Picking the Fitness and Health Club for You

   Is it time to get in shape? And, yes, while round is a shape, that’s not what we mean. 

   Everyone knows that a regular exercise program is very important to your health, whether it’s taking a walk around your neighborhood, swimming, running on the treadmill at home, or joining a fitness center.

   But because there are so many options, it can often be overwhelming to decide what fitness road you want to travel down.

   Fitness centers have advantages, providing both a wide array of equipment that most people couldn’t afford to install in their homes plus a support network of friends who can help you stay motivated and reach your goals.

   Topeka offers several options, from the small 24 hour facility of Anytime Fitness to Topeka’s newer Maximus Fitness centers, to a number of area YMCAs, to Wood Valley Racquet Club where you can lift weights, play racquetball, then swim laps in the pool.

   So how do you decide what the best option is for you?

   If strength training is what you are most interested in, a gym that offers a wide array of weightlifting machines is naturally what you want to look for. If you just want to have access to treadmills, stair-stepping machines, exercise bikes, etc., maybe your local YMCA or community health center is more your speed.

   Budget is obviously one factor. But just because you can’t afford the elite club doesn’t mean your health will suffer with a less expensive membership.

Let Your Goals Be Your Guide

   The first thing you should do when selecting a gym is deciding on your fitness goals in comparison to your current fitness level. It is best to be brutally honest when assessing your health status. If you last exercised regularly when you ran track in high school but you graduated in 1967, you probably want to start out slowly and don’t overload yourself.

   The best way to stay motivated in any fitness program, no matter how healthy you already are, is to set small goals for yourself. If your overall goal is to be able to run five miles a day but now you can barely walk to the kitchen to get another bag of Funyuns without getting winded, start out by just walking around the block once a day or get on the treadmill set at 1.5-2 miles an hour for 15 minutes a day. 

   The key to health success no matter where you go is small goals with small rewards. If you formerly had trouble lifting up your phonebook and now you can bench-press your full-grown Great Dane, go ahead and catch that dollar movie you wanted to see. If you can now jog half a mile fairly easily, move up to jogging three-quarters of a mile and get that CD you’ve been wanting (it’s best to reward yourself with nonfood items). 

   Friends are also key in helping to keep you excited about exercising. Enroll in a pilates class with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or find a spinning class you and your significant other can enjoy together. There are a variety of classes available at health clubs both in mornings or evenings, depending on what best fits your schedule.

   It is also important to make sure that you don’t end up paying for the use of facilities you’ll never use. If you decide that weight training is your main focus, then the availability of racquetball courts or a pool may not be as critical. If you determine a low-impact workout that’s easier on your joints is key, then that swimming pool is a must. If you’re not the type of person who is self-guided, maybe you need a place that offers personal trainers or classes.  Just be realistic about what your tastes are and what you will honestly do consistently.

   Maybe you don’t have a clue what you need, other than you know your physical condition needs to improve and it’s going to require a regular workout routine to get you there. But how do you know which approach is right for you? For starters, many clubs offer consultation with a trainer (usually for an added fee) who can help you pick the right type of exercise for your goals.
Even a weight-training coach should be able to guide you to additional fitness activities that can help you reach your goals.

   However, if after you’ve determined your goals and weighed your options from each fitness club in Topeka you still don’t know which way to go, you might just want to join the one that has it all and then find out for yourself over time which areas of the club are the best fit for your fitness goals and your lifestyle and your budget.