Fitness Clubs Rants and Rumblings

I used to routinely go to a gym and work out on a regular basis. My former employer subsidized our attending a certain fitness gym as long as we went there to work out 120 times a year.

The first gym they had us go to was wonderful. It was very convenient to our office and I could easily go work out during my lunch hour or go after work before I took the train home. When we were going to that gym, I worked out 3 to 5 days a week.

I primarily did cardio exercises and lifted weights to build up my strength. One of the really nice things about that gym is that the trainers would take time to help us with our exercise routines and not charge us too much.

They also had many classes we could attend for free. My employer changed us to a second gym that I didn’t like nearly as much, so I stopped working out as much. The second gym was much more difficult to get to.

The latest gym they had us go to didn’t have nearly as many benefits. It was hard to get too and more expensive. It cost $200 a year even if you went to the gym the required number of times.

While at this gym, I did pay to work out with a personal trainer. I really liked working out with her. She had me doing cardio and using free weights as well as my own weight as resistance.

When I first started working out, I was exhausted all the time. It took a long time for my body to get used to working out a lot. But, once I did get used to it, I felt good. I was starting to lose weight and gain muscle tone.

That meant I was also starting to gain more energy. I like working out, but I don’t like having to work hard to get to the gym. If I have to go out of my way or make a special trip to get to a workout facility, I am less likely to go.

Planet Fitness is the name of the gym I go to. They are new in my area and did some heavy advertising to get attention. I got mail advertisements from them. They promised a “judgment free zone” where people could come and exercise without worrying about others’ negativity.

They have a number of options. You can exercise on your own and there are also classes you can attend with a personal trainer. They have one area with treadmills and stationary bikes.

They have other areas that have machines that work on specific areas of your body. Another area is the weight room which has machinery that helps develop your muscles.

Lastly another area is set of machines you can use if you want a 30 minute cardiovascular workout. Planet Fitness also offers some extras-there are massage chairs and also tanning rooms.

The basis price is a $30 membership fee with $20 deducted from your bank account every month. I felt this was very reasonable. I have developed a routine of going in about three times a week. I spend about 10 minutes on the stationary bike. Then I spend the next 20 minutes on various machines that tone up my arms, work on my mid-section, and exercise my legs.

I would like to add about 10 extra minutes to finish up my routine on the treadmill starting this week. I started this routine to improve my general health and have noticed my thighs and abs have slimmed down. Best of all, I feel very good when I come out of the gym-many times, a lot better than when I went in. This has been a positive experience for me and I hope to continue.