What to look for when selecting a gym?
Discussion
I'm on a bit of a health drive since I gave up smoking. My diet has improved and I am out cycling fairly regulalry so I'm thinking about joining a gym. I've never set foot in a gym before so it's a totally new experience for me.
I've had a look around on the net and I've got a few to choose from. Obviously price will come into it but I don't want to get tied up for 12 months at the wrong place because they haven't got the right stuff.
I might be talking nonsense but as I don't know anything about them I thought I might post this up anyway. Is there anything I should be on the look out for or are they all pretty much of a muchness and I should just join the one I think looks the best? I'm planning on going round and having a look at them all on Tuesday.
For anyone that's local I'm looking in the Hinckley/Nuneaton area if anyone's got any specific recommendations.
Thanks everyone
I've had a look around on the net and I've got a few to choose from. Obviously price will come into it but I don't want to get tied up for 12 months at the wrong place because they haven't got the right stuff.
I might be talking nonsense but as I don't know anything about them I thought I might post this up anyway. Is there anything I should be on the look out for or are they all pretty much of a muchness and I should just join the one I think looks the best? I'm planning on going round and having a look at them all on Tuesday.
For anyone that's local I'm looking in the Hinckley/Nuneaton area if anyone's got any specific recommendations.
Thanks everyone
It really depends on a number of things including your goals. For instance do you need coaching? If so then the majority of the lifestyle gym instructors know a little less than nothing.
Dependent on your goal depends on the equipment and facilities you need.
My example is I wanted to learn more about weight lifting so I joined a back street lifting gym because joining a lifestyle gym and trying to get coaching off the NVQ brigade would never get me anywhere near where I wanted to go. So for me I selected the coach above the gym, my coach is well known. It's also a bonus that this type of gym costs very little (£25 p/m).
The goal, the coaches, the equipment and the price is how I look at it.
Dependent on your goal depends on the equipment and facilities you need.
My example is I wanted to learn more about weight lifting so I joined a back street lifting gym because joining a lifestyle gym and trying to get coaching off the NVQ brigade would never get me anywhere near where I wanted to go. So for me I selected the coach above the gym, my coach is well known. It's also a bonus that this type of gym costs very little (£25 p/m).
The goal, the coaches, the equipment and the price is how I look at it.
Dont forget location.
When are you intending to go? On the way to/ from work? Lunch breaks? Weekends? Depending on your motivation you may need to make it very easy to get to.
Most lifestyle type gyms will give day passes to help you get a feel.
You then need to decide if you will be going to classes or training on your own.
When are you intending to go? On the way to/ from work? Lunch breaks? Weekends? Depending on your motivation you may need to make it very easy to get to.
Most lifestyle type gyms will give day passes to help you get a feel.
You then need to decide if you will be going to classes or training on your own.
I'd suggest if you're going to go to the trouble of going to the gym, set yourself a goal and stick to it.
Too often do I see folk who join the gym with the right intentions and aimlessly try get healthy then drift off from it.
Set yourself a goal even if it's a small or fun goal and stick with it. It could be losing 5lb a month or build some muscle etc
Too often do I see folk who join the gym with the right intentions and aimlessly try get healthy then drift off from it.
Set yourself a goal even if it's a small or fun goal and stick with it. It could be losing 5lb a month or build some muscle etc
NeMiSiS said:
stuff
Personally, if I were going to a gym, as OC suggests, I'd have a goal in mind. If it were just to improve my overall fitness, then choose a clean, modern one with decent equipment but most importantly of all has hot totty at the times you intend to go.
Of course, if you have specific goals like OC then you'll have to choose a specialist gym. If you want to check out women, try a BodyPump class. They do object if you just watch through the window, though. That is the only reason I'd pay £50 a month to use a gym as I have my own kit and bags of motivation.
More great points, I suppose weight loss is the main goal. I have a couple of bikes, one I'm too fat to ride so I want to get back out on it but I would need to loose 25kg so thats a start.
I think I'll have a look around and try one of them out for 6 months and I'll go from there. Thanks for your help.
I think I'll have a look around and try one of them out for 6 months and I'll go from there. Thanks for your help.
didelydoo said:
To be fair, if you just want general weight loss I'd just go for the cheapest, closest, most convenient one. It'll most likely have everything you'll need
Or go for the furthest one... and walk there.
You're right, of course - the fewer excuses you can put in the way of getting fit, the longer you'll stay at it. If you can avoid stuff like "it's too late" or "there's too much traffic" or "I'm low on petrol" then great.
How busy it is.
I joined a budget gym and although it is cheap and lArge it gets busy - very busy. So much so that I would rather pay more for a quieter palce.
On the plus side place is 24 hours - a facility that I make use of as it suits me.
I would also echo the above advice - if you want to do free weights choose a non mainstream type gym as most of them tend not to have too much in the way of freeweights and where they do there are normally big queues for them. Find a palce with loads of free weight equipment.
Also consider whetehr you wanna pay extra for a pool and other stuff or you just want a raw gym. You might end up wanting access to a Pool when you just joined a gym that does have one
DO NOT GIVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO THE SALES PEOPLE OF ANY GYMS YOU DONT WANT TO JOIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I joined a budget gym and although it is cheap and lArge it gets busy - very busy. So much so that I would rather pay more for a quieter palce.
On the plus side place is 24 hours - a facility that I make use of as it suits me.
I would also echo the above advice - if you want to do free weights choose a non mainstream type gym as most of them tend not to have too much in the way of freeweights and where they do there are normally big queues for them. Find a palce with loads of free weight equipment.
Also consider whetehr you wanna pay extra for a pool and other stuff or you just want a raw gym. You might end up wanting access to a Pool when you just joined a gym that does have one
DO NOT GIVE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO THE SALES PEOPLE OF ANY GYMS YOU DONT WANT TO JOIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How close it is to your house and how cheap it is.
Those two things are the reason most people stop going, its too far away so they don't go and the £50 aint worth it.
I left a great david lloyd to join a ymca gym, on the basis it was cheap, and it was 100 yards from my flat so I'd go more often, its working.
Those two things are the reason most people stop going, its too far away so they don't go and the £50 aint worth it.
I left a great david lloyd to join a ymca gym, on the basis it was cheap, and it was 100 yards from my flat so I'd go more often, its working.
Close to home doesn't work for me - close to work is far more important.
If I go to the gym on my way home it's easy. I f I get home and then have to go to again it just does't happen.
More important than the gym is eating right, especialy considering the about of fat you want to shift. As is often said, it's far easier to not eat 500 kcal's than work it off in the gym.
Best of luck.
If I go to the gym on my way home it's easy. I f I get home and then have to go to again it just does't happen.
More important than the gym is eating right, especialy considering the about of fat you want to shift. As is often said, it's far easier to not eat 500 kcal's than work it off in the gym.
Best of luck.
5705 said:
Been wondering about this, too. A date I had said she joined her local rugby club's gym (some system that lets outsiders use the equipment for very little money on a per-session basis).
So I've started to look for something similar.
So she wants to be the only girl in a gym full of lumpy ugly rugby chaps? So I've started to look for something similar.
The gym at my rugby club is the most unpleasant place in the whole world! You wouldn't think any enclosed place could smell that bad!
I'd say to the OP look for a gym that isn't full of skinny kids doing 2 hour bicep sessions before going to the disco (or wherever da yoof go these days).
My gym (not the club gym) just kept on selling memberships and it got so busy you couldn't move.
It seems to me that gyms are set up soley to gather huge memberships and stuff the members. I quit, saved £75 a month and go walking.
I do however miss the cuties in the steam room.
Sorry, that sounded, and was, quite pervy.
Edited by silverthorn2151 on Wednesday 31st August 17:19
My tips.
1. Visit each gym at the time's you intend on going. That way you can see how busy it is and be prepared.
2. Try and ask for a free / discounted trial to ensure it suits. The likes of fitness first do a 4 month or 6 week option.
3. Put your weights away when you've used them.
4. I never normally listen to anyone trying to tell me that im doing it wrong, unless they are bigger than me
5. Read mens health and see that Mondays everyone does chest etc. etc. Alternate your workout depending on what everyone else seems to do that day.
6. Enjoy
1. Visit each gym at the time's you intend on going. That way you can see how busy it is and be prepared.
2. Try and ask for a free / discounted trial to ensure it suits. The likes of fitness first do a 4 month or 6 week option.
3. Put your weights away when you've used them.
4. I never normally listen to anyone trying to tell me that im doing it wrong, unless they are bigger than me
5. Read mens health and see that Mondays everyone does chest etc. etc. Alternate your workout depending on what everyone else seems to do that day.
6. Enjoy
All the above are good points.
I have been a member of many gyms over the years. I'm just about to go back to the first one I ever joined as they have great jacuzzis, sauna etc. I used to find I would go to indulge (particularly on a weekend after a few beers the night before) and think well I may as well do an hour in the gym first.
I have been a member of many gyms over the years. I'm just about to go back to the first one I ever joined as they have great jacuzzis, sauna etc. I used to find I would go to indulge (particularly on a weekend after a few beers the night before) and think well I may as well do an hour in the gym first.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff