How to Maximize Your Gym Membership

Many people join gyms, but far fewer people actually make the most of their memberships. A few simple steps can help you avoid wasting your money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Choose a gym near your office, not your home. Joining a gym near your place of employment will help you fight the temptation to go home before working out. What’s more, once you’re at home there’s often a myriad of excuses or obstacles to prevent you from going to the gym.
2. Buy a headset and watch your favorite television shows while on the treadmill. Try and join a gym that has television monitors on its bicycles, treadmills and other machines. Doing so will allow you to watch the news or a favorite program while working out, which makes the time fly by.
3. Take advantage of free one-on-one sessions with personal trainers. Many gyms offer a free session or two with a personal trainer when you join. Use these to learn more about proper exercise and your particular needs, as they usually include a personal fitness evaluation and a workout routine designed just for you.
4. Set goals. Working toward predetermined goals can help keep you motivated and interested in returning to the gym.
5. Track your progress. Buy a notebook and keep track of your progress in various areas such as weight loss, weight lifting capability and ability to do increased repetitions of exercises. Again, watching yourself gain strength and momentum can be a great way to stay motivated.
6. Keep up your routine. The longer you stay away from the gym, the harder it is to get back into the routine. Try not to let more than 2 days elapse between gym visits.
7. Vary your routine. In addition to the treadmill, try taking an aerobics class on some days, yoga on another and spinning on still another. Mixing up your routine will keep exercise interesting.