Why do there have to be so many things to deal with when we decide that we want to be more active and healthy? Why can’t there just be a magic pill that we can take and make everything better so that we can eat what we want and watch TV all day without any repercussion? Simple, your health doesn’t work that way. You can’t just expect to hire a personal trainer Naples FL and get magical results out of it.
There are a lot of options out there when it comes to your health: home gyms, gym memberships, fad diets, fat-burning pills, and a never ending stream of infomercial products that will reduce the size of our bank accounts far before it will reduce the size of our waists. Most of us have gyms within five or ten miles from their home (there are actually seven within 10 miles of my home) and we have driven by them day in and day out telling ourselves “I really should get back in the gym.” But with all the choices in gyms out there, how do you know which one is best for you?
Let’s get finances out of the way. You should expect to be paying around $40-$50 each month on your gym membership. I’m not saying that it is that amount that makes a good gym, it just seems to be about what you will find with current going rates. If you have a Blue Cross or Medica health insurance plan, then you at least have the option of getting the money back deal that said companies have set up with most gym chains. That’s not to say that all gyms have set up the program, but ask, and if the gym does you can expect to get about $20 off your membership each month provided that you have gone the set number of times that month (most gyms currently necessitate 8 times in the gym each month, but as of January 2007, most will be upping that number to 12 thanks to newly released studies showing the affects of 8 workouts per month versus 12). It is also here that you can get a pretty good idea if the gym is right for you. No money back? Odds are that there is another gym near by that does.
Also with this, take into account that some gyms provide a cheaper monthly due when you sign a long-term contract (18-36 months). The rebate also applies to contracts, but limits you if you decide that you no longer like the gym. If there is any debate, choose to pay a little more for the month-by-month contract option that allows you to cancel your membership at any time.
Beyond finances, make sure that you are given a tour of the facility and a listing of the hours of operation. If there is a particular aspect of working out that you enjoy (heavy bags, large free weight area, pool, basketball court) see if you can find a gym that has what you want. The more you like what your gym has, the more you will want to use it. It sounds simple, but don’t sell yourself sort. Also, if you hold odd hours at your job or schooling, make sure that your gym is accessible when you are available. It’s your money and your fitness at stake.
Next look for proximity. If you find two gyms that you like, that are relatively the same, choose the closest one. The closer the gym the less the reason that you will be able to give yourself excuses for not going. Also, the option to bike or jog to the gym in the warmer months only helps your workout goals.
Finally, judge the gym based on its employees. If you walk into a gym for a tour and feel like you are being pressured into a membership, stand your ground. React if you feel like you are being cornered and tell the sales associate that you need to think about it, especially when it comes to a long term contract. However, don’t misinterpret the membership sales. Most sales associates are only told about special membership deals the day that they happen. While it sounds like a ploy, it is really corporate tactic to keep sellers from just signing people up when it is the cheapest. It’s not the associates fault that they aren’t informed of when things are happening.
Getting a gym membership is more important than you think. Many people take it lightly and throw their money away month after month on something they don’t use, just so that they can tell themselves “At least I have a membership. I’ll go tomorrow.” You health starts at this moment. What you do with in the next few minutes, days and months will set a trend for the rest of your life. Take your decisions seriously.
