Benefits of 24 Hour Fitness Centers

By Ryan on September 10th, 2007

Author: Maya Matthews

One can think of 24 hour fitness centers, as a one stop fitness shop; a place where you can go to at any time of the day, to work on your general well being. This type of centers can be found in a lot of areas around the United States, and even the world! 
 
Most of these fitness centers, or gyms, cater for all needs. They therefore carry a big variety of equipment including:
* Weight training equipment and machines
* Cardio vascular fitness tools
 
But the fact that these gyms are open all day and night is not the only factor that makes them so popular with people. There are other facilities which make these centers attractive to people! For instance, many of them have locker rooms so you can comfortable use them to change, shower, an also keep your personal items safe in the lockers provided. Some also offer child care facilities! So you need not worry about where you are going to leave you child until you work out, and you don’t have to spend money on baby sitters. You can rest your mind assured that your child is being taken care of in the baby sitting area, whilst you work out and get in shape.
 
Getting started is quick and easy. Most of these 24 hour gyms offer a variety of flexible subscription terms and payment options, ensuring that you choose the plan that best suits your budget and needs. Personal training is also offered at many centers, usually at an extra fee. However, the majority of gyms offer a one time personal training session upon the start of a new membership. This makes sure that you are guided through the place and machines during your first visit, to help you make the most of your membership and your workout!
 
Many fitness centers include other extra amenities besides the normal equipment and tools we associate with gyms. In fact many of them offer all, or a mixture of, the following:
* Heated pool
* Hot tub / Jacuzzi
* Steam room

* Squash court
* Aerobics classes
* Yoga and Pilates classes
 
Choosing which 24 hour fitness center to go to truly depends on what you want to achieve. The beauty of it is that a lot of these gyms offer a variety of services, which will satisfy your needs and help you achieve your fitness goals.
 
It is therefore strongly suggested to find out which 24 hour fitness centers are available in your area, and choose one which suits your needs first. Good luck on your fitness goals… here’s to your health and fitness!
 
Note: It is important to consult your doctor before embarking on any fitness program. Always seek professional advice in advance.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/benefits-of-24-hour-fitness-centers-208436.html

About the Author:
Freelancer at   http://www.freefitnessbooks.com  , Maya Matthews strives to provide fitness information to people worldwide. Visit  http://www.freefitnessbooks.com  to access  free fitness ebooks .

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?

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.