Life Fitness Health

Developing a successful personal fitness routine is a very different process for different personalities and fitness levels. Some people enjoy the atmosphere and motivation they get from a big-name fitness center, while others prefer the quiet privacy of the weight bench in their own basement. By looking at the advantages and disadvantages of different fitness styles, you can deveop a personalized fitness program that will help you reach your fitness goals.

Fitness clubs:
Undoubtedly the most popular fitness choice, a health club/fitness center has many benefits to offer its members. The services vary between the smaller, neighborhood health clubs and the multi-level national franchises. Some offer the basics: cardiovascular training equipment (treadmills and stationary bikes) along with free-weights and benches for strength training. Others offer the same fitness equipment, but also have rooms for fitness classes, swimming pools, basketball and racquetball courts, childcare centers, and even healthfood cafes.

The many advantages of fitness centers include the access to professional fitness training by certified trainers and the variety of fitness options. Whether you choose to have a fitness program designed by one of the fitness instructors or choose to mix up your routine between weight training, kickboxing classes, and swimming, boredom with your workout should be far from your mind. In addition, fitness centers are a great way to meet people. Many members find people with similar fitness goals and workout schedules and learn how to help motivate each other.

On the other hand, “too many people” is a common deterrent from working out at health clubs. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to fit in a workout on your own tight schedule and having to wait on the fitness equipment you need because someone else beat you to it! Furthermore, where there is a high quantity of sweaty people moving about and sharing the same equipment, it leaves you to question how sanitary a fitness center can be. And perhaps the most widely heard complaint of all — what happens when you sign that two-year membership contract for $50 a month and you get a new job that offers a fitness center to its employees for free? Yes, most cases you still have to pay for your private fitness club membership through the remainder of the contract, whether you use it or not!

So you think joining a fitness club is the right choice for you? Here is some advice before you sign the 3-year contract they will try and sell you.

1. Talk to your friends, family, and coworkers to learn their experiences at the local fitness clubs. You may want to join a club where you already know people that frequent it. This can be a good accountability tool. On the other hand, you may not want to go where you know people, as it may be a social distraction. I personally like to get in, do my workout, and get out as soon as possible without talking to many people. I have found that if I spend too much time visiting, I’ll cut my own workout short in order to get home in time for a certain TV show or household chores.

2. Look for fitness clubs that offer trial memberships. After you’ve done your research, pick two or three fitness centers you are interested in, and ask each about a trial membership. Often times these memberships will include 3 visits or unlimited visits over a two week time frame. Use these trial memberships in order so you can get a good feel for each fitness center. This will help you try out each club with no strings attached, making sure you find the right fitness center for you.

3. Once you’ve decided which gym you would like to join, take time out to go talk with a sales representative. Talk to them about your ideal workout schedule and the things you would like to include in your workout. Many gyms offer different levels of membership that range in pricing, depending on the fitness services which you see yourself using. Also ask about “friends & family” type discounts (if you already know a gym member). Sometimes you can score a discounted rate by “adding on” to a friends or family member’s existing membership.

4. Finally, when you and the sales representative have settled on a membership quote, don’t sign write away. Tell them you’d like to think about it for a few days. Whether or not money is an issue, signing up for a gym membership is similar to buying a car. Many times gyms have an “initiation fee” that you pay upfront before any monthly costs. Most of the time you can wheel and deal for a lower price. See if they can finance the initiation fee into your montly costs, take 50% off the amount, or just waive the initiation fee altogether. Use your negotiation skill to workout the best deal for your fitness club membership.

5. Last but not least, make the most of your fitness center membership! Try not to spend the entirety of membership on the same treadmill in the back corner. Take advantage of the free initial personal training that most fitness centers offer, which will also give you the opportunity to try equipment you may not have previously considered. By using the different services offered by your fitness center, you can optimize your fitness program, while decreasing the likelihood of workout boredom.

Please feel free to comment on this (or any posts on life-fitness-health.com). Especially if you have other tips, pros, or cons involved in fitness center memberships.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 20th, 2006 at 4:40 am and is filed under General fitness tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.