Looking for new gym

Eileen · 08-21-2005, 01:53 PM

When the school terms starts again week, I will be able to join a regular gym. So does anyone have any pointers on what I should look for, and any signs on what to avoid?

For instance, there's a mega gym about 10km away from my house, which means I would get cardio on the way as well as a lifting session, and they have so much equipment, I'd have no problem training round injuries. On the other hand, a 10k cycle in bad weather would be pretty miserable.

GameDayDog · 08-21-2005, 02:40 PM

Hmm.. The fyrst thyng I'll look for is a squat rack... or a power rack.. the more the better...

From what I've heard... U're not the type to let a little bad weather stop you from a workout...

Peace..~G

**dbflgirl** · 08-21-2005, 02:45 PM

I think it really depends on your priorities and what sort of time you have available. I would love to work out at a bigger gym with more equipment (I miss my stepmill!), but I need the convenience of a close-by gym more at this stage of the game. So I've settled for a smaller gym that is just 5 min away from my house instead of the mega gym that is 30 minutes away.

Beyond that, the thing I always look for is to make sure that the equipment I like to use most is available. I also make a visit at the time I'd be working out to see how crowded it is. Are the hours convenient and is there day care (school breaks, etc.) Is the equipment well maintained and is the place generally clean. If you can, talk to some members, perhaps on their way in or out. Most people will happily share their opinions with you. If you're someone who likes to take classes, look over their schedule and see if what they offer appeals to you.

For me, I worry much more about the weight equipment than the cardio because I figure I can always do cardio outdoors or make do with fairly basic equipment if I have to. But I'd hate to be a gym that didn't have a squat rack as I have no way to compensate for that at home.

HTH!

**dbflgirl** · 08-21-2005, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GameDayDog

Hmm.. The fyrst thyng I'll look for is a squat rack... or a power rack.. the more the better...

LOL - I was typing as you were posting. I guess squat racks rule!

**A.FreeRadical** · 08-21-2005, 03:25 PM

It depends on what is important to you. There are things I don't like about my gym, but it is in a convenient location and it has the essentials (DB up to 145#, squat rack, lots of benches and all the basic machines.)

I can get there in 5 minutes most times of the day. (10 minutes in rush hours.) I rarely have to wait to do any parts of my workouts.

dbflgirl gave good advice. In particular, you need to visit the gym at the times that you will be using it. Every gym has a spirit to it. My gym is very different in the morning and late at night than it is when I workout. (Week days at 3:30-5:00 and weekend days (11:00-2:00). It is very important for me to be around people who are serious about what they are doing. (I don't care if people are bodybuilding, powerlifting or "toning" as long as they are into what they are doing.) It helps me get into and stay in my groove while I am there.

Good luck on finding the right one.

*

Eileen · 08-21-2005, 08:30 PM

You should see this place. It's got a huge communal gym with lots of machines that I didn't even recognise, a men's gym with lots of squat racks and three different leg presses. And it's got a women's gym with (I'm not joking) pink and purple barbells. Women are allowed in the men's gym, but men are not allowed in the women's one.

I'd be using it during school hours and it looked pretty reasonable when I was there, but I've managed to talk them into letting me have a free day to try it out properly. So I'll keep you posted.

The trouble with cardio is that I hate it, and will try to wiggle out of it unless I've paid for it, or I need to do it to get somewhere. So cycling to and from a gym works well for me.

**Peaked_18** · 08-21-2005, 08:42 PM

Cheap, local gym with all the equipment you need. Search around, you'd be surprised what you can find around.

Eileen · 08-23-2005, 08:26 PM

I just checked out my local gym, which I remember as being very girly (lots of aerobics and dance classes, and a couple of machines). Now it has the most battered squat rack I've ever seen, and loads of free weights, and an absolute huge guy benching a bar that made my eyes bug out. It also has copys of "Flex" and ON whey on sale in the reception. I think I've found my spiritual home....
But I'm still going to see what I can get in the way of freebie days in the other gyms!

**DarkFalcon** · 08-24-2005, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileen

I just checked out my local gym, which I remember as being very girly (lots of aerobics and dance classes, and a couple of machines). Now it has the most battered squat rack I've ever seen, and loads of free weights, and an absolute huge guy benching a bar that made my eyes bug out. It also has copys of "Flex" and ON whey on sale in the reception. I think I've found my spiritual home....
But I'm still going to see what I can get in the way of freebie days in the other gyms!

lol..sounds like a BB's paradise! :fruity:

GameDayDog · 08-24-2005, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileen

I just checked out my local gym, which I remember as being very girly (lots of aerobics and dance classes, and a couple of machines). Now it has the most battered squat rack I've ever seen, and loads of free weights, and an absolute huge guy benching a bar that made my eyes bug out. It also has copys of "Flex" and ON whey on sale in the reception. I think I've found my spiritual home....
But I'm still going to see what I can get in the way of freebie days in the other gyms!

Yeah, that was me.. You should've came over & said hi! ..

Peace..~G

08-21-2005, 01:53 PM	#1
Eileen New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Looking for new gym When the school terms starts again week, I will be able to join a regular gym. So does anyone have any pointers on what I should look for, and any signs on what to avoid? For instance, there's a mega gym about 10km away from my house, which means I would get cardio on the way as well as a lifting session, and they have so much equipment, I'd have no problem training round injuries. On the other hand, a 10k cycle in bad weather would be pretty miserable.

08-21-2005, 02:40 PM	#2
GameDayDog The Dawg Is Back!! Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doin Compound Movements 4 Scooby Snacks! Posts: 1,975 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 32	Look For... Hmm.. The fyrst thyng I'll look for is a squat rack... or a power rack.. the more the better... From what I've heard... U're not the type to let a little bad weather stop you from a workout... Peace..~G __________________ I am Thee Alpha.. RaSP is Thee oMEGA.. Between the 2 of us - We have everythyng covered... I want to be bigger than all the humans!! "I'm sure I should be doing cardio too....but I don't run from anything...so why practice?" - 1stInDoor Goal - 200#'s 5/27/07 - 4/27/07 - 175# 3/27/07 - 167#

08-21-2005, 03:25 PM	#5
A.FreeRadical the Epicurean Bodybuilder Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,245 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 57	It depends on what is important to you. There are things I don't like about my gym, but it is in a convenient location and it has the essentials (DB up to 145#, squat rack, lots of benches and all the basic machines.) I can get there in 5 minutes most times of the day. (10 minutes in rush hours.) I rarely have to wait to do any parts of my workouts. dbflgirl gave good advice. In particular, you need to visit the gym at the times that you will be using it. Every gym has a spirit to it. My gym is very different in the morning and late at night than it is when I workout. (Week days at 3:30-5:00 and weekend days (11:00-2:00). It is very important for me to be around people who are serious about what they are doing. (I don't care if people are bodybuilding, powerlifting or "toning" as long as they are into what they are doing.) It helps me get into and stay in my groove while I am there. Good luck on finding the right one. * __________________ "Is it going to be the red pill or the blue pill, Neo? The red pill will answer the question 'What is the Matrix?' Choose carefully. Remember, all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Ron Paul for President, 2008 A.FreeRadical ...the Epicurean bodybuilder Height: 5'9", Age: 62, My last high on 2/1/2006 was 196 lbs. My last low on 8/08/2006 was 167.5 lbs. Cutting until I am lean Starting weight: 190 lbs. bodyfat: 19.7% November 27th: 183 lbs. bodyfat: 18.3% bodyfat Goal Weight: 176 lbs with no more than 10% bodyfat My recipe collection

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08-21-2005, 02:45 PM	#3
dbflgirl Silver Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hurricane Alley Posts: 646 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 18	I think it really depends on your priorities and what sort of time you have available. I would love to work out at a bigger gym with more equipment (I miss my stepmill!), but I need the convenience of a close-by gym more at this stage of the game. So I've settled for a smaller gym that is just 5 min away from my house instead of the mega gym that is 30 minutes away. Beyond that, the thing I always look for is to make sure that the equipment I like to use most is available. I also make a visit at the time I'd be working out to see how crowded it is. Are the hours convenient and is there day care (school breaks, etc.) Is the equipment well maintained and is the place generally clean. If you can, talk to some members, perhaps on their way in or out. Most people will happily share their opinions with you. If you're someone who likes to take classes, look over their schedule and see if what they offer appeals to you. For me, I worry much more about the weight equipment than the cardio because I figure I can always do cardio outdoors or make do with fairly basic equipment if I have to. But I'd hate to be a gym that didn't have a squat rack as I have no way to compensate for that at home. HTH!

08-21-2005, 08:30 PM	#6
Eileen New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	You should see this place. It's got a huge communal gym with lots of machines that I didn't even recognise, a men's gym with lots of squat racks and three different leg presses. And it's got a women's gym with (I'm not joking) pink and purple barbells. Women are allowed in the men's gym, but men are not allowed in the women's one. I'd be using it during school hours and it looked pretty reasonable when I was there, but I've managed to talk them into letting me have a free day to try it out properly. So I'll keep you posted. The trouble with cardio is that I hate it, and will try to wiggle out of it unless I've paid for it, or I need to do it to get somewhere. So cycling to and from a gym works well for me.

08-21-2005, 08:42 PM	#7
Peaked_18 a la commode Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,297 Recipes: 2 Rep Power: 96	Cheap, local gym with all the equipment you need. Search around, you'd be surprised what you can find around.

08-23-2005, 08:26 PM	#8
Eileen New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	I just checked out my local gym, which I remember as being very girly (lots of aerobics and dance classes, and a couple of machines). Now it has the most battered squat rack I've ever seen, and loads of free weights, and an absolute huge guy benching a bar that made my eyes bug out. It also has copys of "Flex" and ON whey on sale in the reception. I think I've found my spiritual home.... But I'm still going to see what I can get in the way of freebie days in the other gyms!