Switching Gyms to Take it To The Next Level

I’ve been going to Planet Fitness for close to 5 months now.  I still like it.  It’s a very no frills gym.  They don’t have classes and they don’t have childcare. What they do have is a bright and happy atmosphere and new equipment.  I believe the location I go to has been open for less than a year.  Another big plus is that it only cost $10 per month to go.  I rarely miss a planned workout and try really hard there. I figure if I’m going to get my ass out of bed at 5:30 am I might as well give it my all. And beneath this pleasantly cushy exterior I felt was a rock hard wall of muscles. That was until my friend Carina signed us up for a beginner boot camp class at another gym Saturday morning.  I went to visit the gym before the class to find out more about the place she was signing us up for.  The name of the gym is Fitness One (you can check out video on there to see what they are all about).  When you walk in it feels “very guy like”. There are punching bags and mats and people doing kickboxing, etc. The other thing I noticed was that most of the people there also seemed really in shape. This gym also isn’t frilly but it does have childcare and loads of classes. 

The owner of the gym is very into motivating his clients and it is a bit contagious however, I went with a very skeptical eye. I had just gone through a big disappointment with the other kickboxing class and didn’t want to risk it again.  Sounds very dramatic I know.  However, he discussed that they work with you on not only your workout goals but also on your nutrition habits and how to improve those. I need alot of help here. I just don’t have this aspect figured out at all. I’m starting to search menu planning blogs to see if this will also help like Orgjunkie.com.

I showed up Saturday morning and the class started promptly.  Carina was a little late and I was silently cursing her for standing me up when I had gotten up early on a Saturday morning.    Since she was late we didn’t stand near eachother. I was up on the front row and she was in the back.  The reason I bring this up is the fact that we had to work with partners and mine was a very toned woman.  The teacher started the class and worked us without mercy for 45 minutes. There were no water breaks, no breathers, it was get your butt moving and do what I say when I say it. She expected our all and I did my best to give it to her. Being a beginner class I expected to breeze right through it but when my left leg just about gave out on me doing one of the exercises I knew this wasn’t going to be a cake walk. I am happy to report that I was able to keep up and do most every exercise. We worked with kettle balls (new to me), stability balls and did cardio.   There were a couple of times that I had to do the easier version but as long as I kept moving I didn’t beat myself up too badly.  I had to run out of there when it was done because my son had a soccer game where he did awesome. Such a relief after the first game but that’s another post. 

Sunday I was incredibly sore from that workout and I can still feel it in my thighs.  That’s when I knew this was the place for me.  Here I was doing their beginner stuff and really struggling.  I want to take my fitness to a whole new level and get in the best shape I possibly can and I think this place will help me get there.

Here are the differences I see btw the two gyms:

Planet Fitness: self-motivated, no classes, figure it out on your own, 30 day notice, $10 per month.

Fitness One: group-motivated, you’re never alone and you always have someone making you try harder, classes and nutritional help, on average a much more fit clients, 90 day notice, $29 per month.

I’m going to go sign up today and start their newbie 21 day program.  This is where they introduce you to all their equipment, find out your fitness level and put you on a program.  I’ll be posting on my progress and I hope you will go along and encourage me on my new fitness journey.