If you are a beginner like myself or a seasoned gym rat, choosing a gym is an important decision to be made and there are lots of things to consider. As the saying goes, “location, location, location”, but it’s more than just that. There are costs involved, contracts to be signed, hours of operation and if you’re a mom, what about the child care options. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a gym, and it should be done only after careful consideration.

I’m on a journey towards a healthy lifestyle filled with vibrancy and vitality. Most recently, I have made the decision and committed to a gym membership after serious contemplating. Exercise was the missing piece to my puzzle.

Significant changes over the last several months in my eating and lifestyle choices have been made but until now I was not mentally ready to join a gym.

The year was 1981 and Olivia Newton John zoomed to the top of the music charts with her song, Let’s Get Physical which inspired everyone to join a gym, sign up for gym class and wear spandex. Me, I was in Grade nine and (mandatory) gym class later ended ended for me in 1985. Not to mention, Participation.

Folks, it’s now 2008!

During my recent tours of various fitness facilities, the following are the top considerations I had to make before signing my contract

10 Things to Consider When Choosing A Gym

1 Atmosphere You’re going to spend a good portion of your time and money here so make sure it feels right to you. When a friend and I started looking for a gym I felt incredibly intimidated by one such gym with the amount of grunting, groaning and amount of posturing that went on in front of some of the mirrors. Make sure you get good vibes and feel comfortable the moment you walk into the door. Think of it this way, why would you spend your time or money going somewhere that you don’t enjoy? If you don’t consider this, your money will be wasted.

2 People A gym is like any other business, it’s there to make money. No matter how good the product is, it’s the people that can make or break a business. What is their interaction with others when you check out the gym(s) to make your choice? Are there many staff around when you need to ask questions? Can you connect with them or are they unapproachable? Do they have the qualifications? I actually interviewed the manager of the gym we chose and discovered she had been with this company for 25 years! She showed passion, enthusiasm and genuine interest in us when we met.

Read the rest of this page »

Popularity: 5%

This week’s whole food recipe will be a compilation of various bean recipes Darlene has done over the past year. These recipes include black beans, red beans and garbanzo beans. Darlene is away showing her art this weekend, so I (Rob) will be posting on her behalf.

Being low on the glycemic index, beans not only provide fiber to your diet, but also have very little, if any, impact on blood sugar.

Not All Protein Is Created Equal

Ounce for ounce, black beans provide the same amount of protein as ground beef, but have no saturated fat, no cholesterol and provide 9 grams of fiber. As well, 4 ounces of black beans are almost one third the calories as ground beef.

Read the rest of this page »

Popularity: 6%

In Vegas, you can indulge in some of the seven deadly sins which might include lust, sloth, greed or gluttony.

Gamble into the wee hours of the morning, wander in a alcoholic haze, belly up to an over indulgent buffet or shop until your credit cards are maxed out. Las Vegas is a temptress. Be prepared to take a chance and gamble. The choice is yours. These are the choices I made.

Read the rest of this page »

Popularity: 4%

Facebook. Often thought of a big time waster and not great for the procrastinators in us, it is marketed as a networking community!

I’m surprised but I will admit that Facebook actually taught me something about myself today. I learned something from one of their ”applications”. It came through “Social Me” (from what I can figure out is a dating opportunity for the singletons out there). I have a friend who actually met someone through this applications.

I found this video which sums up the type of impact Facebook is having on many people, have a look.

Now, let me explain how this Social Me application works.

Read the rest of this page »

Popularity: 6%

Asparagus is one of the leading suppliers of folic acid in the vegetable world. Folate is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells and is especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth such as infancy and pregnancy. Along with folic acid, asparagus is also a good source of potassium and fiber.

A 5 ounce serving of asparagus contains 3 grams protein, 3 grams carbohydrate and 3 grams of fiber with only 5 mg of sodium and zero fat!

This asparagus with lemon sauce recipe has just the right amount of tangyness and is a nice addition to any meal.

Read the rest of this page »

Popularity: 5%