How not to be a Gym Dropout

January is the busiest month for gyms all over the world because of the New Year's resolution phenomenon. Unfortunately, many people who enroll in a gym so enthusiastically in January are conspicuously absent a few months later. The main reason is that changing a physically inactive lifestyle into an active one is never easy but another major reason is that people rush into enrolling at a gym without really considering several crucial factors that could spell the difference between becoming a gym regular or a gym dropout.

Budget
Can you afford the gym that you are intending to enroll in? If you can, make sure that it will really give you value for your money. Even if the gym has the cheapest rates in town but it has poorly trained instructors, machines that are always out of order, and dirty bathrooms, it won't be long before you realize that it just isn't worth it. On the other hand, if you choose a gym that has excellent facilities and service but is a tad high for your budget, there might be a tug-of-war every month between wanting to continue exercising there and wanting to quit because it is draining your pocket. Unless fitness is a top priority in your life, your pocket will usually win out.

Location
For exercise to be effective, it has to be done at least three times a week. So the location of the gym you choose is very important. Ideally, it should not be more than fifteen minutes away from your home or office. Parking is another issue to seriously think about. If you have to fight tooth-and-nail for a parking spot every time you go to the gym, your initial enthusiasm will quickly fade. After all, no wants that kind of aggravation three to five times a week. It's not like going to your hairdresser or to your favorite restaurant since going to these places will probably only happen once or twice a month so searching for a parking slot is not that irritating.

Schedule
Can you realistically fit your gym workouts into your weekly schedule? I know many people who enroll without really giving this issue some serious thought. No wonder so many people just drop out after a few months, some even after a few weeks. It is better to consistently exercise at the same time so that the exercise habit will really become a part of your lifestyle. It takes a very dedicated and committed exerciser to work out at different times a week.

Another thing to consider is how crowded the gym will be when you go there. "Peak time" in most gyms is before 9:00 in the morning and after 5:00 in the afternoon because this is the only time that working people have to exercise. If these are the only times you can work out but hordes of sweaty people all around you are something you cannot tolerate, enrolling at a gym might not be the best exercise plan for you.

Gym personality
Gyms are just like people. They have their own personality. Some are quiet and sedate; others are loud and animated. Some are family-oriented; others are geared for the single set. Just like a marriage, there is a greater chance of success if both parties are compatible.

This doesn't mean that an older person would automatically not enjoy going to a gym that is dominated by young people (some "oldies" are young at heart) but most often that cliché that "birds of the same feather flock together" is true.

Take note though that gyms can have split personalities. The mid-morning atmosphere might be very different from the late afternoon because the kinds of people who exercise at those times are the ones who set the mood. In fact, if you visit a gym at various times of the day it might seem like you are in a totally different gym.

Choose a gym that best suits your personality to give you less chances of becoming gym dropout statistic.

Instructors
Fitness trainers can be a deciding factor in whether you will still be exercising at the end of the year. Most people don't know how to exercise properly and need guidance in designing an exercise program appropriate for them. Professional advice is even more important if you have any kind of special condition that might be aggravated by the wrong kind of exercise. Examples are diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, pregnancy, etc.

You need all the motivation you can get to continue exercising so trainers who are friendly, pleasant, and concerned can be a big help in preventing you from dropping out.

Trainers can also help you battle boredom by making changes in your exercise program to keep you challenged and stimulated.

Social support
Friends or family members who exercise together have a much greater chance of sticking it out because they are accountable to each other. When one of the workout buddies doesn't feel like exercising, the other will usually save the day. It's difficult to maintain interest in an exercise program when you are by your lonesome.

Unrealistic expectations
Sometimes gyms shoot themselves in the foot and actually help people drop out because their advertising is so unrealistic. People join because they think they will look like the models in the ads in no time at all and with a minimum of effort. When they realize a few months later that they are not going to become Mr. or Ms. Body Beautiful that easily, they get discouraged and quit.

It is vital that you be realistic about what joining a gym can do for you if you don 't want to be a gym dropout. Gyms provide the location, equipment, staff and know-how to make you succeed in your fitness goals but they cannot replace your lifestyle habits outside of the gym. A good example is the goal of losing weight. If you continue to eat excessive amounts of food or drink a lot of alcohol, not even the best gym in the world will help you lose weight.

Continue reading here: Lose Weight with Lifestyle Changes You Can Live With Part Two

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