One of the key decisions every weight lifter must make
includes where they are going to work out and weight train. This is a vital
decision that could either help you reach your goal or make it impossible to
reach your goal. You may be thinking to yourself, “How could such a small
decision affect my outcome?” One of the way that a gym could stop you from
reaching your goal is by not having the required equipment or weights for your
particular goal. For example, a gym may not have squat racks which will make it
nearly impossible to have a good leg workout/back workout. Another way that
gyms could stop you from reaching your goal is by having a poor or undesirable
atmosphere. After all, if you do not enjoying being somewhere, then it will be
difficult to spend any meaningful time there. For example, Planet Fitness is
not meant for serious weight lifters or power lifters. They discourage dropping
weights, making sounds, and they do not allow the use of chalk. So what should
you look for when choosing a gym? Mainly, when looking for a gym you want to
consider: cost, equipment, type of members, location, hours of operation,
membership privileges, and extra features.
Cost is
one of the most important considerations when choosing a gym. The price for
gyms can vary greatly based on location, equipment, and the extra features that
the gym provides. I have personally seen costs as low as $10 a month and as
high as $100 a month. So it is important to think about what type of gym your
budget allows for and whether you will take advantage of the extra amenities
that pricey gyms offer. When choosing a gym, try to time your membership so
that you can take advantage of seasonal price discounts. Some of the best times
to join a gym are during the period after New Year’s because most gyms will be running
specials. Also, whenever possible, try to avoid being locked into long-term
agreements that will force you to stay at the same gym even if you are unhappy
with it.
The equipment
that a gym offers is the second most important consideration when shopping
around for a new gym. You should look at the dumbbell area, the free weight
area, the weight machine area, and the cardio machine area. For dumbbells, you
want to make sure that the maximum weights offered will be sufficient for your
workout needs (some gym’s dumbbells only go up to 50lbs!). You also want to
make sure that there are multiple sets of dumbbells in each weight because when
it is busy you do not want to be wasting time waiting for a set of dumbbells.
For the free weight area, you want to make sure there are different benches set
up for decline bench, incline bench and regular bench. You also want to make
sure that there are squatting racks because they serve a variety of important
purposes. For weight machines, you want to make sure that there are a variety
of different machines that will target all areas of your body. Finally, for
cardio machines, you want to make sure there is some variety (stair machines, elliptical
machines, treadmills, etc.). You also want to make sure that there is a sufficient
amount of cardio machines so that even during peak times you will still be able
to do a cardio workout.
The type
of members that a gym has and attracts is also an important aspect to consider
when looking for a new gym. If you are new to weight lifting then you may be
intimidated by hulking monsters that lift 2-3 times more than you. Or you may
look for a gym that has these types of members because they may serve as
motivation or be good sources of weight lifting information.
The
location of a gym that you are considering being a member of is also very
important. There are two main things to consider in terms of location. The
first, is where you will most likely be driving from to get to the gym, your
house or your place of work. Secondly, how far away the gym is from this location.
The farther away the gym is, the less likely you will be inclined to go after a
long hard day.
The hours
that a gym is open between is also an important thing to consider when picking
a new gym. For example, you may be planning on going to the gym after work, but
the gym is only open for an hour after you get off. This situation will only
set you up for failure in terms of reaching your weight lifting goals because
you will always be constrained by time. The best hours that a gym can offer is
being open twenty four hours a day. You never know when the itch to lift or be
active will hit you! I also find that lifting weights helps calm me and relieve
my stress. So, I like having the option of going whenever I want to.
It is
also important to consider the membership privileges that different gyms offer.
For example, if you like tanning, there a gyms that offer free tanning or
discounts for tanning services. One of the biggest membership privileges of
being able to attend other gyms are often offered by chain gyms. For example,
if you have a membership to Xsport Fitness, you can have access to the dozens
of other Xsport Fitness Center locations around the country. That way, if you
are on a business trip or vacation, you can still find a location to workout
at.
The extra
features that many gyms offer should also be a big part of your criteria when
searching for a new gym. Some of the extras to look for include: daycare, juice
bars, tanning beds, massage therapy, physical therapy, towel service, pools, Jacuzzis,
saunas, steam rooms, basketball courts, televisions on cardio machines, card
based lockers, climbing walls, racquetball courts, and small retail sections to
buy supplements. The amount of extras depends of the cost of the membership so
you may be limited on this decision. However, many extras may not apply to you such
as daycare, or you may not be interested in taking advantage of the various
extras that many gyms provide. So why pay more for extras that you are not
going to use? So it is important to decide early on which extras you need and
are willing to pay for and then use that as criteria for choosing a gym.
In
conclusion, there are many different things to consider when looking for a gym,
and every person’s criteria are different. Or simply, there is no such thing as
a perfect gym. However, there may be a perfect gym for you based on your needs,
wants, and budget. I have personally worked out at three different school gyms,
and four different commercial gyms. I have been a member of Bally’s Total
Fitness, Xsport Fitness, Lifetime, and most recently Gold’s Gym. Currently, Gold’s
Gym fits my needs, however, when I have to change gyms I will consider all
these factors before making any decisions.
To read additional tips on how to choose a gym, please visit: 7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Gym
To read additional tips on how to choose a gym, please visit: 7 Things to Consider When Choosing a Gym
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