Happened to finally start working out three months ago though my membership dates back 16.
It took me a year to turn up at the gym after repeated text messages and "what are we to do with your membership" calls.
My trip to the Himalayas (which never happened in the first place and how I regret it) became the impetus. My trip advisor told us it is necessary to buy some gear and break in the shoes. And get fit for all the trekking. First I thought I ll go jogging by the beach early morning. I romanced the idea. Watching the sun rise, fresh air to breathe, waves rolling in and out..... sigh. But then all these rumours of a Tsunami did not help and also with a morning radio show at that point in time, it was impossible. I was already waking up too early and I do not think I would be left in peace to jog by the waves at 4:30 in the morning. Who am I kidding anyway, I live in India. I enrolled my mom at the gym first and decided to start off as well.
If I were asked to give advice, I would probably say, start a good exercise routine. (I promise you, your lifestyle definitely changes for the better once you pump some iron. OK I am not really pumping any but that's old style to say I am working out. And I like that old style thingerie sometimes)
But when you do and if you happen to take up one of the umpteen packages that fitness centers offer these days, you better take it in writing from them about what exactly is.
After a few days and once you are a member it is very easy - and convenient - for them to forget what they promised you in the first place.
Also there is one more thing I do not understand. This came from another friend. She signs up for a 3 month membership and then she falls sick and does not get to go for two months. She goes back to the gym and they tell her sorry, you need to pay up if you have to use the facilities. Otherwise you should have given a letter to "freeze" the membership until you are back. A lot of her hard earned money went down the drain. They for their own advantage would not accept a letter from the hospital or her doc. Of course I agree enough of these certificates are "doctored" but what the hell? In addition to falling sick and all the other things you need to take care of, you need to remember to tell the gym, hey I am sick and I wont be back for a said number of days, please extend my membership.
In our country a lot of people are super charged about starting such places, in this case, a good fitness center or even a salon with well trained staff means you start making money from the word go or so I think, considering the number of people traipsing in and out of such places. But the people who start these businesses almost all of them seem to forget this one and perhaps the most essential thing. Of being a little gracious to the ones who put the bread, butter or maybe I should say fat free margarine, sugar free marmalade on the table for the owner and the employees of an organization. Taking into account fitness centers have people signing in up in numbers usually more than 1. People keep telling you that you need a gym partner. Otherwise you won't really show up at the gym. I turn my nose up at that concept but then one additional person gets pulled into a fitness routine and the gym gets richer. All good.
Coming back, at different points in time I used to wonder why some people argued with the management at such centers and at several other places too but I now think we all need to do that. Perhaps there need not be a hue and cry but we all know that we get embarrassed asking for what we deserve.
But I think its time, high time infact to be assertive consumers and ask more questions, your gut and fears notwithstanding, about the products that we buy, the services we sign up for and everything else. Be plucky. Like someone said, millions saw the apple fall. I am sure they saw loads of other things fall too. But only Newton asked why (the apple fell that is. I do not think I should misquote history). And that made all the difference. The power of one is huge. And I wish you recognize it, revel in it and assert it, hopefully to also answer the call of righteousness and justice.
Signing off, I ll say take fitness seriously. And once you start following a regimen, you become a different person. You look great and you feel great. Your system is good. Your heart starts singing. Try it out. I wanted to tell you after I had been consistent at it. And also there is some such thing as saying too much too early. And I didn't want to blab too soon.
So, if you are thinking of paying up even at a famous or reputed gym, read the fine print, ask a lot of questions and don't help the management forget the perks they offered you. More than anything else, you must remember. Because they ll convince you that have forgotten everything. If you are suffering from STM loss, work out and skip that cup of coffee. Some study somewhere says that is because of coffee, of modern times I guess, that makes us forget things.
Have fun :)
