Oct 31, 2008

Fitness Clubs for Weight Loss


Joining a fitness club is something that can really boost your chances of getting fit but the first hurdle is to find one you like. You can only really make a choice of club once you know what it is you are trying to achieve for yourself. By then, you will know what you really need but here are some guidelines you can consider in choosing a club that is best for you: Firstly, make sure your club is within a reasonable distance from either your place of work or your home; too far and you will soon get bored and not attend.

You must be comfortable with your trainer and be happy that they are professional and have sufficient experience to train you. For people that may have specific requirements or physical limitations, the instructor needs to be made aware of these from the start. Test the staff out by asking them questions about the club and services as this will tell you professional and keen they are to have you as a member. Many fitness clubs these days employ the services of nutritionists and sports therapist for example.

Flexibility of opening hours is important as the longer it is open during the day, the less chance there is of it becoming too crowded. If your intention is to join a fitness club for the classes, see if they will let you try some before you become a member. Take a look around the gymnasium to see they have enough equipment or you will find queues at busy times which will put you off attending. It never hurts to check out the exercise machines they have, and that you will find them easy to operate plus they should all be clean and well maintained.

It is not unusual for clubs to have social venues and it is worth trying one of these to meet some of the members to see if they are the sort of people you will get on well with. The cost of membership is obviously a deciding factor so ensure you know all the charges, including those for classes and how often they increase the membership fee.

Choosing the right fitness club might mean visiting a number that are local to you and while this may seem unnecessary at first, finding the right one is very important. Choosing a club is just like shopping on the best shirt for you so don't be pressured or contact them right away; take your time to review and gather enough information if you are still not sure which one to choose.

Oct 29, 2008

Exercise Lose Weight

Almost every doctor will tell you that walking is about the best form of exercise and can be done by almost anyone. In fact you only need to walk for as little as 30 minutes every day to start seeing health benefits. If you have been walking fast, walk slowly or stretch for a few minutes to cool down.

If you plan to do this then you will need a regular change of view to make it more interesting. Some of the most popular endurance exercises are stationary bike riding, walking and rowing.



If you are someone looking to shed a few pounds then there really isn't a better alternative than walking as it can be done at almost anytime and anywhere. Weight-bearing activities, like walking and golfing, which involve lifting or pushing your own body weight is also excellent as two exercises are combined.

So there are many benefits to walking as an exercise, there is little cost involved; it doesn't impact on your joints nor do you generally need to buy equipment unless you are looking to set up a home gym and include a treadmill. It doesn't take much to start and it is recommended that if you haven't carried out any type of regular exercise to only start with five walking minutes a day and increase to the half an hour a day over a period of time.

For anyone who is considering taking up regular exercise at the gym for instance then walking can be a perfect stepping stone as you will lose some weight and improve your stamina levels. For those individuals who have a few dollars to spend then perhaps a treadmill is a good idea as it can give different levels of difficulty and will probably improve your fitness levels faster.

As far as home fitness equipment is concerned, treadmills are still the most popular and they can be used for running, walking or a gently jog plus there is less impact on a treadmill owing to the cushioning effect. A treadmill works because it utilizes a belt that rotates at various speeds and can be raised at one end to simulate a hill; this give the equipment the ability to be used to help improve the heart, lungs and circulation of the user and increasing their stamina.

A treadmill must be of strong construction so check this out prior to buying one and ensure it has a good inclination range as well as a strong motor. The treadmill works for a lot of people who like to work out in the privacy of their own home.




A treadmill does give you the freedom to exercise when you want for as long as you want, so its convenience cannot be underestimated and as long as you do exercise, whether walking or some other form, it doesn't matter, just as long as you do actually exercise regularly.