Corporate chain gyms,

Corporate chain gyms are run to make money, occupied by clientele who think that they can purchase fitness and funded by those who were suckered into membership plans they don't want. Indeed this is my biggest gripe with these establishments, they offer long term, expensive and restrictive membership options sold by used car salesmen who lock you into multi-year memberships before you can try the place out to see if it fits your requirements.

In order to keep the place looking so pristine it seems all is done to keep drive away people who actually workout. Whilst during the sales pitch the sectorized machines appear to be plentiful and immaculate this is because on closer inspection they are predominantly useless focusing on very specific muscles, doing nothing for strength any supporting muscles or overall fitness and so remain lightly used.

On the plus side the cardio equipment is generally excellent, well arranged well maintained and surrounded by an impressive array of media options. Now I am not a big cardio fiend and the few I know do cardio where you can do it for free - outside. I can only assume this is generally true as looking around most users are reading, watching TV or talking on cell phones... none of which you should be able to do if your pushing your limits.

That said the free weights are generally insufficient both in quantity and range and whilst neatly arranged that is usually so the gym can devote as little space as possible to them. These weights and people who use them are unwelcome reminders that the gym should be about working out not posing on flashy equipment.

The regular attendees (and apologies to anyone who breaks this mold), seem to think that getting fit is a matter of going to the gym regardless of what you do there. You rarely see them break a sweat, they unusually spend more time chatting (either on a cell phone or to other patrons) than exercising and the immaculate latest fashion lets you know they spent more time than that picking out an outfit. The fashion also runs past the clothing and to the myriad of bizarre fad classes you can take.

new gym blues...

So after moving I need a new gym... not as easy as you might think. I have found that commercial gyms fit into three different categories, corporate (chain) gyms, meathead gyms and rec centers (local council gyms in the UK) and will be posting more on each of these in turn.

A gym needs to match your goals, it has to have the right equipment at the right cost in the right location and be open when you want it however most of all the right feel. Remember when you change gym it will most probably not feel right precisely because its different, however the longer you train the better it should be. That said, the best way to find out if it's a good fit is to train for as long as necessary to decide if its right and postpone locking into memberships until you know.

I train with my own personal mix of power lifter (shit heavy weights), bodybuilder (purely aesthetics) and general fitness (keeping the heart healthy). As such I need a gym that has the right balence of equipment for each of these, I also view a pool, hot tub and sauna as nice bonuses but personal trainers, spin classes and a crèche are most definitely not. I will not touch corporate chain gyms with a barge pole, so need to find the right balance between a meathead and a local rec center... wish me luck