by admin on September 26, 2010
You’ve committed or recommitted yourself to fitness. Congratulations! Taking charge of your health is one of the most important decisions you can make. Making fitness a priority positively influences your personal well being and sets a good example for those around you.
If you’ve decided to join a gym in your effort to get in shape then there are a few things to keep in mind. Joining a gym is not the magic pill some people believe it to be. Simply belonging to a gym will not get you in shape. There are many people who joined a gym eight months ago but haven’t stepped inside in over five months. Sometimes this occurs when people join a gym for the wrong reasons.
1. Location
While having a gym close to where you live or work is an obvious plus there are potential drawbacks. Location, location, location is about real estate not about gym memberships. If the gym does not meet your needs or offer the equipment or exercise classes that you’re interested in – take a pass. Scope out the clientele and staff while touring the facility. Make sure you are comfortable with all aspects of the gym.
2. Discounts
Don’t succumb to the pressure to join a gym simply because a discounted rate is being advertised. Special sign-up rates occur every month at gyms that are looking to increase their membership. Choose a gym that has the amenities that you are looking for even if the monthly fee is a bit higher than other gyms in the area. If you don’t see a discount rate advertised for your chosen gym then simply ask the management for their last discounted rate and if they would consider offering it to you. Most gyms will not turn away new members just to save a few dollars on the front end.
3. Personal trainer
If you’re looking for a personal trainer and you think you can only find one at a gym then let me save you some money right now. You can use a Polar F55 or any other Polar heart rate monitor to help you train and get the results that you want. These types of tools are sometimes better than a personal trainer because of the convenience. You work out on your own schedule not on the personal trainer’s schedule.
With warmer weather coming, people think about going to the beach and the pool. It is also around this time that many will start to think about those winter pounds they have packed on. Instead of rushing to the treadmill or stair climber to shed some extra weight, add a gym sport to your routine.
Racquetball is one of the most popular gym sports and it is a great, fun workout. For those unfamiliar with racquetball, it is very much like tennis but enclosed in a rectangular room where the object of the game is to hit it off of the wall instead of to the other side of a net. The racquet is slightly smaller and squatter and the ball is smaller and faster. It is a fantastic aerobic exercise, as you are constantly moving around to chase after the ball. Your legs, arms and shoulders get an amazing workout while you are burning lots of calories.
If your gym has a pool, there are several different ways to burn calories. Water aerobic classes are a surprisingly effective way of working your body without putting excess pressure on your joints. You could also inquire if members of your gym play water polo or even water volleyball. Some gyms will set up small leagues or the members themselves will sometimes take it upon themselves.
Another gym sport to consider is the always popular basketball. Some gyms will have indoor courts that you can readily incorporate into your workout, but you may have to pursue outdoor courts, which is fine for this time of year. The important thing is to have fun while losing weight instead of tolling away for hours on an exercise bike or elliptical machine. Gym sports are great fat burners. For more information, check out The Gym Sports Site.
by admin on January 29, 2010
Having moved into your new home, you are going to be looking into building a home gym. When you are actually looking for fitness equipment, you will find out how expensive it is. As you are going to be spending a lot of money, you want to be sure that everything you buy is of high quality. Should you choose the cheaper ranges, they could work out fairly well for you. Before shopping, you need to determine, “What home gym equipment do I need?“ This will help you to narrow down exactly what you need, so you don’t buy extra stuff that you can’t afford and that won’t fit, and also won’t be used. By this time you will probably think again and decide to stick with the gym pass, as everything will seem too expensive. But be determined, as you can find out some excellent bargains on new and used gym equipment.
I can tell you of many places that can sell affordable gym equipment, that you can buy. The first place to investigate are garage sales. Generally, equipment owners will be ready for a quick sale because they are no longer using the workout machines. Or they may have bought a new piece of equipment and they need to dispose of the old one, as there is not enough room. Most people want to dispose of bulky equipment rapidly, so they make accept far less then what they bought it for. So bring down the price by haggling, and remove it the same day.
Craigslist is another reliable source of buying cheap used equipment. You can check it out yourself in the fitness section and could get some really good bargains. Instead of running around from garage sale to garage sale, let your fingers do the walking and take the hassle out of shopping for your gym workout system. Craigslist usually has pictures of the best home gym equipment. Once again you can bring down the price for a quick sale. It always helps if you have transportation ready to take the item home. If you are not fully prepared then someone might step in and buy it before you do anything. The other reason that you should go through Craigslist is that you can see the workout equipment before and test it to make sure it’s working properly. This way you will cut out any errors and be happy with whatever your purchased.