Should you join a gym to lose ? It’s a question many people ask themselves, especially if they’ve been struggling with loss or other fitness related goals for some time. Joining a gym or health club may not be the biggest commitment you could make, but it can be a significant investment of time and money, so you should probably give it some thought.
There are both pros and cons to joining a gym. Whether the pros outweigh the cons or vice versa really depends on you -your personality, where you live, your schedule and so forth. Let’s make a list of some of the positive and negative aspects to joining a gym.
Reasons to join a gym
- Wide selection of exercise equipment, classes and services to choose from.
- Trainers available who can help you find the best exercise routine for you.
- Having a place to go can motivate you; you see others working out, you may enjoy the classes and high quality equipment, etc.
Reasons not to join a gym
- Joining a gym or health club can be expensive.
- You have to actually go there; this takes both time and commitment.
- You may find the environment distracting; some people end up socializing more than working out at their gym.
As you can see from the above list, there are both benefits and possible shortcomings to joining a gym. You have to ask yourself some questions before you make a decision.
Questions to Ask Yourself About A Gym
Would joining a gym right now cause me any financial hardship?
How far do I live from the nearest gym or health club? If I am close to one, is it one I’d really want to join? How much time would it take for me to get back and forth from work or home to the gym, and do I really have this time to spare?
Am I someone who can focus on an activity like exercise, or am I easily distracted when around friends or other people?
If you ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly, you can probably decide if this is a good time to join a gym. If you decide that you should, then make a commitment to really go there at least three times per week for at least a year.
What if you decide that it’s not the time to join a gym? No harm. There are many other alternatives, from walking around your neighborhood to getting an exercise machine for your home. The important thing is not so much whether you join a gym to lose weight, but that you take some positive action in that direction. Joining a gym may or may not be the right solution for you.