We Londoners tend to flirt between the gym and the outdoors when spicing up our fitness regimes. It might be an easy choice at this time of the year to head indoors, with your towel and playlist ready for a good training session, but the gym is definitely our favourite choice of fitness all year round. But why?
The Friend Factor
Or approximately two, if the Telegraph is anything to go by. But ignoring the statistics, the gym is a sociable and friendly atmosphere compared to the solitude of home. Not only will your gym provide a warm and safe environment to exercise around other like-minded individuals, it provides various classes and personal trainers to optimise your time and money. Live Fit are just one service that allows you to reach your goals, and even gives you a companion to push you to your limits. Just in time for the New Year!
Pumping iron
While you can buy cardio equipment as well as weights for your home, they often aren’t the quality or scale of gym equipment.
Some of you might have the odd treadmill gathering dust in the corner, most of you have a few weights; however, a gym will give you access to stationary bikes, cross trainers, strength training facilities, weights, muscle-focused machinery and elliptical trainers, not to mention specific areas dedicated to specific tasks, whether that’s stretching or weight lifting. The list is endless, and they come with a fully-qualified trainer so you can optimise your workout to the max too.
Focus focus focus
Your home is a place for relaxation; a place where you can be totally at ease. It is also completely rife with distractions. From the dog jumping all around you to that comfortable-looking sofa, there is no way you’re going to reach your goals in such mayhem.
Not only is your home full of distractions, but it is restricting. As mentioned above, gyms are packed full of brilliant equipment and the trainers that know how to optimise each to the fullest. Unless you do have your own fully-equipped personal gym there is no way you’ll gain the full effect of your new or existing regime without some serious equipment and the advice that comes with it.
When it comes to our health, we’re pretty serious. Gym memberships have been on the increase this year, showing more of us opting for the gym already to combat the festivities, and it’s easy to see why, but how can you make the most out of your membership, new or old?
Get the most out of your gym membership…
Commit!
To not only reap the benefits but to get your money’s worth, set yourself a weekly target and stick to it. Yes, there will be days when something more important comes up, however, this is no excuse to break the habit and all your hard work.
A promise of three gym sessions per week means, as long as they’re spaced fairly well, you can easily achieve your goals, feel great and have that time you reserved just for yourself.
Keep track
Set yourself realistic goals and track your progress effectively. Without tracking, you can’t look to improve. Keep an exercise journal full of inspiration, tips and new forms of fitness you have picked up along the way to keep your workout fresh, find out what does and doesn’t work for you and keeps you motivated. Take this along with you to your gym sessions.
Don’t go it alone
While some prefer to exercise in solitude and others find a team sport or activity most effective, one thing is for certain; a bit of communication will get you a long way. This doesn’t mean you have to put yourself out there ‘making friends’ when all you want to do is forget your long day with a bit of exercising escapism. However, getting friendly with the trainers, smiling and comparing notes with the regulars and having a rest bite around the watering hole will improve your frame of mind and therefore your regime.
Variety
So you decided to gym it 2-4 per week. Each session needn’t be the same. Aim to target certain areas of your body with each gym session. This could be working your glutes and calves on the cross trainer one day to focusing on muscle definition on your upper arms the next. The variety will aid significantly in your progress.
