Gym Fitness Classes Are Beneficial

Don't be afraid of the gym...welcome it with open arms!

Fitness classes can be completely worth the trip up there, not only for the massive amounts of calories that you can burn, but also for the camaraderie.

In some cases, fitness classes can work better for some people than an individual workout. Most classes are one hour long, which tend to go by very fast. Before you know it, you've turned an hour of fun into a fat and calorie blasting workout!

Here are the most common excuses for not attending fitness classes:

* Everyone will laugh at me!
Most people attend fitness classes for very selfish reasons. They are interested in their own workouts and their own bodies. Kick the habit of being self conscious about how you look at the gym because, as you will discover, members come in all shapes and sizes. The one thing they all have in common is that they are determined to reach their goals. The first step in burning calories, and ultimately losing weight, is just getting to the gym.

* The gym is too expensive!
Determine your daily calorie requirements using the BMR Calorie Calculator. Now subtract 500 calories to determine your new daily calorie requirement to lose one pound per week. Are you meeting this goal? If you are over your daily calorie goal, would you say that the food you have consumed over and above your goal would total $29 or more per month? Given that the average monthly gym fee is $29, you would actually be saving money by getting a gym membership and meeting your calorie goals!

* I don't have anything to wear!
You would be surprised! Members will wear anything from a sweatsuit to a tiny sports bra and shorts, and everything in between. There is no runway at the gym, so save your money and purchase your new workout wardrobe once you become completely comfortable. It's perfectly fine to start with t-shirts and leggings or shorts for now. Some gyms have dress codes, so make sure that you follow these guidelines and ask questions when in doubt.

* I don't know anyone at the gym!
New members tend to hide in the back of the class and not speak to anyone. The return rate becomes extremely low for these members. Everyone has to start somewhere, and meeting the other members means potentially finding a workout buddy! So continue to attend the class and you will start to meet some of the other regular members. Be friendly and have fun! Newer members will continue to show up in your class and pretty soon, you'll be pushed up to become a front row diva!

* I'm not interested in working out next to Miss Fitness!
Kick this attitude to the curb! Make it a goal to look better than Miss Fitness. You'll be amazed at how much harder you work when you are staring at your goal...and it wouldn't hurt to ask Miss Fitness why she looks so fantastic after the class. You'll make her feel wonderful and get great advice at the same time!

A couple of last bits of advice: Visit a few local gyms to find the one that best suits your needs. Check the gym hours of operation, times and days of fitness classes, facilities, quality of machines and cleanliness of the locker rooms. Most of the larger gyms will give you a full tour of the facility while fitness classes are being taught. You can get an idea of the clientele at this time, so try visiting during peak hours to get the most out of your research. Stick with it! Try to attend a few of the same classes every week. The fitness instructor will change up the program every 4-6 weeks to challenge the class and to avoid burn out.

excerpt from www.everydayhealth.com