Make the Most of your Gym Membership
Millions of Americans purchase gym memberships that they rarely use. In today’s post, we will discuss some tips to help you make the most of your gym membership. Hopefully, these tips will help you choose the right gym membership, boost accountability and enhance your results.
Set Your Fitness Goals First
Before choosing a gym membership, think about your fitness goals first. Are you looking for a gym that allows you to powerlift or do cardio? Alternatively, are you hoping to swim twice per week or join in on group fitness classes? Think about your goals and fitness routine and search for gyms in your area that meet your needs.
Tour Three Gyms First
After you have decided on your fitness needs and goals, tour a few gyms in your area. To start, visit three different gyms or health clubs in a fifteen to twenty minute radius.
Make sure you meet the owners, tour the facility, and inquire about pricing and hours.
You can even try a guest pass for a few workouts to see which gym you like best. Once you have tried out a few gyms, you can decide which gym to join. Once you join a gym, you can boost your chances of success by using the tips below.
Ask for an Orientation Session
If you don’t have much exercise experience or you need help using a particular gym’s equipment, you can ask for an orientation session. During this time, a gym employee or trainer can show you how to use the equipment and make sure you know how to access all of the gym’s amenities.
Set a Workout Routine
Setting a workout routine can help you keep a consistent gym schedule and get the most out of your workouts. If you go the gym without a plan, you can amble around the gym without getting much accomplished. A loose schedule or workout plan can help you make the most of your gym membership. If you are not sure how to structure a workout plan, consider consulting with a personal trainer who can create a plan for you. Or, consider working directly with a trainer to give you support, guidance and accountability.
Get an Accountability Buddy
Even if you don’t need help with a workout routine, getting a gym buddy can help you create a consistent gym schedule and actually stick to it. Enlisting some social support can increase your chances of success. To start, find a friend or fellow exerciser with a similar fitness level and schedule. Next, find a time when you and your training buddy can work out together to boost motivation, effort and exercise adherence.
Final Thoughts
Having a gym membership can give you access to the environment and equipment needed to allow you to reach your fitness goals. However, a gym membership is useless if you don’t use it! Hopefully the tips included in this article will help you make the most of your gym membership so you can reach and maintain your fitness goals.
What do you think? What tips have helped you make the most of your gym membership? Please let me know in the comment section below.
