The closest gym around is 15-20 minutes from my house. I have a home gym but I don't have motivation right now to workout on my own. I figured going to a gym for a couple of months would get me back in the swing of things, but they are about 50 bucks a month and require a commitment and also charge a one time fee to set you up. Should I just go ahead and join a gym or should I just get my butt in gear at home? I have a very hectic work schedule (I am a police officer on rotating shifts). Also, does anyone have any suggestions on a workout plan? I already eat healthy, I just want to tone up. Also, I am a female.
209521
YES it pays off... for the gym.  Fewer than 1 in 4 people who purchase a gym membership will be using it 3 months later.  If having a trainer will keep you motivated, the gym can help but it's usually at an added cost.  If your having trouble staying motivated to work out at home, I predict it will be even harder to make the 15 minute trip each way.
34529
I have a Proform545E which I am really happy with.  I would suggest...if you are serioously going to use this, to go to some gyms and test thiers out.  Many gyms offer a free one-day pass to potentialmembers (all the YMCA's in my area offer a free 3-day pass).  You definitely want one that is:  1) sturdy  2) relatively quiet.  Check local papers for people selling thiers.  Frequently you can buy a quality one used that sat collecting dust in someone's hoome MUCH cheaper than new...yet it will be like new.
571785
My question is why would you take kickboxing? You should switch gyms. My gym offers one of the most dynamic, popular work outs around...Knife Fighting. It's a partner style workout method where if you don't finish the workout, you die. So there's a lot of drive there to stay on top and get your stuff done.\n\nI would contact the gym and find out if maybe they offer a knife fighting course or something. After you take the course, go back to your first gym, wait for the instructor in the parking lot, and practice your new workout until you have her purse. That should be a good reimbursement. Do this every couple of weeks until you are satisfied with the way you look and your refund.\n\nCiao!
162129
if you want classes, then go to the ymca... if you are looking for the best weight sets, go to golds, if you want convenience i would choose a 24 hour center... personal trainers are in the phone book and can be taken to any facility... it is a matter of choice
319029
This question is difficult to answer without knowing your age, current weight, fitness level, and amount of free time.  However, just looking at the description of your workout, I can tell that there is an insufficient amount of cardio.  Unless you are pedaling very fast on the stationary bike, I would stick to the elliptical trainer because that is an easier and quicker method of calorie burning.\n\nIncrease your cardio to 20-30 minutes, then do the circuit training.  If you are not far from your ideal weight, you may need only 30 minutes of cardio.  If you are more than 50 pounds overweight, I would recommend a target of at least 60 minutes of cardio.  If you have access to a heart rate monitor, that would be helpful when you're on the elliptical trainer because the monitor is more accurate in assessing your exertion than your own perception.\n\nPersonally, I do 2-3 hours of cardio a day, 5-6 times a week.  I wear a pedometer everyday and aim for a minimum of 20,000 steps.  My ideal goal is 30,000 steps per day.  I record my activities in a journal.  I stock up on green vegetables at work and eat briefly at my desk, then walk 3-4 miles during lunch.  Three times a week I do strength training with hand weights and I also do crunches, planks, work with body bar.  \n\nI find that I don't work as hard on my own as I do when I sign up for a fitness class.  So I'm taking weight training one hour on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and I do hand weight exercises on my own those mornings.  In addition, I take Pilates for one hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Also, I am taking kickboxing for an hour and a half on Mondays and Wednesdays in the evenings.  On Saturdays, I'm taking squash for an hour.  I set up my schedule so I'm forced to go to the gym five times a week.  After these classes, I hit the elliptical trainer.\n\nObviously, this schedule is tough if you have many commitments.  I was working full-time and going to grad school in the evenings, but I just finished school so I find myself with more time.\n\nSince you are doing 5 minutes of cardio now, I would recommend that you slowly increase the amount.  Next week, do 10 minutes of cardio and see how that goes.  The following week, do 15 minutes.  I wouldn't suggest that you dramatically overhaul your exercise routine because that may cause injury or burnout.  \n\nIt took me about a year to reach the level of activity that I am currently at.  It's a learning process.\n\nAlso, with the food intake, I would recommend that you keep a detailed food journal.  I thought I was being very good at restricting calories until I started writing down everything I ate.  I realized that 2000 calories a day isn't that much food, even if I'm eating 10 servings of green vegetables and fruits.  The goat cheese or seafood salad that I add to my spinach quickly adds up in calories.\n\nWhen I started working out at the gym over a year ago, I was going 2-3 times per week for 30-60 minutes, but I didn't see any weight loss for about six months until I seriously increased the amount and intensity of cardio and further reduced my calorie intake.  I believe that I was making up for the calorie loss by eating slightly more.  \n\nWhen I go on vacation and increase my food intake, I notice that the weight easily creeps back on.  One week of vacation can set back my weight loss progress by three weeks, so now I more conscious of the food choices.
335912
I tried something similar.\n\nBasically, there's nothing else for you to do but workout and become body concious.  It helps people reorganize their life to make diet and exercise a priority in your life.\n\nThis training is not for everyone, I'd only recommend it to people who cannot be motivated and are always failing their fitness plans.
113894
If there is a Planet Fitness near you they are really good. About $10-20 a month depending on which program you pick.
282210
why don't u go with someone for a free trial. if u don't know anyone that is already going there call them and tell them that u would like to come in and see the place that u are thinking of joining the place i go to here offer me a free 2 day workout. with curves just opening up they usually let u try the place out even if its for a small fee just so they can get established in the area. i took a couple friends with me and they seen $$$ signs..lol talk to the manager. don't deal with anyone but her she can cut some slack. and there are a couple reg. gyms that offer the 2 week trials too.\ni even had someone help me for my first couple of times to each place to show me the new equipment and whats the best thing to do for my goal.
590441
I go to a gym and use a little bit of everything.  They say to shake up your routine about every 6 weeks or so for maximum results.  I think any machine can help you, but you have to use it consistently and it's probably better to use more than one gadget.  A lot of gyms have summer specials/reduced rates for students.
364168
My opinion in general.  It's good for someone that knows nothing about working out and is just getting into it.  And it'll only be helpful for maybe a year.  I have not ever been to Curves, but have heard about it from several people.  Their program is low impact and not vigorous at all.  Theyre main goal seems to be to keep you motivated to come back because they DO encourage you a lot.  If you have a lot of self-motivation, join a regular gym though and you will see a lot more results.  Curves seems to ease you into working out and getting you comfortable with it, which is why I would suggest not joining for more than a year.
103894
That's a lot of cardio!  I usually only do 20 minutes four times a week.  What I find fun is an elliptical machine.  These are at all gyms.  I usually bring my iPod or plug my headphones into the TV so I can watch that.  Do something that takes your mind off of you exercising.
438547
You have to keep at it! Swimming is a very good full body workout its cheap too.\nWhy not team up with someone? Go running with someone fitter than you and try and keep up with them. \nKeep a log of what you do etc and try to break your records or bad habits!\nYou have to stick to your routine but try and make it interesting start a sport or a club you can enjoy.\nLook for a cheap gym I only pay £30 a month I dont think thats too bad my brother pays £70!\nGood luck!
504173
To be perfectly honest with you, the best way to do boxing at home, is to not do boxing at home. There's all kinds of reasons for this, but I will give you only a couple. I'm writing to you about this with over 33 years of experience and many failed attempts of "Boxing at home"\n\n   There's the little mistakes that you pick up while you're training at home, dropping your hand as you throw your jab, not shooting your jab straight out, not pivoting on your foot properly when throwing the left hook, stepping straight back with your head up in the air, cat-pawing when you start to get tired. These are the most common of mistakes that everyone starting out training at home does, maybe not all of them but definitely some of them.\n\n  Then there's the fact that you're not around the gym atmosphere\nthe smell of a boxing gym. The subconscious telling you to push yourself harder than the guy hitting the bag next to you. The fact that your being watched by guys/girls who know what they're doing and you want to show that you belong. The fact that the noises that come from a gym give you a rush unlike anything you've ever experienced.\n\n   The money you spend on a "Home Gym" will be a complete waste, how many times have you bought something you had to have and six months later you thought what a waste? Spend your money on a Gym membership or Gym dues, stay away from Health Clubs like Ballys, Golds Gym, World Gym and countless others who know absolutely nothing about boxing except Rocky's coming out on Christmas.\n\n  I understand your position completely, to just stay in shape get yourself a freestanding bag, it's a great way to stay in shape. It's next to impossible to get into the shape you have to be in to actually compete at home, for all the above mentioned reasons and then some.\n\n  Good luck.
374511
The best piece of advice is too first set some goals for yourself. Be realistic about them.  None of this "I wanna lose 20lbs in a week" type goals but, realistic ones.  What do you want your body to look like.  Do you want to be muscle bound, do you want to be toned, do you just want to increase stamina, perhaps all of the above?? Perhaps talk to a trainer about setting some goals for yourself.   Second stick to it.  It takes time for you to start noticing results.  It is not going to happen overnight but, it will happen.  Third, get a subscription to a good womens workout magazine.  This will help you stick to your program by motivating you every month and it will offer you new techniques every month on how to improve your workouts.  Finally and the best piece of advice is to have fun doing it.  Don't making working out a chore but, make it a time to have some fun.  Getting into an aerobics class or working out with a friend will help working out be fun.  Also an iPod will make it more fun too.  I hope this helps.. Take care and have fun.
68219
u need to eat right and exercise regularly.u need not go to the gym to exercise.do it at home for ex:-use the stairs to climb up and down instead of the stairs.i feel it is the best exercise.so all the best.start it right away.
308535
Save even more and buy yourself free weights.  An olympic bar, a sissy or curl bar, and an adjustable DB set.  Any fitness expert worth their salt will tell you that the benefits from free weights make machines pale in comparison.  Take the money you save and learn proper technique from a trainer.  Get a trainer that has a college degree in exercise science, that tells you more than a certification.  There are thousands of reasons to follow these instructions, but a few are:\nless likelihood of injury\nmore stability in joints\ngreater muscle balance\n\nIf you still refuse to come to grips with this advice AT LEAST get a machine with cables and pulleys, not steel bars and pivot points.  Cables and pulleys mimic the 3-dimensional movements of free weights, which is where the majority of the benefit lies.  Good Luck
177694
I was a fitness instructor for 24 hour fitness, it was a great experience...they have no contracts, so if you prefer no contracts obligating you to be at one gym, I would try 24 hour fitness. Besides they have a hell of a lot more gyms and you can go to any around the world with your membership.