by Jenny Stripe

Created on: October 12, 2008   Last Updated: October 20, 2008

There is a strong psychological factor in fitness or weight loss success. I have often witnessed people who spontaneously join a gym and subsequently achieve nothing but a loss of resolution,. They may say " I only went once, but it was a cheap offer so I have not lost anything." However in reality, even if you undertake the cheapest gym membership possible and subsequently fail to go, it can actually have a very negative effect on your motivation and prompt feelings of guilt.

When the fitness bug bites, inevitably the question of joining a gym arises. If you are a person in need of serious encouragement, you need to ask yourself the following questions before handing over your money:

1) Will I be comfortable exercising in a gym?Some people find the prospect of sweating it out surrounded by others in a competitive atmosphere extremely daunting. The good news is that this feeling really can very from gym to gym. Go and check out the various options: does it feel relaxed and friendly and what kind of people are training there. Don't only check out the exercise rooms but also the changing and social facilities, because your impressions of there areas are just as important.

2) Do I have the time?There is no point going to the effort of joining a gym if it does not fit with your schedule. Are the hours and location convenient for you? If your fitness centre has limited hours or involves a long journey from home or work, no matter how wondrous it is, you may struggle to go.Also try to discover what hours are the quiet and busy times, as this can have a massive impact on the effectiveness of your workout.

3) Is the gym clean and pleasant?A gym that is badly presented and run down can be a depressing experience. Worse still is a poorly cleaned gym filled with grime. Nobody wants to use dirty machines which are bear testimony to hours of sweaty workouts and nobody wants to change in smelly, badly maintained bathrooms.

4)What is the financial outlay?Is the joining fee expensive? Will you be tied to a costly long term contract? Some centres offer a small joining fee and a pay as you go option, which can be less of a commitment and a chance to try things out before making a firm decision. Read the small print of any contract and get the staff to explain it to you. Some people perform well in a low cost bare bones gym whereas others can benefit from the luxury and added extras at a higher price.

5) Do they offer what you want?Visit every gym you are considering, meet the staff and watch some sessions. Make sure to check out the equipment. Do they have enough of the machines that you need, are people having to que and therefore breaking up their workout. Are you inspired to come here, even on a wet Wednesday evening after a hard day at work?

Another important extra is the range of classes available. Some people operate better in a group environment, where somebody leads and structures their workout. Does your gym offer interesting activities that may add dimension to your usual routine? Do you have to pay extra for them? On a similar note, can you get a personal trainer and how much does that cost?

6) What are the additional facilities? Does the gym offer other features that you might enjoy? Do they have a swimming pool, sauna or tennis courts? Having different options at the gym could help overcome boredom or a plateau in your workout routine.

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