Last update - 00:00 20/08/2007
Making your gym work for you
By Danit Nitzan
Far too many people sign up for a gym and stop going after about a month. The Go Active fitness club chain reports that new members start skipping workouts within a month and a half of taking out a membership. Their chances of maintaining a gym routine are slim - 70 percent will later stop going altogether. Go Active's figures also indicate that new members who come to work out less than once a week during their first month have less than a 10-percent chance of sticking with it for the long term.
International figures show Israel has a relatively high drop-out rate - about 50 percent of gym customers do not renew their annual membership when it expires.
Eyal Amon, a psychologist and professional manager of the Shape fitness club network, offers five tips for choosing the right fitness club. Hopefully, making the right choice here will keep you coming back for more.
1. Follow your feelings.
"Some places simply make you feel good. Everyone gets a good feeling from something different, so there are no set criteria. You have to go inside, wander around a bit and see how the place feels," Amon says.
2. Check the quality and variety of machines.
"It is important to see how many free weights the gym has, how many of each kind of machine, how many treadmills, how many elliptical trainers. Is there is a television opposite the aerobic equipment? Does the air conditioning work properly? The amount and variety of equipment and how it is positioned will all determine whether you get a non-stop, fluid workout or whether you have to wait for the weights or the treadmill."
3. Proximity to work or home.
"Some people will not leave home to exercise once they have come home from work. For them, a club near their office is best, so that they go there on their way home. Others prefer to go to the gym when they are at home in the morning or evening, so they should choose somewhere close to their homes, so that travel time and parking will not deter them from exercising," Amon says.
4. Studio classes
"Some people join a fitness club but never go to the classes. They are missing out on interesting lessons that will vary their workout and improve their flexibility, muscle mass and exercise routine. There are classes in spinning, aerobics, Latin dancing, stretching and yoga. It is worth checking whether the club you are considering offers classes, what kinds of classes it has, and when they are held, and trying to fit something interesting into your schedule," Amon says.
5. Big or small
"A big club has a larger variety of equipment, more class options and the opportunity to meet new people each time. Some people find a small club more comfortable, and like exercising among familiar faces. Every person must ask himself or herself what he or she prefers - intimacy or space, quiet routine or bustling activity - and choose accordingly."
Amon mentions a few more things that make a difference: "The level of maintenance and cleanliness, the price, convenient parking, a nearby coffee shop to mingle with others for a post-exercise drink and snack, and maybe a friend, spouse or family member who will sign up with you and drag you out when you don't feel like it."