During January, so many people make the choice to join a gym, they go a few times, and then after a few weeks they just stop going. Gym memberships are often on a contract of up to 18 months, so this can become a very expensive donation to your local gym if you’re not actually going each week!
So today I am going to talk about what to do if you want to join a gym, and what do do before making the commitment to join that specific gym, so that you’re not committing to something you won’t use.
Before I start, I just want to say that if a gym membership is out of your budget right now, that’s perfectly ok – you don’t have to join a gym or buy expensive equipment if you want to exercise. Some people just do better when they have to go somewhere to work out, while others can be quite motivated to workout at home.
Choosing a gym
Remember, you’re committing to this gym for a while, so it’s important that you do your research before you start handing over your money!
Here are a few things to look for:
Location
Your gym needs to be located somewhere that’s easy for you to get to. If you make it too hard, you just won’t go.
Access to other clubs:
This is a biggie for me. Some clubs may be one-offs and therefore only in one location, but others may have clubs all over your town, state or country. If the membership allows, you may be able to visit any one of their clubs if you’re not close to your “home” club. Again, this makes it easier for you to get to it if you’re out and about.
Inclusions-Coaching
What’s included in your membership? As a certified nutrition and wellness coach, I understand the importance of having a coach. Some clubs have a bunch of inclusions which may include coaching. This is a BIG PLUS! A coach at your gym will help you to set up a workout program that suits your needs, and they’ll be there to check in with you along the way. It also brings about a self-imposed accountability when you know your coach is going to be checking in with you once every 2-3 months!
Inclusions-Facilities
What facilities are available at your club? I only learned recently that some clubs don’t have showers (what???)! So showers are great if you need to be somewhere after your workout. Do they offer a steam room, sauna, group fitness classes, other sports facilities, such as tennis or squash? Does it have a swimming pool for water-based classes? Some women prefer ladies only areas, which many clubs offer.
Price
Be sure to do some price comparisons before you commit to joining any club. My own experience tells me that there’s a huge difference between clubs, and you could find yourself paying too much if you don’t shop around!
Equipment
Some people may be looking for certain types of machines. My husband for example, needs his gym to have pin-based machines which offer stability as he’s nursing an old shoulder injury. He also likes to lift heavy, so he wants to know that the weights on offer are heavy enough for him. If only I were strong enough to care about that! 😀 Some people like cycle/spin classes too, so that’s important for those people. Cycle classes are also great for low impact cardio if that’s the type of exercise that you like.
Try before you buy
This is a biggie for me, because I need to know how the club feels! Many gyms offer a free pass for 5-7 days so you can try out the club before you commit to a contract. This is a fantastic way for you to really get an idea of whether a particular club is going to be right for you – or not.
Because I’m also a bit woowoo, as I mentioned above, the club needs to feel right for me.
If I feel light and expansive when I walk into a particular gym and while I’m there, that’s a great thing! However, if I feel more heavy or constricted in some way, then I know that this gym isn’t for me.
So after my free trial, I can either join up or walk away!
My story – and an idea to help you!
For anyone who’s interested, I thought I’d share this little story about what I’ve been up to and I hope that my story can help you!
The last time I stepped inside a gym
The last time I stepped into a gym was around 7 years ago. I injured my right calf muscle with a 12cm (4.7 inch) tear. It was pretty serious, but to the surprise of my doctor and physiotherapist, I was still able to hobble around on it (I reckon I have a high pain threshold)!
Given I am such an introvert, I sometimes struggled with the social aspect of going to the gym as I didn’t have anybody to go with, so everybody was a stranger to me. After my leg had healed, I just never went back.
Home workouts
Since that time I have dabbled in MANY home workouts, and they’re all amazing workouts, but my consistency sucks! I’ll be great for a week or two, but after that I either injure myself in some way, I catch a cold, or I just give up! Self sabotage much???
If home workouts catch your interest, please reach out and I’ll send you some links. For busy parents, being able to work out at home is a life saver! It will also help you to stay sane! Haha!
Nutrition and strength
Now, while I’m pretty good with my nutrition (as I should be, given I’m a certified Nutrition Coach!), I don’t struggle with my weight as such. But… I know I am not as strong as I used to be, and as I get older, and because I work from home and haven’t moved around as much over the last few years, I can see that this lack of movement and strength training is beginning to take its toll.
Body stuff
My arms aren’t floppy and my legs are still looking pretty good (my husband will confirm!), but I have lost muscle definition in my arms, and my pants are starting to get tighter. NOT GOOD. I do NOT want to have to buy new clothes!
So what have I done about it?
I’ve been talking about how I have managed to keep myself on a good diet (of mostly whole, fresh foods with the occasional treat thrown in), but also how my consistency with working out has sucked.
I do have to say that I do go for walks occasionally, but not consistently (another issue), so I knew I needed to do something.
So the husband has been tossing up the idea of changing gyms, because the gym he’s a member of has only one club, and it’s quite a long drive to get there. Not only is this inconvenient, but it’s costing him a fortune in fuel to get there and back! I “lose” him for well over two hours when he goes to the gym, simply because of how far away it is!
Gym research
Yesterday we began to do some research and of course some gyms don’t show their prices until you sign up to be contacted by them (a big turnoff for both my husband and I), but we did manage to get some pricing on a number of clubs.
We ended up finding a great club that’s inexpensive and only a 15 minute drive away with all of the facilities he was looking for, plus a pool (bonus!). So he signed up for a free trial and left to go to his other gym to work out while he waited for the new gym to contact him.
While he was gone, I decided to go for a walk and I pondered the idea of also joining. It has been so long, but my back is giving me a little bit of grief lately, which I know is a sign my core needs some work! Problem is, I know I’m not consistent!
But if I joined a gym it would absolutely tweak something in me, because I hate paying for things I’m not using, so there’s that! Also, I would have the husband to nag me to go with him! And what’s great about this particular club is that on weekends, we can bring a friend for free! So there’s also that!
I did it!
So I signed up for the 5 day trial and on Thursday I’m going in to check out the club, try a few workouts, and see how I feel about it.
If you’ve been following me for a while here or on my other websites, you will know that I’m all about stepping out of your comfort zone. Making new choices does feel uncomfortable, as does handing over money for a commitment that you’re not 100% sure you’re going to keep! But if you’re able to create some form of accountability (in my case, it’s the financial aspect as well as a naggy husband!), then you’re more likely to stick to it!
What you can do
If you’re tossing up whether a gym membership is for you or not, I do hope that the information I’ve provided here will help you with making your decision. What’s most important though is how you feel about your decision.
Yes it might feel a bit scary, but there’ll also be a twinge of lightness, of expansiveness, which is your sign that you’re on the right track! And once you’re a seasoned member, it will become second nature and become a good part of your new comfort zone!
If you have any questions about this post or if you’d like to know more about the programs or coaching that I offer, please be su9re to reach out.
