Joining a Gym Is Not Just for Muscleheads

(CL) - Over the last decade, the popularity of gyms and personal fitness has taken an upward turn, with a significant amount of Americans adopting more healthy lifestyles that combine good eating habits with ongoing physical activity. Still, according to the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 65 percent of adults in America were overweight and 31 percent were obese, or at least 20 percent over their desirable weight.

Such numbers are not only disheartening but frightening as well, especially when considering the risk for death and disability from diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke greatly increases among people who are overweight or obese. In light of this, adopting a more healthy lifestyle is not only a good idea, but a potentially lifesaving one.

A great way to take that first step toward a more healthy lifestyle is to join a health club. While purchasing home fitness equipment has its benefits as well, a fitness club membership (many of which average about $50 per month) offers many things a home fitness center cannot. Here are just a few advantages to joining a gym that should help you get on the road to a more healthy future.

* Free consultations. Thanks to insurance concerns, nearly every gym in the United States offers a free health consultation the moment you purchase a membership. These can be as simple as offering a couple of free sessions with one of the gym's personal trainers, who will take you through a simple workout just to see where you are and then set you up with a routine based on his assessment. But these free consultations can also be more in-depth, checking your heart rate, percentage of body fat, discussing your fitness goals, etc., and then setting you up on a workout schedule. Either way, these are a great first step and often go a long way toward easing any nervousness you might have about beginning a workout.

* The buddy system. No matter what it may appear to be when you first walk through the door, no gym features a clientele of entirely calendar girls or muscle magazine veterans. Chances are, there are more people in the gym looking to get healthier and make lifestyle changes than there are people looking to maintain already-chiseled abs. Take advantage of this. Finding a workout partner is a great benefit to gym membership. By having a workout partner, you have someone there to assure that you stick to your workout schedule, something that a home fitness center cannot offer you. Workout partners can also share different workout experiences, and you'll have someone to lean on if the going gets rough.

* More equipment. Unless you live in a mansion with lots of spare room, no home fitness center you build will feature as much equipment as your local gym has to offer. A great way to a healthy body is to work each and every part of your body equally, meaning a weight bench and a treadmill in your basement simply won't cut it if you're seeking complete physical fitness. Most gyms have at least two of every machine, meaning there is little if no waiting period to use a machine. As you work out more and more and your workouts get more specialized (oftentimes gyms will offer free consultations with staff members every three months or so to chart your progress and possibly set you up with more challenging workouts), you will realize that all of the equipment in a gym is necessary and useful.

* Safety. If you're beginning to work out for the first time or after a long period of inactivity, safety can be a big concern. Whether it's muscle cramps or dizziness or shortness of breath, problems do arise for people who are working out for the first time. While these are normal and nearly everyone goes through them, it is best to be in an environment where there are a number of people around in case one of the aforementioned problems is too much to deal with on your own. Also, once you start lifting weights (even if the weights are light), it is always a good idea to do so with a spotter, or someone who can provide instant support in lifting the weights should you need it. Most people who go to a gym will have no problem being a spotter, so don't be afraid to ask an otherwise perfect stranger for assistance.

* Program. From spinning exercises to Pilates to aerobics, just about every gym offers special classes or programs (at moderate prices) for those members who are looking to expand their workouts. These are a great way to stay motivated and in shape, as trained instructors are typically quite good at creating fun and enjoyable atmospheres while putting you through workouts that many times vary from beginner to advanced stages. Also, this is a great way to meet other members of your gym, since these are registered classes that fill up rather quickly and feature people of all fitness levels.
© Randall Bennett, 2005