live, you may not have to spend a lot of money on an expensive health club. Some newer health clubs like Crunch and Planet Fitness offer gym memberships for as low as $9.99 a month. The downside to these lower priced gyms are that they can be packed with a lot of people.

Some people don't mind paying more money for a gym. If you are planning on sticking with it, it can be a worthy investment. Plus it can give you motivation to workout more often if you are paying more money.

What's In Your Typical Gym?

Your typical gym provides a good variety of equipment including treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes, rowing machines, dumbbells, & more. Not all of these gym are created equal though. Some gyms require you to sign a contract, that will not be easy to cancel. Some of these contracts can have an obligation of staying at the gym for up to 2 years.

Consider These Tips Before Signing Up for a Gym

Here is a list of some tips that you can use to make you decide on what gym you want to join:

1. Make up your mind up on what exercise you enjoy doing

Before you choose a gym, you should know what your needs are as far as physical fitness is concerned. This will determine the kind of gym that you should join. Do you enjoy swimming? Do you play basketball? If you are into sports fitness rather than your typical physical aerobic fitness, some larger health clubs have a swimming pools, basketball courts, and saunas inside. If you plan on using any of these, then you should join a larger gym.

2. Make sure to shop around

This may sound like a cliché, but it is a benefit to look at a variety of gyms. It is best to do some shopping and compare prices, charges, and what each facility will provide. Make sure to look for specials. Like your typical store, look for specials. Most gyms run specials like any other store would. Specials can include a $0 initiation fee, a discounted rate for a longer commitment, and student membership discounts.

3. Consider your budget

If you are low on money, you should look for a gym that is cost efficient. You should also look into a gym that does not require a contract. If you have money to spend, you don't necessarily need to join the most expensive gym. Just look for something that has the equipment that you plan on using. Remember to work out for your body but do not put yourself in debt if you can't afford a larger fitness club.

4. Look at the physical attributes and characteristics of each fitness center that you wish to join

Make sure that the gym that you have chosen is clean, properly ventilated, and complete with all the amenities that you will need. Make sure that the gym has new equipment that is in good working condition. Don't sign up for a gym if the equipment appears to be worn out already.

5. Look for free trial memberships

Some gym clubs such as 24 hour fitness offer a free guest pass. These free gym passes usually range from a day or up to a week depending on the health club. With a free pass, you'll get to try out the gym before you sign up.

After reading all of these tips, you should have a good idea on what to look for in a gym. What matters the most is that your gym will create some positive results for your body. Hope you enjoyed reading this article. Remember to keep motivated and enjoy your brand new gym!

So You Want To Build A Home Gym

I walked into the commercial gym yesterday after a long day of work excited to begin my workout. After warming up I proceeded to the squat rack to start my resistance training workout. I unfortunately ran into a bit of a roadblock. I was planning on starting with some Back Squats but there was a young man in the power rack performing barbell biceps curls with horrible form (a definite no-no!).

I decided to go to Plan B and rearrange my workout only to find that the flat benches were all occupied as well. This trend continued and everywhere I turned the equipment I desired was being used. I was happy that so many people were working out but at the same time I was frustrated that my well-laid plans were spoiled. I learned a long time ago that it is wise to have a back-up plan in place for situations like this so I decided to head home and revert to Plan C, which was my home workout routine.

I have found that having the option to workout at home is essential for people with busy schedules, for others who do not like going to crowded gyms, or for people who need a contingency plan for just-in-case situations (that's me!). Another reason to have a home gym is that warmer weather has finally arrived and you may be less likely to go to your commercial gym.

I have helped people design expensive, well-equipped home gyms and I have helped others design very cost-effective, space-saving workouts areas. My personal home gym consists of a Stability Ball, 5lb to 95lb Dumbbells, some Kettlebells, an adjustable Weighted Vest, Adjustable DB Handles, Elastic Bands, 2kg to 10kg Medicine Balls, Ankle Weights, an AB Roller, a variety of Exercise Videos, and a minimal amount of space!

Anyone can have a Home Gym and there are many reasons to have one. The following list of questions should help you design a Home Gym that will suit your needs, your space, and your budget!

Questions To Ask When Building Your Home Gym:

The First Step: Ask Yourself Why?

Why do you want a home gym? What will it give you that you do not already have? What is your empowering vision of your ideal physique or athletic accomplishment? What are your short and long term goals? Always begin with a vision of the end results in mind, as this will guide you in your efforts. If you have not developed a vision of what you want to accomplish at this point, then that is the first thing you need to do. Develop a plan of attack for building your body and building your home gym.

Without a plan you might end up disappointed with the lack of results and frustrated that you bought the wrong equipment. Ask yourself what kind of results you expect your home gym to deliver? Is your home gym going to supplement your commercial gym membership (as a contingency plan)? Will you be doing your cardiovascular exercise outside or inside on a machine? Will you be doing stretching, strength training, or both? Is your home gym going to be the only place that you work out? Think about these things when designing your home gym.

I. How much are you willing to spend ($$$$$$$)?

How much do you want to spend, plain and simple? If you are just starting out with an exercise program, you might consider starting small with a simple, yet very effective, pair of Dumbbells. You can perform a full-body workout with a pair of dumbbells, some bodyweight exercises, and with a little knowledgeable of proper exercise technique. If you want to do it inexpensively, hire a knowledgeable fitness professional to design an individualized exercise program that you can do with a pair of Dumbbells in the comfort of your home. I have listed a variety of items that you might consider adding to your home gym.

Equipment Considerations:

A. Cardiovascular Machine

If you insist on performing your cardiovascular exercise routine at home be prepared to spend some money! Be aware, a gym quality treadmill, stationary bike, rowing ergometer, or elliptical trainer is going to cost you. You can buy used or refurbished gym quality equipment for a discounted price and if I wanted a cardio machine for my home this is probably the route that I would take. If you are thinking, "I'll just save a few hundred dollars and buy an inexpensive treadmill at the mall," make sure you do some research and ensure that you will buy something that is going to last and that will fit y our needs. I know many people who have purchased flimsy treadmills and regretted it soon thereafter. There are quality treadmills out there you just have to know where to look. I would recommend talking to my friend Bob McKinnon at McKinnon Technical Services (603-644-7539) who knows gym equipment like the back of his hand. He can point you in the right direction if you want to!

B. A Multi-Purpose Home Gym Machine

There are numerous multi-purpose gyms on the market and some are better than others. Chances are, if you turn on your television late at night and flip through the channels, you will be exposed to clever marketing using beautifully sculpted fitness models promising results in six weeks or less if you purchase their machine! Guess what. You can get results without a two thousand dollar machine that will most likely be collecting dust in a year anyway! Why not begin your quest for improved fitness with a modest investment in a pair of Dumbbells? Why not purchase a $20 book on how to get into shape? How about meeting with someone who specializes in coaching people through the process of positive physical change such as fitness professional or Registered Dietician? Infomercials are notorious for clever marketing and they can be very compelling. Avoid impulsive buying and do some research first before purchasing an expensive multi-gym. I recommend consulting a qualified fitness professional about the usefulness of such a machine, interviewing people who have that machine, and possibly even test-driving one before you make this decision. I have to mention that every Spring and Fall I see countless multi-gyms sitting out on someone's lawn as part of the annual yard sale. I wonder why that is?

C. Barbells

If I had the room in my apartment, I would go out and buy a Barbell today! With a 45 lb. Olympic Barbell you can perform a wide variety of exercises in a variety of different ways. If you are an athlete, you have the space available, and you want to improve your sports performance, learning how to correctly perform the Olympic Weightlifting movements (Clean and Jerk, Snatch, and all the variations) can take your performance to the next level! To name a few, exercises such as Squats, Overhead Squats, Deadlifts, Bent over Rows, Bench Presses, Overhead Presses, and Upright Rows can be performed. I would recommend having an adjustable Power Rack and adjustable bench to augment the versatility of the barbell. Space and total cost are big factors when considering purchasing a barbell.

D. Dumbbells

If you want to save money and space, dumbbells are the way to go. You might consider two to three sets of dumbbells (they can be purchased at a sporting goods store for any where between $.35-$.75/pound (In Concord, NH, Check out Olympia Sports in the Mall, Sears, Target, Walmart, Northeast Fitness, or check out the newspapers for the least expensive way to go!). I prefer the metal dumbbells but there are also rubber coated and adjustable dumbbells available. "Power Blocks," (perform a search on the internet to learn more about these) are adjustable dumbbells and are a great tool that take up a lot less space in your home gym, offers great versatility, and offers adjustable resistance to suit your needs. There are also other forms of adjustable dumbbells that consist of two handles, collars, and series of different size weight plates.

When selecting weights, it wise to start light and gradually purchase heavier dumbbells as you need them. I am able to perform wide variety of exercises with Dumbbells. If your goal is fat-loss, then a properly designed resistance training program that incorporates multi-joint Dumbbell exercises will help you achieve your goals more efficiently than many gym machines that "isolate" certain muscle groups. Remember, the more muscle groups that you incorporate, the more energy your body burns, and the better your results will be! Exercise technique is a factor but I'll happily let you know that I have taught 90-year-old women and 11-year-old boys how to perform the most "difficult" Dumbbell exercises with pristine form.

E. Medicine Balls

Medicine Balls are a great tool depending upon your fitness goals and your current training level. For an athlete in search of sports performance enhancement, Medicine Balls are a great tool because they can be accelerated in a rapid fashion through many planes of motion. If general fitness is your goal, you can perform many traditional gym exercises with a Medicine Ball as well. Medicine balls come in all shapes, sizes, weights, and colors. Be sure that the ball you pick suits your needs. By the way, these are also great for outdoor workouts on a sunny day!

F. Benches and Stability Balls:

A bench can be a great tool that will allow you to perform more exercises during your home workout sessions. Some benches are adjustable and offer great versatility while others are just fixed benches. Space is a concern for many people and that makes the Stability Ball (a.k.a. Swiss Ball) a great alternative to a bench. With a Stability Ball you can perform inclined, seated, prone, supine, floor, and a number of lower body exercises. A knowledgeable fitness professional could teach you how to perform a full-body workout with a Stability Ball and a pair of dumbbells. There are a number of different ways to use it in order to maximize your home workout routines. Not only can it replace a more expensive exercise machine or bench, but it can also double as a chair, take up less space, and challenge your body's balance in ways that a stable bench/machine cannot.

G. Resistance Bands/Tubes:

The cable pulley system at your local gym offers a number of exercises that can increase the variety of your workouts tremendously. An alternative to the cable pulley system for your home gym could be resistance bands or tubing that you can tie to a pillar in the basement of fix in a closed door. You can buy tubing that comes with handles already attached in some fitness catalogs or you could just tie a loop in one end to make your own makeshift handle. It is important to mention that elastic resistance training has many benefits and many inherent flaws. If you understand how to properly combine elastic resistance training with inertial (free weight training) you can maximize your results! A knowledgeable exercise professional can help you design your home gym to take advantage of these tools.

H. Exercise Videos:

There are many great exercise videos out there (and a lot more bad ones!). There are videos for Yoga, Step Aerobics, Tae-Bo, Pilates, Strength Training, Stability Ball Training, and every other imaginable fitness topic out there. Check out your local sporting goods store or Borders for a selection of exercise videos. The key is to find a couple videos that you enjoy and that give you the workout that you are looking for.

I. Other Fun Tools:

If you walk into a sporting goods store or open a fitness equipment catalog you will see a variety of toys that can supposedly enhance your workouts and deliver unbelievable results. Buyer beware! No one piece of equipment can solve all of your home gym needs and you must consider how this piece of equipment will fit into your complete program. Watch out for gimmicks and miracle exercise machines. Ask a fitness professional their opinion before you buy and you may save yourself some money! Do a little research before purchasing equipment for your home or you may run the risk of buying an expensive coat rack!

II. How much square footage do you have?

Simply put, how much space do you have available? Do you have enough room for an adjustable bench or a mutli-purpose exercise machine? Is the area well ventilated? How much ceiling height do you have? Are your floors solid? Do you have neighbors that might not appreciate you jumping up and down? Will you have room for all of the equipment you want to get? Thinking about these issues in advance will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. Finally, determine what else your home gym is used for? Will your home gym also be used for family gatherings, a playroom for the kids, an office, a gathering area to watch the Final Four, or strictly as a home gym? These are some other aspects to consider when designing your home gym.

III. Do you know your way around the gym?

Are you a beginner, an intermediate, an expert, or an advanced exerciser? A beginner might start out with an exercise tape, a Stability ball, and a couple of 5 pound dumbbells where as a more advanced exerciser might have a Barbell, Olympic Bench, a Stability Ball, an Adjustable Step, a Selectorized Weight Machine, a Power Rack, and a variety of Dumbbells. Have you been properly trained in the use of Free Weights or do you feel more comfortable using a machine? What kind of equipment does your plan of attack call for? The answers to these questions will help you better choose a home gym that works for you.

In closing, be sure to spend considerable time looking into the process of designing and constructing your home gym as it can be a very important addition to your life and to your home. Consider consulting an exercise professional to make sure that your gym will suit your individual needs, your budget, and your home. There are many reasons to have a home gym and it can be designed to help you achieve the results that you are looking for!

Tips To Help You Find The Right Gym

Taking those first few steps towards establishing a Fitness Lifestyle can very well be intimidating, especially if the decision is made to sign-up for a gym membership. In fact, deciding on even using a gym can be a double-edged sword of sorts. On one hand, there are many of us who feel that we'll become more motivated towards exercising regularly if we do sign-up for a gym membership. After all, you're now investing more money into your health so you certainly don't want to just throw that money away. Additionally, there are typically many more people working out at the gym than anywhere else, so you'll probably be more likely to get caught up in the ambience and energy of others exercising as well. However, on the other hand, because there can be so many people working out at the gym, you may feel intimidated beginning those first steps towards getting back in condition in front of others. When you stop to consider all of the pros and cons with signing up for a gym membership, you may find that making this decision was a more daunting task than you first thought.

Fortunately, there are many gyms and fitness facilities available now to accommodate virtually every factor and consideration involved in your own decision making process. From the large fitness clubs such as Bally's and 24-Hour Fitness to the local YMCA or university health centers, and from the private one-on-one training studios to even mobile Personal Training trailers, chances are excellent that a gym can be found to match your own personal preferences. What's important to keep in mind is that every gym and fitness facility has it's own unique personality and subsequently, there's a gym to match your own unique personality as well. Therefore, with a little gym shopping savvy and factors that we'll providing you for consideration, you'll be on your way towards locating a gym that's a perfect match for you!

Presented here then is a brief summary of several factors for you to consider when shopping for the gym that's right for you:

1) Location

Typically, you're better off when your gym is near to your home or work. The greater the distance that you'll have to travel to exercise, then the greater the chance that you may find an excuse not to. At the same time, don't let location be your sole determining factor, as it's important that you don't join a gym that you dislike simply because it's nearby.

2) Management Attitude

When you walk into your gym, I strongly believe that you should never feel like only a dollar sign or a second-class citizen. Look for honesty, sincerity, politeness, and above all, respect. The vast majority of gyms that I have stepped foot into are operated by managers and staff members that genuinely enjoy their jobs and genuinely enjoy assisting their clients. However, if you feel like a gym is not interested in your needs at all, then you may wish to keep looking.

3) Hours

How does your own personal schedule fit in with the gym's? If conducting early-bird workouts is your best option, then at what time does your gym open up? What if you can only workout late at night? Is your gym a 24-hour gym? Is it open 7 days a week?

4) Price

This factor is actually most people's first consideration when searching for a gym. As this issue can be largely affected by your own personal taste and budget, I would simply propose the following points to consider. First, look at the entire package before you just consider the cost. Being the cheapest gym around does not necessarily make it the best fit for you. You do sometimes get what you pay for. Secondly, be mindful of the contracts you sign. There are fitness chains that have been notorious for absolutely locking you into a long-term contract and then making it nearly impossible to cancel should you decide to withdraw at a later date. If you are not convinced that you're going to stick with regularly working out at a gym, you may then prefer to sign a short-term contract instead even if it costs more per month.

5) Sanitation

For me, this is a direct reflection on management. Bathrooms, showers, pools, saunas, tanning beds, and the gym equipment should be cleaned on a regular basis. Granted, while club members are working out, no gym will ever be 100% perfect, but as long as a club still places an emphasis on proper hygienic practices, then it demonstrates responsibility and concern for their members.

6) Client Volume

If you're just beginning a gym membership for the first time and feel a bit insecure about working out for the first time, you may (or may not) prefer a smaller gym or even a personal training studio. Also, the best gym in the world for you may still be the wrong fit if you're going to have to regularly wait in line to exercise on a piece of equipment. A crowded gym can result in irritable attitudes and inefficient workouts. Your best bet may be to locate a fitness facility with the proper combination of number of members and number of equipment that will allow you to maintain a steady workout.

7) Environment

Do you prefer an "Iron Dungeon" with a perpetual cloud of hand chalk and chorus of loud yells and grunts? Or do you prefer a club that feels more like a Singles joint where the clients seem more concerned with meeting the members of the opposite gender? Just like the design of the gym's building, a gym's environment can come in all versions as well. If you feel uncomfortable upon your initial walk-through, you may wish to continue looking at other gyms and fitness facilities nearby. When you sign up for a gym membership, it's vitally important that you sign up at one that you feel comfortable at and enjoy the atmosphere because if you don't, then there's a good chance that you won't succeed in regularly working out there.

There are still many additional factors not listed here you may wish to consider before selecting the gym of your choice such as amenities, the equipment itself, and the clientele. Just be sure to give yourself a little bit of time to shop around and determine which choice is best for you based on your needs and tastes. I truly believe that signing up for a gym membership is an outstanding investment on your physical and emotional health and is well worth the time and money spent to locate the one that's the best match for you. Most gyms and fitness facilities today are ran by professionals in their field who enjoy their jobs and there is a good chance that this high level of enthusiasm will only energize you further.

So shop around, it's well worth the effort!

Nathan Boyd is author of the highly rated ebook, "The Fitness Lifestyle" and the current Director of Pro Fitness of Texas. Nathan encourages everyone in their pursuit of becoming physically fit and maintaining it for a lifetime. All questions and comments are always welcomed!

Choosing The Right Gym - 10 Tips

Whether you just moved to a new area or have recently decided to add exercise to your weekly routine, choosing the right gym can encourage you to head there more often, hence garnering you positive results.

If you have the time, it's a good idea to visit a few gyms before settling on one in order to see the different things offered and the setup of the gym itself.

That said, here are some more things you should keep in mind before you sign a contract.

Choosing the right gym tip #1

Location & parking

Is the gym located in a place that you would really head to before or after work, or even on the weekends? Women tend not to attend a gym that requires more than a 12-minute drive, so make sure the gym is close enough to where you work or live.

As well, if you like a gym but it takes over 10 minutes to find a parking spot, what are the chances that you'll really be motivated to go day after day? Make sure they have adequate parking facilities.

Choosing the right gym tip #2

Staff & members

Are the staff polite and helpful or do they look at you in a territorial way? It's important to feel welcome by the staff or you may not want to go there very often.

What about the members? Although you can't head there for a week straight to check them all out, you can get a feel for what the clientele is like (I suggest visiting the gyms at a time that you plan to head there and train).

Feel free to ask members how they like it, what they don't like about the gym and how long they've been members. They have nothing to gain by lying.

Choosing the right gym tip #3

Cleanliness

Although gyms can't be 100% germ free, the staff can make an effort to dust and clean the machines regularly. If you see vents filled with years of dust or unhygienic practices, you shouldn't join.

Are there towels and cleaning products available for members to clean up after themselves should they end up sweating on the machines?

Besides checking out the actual gym, take a look at the changing rooms. Are the showers clean? Are the sinks filled with hair and dirt? Are the toilets in working order and hygienic? Are empty lockers filled with dirty tissues and dried mud from women's shoes?

Choosing the right gym tip #4

Amenities

Besides training facilities, does the gym offer daycare services, juice bars and tanning beds? It's awesome when your gym becomes a one-stop shop for all your needs.

What about blow dryers, towels, shampoo, and soap? Does the gym offer these things or will you need to bring them yourself? I've been to gyms that offer everything from free apples to the locks for your lockers, but the membership costs were ludicrous.

Choosing the right gym tip #5

Hours of operation

Not only do you want to know what time the gym opens and closes, you also want to go there at a time when you plan to workout. This will help you figure out if this is the gym for you.

For example, if you plan on doing a lot of cardio at 5:30 p.m., and the gym is packed and all the machines are taken, it's best to know that before you sign up.

Choosing the right gym tip #6

Weight training equipment

What weight do they offer? Do the weights ascend in 2.5-pound increments or 5-pound increments (if you're a beginner, 2.5 pound increments is better)? Do the weights look old and abused or are they well-maintained? Are there a lot of benches?

What about the weighted machines? Are any of them broken or are they all well-maintained? Are there directions on how to use machines posted or are you left to guess what each machine is for?

Choosing the right gym tip #7

Cardio machines

Most gyms offer a host of cardio equipment, the most popular among them being:

o Elliptical machines

o Treadmills

o Upright and spinning bikes

o Stair climbers

o Rowing machines

Not only should you be checking if the cardio equipment is well-kept and in working order, you should also take mental note of how many machines there are. During peak hours, chances are that most, if not all, will be taken.

Do you have to sign in to reserve a machine or does it work on a first-come first-serve basis? Is there a maximum amount of time you can use a machine for?

As well, is there an aerobics room available for jumping rope and other cardio activities?

Choosing the right gym tip #8

Aerobics classes

Some gyms offer aerobics classes as part of the membership cost, while others charge you extra for attending classes. If yoga, Pilates, tae bo, and other classes are very important to you, then you need to find out how each particular gym works.

Choosing the right gym tip #9

Franchise options

If you're checking out franchise gyms, ask about their gym-to-gym policy. That is, if you sign up to this gym near your home and there happens to be one close to your work, can you go to other one without a problem?

Some franchise gyms require that you purchase a "special' membership in order to attend all available facilities.

Choosing the right gym tip #10

Payment plan

Find out how the payment plan works. Sometimes, it's much cheaper to pay the entire year off in one shot rather than make monthly payments, but it's up to you to figure out which option is best for you.

Also, inquire about the gym's cancellation or delay policy. Some gyms will give you a partial refund and allow you to put your membership on hold if you want to go on vacation.

Before you commit yourself to the gym for a year, however, ask for a complimentary pass so that you can experience what the gym is like firsthand.

Choose the right gym

As you can see, there is a lot of ground to cover when you're hunting for the perfect gym, but with a little effort and a lot of questions, you can find yourself the perfect place to workout.

How to Choose the Right Home Gym

While you are considering the purchase of your own home gym you might want to put some thought on where the gym will be located. Different home gyms come in varying sizes and you need to consider where you will be putting the gym. The home gym is going to be delivered by truck and the driver may or may not actually move the gym into the gym's permanent spot. If you live in an older style home and plan on putting it in an upstairs bedroom you many want to be certain it will fit going up the stairs. Also to consider is the weight of the gym as well. Some home gyms come with free weights and weighted bars and can be over 500lbs. Take measurements, think about where you'll locate the gym and make arrangements to move the gym into its permanent location.

Some Assembly Required

When you purchase a home gym some assembly is going to be required once the gym is delivered to your home. The amount of assembly and the ease of assembly is subjective and relative to your abilities. Check with the dealer or distributor about how much assembly will be required and what degree of mechanical skill will be necessary. If you can get your brother-in-law to come over some night and help you to assemble the gym that's great, but asking the right questions before you purchase might save you some time and headache once the gym arrives at your home. Many gyms require very little assembly but almost all do require some.

Easy to Operate

No matter what home gym you purchase it is going to take some time to get use to all the functions that the home gym can perform. Various home gyms can come with a dozen or even two dozen different exercise options and that's good but it shouldn't take a genius to figure them all out from the owner's manual. The ease of learning to operate and utilize the gym can mean you will be enjoying and realizing results sooner more then later. Be certain you can simply and easily understand fully how to use your home gym to avoid injury and achieve desired outcomes.

Ample Workout Stations

Obviously you have exercise goals in mind because you decided to buy a home gym, now make certain the home gym has the potential for you to realize those goals. If your goals are simple and straight forward like more leg strength, upper body strength or toning many gyms will be ideal for reaching those goals. Inquire from the dealer or get a brochure that lists the options a particular gym is equipped you're your goals are a little more advanced you might want to look at a free weight home gym with higher weight levels to continue to meet your changing fitness goals.

Excellent Craftsmanship

A satisfactory purchase of a home gym is going to require an investment of your money. You will want the gym to stand up to years of use and for it to keep on functioning as it was intended. Check to make sure the craftsmanship of the design is such that you can be confident years down the road you will still be satisfied with the gym. A solidly constructed and well engineered home gym ought to be able to bring years of enjoyment to the owner. Obtain reviews of various gyms made by actual owners or consumer reports and give just as much consideration of craftsmanship towards purchasing your home gym as you would your new automobile.

Warranty

Your home gym is a fine piece of engineering designed by competent professionals but on occasion parts do fail and things do go wrong. This is true with just about any product you can purchase. Most home gyms operate for their life expectancy without any major problems whatever, but if something does go wrong you want to make sure the dealer, distributor or manufacturer is going to stand behind its product and make things right. Taking the time to consider the warranty offered with a home gym can save you hundreds of dollars in the event something should unexpectedly go wrong and will need to be shipped back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement.

Price

Home gyms are one of those categories of products that you can expect to get what you pay for. The better designed gyms with more features are naturally going to cost you more money. If a particular home gym has the features and craftsmanship you are looking for don't let the price scare you away. Five years down the road when you are looking to upgrade perhaps the superior design and craftsmanship will payoff in resale value. Of if you are still happy with the gym after 5 years you can be certain it will be functioning just the way it was designed to function. Shopping around and trying to get the best deal is one thing, but understanding what you'll be paying for is quite another.

Richard Spillane. Most of my life I have personally been involved in Fitness in one format or another. As a business executive and manager of [http://www.fitnessequipmentguru.com] I encourage you to visit us and learn more about our services, fitness and nutrition information as well as the high quality products that are available for viewing and purchasing.

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.