Time To Join A Gym

If you read testimonies of people who went from being unhealthy to healthy there are usually a few similarities among them. Some people get healthy as a result of a health scare, many people will talk about what a struggle the process was initially, and almost all of them will attribute joining a gym as one of the greatest decisions they made for their health. You may already belong to a gym and just don't utilize it like you should, or maybe you have been avoiding joining a gym because you just don't want to be in that environment. One thing is for sure, however, and that's the fact that you need to find one way or another to get some exercise most days of the week. For many people the only way they can be sure of that is to join a good gym.

IT'S INEVITABLE

Unless you're blessed to live in an exercise-friendly location, enroll. Some people have the distinct pleasure of living in a town or city that has enviable weather throughout the entire year in addition to being the type of place where bike paths are accessible and walking is the norm. You may not need to join a gym if you are fortunate enough to live somewhere that has great naturally-occurring opportunities for you to get enough exercise. Maybe you live in a place where you can visit scenic hiking trails every weekend. Perhaps you can walk to work. If you are lucky enough to get enough exercise already without the use of a gym then don't worry about paying the cost of a gym if you don't think you'll ever use it.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't tour a few gyms to get an idea for the various amenities offered and to see if maybe the gym offers some exercise classes you would like to take. If you walk into the gym for a tour, however, and are overcome by the stifling nature of working out inside a building instead of in the great outdoors then don't force the issue. Joining a gym and paying monthly dues for a service you will never use is certainly not going to help you in your quest to get healthy. Additionally, you certainly won't be motivated to get healthier if you are absolutely miserable in an indoor gym setting. You may want to look into joining a more specialized membership place that caters to your specific interests. Yoga studios, rock-climbing gyms, and outdoor boot camp programs are all examples of places that require membership dues but do not necessarily stifle you with boring activities. The decision ultimately rests on one question: Would joining a gym further motivate you in your aspirations toward better health?

It doesn't have to be extremely expensive. There are some gyms that are monstrous fitness centers complete with restaurants, spas, and more amenities than you will probably ever need or use. Although many people enjoy these amenities greatly (and probably feel quite special for belonging to such an expensive fitness center) there is really no reason to jump into membership at a place like this unless that's what you need to get motivated. A lot of gyms require a contractual membership, so once you join one you either have to stay there for a predetermined number of months or years while paying the monthly dues or you need to break the contract and pay the fees associated with early termination.

If you live in an area that has several different gyms to choose from then you should take the time to tour the various offerings and figure out where you can get the best bang for your buck. If money is an issue for you then don't be shy about asking for ways you can have enrollment fees waived or reduced prices on monthly membership fees. Sales consultants at gyms often don't offer reduced prices for anything, but if you ask to speak to a manager you may find great ways to get a lower overall cost for your gym membership.

Some gyms will offer reduced membership prices for members who only visit the gym on three or four predetermined days during the week. This can actually work better for some people who like to have a workout schedule set in stone because if you know you have paid to go to the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday then you will always know that these are the days you need to go. You'll probably pay less than half the amount you would have for a full membership that is valid throughout the entire week. Just be sure that you don't forsake an optimal workout just because you're trying to get a good deal on your gym membership…if you know you'll want access to the gym every day and that this is what you need to stay motivated then don't even bother asking about a limited membership. It's great to save money, but you do need to do what's necessary to get healthy.

Do a home gym if you can't join one. You might have limited mobility, or maybe you are just entirely too scared to join a gym right now. If there is a paralyzing reason why you aren't able to join a gym at this time then you should try to fashion a home gym as best you can. Your home gym doesn't have to be elaborate - although if you have the money and the space then go ahead and knock yourself out - but your starting point can be something as simple as an exercise mat parked in front of your television so you can either do some exercise DVDs or at the very least do some stretching exercises while watching regular TV. As time progresses and you start to feel ready to expand your exercise repertoire then you can slowly start adding some other elements to your home gym. You can buy some light weights or resistance bands and you may eventually wind up sporting an impressive collection of exercise equipment as you get more and more involved in getting into better shape.

You should evolve in your efforts to someday either develop a nice home gym that effectively gives you the workout you want or instead work up the courage to join a regular gym where you can be pushed even harder to achieve your goals. If you have a steadfast way about you and you know you can get fit with some water jugs as weights and fast jogs around the block for cardio then you needn't feel compelled to join a gym as long as you are seeing results and you continue to stay motivated. If your efforts at your home gym prove not to be as effective as you had hoped, or if you begin to plateau and can't seem to make any more progress, then it's time to join a gym.

GET A PERSONAL TRAINER

Yes, they're expensive. Becoming a personal trainer involves education and training, and so it's only natural that these professionals want to be compensated for their time. Most gyms have personal trainers on staff, or endorse certain personal trainers who work on a contractual basis with the gym, so the gym usually gets a portion of the fees charged for the sessions. The better the certification of the personal trainer the more money they can charge and still expect people to pay. Make sure that any personal trainer you use is actually allowed to give sessions at the gym you attend. Most gyms have strict rules about who can mill about offering advice, so if another gym attendee approaches you and offers you a session for a fee then you need to make sure that this person is actually allowed to do so. You don't want to pay a bunch of money for personal training with someone who doesn't actually have the permission or proper certification to offer training sessions.

Remember that personal training certifications are separate from group exercise certifications, so just because your aerobics instructor is fantastic it does not necessarily mean that he or she is certified to join you in the gym and show you how to work the machines for a fee. It's one thing if an experienced exerciser wants to take the time to show you around and help you develop a program conducive to your needs, but it's another thing when money exchanges hands in the process. To find the best personal trainer for the least amount of money, you should talk to the employees at the gym and find out if there are any special introductory offers available for people who are new to personal training sessions.

For some people a few sessions is all they will really need to get started while other people need someone there for some time to help them in their workout sessions. If you don't like your personal trainer then find another… you don't want to allow a personal trainer that you don't mesh well with to derail you from your motivation to get healthy. In the best case scenario you will find a trainer who is able to keep you motivated while also giving you the resources you need to eventually not need the training anymore because you are confident in your own abilities.

You want to make sure you're doing everything right. If you have been attending a gym for quite some time you may be surprised to find out that there are some exercises that are notoriously done incorrectly. For example, allowing your knees to extend past your toes during a squat (with or without weights) is a big no-no, but it's something that many people may not even know that they aren't supposed to do…and it can result in some pretty substantial injuries in addition to turning the exercise into a much less effective exercise. A personal trainer can check out your form to make sure that you are doing everything correctly to avoid injury and to see the quickest results from your efforts. A personal trainer can also devise an exercise program for you that is catered to your wants and needs.

If you have any previous injuries, such as back injuries, knee injuries, or anything else that might be of special consideration, your personal trainer can tell you which exercises to avoid so that you won't make your injury any worse. Besides, one of the biggest problems with people who are new to the gym experience is the propensity toward initial injury since they jump right in without much regard for proper form and balance. If you hurt yourself the first time you go to the gym you're probably going to have a hard time getting motivated to go back, especially if the injury is so bad that your doctor makes you take some time off from physical activity. A competent personal trainer will make sure that you don't do any knuckleheaded moves while also keeping you motivated.

Some personal trainers guarantee results. Now here is some good motivation for your personal trainer: many gyms and trainers offer a money-back guaranteed deal where you will get your money back for personal training if you don't lose a certain amount of weight or reach the certain goals that you and the trainer agree upon before starting your sessions. This is a great deal for you because you know that your personal trainer is going to do all he or she can to make sure that you're on the right track in order to avoid having to pay you back for the sessions you paid for. Ideally, you will find a personal trainer who is motivated by the desire and drive to see you succeed and get healthy, and not a trainer who is merely motivated by not wanting to pay back the cost of previous sessions.

Whatever the motivation, however, it's good to know that your personal trainer will do whatever possible to help you get healthy. Don't stick with a personal trainer that you don't like just because there is a satisfaction guarantee. Make sure that the personal trainer you decide to work with is one that you feel motivated by and who seems extremely knowledgeable. You'll be more motivated to listen to your trainer if you trust the advice you're given. A guarantee by your personal trainer is great, but it should not be the only reason why you choose to stay with a particular trainer. You need to find someone who is going to deliver concrete results while also doing a great job of keeping you motivated.

ENJOY THE COMRADERIE & AMENITIES

Get an exercise buddy. You will hear this time and again when you are trying to get into shape and improve your health: find an exercise buddy who will motivate you while also holding you accountable. You're lucky if you have someone who is of the same frame of mind that you are and wants to get healthier too, but if you don't then you may be able to find someone at the gym you join. Pay attention to the people who seem to work out around the same time you do on consistent days and then try striking up a conversation and see if you might be able to start keeping each other accountable for showing up at the gym on certain times and days. Some websites offer match-up programs for workout buddies, and some gyms even offer these services as well in an attempt to keep members motivated.

Keep in mind that if you are introverted by nature and really can't stand the company of other people, or if you have an erratic schedule and would be a truly unreliable exercise buddy for anyone, then there is really nothing wrong with going solo instead of seeking out someone to exercise with. You also don't need to look too far for people if you do like the idea of having an exercise partner but don't necessarily like the idea of approaching people you don't know.

Your spouse, your neighbor, or anyone else with access to the same gym can meet you at scheduled times and work out alongside you and keep you motivated. You can even seek out exercise buddies beyond the gym. There's no rule saying that you can't be held accountable by your dog who is relying on you to go for a brisk walk every day after you get home from work. After all, the sad look in your dog's eyes when you declare that you don't feel like going for a walk should be motivation enough to get you to put on your walking shoes and grab the leash. It comes down to this: if you easily find motivation from other people then you should really consider finding an exercise partner to keep you going. If you find your motivation from within and cringe at the thought of being accountable to another person, then stick to what you're doing as long as the motivation is there.

Take some classes. Exercise classes are great for a few reasons. The classes are taught by people who are trained to keep students motivated while also knowing how to give an effective workout that covers many different muscle groups. Instructors can also make sure that the people in the class are doing the exercises correctly in order to avoid injuries. Another great element to attending group fitness classes is the fact that you're probably competing with everyone around you…even if the instructor tells you not to.

You will inevitably compare your performance to the performance of everyone else around you and adjust accordingly, making sure that you are kicking as high as the person next to you or stretching as well as the person in front of you. Not everyone does this, of course, because not everyone is blessed with a healthy competition streak. You will more than likely work harder than you would if you were doing the class on a DVD in the comfort of your own home because you don't want to appear to your instructor and classmates as though you aren't giving the class your full effort.

An additional bonus to group exercise classes at a gym is the fact that you may stumble upon something that you never figured you would enjoy. For example, you might have always avoided any class that involved punching or kicking because you always figured your pacifistic nature would stop you from getting a lot out of the class, but then when you finally take a kickboxing class you discover that you absolutely love it. Or maybe you always figured that your two left feet would keep you from keeping up in a high-paced aerobics class complete with dance-like moves, but when you finally give the class a try you find that you can keep up and still manage to have a great time.

You'll never know until you give it a try, and if you're fortunate enough to join a gym with some eclectic group exercise offerings then you may find yourself enjoying a belly dancing class or an exercise stripping class (seriously, these are offered at gyms all over the country). Make a vow to try each class your gym offers at least once to see which one gets you motivated. You may find that there are a few classes that you wind up enjoying.

Get a massage, have a smoothie, sit in the sauna. Going to the gym does not have to be one hundred percent hard work. Gym owners are smart people and know that they should make their gyms as friendly and inviting as possible. If you can make the gym a place where you really enjoy going and not only working out but also having a little relaxation time as well then you may be more likely to keep going. You can consider the various amenities offered at the gym as motivations to come back. You can keep a log of your workouts and promise yourself a smoothie after an hour of working out, or maybe a massage after a consecutive week of workouts. Whatever it is you need to keep you motivated, go ahead and indulge if it helps you to stay on course. You may as well enjoy your gym for everything it offers.

If you work out at a gym that is relatively bare-bones and does not offer any additional amenities then that's fine as long as you can still motivate yourself to go. After all, not everyone likes the idea of smoothie bars and other fluff within their gym. If this sounds like something you would really like and would find incredibly motivating then you might want to look around for another gym. There are plenty of gyms around that cater to people who enjoy having various amenities available. You may have to pay more for your membership, but if it helps you stay motivated then that's a good enough reason for the extra cost as long as you can afford it.

Being physically active is one of the single best things you can do to help your body get healthier. Unless you have a job that keeps you constantly moving and gives you adequate physical exertion throughout the day then you're probably going to have to join a gym. Even if the idea seems intimidating to you, you'll probably be surprised at how quickly you find yourself really enjoying the so-called "gym culture." It will only be a matter of time before you are urging your friends who do not attend a gym to join up with you because you're having such a good time.

On the next page we will discuss why and how you need to Get Your Mind Working.