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Ten Questions You Should Ask Before Joining a Gym (or Starting Another Exercise Routine)

Ten Questions You Should Ask Before Joining a Gym (or Starting Another Exercise Routine)

Staying on track with your fitness is hard.

We are totally with you on that.

Life is busy, motivation comes and goes, and the very places meant to help you can be boring and intimidating. You end up repeating the same stop-start cycles or feeling too overwhelmed to even begin.

We know how you feel. And that’s why AKR is different. We help our members stay on track with their fitness (for years!), helping them to feel fitter, healthier, happier and more confident in in life.

Fitness can transform your life. But it can also be extremely daunting. It can feel like a massive effort of sweat and pain with – often – not a whole lot to show for it. …Especially if you don’t put yourself in the right environment.

So before you join a gym, hire a personal trainer or embark on another exercise routine, ask yourself the following:

 

1. How does this fit into my life?

If it’s not convenient, it won’t last. If the gym is too far away, awkward to get to or too busy to attend at the times that suit you, it’s a matter of time before you give it up. If your personal trainer can only see you at set times (and a good trainer will be busy) what happens when life gets in the way?

At AKR our central location and flexible booking system lets you manage your schedule around your life making it easier to stay on track. We even have online classes and a library of pre-recorded workouts for when you’re out of town or just can’t get to the gym.

 

2. How comfortable do I feel in this environment?

We get it. Gyms can be scary. Or annoying. The gym bunnies and bodybuilding bros aren’t exactly your people. Sweaty strangers aren’t wiping their equipment down. And you’re basically just a number. If you don’t feel like you fit, you won’t hang around long enough to get fit, so be sure to choose somewhere you feel comfortable.

At AKR, we work with a friendly community of down-to-earth grown-ups like you. It’s much easier to show up when the environment is spotless, people know your name and you feel like you belong.

 

3. Who succeeds here?

Are there people like you in the gym? Have they been attending for a long time? Are they making progress? Does the gym or personal trainer or exercise programme have a track record of helping people like you succeed?

At AKR, we generally work with people who: 1) don’t like the gym, 2) have failed in the gym, or 3) who have never been to a gym. More than 70% of our members are women (many of whom are aged 45-60). Our men tend to be the down-to-earth, professional type. #NoPosers

You can check out some of our member stories here.

 

4. How will I know what to do – and if it’s right for me?

Do-it-yourself fitness is great …if you know what you’re doing. If you don’t, does the gym provide instruction or is that something you’re going to have to figure out on your own? Although it can feel like everyone knows what they’re doing in the gym, the reality is that very few people are using their exercise time effectively.

At AKR, you never have to worry about what to do or if it’s the right thing for you. Our professional coaches guide and coach you every step of the way. Our training programmes are proven, effective and personalised, not only to your level; but your energy on a given day.

 

5. What is the level of expertise of the staff?

If there does happen to be someone on hand to help at the gym, what is their experience? An unfortunate truth about work in the fitness industry is that many people don’t treat it as a profession. To many, it’s not considered a “real job”. As such most personal trainers have only a basic level of expertise and the majority leave the industry within 3 years. Do you have true expertise on hand?

At AKR you’ll be working with educated professionals who take their career and their development seriously. AKR is one of only two gyms in Scotland certified as Gold Standard by the International Fitness Business Alliance and was runner-up in the 2019 National Fitness Awards.

 

6. What support will I get?

Like every journey, you’ll encounter challenges and setbacks along the way as you work to improve your fitness. Having an experienced guide as well as tried and tested strategies can be invaluable in helping you stay on track and feel your best.

At AKR, we provide the lot. Monthly reviews with a coach, an online Members’ Portal of expert interviews, guides and resources – including a clear plan for your nutrition – a skill practise programme to help you develop new habits, and more!

 

7. What will stop me from getting fed up?

Sometimes it’s the monotony of it all that gets to people. That same old workout repeated over and over not only gets boring, it becomes less effective with time. It’s smart to consider upfront what you can do to avoid getting fed up.

At AKR, our training programmes offer the blend of consistency and variety you need to help you make progress …without getting bored. Crucially, you’ll also have the social support of like-minded peers, which transforms a lonely experience into something fun.

 

8. How will I gauge my progress?

You likely already know that seeing progress is highly motivational. How will you gauge your progress in a way that is relevant to you? Will it be based on what you want or what’s expected of you by others – the gym or your trainer?

We consider AKR a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place and have a number of ways to help you track and recognise the progress you want to see. This could include our working towards our strength milestones, taking part in our team events and personal challenges, using our state-of-the-art body composition scanner to track weight or body fat or muscle, or simply being recognised for showing up consistently. At AKR, we help you celebrate your progress!

 

9. How much do I value my health & fitness?

You have a hierarchy of values – from what’s most important to you in life to what’s least important. Everyone does. There are no rights or wrongs here; they’re your values. You tend to spend your time, money and energy on what you value most. After all, you can’t do everything; you have to choose what’s important to you.

For some people their highest priority is their kids, for others it’s their work or holidays or cars, the latest tech or nights out. You’ll likely find that the higher health and fitness is in your own personal hierarchy of values, the more you’re prepared to invest your time, money and energy on feeling fitter, healthier and happier.

 

10. What is the true value of this investment?

The great thing about investing in health and fitness, is the ripple effect it has. When you feel fitter, healthier and happier, everything else tends to get better. You perform better at work, you show up better in your relationships and you have more energy for the kids or the grandkids. You’re more confident, more resilient and you get to age more gracefully and get more from your life.

Investing in your health and fitness pays back with interest and at AKR we help you every step of the way. You get a flexible schedule and a supportive, motivational environment in which our professional coaches guide you through personalised and proven workouts.

All you need to do is show up.

 

 Start With a 30-Day Trial

Our 30-Day Trial is your chance to experience our unique approach to fitness. You’ll get to know the people, the place and the programme before deciding whether or not you want to make a longer commitment.

The trial costs £99 and includes:

  • Up to 10 personal training sessions, delivered in small groups.
  • Unlimited access to our class timetable, including online classes.
  • An optional body composition analysis.
  • Access to our exclusive Members’ Portal of supporting resources.
  • Nutrition support.
  • Access to our private Facebook support community.
  • A 1-2-1 review with a coach.
  • A full money-back guarantee if it’s not for you.

 

Book Your Strategy Session Today!

Everybody starts with what we call a “Strategy Session”.

Your Strategy Session is simply a chance for you to come and meet us in person, to see our facility and to find out more about our 30-Day Trial.

You can schedule your Strategy Session via the link below.

>> www.AKRFitness.com/BookYourStrategySession <<

 

 

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