Joining A Gym
For major weight loss patients as well as people trying to loose weight and or tone up their muscles a gym membership is an important investment. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle or weight loss program requires a regular fitness routine.
People join health clubs to look and feel better overall, as well as to control their weight. Gyms can be a healthy environment to learn the right way to weight train or work out for maximum results.
There are so many fitness options and gym choices out there that it is hard to know where to start. Your individual fitness goals will help determine what type of fitness facility will motivate you and keep you on track.
Outline Your Fitness Goals And Needs
When researching a fitness facility, decide what type of workout you plan to do there. It is also important to decide on the time of day you will be at the gym. Other things to consider are services such as qualified personal trainers, classes, amenities, equipment, and budget.
If you want to work with a personal trainer who has credentials in exercise physiology, a full-service fitness center may be right for you. If you want to be pampered find a health club that provides massage therapy and or spa services. If you like water sports, a gym that has a swimming pool and whirlpool would be best for you. If you only want to play tennis or racquetball, a racquet club or sports club may be the answer.
If a good, basic cross training workout without swimming is all you want, then you should consider a fitness chain in your area. Most of these gyms are equipped with state of the art, high-tech equipment and offer a large variety exercise, yoga and aerobics classes as well as personal training.
Unisex fitness facilities tend to be the most popular option, but some women like facilities that cater to women’s fitness only. The equipment in facilities like Curves tend to have workouts that target women’s specific problem areas, and they provide a comfortable environment for women to exercise.
If you would like a very personal one-on-one fitness program a small facility owned and operated by a certified personal fitness trainer may be the best option for you.
Easy Access
It is important to find the right facility for your fitness and lifestyle needs. Location is one of the most important factors in selecting your health club. It should be easy to get to with plenty of parking or close to public transportation depending on what your needs are. The first basic step is look in the local phone directory either the phone book or online yellow pages, under "health clubs" or "gyms."
Another way to locate fitness clubs in your area through the internet. You can search gyms and see the facilities and services online. One site you may consider is, www.Healthclubs.com or do a general search online for fitness facilities.
Speak with your friends and get feed back on local gyms that they may belong to. Sometimes it is nice to have a friend to help keep you on track (the buddy system).
Call at least 2 or 3 established health facilities and book appointments to tour the facilities. Ask about the hours of operation and their busy times. Depending on what your workout schedule and needs are will determine a facility or gym that is best for your needs.
If you are an employee of a college or university, you are probably eligible to use the fitness on campus. If you are in the military, find out if your local base has a workout facility. Other low cost options are to call your city recreation department. Many towns or cities have public facilities like pools, gyms and skating rinks. Some programs are associated with local high schools and provide very low cost fees for tennis, squash, swimming and aerobic programs.
Alternative options for reasonable health club fees may be your local YMCA. Many centers have been updated with fully outfitted fitness centers, racquetball courts, basketball courts, pools, and multi-purpose fitness rooms and classes. YMCAs all charge a one time initiation fee that is transferable to any other YMCA.
Trial Run
When you find 2 or 3 clubs you like, take advantage of their trial membership policy or one-day pass. If they provide personal training ask about a complimentary workout evaluation with a personal trainer. Go at same workout times that you would be working out to see if there is a wait to use equipment and if the facilities are clean. Look at the locker rooms, bathrooms and showers. Does the gym provide clean towels and or lockers? Get a feel for the environment. Is there music, televisions, a friendly helpful staff? Are people talking to each other? How does it "feel" to you? Is it an environment that would inspire you to reach your fitness goals and a place you feel comfortable going to on a regular basis?
Determine if the work out atmosphere is one you'll be comfortable in. If you will be working out at night make sure the parking lot is well lit possibly with security and or surveillance cameras. Make sure you feel safe coming and going to the fitness facility.
Fitness Certification
If you are interested in fitness classes ask if the gyms exercise instructors are certified by a nationally recognized organization such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, or the National Strength & Conditioning Association. Make sure that all fitness trainers are CPR-certified. This will help you to maximize your fitness levels and avoid injuries.
Child Care
If you have children many gyms offer babysitting services for parents. Tour the child care area and ask who watches the children and what the gyms policy is for taking care of the children while you work out.
Signing On the Dotted Line
There are many plans and options available. Be careful to find the right one for your needs and budget. Some fitness clubs offer couples, single parent, family or other promotional discounts including incentives for you to refer your friends. Membership dues and initiation fees including some conditions are almost always negotiable.
Lifetime memberships or multi-year contracts that require a large payment up front may not be the best option to get started. Don’t sign a contract for any more than one year in advance, and make sure that your contract has an "escape or cancellation clause," allowing you to cancel your membership or receive a rebate if you relocate, become sick or disabled and unable to use the facilities. If you are sick, having surgery or can’t use the gym for an extended time some gyms accept a doctors note and will not charge you for the time you can’t use the facility or they may extend your contract the amount of ,”Sick time” you couldn’t use the gym.
Never feel pressured to join because a promotion is ending “today”. Most deals are often still available whenever you decide to sign up soon after the special offer expires.( if in doubt or concerned about speak to the sales person) It is usually best to read the contract and take a day or two to review it and then if you are satisfied sign it. Make sure your contract covers everything you've discussed with club management. Never rely on verbal agreements.
Most gyms will match other offers from their competitors. It pays sometimes to research the all the options. Remember even though it is just a gym membership it is still a legal and binding contract so take care to get the most for your money.
Health Insurance Incentives
Some health care providers (HMO's) and third-party private insurers either offer discounted health club memberships as part of their benefits plan or they may pay a portion of your initiation fee. It is in their best interest to have healthy members with less health problems. Check it out with your individual insurance provider. It may pay off!
Fitness For Life
Joining a gym or health club is a maintenance program for continued weight loss and good health. Make working out a regular part of your lifestyle. A gym membership can be a good investment in you. But be sure to select a facility that works best for your location, schedule and fitness needs so you'll take full advantage of all the services available.
BEFORE STARTING ANY FITNESS PROGRAM CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR FIRST
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