Mixed reviews on home gyms….I agree.

By Ryan on July 31st, 2007

Hi,

Just read this current article today and believe it was a good talking point.  I have a rough outline of the points and my response at the end and I’m interested in seeing how others may think.  Feel welcome to respond. 

People who want a private workout whenever they choose are bypassing the health club and bringing the gym into their homes. They’re carving out a personalized fitness space for the same exercise programs offered at a lavish outside facility.

Real-estate developers and builders say homeowners increasingly are choosing to build in-home gyms as a must-have amenity, mainly to get and stay fit, but also to pump up the curb appeal of their property.

Roughly one-third of new and potential homebuyers cite a home exercise room as either essential or desirable, according to the National Association of Home Builders, a Washington, D.C.-based industry trade group.

“The home gym is one of the top amenities that homeowners want to incorporate into their homes,” said Gabe Pasquale, vice president and chief marketing officer of WCI Communities’ Northeast region based in Valhalla, N.Y.
© 2007, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved

Oh, to be a Celebrity - NOT

By rellem on July 25th, 2007

Skinny glamorous celebrities aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.  I could be the size 0 they all crave to be too if I had a personal trainer, a personal chef and time to go the gym.  The majority of women have too many family and work committments and they put themselves last.  One has to wonder how this affects celebrities’ personal lives.  There are countless stories celebrities caught drink driving, taking drugs and behaving badly.  Perhaps if these celebrities ate a decent meal and didn’t exercise to the point of exhaustion they wouldn’t be so unhappy with their lives.  A lot of these women are role models and really need to take a look at themselves.  Celebrities should be focussing more on being healthy than how they look.  Is there anyone out there who feels the same as me?

Are we really losing the plot when it comes to eating?

By Ryan on July 25th, 2007

Reading a very popular exercise magazine today I was amazed when I come to an article “Most Popular Diets”.  We have the Atkins, CSIRO, Zone, Pritikins, Weight Watchers, GI, Ultra slim, down to Optifast, herbalife (shakes), Grapefruit, Cabbage.  The fact is I could go on for pages with the numerous diets that promote theirs as the latest and greatest on the market.   The thing is the diet industry comes accompanied with a book, a supplement product - put it this way, $$$$$$$$.   It’s my belief that there’s many foods out there that aren’t the best for us but with correct portion sizes and regular exercise results are sure to come.  Tell me what you think?

Gym Memberships - make the most of it

By Ryan on July 24th, 2007

1. Get a personal trainer

If you’re someone who needs a push in the right direction to initiate results and get the ball rolling, a personal trainer will be a valuable ally. Whether it is for both nutritional and training advice or just to ensure you stay motivated and on track (be consistent), you can’t go passed a PT.

2. Give classes a go

The group environment of classes will give you that extra motivation to tough those last 10 minutes out during your session. Gyms today offer a huge amount of classes, from pole dancing (yes pole dancing) to boxing sessions, water aerobics, Les Mills classes body pump, RPM etc. Don’t be shy give them a go.

3. Join with a friend

Safety in numbers! Joining a gym can be a bit daunting for many people. But joining with a friend will help take away from the initial nerves of throwing on the gym gear and clocking up miles on the treadmill. You can even make it competitive between friends by setting individual goals for one another to help you strive for exercise success.

4. Set realistic and clearly defined goals

This is often the mistake many people make. The key here is to be both patient and consistent. The reason why many people fall short of reaching their desired training results is that they don’t plan. Planning with exercise and eating is essential. It is a main part of reaching any gold.

5. Make an appointment with yourself for yourself

In today’s fast paced life we have so much time for everyone else but often not much time for ourselves. Sometimes you just have to be selfish and say “It’s all about me”. Often we put things off to tomorrow and tomorrow never arrives and unfortunately, you may find yourself with 15kg’s to lose instead of the 5kg’s you had to lose the previous summer.

If I purchase a 12 month membership that may have only 4 months left, what happens after the 12 month contract is completed?

By Ryan on July 23rd, 2007

This a very good question….Once the original contract is completed, the membership taken over is then on a month to month basis (although please verify this with the club).

This is one of the most commonly asked Questions. Why did you set up the site?

By Ryan on July 12th, 2007

I’ve worked in the fitness industry for over 6 years now in both a sales position and training position. During this time I’ve been lucky to train and work with many avid fitness junkies who love to use their gym memberships on a daily basis but I’ve also encountered two groups of consumers that aren’t adequately catered for with annual gym memberships. The first group of consumers are those people that for a variety of reasons are unable to fulfil the length of their contract with their gym or health club. The second group of people wish to attend a gym but don’t wish to subscribe to an annual gym membership because of their personal situation (e.g.- they may be working at a certain location for a period under 12 months or they may be unsure of whether the gym is suited to their needs) . Transfermymembership.com was set up to link consumers wishing to trade unwanted gym memberships with consumers who wish to subscribe to a gym in a more flexible manner than an annual gym membership provides.

Transfermymembership.com, however, is not only a service for the consumer- it also provides a powerful tool to health clubs enhancing their ability to attract members whose future is uncertain. Having worked in sales in gyms, I know first hand how difficult it can be to sell yearly memberships to patrons who are concerned about being locked into an annual contract so transfermymembership.com can be used to reduce consumer’s uncertainty. I believe everyone should be enjoying the gym or some form of physical activity. The many benefits that regular ecercise brings physically, mentally (stress relief) and socially so what are you waiting for……