It’s a ritual played out at the first of the year.
Tens of thousands of people will flock to gyms for new memberships, aiming to fulfill New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, train for a marathon, increase strength or achieve other fitness goals.
Although it’s admirable to get into better shape, experts say everyone from fitness fanatics to newcomers need to weigh many considerations before committing time and energy and, above all, signing a contract with a gym.
“The benefits of exercise are just so great,” says Michael Richardson, family medicine physician at St. John’s Mercy Medical Group. “But I would tell people that you haven’t seen a doctor, make sure you’re healthy enough to start exercising.”
When it comes to selecting a workout facility, Jeremy Koerber of BJC WellAware Center recommends answering the following four questions:
Why do I want to join?
What are my goals?
What does the facility offer?
What are the qualifications of the employees?
“With the (fourth) question, you should look for someone with a degree in an exercise-related field,” says Koerber, fitness center manager for the facility on the Barnes-Jewish Hospital campus. “But you should also look for people with reputable certifications from the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, or the National Strength and Conditioning Association. These are all gold-standard certifications.
“You wouldn’t want to see a doctor who took an equivalency exam instead of graduating from medical school. You need to do your homework so your time and investment doesn’t leave you with a higher risk for injury.”
For some individuals, setting up a home gym is ideal. “Some people prefer to work out in the privacy of their home, depending on one’s comfort level,” Richardson says. “To me, I think it works as long as you are regularly getting exercise and using proper techniques.”
Koerber says finding a spacious, well-lighted location inside your home for workouts is critical. “You don’t want to put yourself in a cold, dark, smelly basement,” he says. “Some people like to have a stereo or TV nearby so they can lost into the music or a show.”
In the end, Koerber advises anyone seeking increased workouts in their lifestyle to read Suzanne Brue’s The 8 Colors of Fitness, which is based on a personality-centered approach to exercise.
“Say you’re the type of person who loves the outdoors, then you join a facility and I put you on the treadmill, that will be torturous for you,” Koerber says. “You need to find your exercise color. You have to find what works best for you.”
Regardless if workouts take place at a gym or at home, Richardson recommends his patients learn running and strength-building techniques to minimize the risk of ailments like muscle pulls and accelerated heart rates.
“Typically, you want to start a little slow and gradually increase your workouts,” Richardson says. “I tell people to aim for moderate exercise 30 minutes at a time, five days a week. Someone who is a little more fit can aim for 20-minute workouts, three days a week.”
Regardless of location, Richardson says exercise remains a win-win proposition for his patients.
“When people are ready to make that change in their lifestyles, it’s always encouraged,” he says.
Additional information:
http://exercise.about.com/od/exerciseforbeginners/a/gymfear.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22579223/ns/business-consumer_news/
