Five Rules When Picking Out a Gym

So you're finally ready to start working out. Or maybe move to a gym that's better suited to your personal style. You've logged on, searched for the gym of your dreams, and now it's time to tour the training facilities. What are you going to look for during this process? How will you decide where to spend your hard-earned money and hard-to-find free time?

1 Location Location Location
You are more likely to go to the gym if it's easy to get there. Pick a gym near your home so that you can go first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. Investigate places that are on your way to work, so that you can stop by in transit to and from the job. If you have to drive a long distance or spend a lot of time on public transportation just to get your training facility, chances are that you'll miss more workouts during the week. So before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself: Will you go?

2 Stock Up
Does your chosen gym have equipment to meet your needs? There are those who need very few amenities, requiring little more than a basement with some free weights and a locker room; others are more interested in the steam room, hot tub, tanning bed and juice bar.�Maybe you need a gym that has a lot of equipment so you don't have wait for a machine, ever. If you like yoga, you may want to make sure there's a quiet space with mats. Maybe the gym has a massage therapist. Ask about every service and every amenity. I've even been in gyms that have a DJ.

3 Put On a Happy Face
There are lifter gyms and there are housewife gyms, boutique gyms and college gyms. Does the gym fit a demographic you'll be comfortable around? Many of my clients tell me they are reluctant to go to the gym because the people there are intimidating, and they're afraid of being judged. Be certain that when you walk through the door, you won't feel out of place. If you don't feel comfortable enough around the jocks, the kids, the homemakers, the businessmen -- whomever it is you're working out alongside -- the truth is, you won't go.

4 Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness
When you check out a gym, go just after a peak hour to see if it's tidy, or if the lunch crowd or evening rush made more mess than the staff can keep up with. There are few things as disheartening as working out in a gym where nobody puts the weights back, so that you have to go on an Easter egg hunt just to do your training. Also unpleasant is walking into a locker room where towels are strung out on the floor, the benches, the countertops and shower rods. Take a good deep breath: If it smells when you're doing your walk-through, you can bet the facility is not getting a good scrub down throughout the day.

5 The Devil's in the Details
Know what you're getting into before you sign that contract. Salespeople can talk fast -- sometimes faster than we can listen. Ask questions, and read the fine print. Make sure that you understand any loopholes in the contract. Know what day of the month the gym's direct withdrawal will hit your bank account. Keep a record of the start and end date of your contract. Before you hand over your routing number, know that your bank account will be protected from additional charges and potential late fees when they dip into your account just after you've paid your mortgage and electricity bill. Your ability to enjoy the gym where you spend two hours a day and six days a week will be greatly affected if its management style causes you undue stress.

Now you've chosen your gym. You'll spend a lot of time there, and you want that time to be happy. So get some headphones for your treadmill time or a workout buddy for your hour of lifting, or go to the gym alone and make new friends. But go -- and be healthier, be happier and have a good time.