Making the Most of Your Gym Membership

You may have started out the year with the usual resolutions involving exercising and getting in shape. But as March approaches, your enthusiasm may have waned. Did you know the number of gym memberships actually go up by 12% in January—more than any other month of the year? In contrast, the number of gym dwellers progressively decreases over the course of the year. As your wallet is probably well aware, most gym memberships involve a contract and commitment for a period of time—so whether you go regularly or not, that membership still costs you a pretty penny.

Reap the Benefits
A gym membership has become almost as fashionable as the latest Louis Vuitton bag or Chanel lipstick. You signed up because everyone else did and thought you needed it at that time. But you may not be experiencing the same eagerness to pull out your gym pass as you would that handbag or lipstick. Just as you think days ahead about outfits flaunting your recent purchase, so too should you value your gym membership. After all, you invested in it, so you owe it the same amount of face time. The endorphins that your body releases after a gratifying workout, the confidence you exude when you look and feel good, waking up feeling strong or feeling that extra surge of energy as you run after your toddler are all part of what you bought when you purchased that gym membership. Think of it as any other expensive purchase—remind yourself why you thought you needed it and that you owe it to yourself to get the most out of it through the year.

Planning Your Gym Visits
As soon as you know your schedule for the week or day ahead, slot a time for your gym visit and add it to your calendar as you would any other appointment. Commit to it and take it as seriously as any other meeting. After all, your health is more important than any other aspect of your life. Just as you would not cancel on a business client at the last minute for a lame excuse like “I just wasn’t in the mood” or “I decided to watch TV instead,” you should have the same attitude towards your appointment with the gym.

Aruna Paramasivam

Keep track of how you feel before and after each gym visit. If you find yourself able to give more to your workout in terms of endurance or just plain feel more enthusiastic to work out at a certain time of day, then make a note of this and choose that time slot for your gym visits. You want to work with not only your schedule but also your energy levels and mental attitude. The path of least resistance is always the easiest one to follow. When you work with your body and brain instead of against them, you will have a better workout experience overall!

Note the activity level and ambiance at your gym at different times of the day. If it is more crowded at a certain time and you find yourself waiting to use the equipment you want, find a different time slot in the future. You want to be as efficient as possible to optimize your time at the gym and make the most of it. Figure out when you are most comfortable at your gym and try to go as much as possible then. Some like an empty gym because they find it peaceful, whereas others enjoy the social aspect of being around others in a group environment. It is completely an individual preference, but if the gym becomes a place that you look forward to visiting, this will definitely encourage you to be there more.

Set Realistic Goals
It is important to have fitness goals, since these will drive you to the gym and ensure you get there on a regular basis. If you are aimless in your gym visits, it is easy to quickly lose enthusiasm, since there is nothing gripping to make you consistently return time after time. You quickly start to feel lackluster about mundanely performing physical activity without the desire to reap a specific result.

As a starting point, set tangible goals that you can check off, such as the number of times and types of workouts you hope to accomplish in a specific amount of time. These factors are completely in your control, whereas you may get discouraged with a target such as “Lose 10 pounds” for which you may be at the mercy of harder-to-monitor factors such as your body’s metabolism. It is equally difficult to keep track of vague resolutions like “Get more buff” and “Look toned.” Instead, think around these larger objectives of weight loss or muscle building, and tailor the frequency and type of your workouts to meet them. An example of an initial goal may be 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity and two group body-sculpting classes for the first month. In the second month, you can add on ten minutes of abdominal work to each visit to strengthen your core. Conversely, during the months where you know you have other obligations and time constraints, you can prepare ahead by committing to a minimum of two visits of whatever type of workout you can get in. This will ensure you will not slack off and still continue to keep steady momentum for your goals. You will definitely feel much more accomplished and less frustrated when you are able to clearly meet the gym goals you set for yourself and check them off your list.

Another type of tangible fitness goal you can work toward is time- or strength-related. Examples of these could be any of the following: “Run an eight-minute mile,” “Do 50 pushups,” “Bench press my body weight” or “Spend 45 minutes on the stepmill at level ten.” When possible, give yourself a realistic time frame to accomplish these goals and take steps on a weekly basis to get closer to them. Do your research on a training program if necessary. A simple Google search on performing unassisted pull-ups or running a certain distance will give you plenty of suggestions for getting where you want, as well as a weekly progression to eventually accomplish your goal. In addition, do not be shy to ask the gym staff for assistance and advice. If you see another gym-goer accomplishing your goal with finesse, chat him or her up for tips. Knowledge is power—and another way of feeling in control of your workouts!

It is important to be practical in setting your fitness goals. Be realistic in your schedule, your lifestyle, what you are able to give to your workouts and how your strength or endurance improves over time and then tweak your goals over time appropriately. Remember that you are doing this for yourself, so avoid setting yourself up for failure. Think of yourself as your own coach and act in the best intention of nurturing and motivating yourself. You want to use your gym membership to make you feel like a million bucks just as any fashionable accessory would!

Enjoy and Have Fun
I cannot emphasize enough that you need to have a positive attitude toward the gym. Do not think of it as a chore or a dreaded activity—turn it into an enjoyable break in your day when you get to spend quality time with yourself. You can have the chance to reflect on your job, family or other activities as your body pushes itself with physical activity. You may find additional clarity with the increased blood flow.

The many options and variety available at the gym can add the spice to your workouts. Keep trying out different activities and exercises until you find one that you really like—when you experience that endorphin rush. If running hurts your knees, try the elliptical machine. If you find sitting on an exercise bike by yourself boring, try a spin class instead. If you hate lifting weights, opt for a group sculpting class led by an instructor whom you find uplifting. Be sure to switch up your workouts often to keep them challenging and to avoid boredom. As you achieve your fitness goals, create new ones for you to grow into and look at these as new challenges each time to push yourself physically and mentally to accomplish.

Make a few friends at the gym or, better yet, find a few gym buddies who motivate you. Hold each other accountable and motivate each other to push yourselves. Find creative ways to look at the gym as a fun activity, and you will slowly but surely develop a natural zeal for it. It could even become that time that you find yourself looking forward to breaking away from everything else cluttering your mind and complicating your life!

A gym membership, like any other luxury item, has the power make you feel empowered as you become stronger, faster, healthier or leaner. When used effectively, it can give you self-awareness and confidence that will translate to other aspects of your life. There may even be days when you will want to scream,“I am woman. Hear me roar!” as you strut around with your ever–improving physique, holding your Louis Vuitton purse tightly with fingernails painted in the latest Chanel colors!

Aruna is a management consultant and fitness enthusiast who lives in New York City. She is a South Asian professional who pursues fitness modeling and competing as an active hobby, and enjoys sharing her tips for success with others.