Health Club tours are always well scripted events that are conducted by a salesman for only one or two people. When you are gong to go to tour the health club that you are interested in remember that touring one is not enough. Decide which one you really like best just by location and reputation and then tour a couple of others.

Why would you tour other gyms?

Well every gym you tour will have a salesperson pushing the points that are strongest at that particular gym; the size, the amount of equipment, the trainers. After you have gone on a few tours than you will be saving what you think is the best for last. At this point you are going to know a lot more about what would be important to you and you will be in a better place to not be sold by the pitch and instead be a bit more detached to what is important for your own needs in a health club.

So now on with the tours!

The look of the Health Club

Firstly do your fitness club tours at a time that you would normally work out, this will give you an idea of what the conditions are going to be when you workout yourself. When you start your health club tour the salesperson will start by telling you how great the gym is and how helpful and friendly the staff and other members are. Look around the gym and see what the equipment usage is like, is there any obvious waiting for equipment? Are you going to be intimidated by huge bodybuilders making too much noise? On the other hand does it deem to country club like for your tastes without a motivational feel?

Even though you may have worn workout clothes for your health club tour try to make sure that you do not use the equipment, the act of working out may distract you from your objectivity. While you are seeing the equipment take a look at the lighting, is the workout area bright enough. How much space is there between pieces of equipment? Are you going to be crowded in or is there to much room that makes the place look too empty?

Check out the layout of the entire fitness center, are there enough water fountains? Are you going to run into people while you are getting weights for the bench press? When you get to the changing room check out the showers, stalls and lockers and make sure everything is clean. You may be uncomfortable with the idea of showering with other people but over time you will likely find it useful to be able to have a workout, shower, and then continue on with your day.

Workout Equipment

When you tour the health clubs there are three kinds of equipment to look at.

Cardio Equipment - steppers, stationary bikes, treadmills, rowing machines. How are the usage of these machines, these are always very popular and if your are at the gym at busy time your will not want to wait between uses of the machines

Weight Machines - contraptions that you put weights on including nautilus and others. How well are these maintained? The worst thing for using these is if they are jerky when you are moving through your range of motion and you will not want to be using them which means they would be wasted equipment to you.

Weights, benches, racks - There are various ways to do your exercises but you have to sit or lean on something. Are there lineups for this equipment? How close and how many weight plates are around? Again you would not want to wait to use this equipment as the time between sets is an important factor as to whether you have a good workout or not.

Miscellaneous equipment- abs equipment, lower back. This equipment is usually shoved off to one side in the health club. You will want to be able to get to it as almost every workout you will want to either work on getting a six pack set of abs or strengthening your lower back. Is this equipment well covered or is it torn? Is there enough at a busy time or do you have to wait for this? It may not be too bad to wait for these pieces of equipment occasionally so it may not be a deal breaker for you.

One thing to really take a look at in your tour of the health club is the equipment and the apparent servicing of this equipment. Gym equipment is very tough looking and it may look to you like the equipment is very sturdy and does not need any work to keep it going. This is very wrong! Any reputable gym will have someone working for them part time to maintain the equipment, keeping everything greased, recovering the benches and seats and generally making sure that all of the health club equipment is in tip top shape.

Cardio equipment must be maintained as well. The cardio equipment in a gym has to take much more abuse than nay weight equipment ever has to. Parts are worn and have to be replaced so that everything feels smooth when using stationary bikes, treadmills, stair machines and rowing machines.

Amenities

Lastly you will want to check out all of those really cool amenities….or maybe not.

Suntan Beds - Are you going to get a great deal on the suntanning? Do you even care if you ever use a suntan bed? If not why even factor that into whether you want to join?

Squash or racquetball - if there is some kind of courts look at whether you have anyone to play with, if your are outgoing you may find plenty of people to play with but if not it may be just a waste of space to you…and your membership fees pay for that upkeep.

Proshop and snack bar - these are among the most expensive places for clothes, drinks and equipment on the planet. Always an excuse for a break from the workout but they will always lighten your wallet.

Personal trainer on staff - This could be a great one, if there is a personal trainer then you may want to pay the 40 or so dollars an hour to improve your workouts but it can add up over time. See if there is some kind of plan for 10 sessions or something. And if you set up training then remember to take lots of notes in the car in the parking lot afterwards.

Pricing the Health Club

After you have been through more than a couple gyms and fitness centers you are going to know the tour pretty well and the hard close at the end that tries to have you sign up before you leave the door. Do not sign up right away as you can always leverage how the other gyms are when you are ready to sign up in the end. Every area of the country is a bit different as far as memberships go for health clubs but almost always there is a monthly payment, some kind of signup fee and a two or three year contract. When you are ready to decide look at all of the factors that are important and discount any amenities that you will be paying for but not using. The decision is usually a tough one between a couple of places but in the end I am sure you will be happy with your decision and on your way to an exciting new lifestyle.

Getting started…
1. Schedule a regular time throughout the week for physical activity.
2. Take turns selecting an activity for the family to do as a group each week.
3. Start a log of daily fitness activities for each family member.
4. Adapt all activities to suit those with special needs and preferences.
5. Help everyone to find something active that makes them feel successful.
Tips for the Home
6. Designate indoor and outdoor play areas where rolling, climbing, jumping, and tumbling are allowed.
7. Buy toys or equipment that promote physical activity.
8. Select fitness-oriented gifts with the recipient’s skills and interests in mind.
9. Limit time spent watching television programs, videotapes, and playing computer games.
10. Use physical activity rather than food as a reward (e.g. family goes in-line skating).
11. Include grandparents, other relatives, and friends whenever possible.
12. Emphasize the importance of having fun and learning; avoid a push “to win”.
13. Get off the couch and change the channel manually — or better yet, turn it off!
14. Spend as much time outdoors as possible.

Tips for the Kitchen
15. “Pack your own” nutritious snacks and meals for family outings.
16. Keep fresh fruit and vegetables washed, cut-up, chilled and readily available for post-exercise snacking.
17. Have attractive containers of water available during and after workouts.
18. Take the family grocery shopping so everyone can learn to read the nutrition labels (find the cereal that offers the most fiber per serving; find the tastiest non-fat cheese).

Tips for School
19. Talk to the physical education teacher about your child’s physical education program and how you can provide support.
20. Encourage your school board to make physical education a priority.
21. Volunteer to help with physical activity events at your child’s school.
22. Join a marching band for excellent exercise.
23. Encourage your school physical education teacher to coordinate family evening and weekend activities in the gymnasium or in the school yard.

Tips for Work
24. Stop every hour or two to walk and stretch.
25. Devote a portion of your lunch break to physical activity (e.g., walking).
26. Collect data on dollars spent and days of work lost due to illness related to overweight and/or sedentary lifestyles:
* diabetes
* hypertension
* cardiovascular disease
* stroke
* breast cancer
* and others
Encourage your employer to install facilities and provide incentives to support physical activity.
27. Walk to a co-worker’s desk rather than using the intercom.
28. Make plans with a co-worker to go to a gym or participate in a sport on a weekly basis.

Tips for Anywhere
29. Pack a lunch for work if it’s hard to find restaurants and delis that offer whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
30. Always use the stairs.
31. Carry items - such as book bags, groceries, and picnic baskets to build strength.
32. Walk, jog, or skip instead of driving (to and from school, grocery store, library, park, etc.).
33. Make chores YOUR chance to be active.
34. Get off the bus a few stops early and walk.
35. Park the car AS FAR AWAY from the entrance as possible.

The Great Outdoors
36. Discover what free and low-cost physical activity areas are near your home (park, bike trail, hiking trail, tennis court, swimming pool, etc.).
37. Rake leaves…then jump in them!
38. Shovel snow…build a snow sculpture; make snow angels; build a snow house.
39. Dig and plant in the garden…help everyone plant their own vegetables, fruits and flowers.
40. Chop and stack wood…end with a campfire and sing-a-long.
41. Take a long walk or jog on the beach.
42. Cross country ski around town and into the woods.
43. Use a compass to map out a course - then set out on a walk, jog, or bike hike.
44. Canoe or raft for an entire afternoon.
45. Ice skate for a great winter workout.
46. Skiing always gives the family a lift.
47. Jump into water sports - enjoy water walking and aerobics.
48. Play mixed-age water volleyball.
49. Visit outdoor education centers.
50. Take a nature hike.
51. Go up, up and away with a kite flying day.
52. Go to a driving range or enjoy a game of miniature golf.
53. Go camping where you can pitch a tent, gather firewood, fish, bike, and walk.
54. Visit farms throughout the year where you can pick your own strawberries, peaches, and apples.
55. Plan cycling trips on safe trails by calling your local bike shop or bike club.

YES, in your own backyard!
56. Run, jog, and walk in a family treasure hunt.
57. Toss around as many different-shaped ballls/objects as you can find.
58. Juggle with the entire family.
59. Play “Hit and Go” croquet - hit the ball and run to it - across the whole yard.
60. Count hula hoop rotations.
61. Jump rope - practice rhythms, rhymes and tricks.
62. Play a “hot potato” game of Frisbee.
63. Play an action-packed game of badminton…serve from where the birdie drops.
64. Jump on Pogo stick and count bounces.
65. Build stilts and walk on them to create laughter and exercise.
66. Ride on a skate board (with knee, wrist and elbow pads and helmets).
67. Play hopscotch and organize a family tournament.
68. Run and dodge in a “Tag and You’re It” game.
69. Play traditional and modified backyard sports: basketball, softball, volleyball, and tetherball.
70. Practice on in-line skates (with knee and elbow pads and helmets) - go further and get faster each day.
71. Take the family pet for a walk or jog.
72. Wash the car…enjoy an active game with the hose.

Tips for the neighborhood, community and beyond…
73. Create your own Olympic events at a family reunion or neighborhood block party.
74. Organize a family swim outing - be sure to swim with a buddy in supervised areas.
75. Enjoy a weekend afternoon of physical activities at a local community center.
76. Enter and walk in holiday parades, ethnic festivals, and charity fund raisers.
77. Walk or bike to a nearby playground - challenge family members to try their skills swinging, crossing a horizontal ladder.
78. Take a historical (or architectural) walk or cycling tour.
79. Plan a “block fitness festival” including relay races.
80. Adopt a highway, park, or beach, and keep it clean.
81. Participate in a “volksmarch.” It’s German for a “people’s walk,” is social in nature, and usually 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
82. Help organize mall walks - especially in bad weather.
83. Help organize your building, development, or community to exercise on preset routes at preset times so you can keep each other company.
84. Enter a “Fun Run” or a “Bike-a-Thon.”
85. Encourage local religious and civic organizations to allow halls to be used for indoor family activities.

Take advantage of facilities in your neighborhood
86. Join the YMCA/YWCA or a health club.
87. Organize a party at an indoor ice or roller skating rink.
88. Bowl to your heart’s content.
89. Participate in a mixed-age martial arts class.

On rainy days or when stormy weather keeps you indoors
Don’t Be Stuck - Liven Up!…
Music Makes It Easy!
90. Create a family video of exercise routines.
91. Invite friends and neighbors over for some country western line dancing.
92. Invent a new dance and name it after your family.
93. Host a dance fever contest.
94. Share dances from each generation in your family.
95. Throw an ethnic/multi-cultural dance party.

Take advantage of what you’ve got around the house
96. Use a bench or steps for step-aerobic workout.
97. Play “Twister” or other indoor active games.
98. Encourage everyone to “act out” a story as you read it.
99. Build an obstacle course in the basement or garage on a rainy day.