by Steven Gomez

Created on: October 14, 2008   Last Updated: January 04, 2010

If you're looking to join a gym for the first time, congratulations!  You're taking a big step that most Americans need to take but haven't: Getting in better physical shape.  You'll want to take into consideration these important questions:

- Do you have an exercise plan?  If you're new to working out, you are far less likely to lose interest and quit if you know exactly what days you intend to work out and what exercises you plan to do.  Having a plan reduces confusion and downtime, while helping you stay focused and get through your workouts quicker so you can get back to your life.  Go to a bookstore and sample some books on personal fitness, or speak with friends who work out, for ideas on a workout plan.  But make sure you know what your goals are and what exercises you intend to do.

- Does a gym work for you?  You may find out that your ideal workout doesn't require a gym at all: Maybe your best workout involves jogging, bicycling, resistance training (push ups, sit ups, etc) and mat exercise programs like Pilates that don't require a gym at all... which saves you the money of a membership.

If you want to strength train with free weights, a workout bench and a set of free weights might work better for you than going to a gym.  However, a weight set requires an investment of at least a couple hundred dollars and you'll need space in your home to store and use the set.  You may find you'd rather pay a gym to use their weight sets.

- Does the gym have all the resources you'll need?  Most people only need the basics: Free weights and machines for strength training, mat space for stretching and calisthenics, treadmills, cycling machines and ellipticals for cardio training.  If you need anything beyond that, however, do your research.  If you want to swim, make sure your gym of choice has a pool.  If you want to take aerobics classes, make sure the gym offers said classes, and during times convenient for you.  Make sure they're also open during the hours you want to work out.

- How much do I want to spend, and how much would I have to spend?  Most gyms require an initial fee around the $100 range and memberships can run anywhere from $30-100.  It can be challenging to get this information from gyms, as most gyms don't publically most their pricing structure, requiring you to speak with a salesperson whose aggressive sales techniques may make it difficult to get accurate information

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