Tag Archives: gym

Gym Mistakes You May Be Making

The gym is arguably the best place to get a workout. Many are open 24 hours, are stocked with the latest and greatest equipment and the vibe can push you to work out harder and longer than you would at home… if you avoid these common gym mistakes.

Sticking exclusively to cardio. Women especially tend to stick exclusively to cardio, and miss the opportunity for a well-rounded workout. Cardio is important, but so is strength training, and avoiding the weight room and machines will rob you of its benefits. Muscle boosts metabolism, builds sleek muscles and increases bone density, so don’t skip it. (more…)

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Kelly

How to Stay Germ-Free at the Gym

Stay germ-free at the gym. Going to the gym is great. Even if you don’t make friends with the other members of your gym, it’s nice to do something communal. You can swap tips, share advice and it can help you stay motivated.

But there is one downside to exercising in any public place: a greater concentration of germs. People who work out in communal spaces are at a higher risk of getting sick from infections. Here are ten tips from FitSugar on how to stay germ-free during your workout.

1. Get the dirt on the cleaning schedule.
Ask how often the equipment gets cleaned. If the staff isn’t willing to show you the schedule, they’re probably not very strict about it. There’s reason to switch gyms if the hygiene standards don’t make the cut.

2. Use disinfectant on all equipment.
Even if it doesn’t look sweaty, spray it down or use a disinfecting wipe on all workout machines and weights. Spray works most efficiently if you apply it directly to the machine, not onto towels. Stretch out for a few minutes while it works, and then wipe it off with a clean towel.

3. Cover all cuts with Band-Aids.
Even if it seems insignificant, the smallest breaks in the skin are places where bacteria can penetrate. This includes blisters, hangnails, and dry skin with cracks. (more…)

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Health Buzz

Best Gyms in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a booming sprawling metropolis with about 17 million residents. No wonder traffic is horrible morning, day, and night.

The fitness business is going strong there, with thousands of personal trainers who are able to take advantage of the beaches, mountains, and amazing year-round weather to train outside of the gym setting. Although the majority of personal trainers freelance, others choose the gym setting to make a living. (more…)

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Matt

Best Gyms in Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada is one of the fittest and most health-conscious cities that I have ever lived. With a population of just more than 600,000, Sin City has a plethora of amazing fitness facilities that are jam-packed morning and night.

One of the most booming health clubs is the Las Vegas Athletic Club. It has six clubs in the Las Vegas area and each one has a steady membership base. It’s a step above most health clubs due to the hundreds upon hundreds of cardiovascular machines equipped with either personal televisions or cardio theater. It also offers a large variety of the best weight training machines, indoor running track, indoor pools, and tons of fitness classes for all fitness levels. For only $22 a month, this Vegas health club can’t be beat. (more…)

Posted on August 13, 2023 by Matt

Curves Closes Thousands of Locations

While Curves fitness centers have been pretty easy to find in shopping centers all across the country, that has been rapidly changing in recent years. Since 2024, Curves International Inc. has closed thousands of its franchise locations.

Curves locations have shrunk by a third in the U.S., with 5,208 sites at the end of 2024, down from 7,748 at the beginning of 2024. More than 1,000 Curves chains closed in 2024, while just 35 new locations opened.

While franchisees and industry experts say that the closings are due to a failure to keep up with changing fitness trends (flexible hours, cheaper options), the company disagrees.

(more…)

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Jason

Top 3 Gym Machine Exercises

Finding time to exercise these days requires dedication and a huge time commitment. As a personal trainer, I am in the gym 24/7 and have no excuse not to workout. It is recommended that you work out for at least 30 minutes a day for five days a week. This includes walking, jogging, hiking, weight training, fitness classes, etc.

But after driving to the gym, changing clothes, and warming-up, it’s already been 45 minutes. Tacking on another 30 minutes is brutal. With that in mind, there are three machines in the gym that are extremely important to use if you’re lacking time: chest press, seated row, and leg press.

(more…)

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Matt

A Beginner’s Guide to Fitness Classes

Starting a new gym experience may seem a little overwhelming at times, that’s why I recommend hitting the fitness classes. Fitness classes not only offer an intense workout, but provide you the opportunity to meet some friends that share the same fitness goals and also learn a little more about which activities support certain areas of the body.fitness class

Most fitness facilities offer a plethora of different classes from spinning to yoga. Each class will target different parts of the body as well as different intensities of cardiovascular training. I recommend trying each class to find the ones that give you the best workout and that you find most enjoyable as well.

Before joining a gym, ask the membership representative to discuss the classes offered or give you a brochure about each class. Also, be sure there is no added charge for fitness classes. Most fitness facilities offer free classes as part of the membership fee, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure. (more…)

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Matt

Using the Gym with Your New Year’s Resolutions

boxingSo, many of us made New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight and get into shape once and for all. How are you doing with that? If you are like many of us, you joined a gym. But if you are new to fitness or weight loss, you might be unsure of exactly what to do in the gym.

I went to the gym today and noticed that it was much more full than usual, and then I realized that many of the people I saw were new. Many of them were unsure of how to use the equipment; I saw some women doing exercises that were designed to do the very opposite of what the attendee wanted: ten minutes of reps on the adductor machine, for example, will do nothing to reduce the size of your thighs, for that, you need cardio. What might very well happen to these women, as is very common, is that they will not see the results they desire and give up, convinced that working out doesn’t work for her. (more…)

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Carmen

Gym Workouts More Beneficial than Fitness Video Games

woman weightsEverything is changing these days and the digital world is taking over. Have you ever played video games? Well, most video games in the past have required very little or no physical activity. But now, digital workout games are becoming far more popular than actually working out itself.

The latest video craze is thanks to the Wii and complimentary games like Wii Fit and EA Sports Active. These “exergames” have made fitness enjoyable by allowing physical activity to be fun, challenging, and adventurous. These fitness video games are great for improving eye-hand coordination, balance, stability, and stamina; all of which you can do at the gym as well. (more…)

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Matt

5 New Ways to Workout at Home

squatsSometimes, you make plans to work out. You might do all of the prep work: you pack your gym clothes the night before, make sure you have your water bottle and a healthy snack, you clear your schedule, and then, boom! Something happens and your carefully constructed plans vanish in smoke. What’s an intrepid gym rat to do? Don’t worry, there are many things you can do at home that will give you a great workout, even if you don’t have access to free weights or a treadmill! Here are some great options:

  • The Power of 50 – 50 squats, 50 push ups, 50 sit ups and 50 lunges. It’s guaranteed to get your blood moving! (more…)
Posted on October 19, 2023 by Carmen

20 Affordable Ways to Lose Weight Without a Gym Membership

joggersGym memberships are not for everybody and can be rather expensive these days. Driving to and from the gym requires a time commitment as well. Below are 20 ways to lose weight without hitting the gym.

  1. Early morning walk/jog
  2. Afternoon walk/jog
  3. Evening walk/jog
  4. Take the stairs whenever possible
  5. Walk instead of grabbing a taxi or driving
  6. Ride a bike instead of grabbing a taxi or driving (more…)
Posted on September 17, 2023 by Matt