Choosing a gym

As a former sport-phobic I never thought I’d say these words, but I’m a huge advocate for going to the gym. Aside from helping you maintain a healthy weight and keeping you fit, regular exercise is good for stress, improves concentration levels, gives you energy and helps you sleep better. When I leave the gym, I feel happy, positive and revitalised. I just wish I could bottle that feeling to motivate me to go in the first place because dragging myself there is tough, especially when I’m tired after work and just want to go home and relax. I read recently that the hardest part of going for a run is putting your trainers on and I think that can also be applied to the gym – the hardest part of going is picking up your kit, pointing yourself at one and walking there.

I don’t want to sound like a smug gym bunny (really, I just want to encourage others to try it because it’s done so much for me!), but I don’t think I ever realised how drained and lethargic I was all the time until I started going regularly. It can make a huge difference to how you feel, and the more you go, the more you’ll want to go. If your aim is to lose weight, the most important thing to do is to stick at it enough at first to see some results. This won’t take long, and once you start to see the inches and pounds disappear it will motivate you to keep going. It’s just getting over that hurdle that requires some real willpower, because if you don’t see instant results it’s tempting to write the whole thing off as a waste of time. Don’t give up! With a bit of time, you’ll be glad you didn’t, I promise.

When choosing a gym to join, there are a few things to bear in mind to determine whether it’s the right one for you. Firstly, you need to consider what kind of gym you want to be a member of. My gym is pretty basic; it’s the Easyjet of gyms. It’s not flashy but it’s got everything I need and the membership fees are cheap. However, you might want to fork out for something a bit more upmarket. Is a swimming pool important to you? A sauna? Pine-scented changing rooms with complementary body lotion? Spend some time thinking about what it is you’re looking for. If you’re a first-time gym-goer, I’d recommend exploring the budget options first. You can always upgrade if you want to once you’ve settled into a routine.

Another important factor to consider is location. I think the ideal location is somewhere between where you work and where you live (or close to one or the other), so it’s easy to fit into your schedule and you aren’t put off by having to go far out of your way. Make it as easy as possible for yourself to get there and you’ll be less likely to make excuses and sack it off. If you work close enough to a gym to visit during your breaks, even better!

Once you’ve identified a gym or two that might be suitable then go and visit them. Chat to the staff, have a look around, get a feel for the place. If you’re interested in attending exercise classes, find out what kind of programmes they run. It’s also worth enquiring about the different types of memberships they offer; they might have reduced membership fees for students, or people who want to visit during off-peak hours. My gym is women-only, which I like because I find the idea of working out next to massive burly men quite off-putting! When you visit, get a feel for the type of people who go there so you can be sure you’ll be comfortable. It might be popular with uber-fit athletes, or perhaps more of an “all shapes and sizes” kind of place (my preference).

Finally, if you’re on a budget or just hunting for a good deal, it’s worth having a look at Martin Lewis’s article on cheap gym memberships. It’s regularly updated with the best offers and gives information on how to get your hands on free passes.

I hope someone somewhere finds this helpful! I will follow up soon with a post on my tips for getting started once you’ve joined.