Want to lose weight? Tips on finding the right gym, fitness program

Arguably the most common New Year's Resolution across the board is to lose weight, especially here in the Philippines where the holidays become synonymous to glorious spreads of rice and cholesterol-rich dishes. It's no wonder why gyms and fitness centers are packed this time of the year.

  

Luckily, there is no shortage of gyms here in Manila. On a Jan. 17 episode of “Pop Talk” on GMA News TV, actress Sheena Halili, fitness trainer and former reserve officer of the Philippine Air Force Froilan Dioso, and mom Lerma Burawis joined the New Year weight loss crusade and weighed in on three gyms across the metropolis.  

 

 

The first gym they visited was Gym FTX in Salcedo Village, Makati, which offers fitness programs that are unique to say the least: a 15-minute program called Cirqfit, another called Techno Rave which is essentially aerobics in the dark with glo bracelets, and Fly Yoga which involves doing poses suspended from special hammocks. For P12,000, gym-goers can have unlimited use of the gym, inclusive of equipment use and access to most of the programs for three months. 

 

The next gym up for review was the Eclipse 24/7 gym along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong. As the name implies, the gym is open for 24 hours, which makes it accessible to nocturnal beings or call center agents. The fitness center is more old school in its approach as it focuses on good old-fashioned bodybuilding, as evidenced by its collection of weights, sleds, tires, and kettlebells, which one can gain unlimited access to for P7,200 pesos for six months.

 

The last gym featured on the show was the Body Worx Fitness and Spa on West Avenue, Quezon City. An exclusive gym with only 500 members, it focuses on martial arts, cycling, bodybuilding, but most of all, boxing, with trainers that have been trained by Pacman’s coach, Freddie Roach himself. A one-time joining fee of P7,600 plus a monthly fee of P1,990 affords gym-goers a lifetime membership. 

 

Rating the centers based on fitness and fun factor, facilities and amenities, and value for money, the reviewers found that they enjoyed Body Worx Fitness the best, while they liked Eclipse the least.

 

What the reviewers didn't like was the lack of support and guidance from the Eclipse staff, and the difficulty and lack of variety of the workout programs. The only plus, they said, was that the rates were affordable, though it doesn't matter because they didn't like the gym anyway. 

  

On the other hand, the reviewers said they appreciated Gym FTX's convenient location and its colorful, vibrant interiors. They also liked the unique activities, the encouraging staff, and the presence of the in-house DJ.

  

But what sealed the deal for them at Body Worx Fitness was the sheer variety of activities that were offered, which made their workout more exciting.

  

Choosing a fitness program

 

To better achieve their goals, weight loss crusaders should tailor their chosen fitness program to fit their preferences and needs, said fitness expert and wellness consultant Noemi Pitargue.

 

In an interview with GMA News Online, Pitargue said that it is important to select a trainer one is comfortable with. She also said that one must have a variety of exercises and physical activities, for women especially.

 

“I’ve observed that the male psyche generally — there are always exceptions to the rule — tend to desire lifting weights. The female in general may opt for group classes such as dancing, aerobics, tae-bo, yoga, Pilates, pole dancing, and ballroom dancing,” Pitargue said.

 

She also noted that men and women respond to exercise differently.

 

“The female metabolism is also slower than the male metabolism. The trainer must acknowledge this. This can be addressed by adding variations in poundage and exercise programs,” she explained.

 

“It is also an advantage to have different equipment and gadgets for cross and circuit training… When one is quite determined, he or she can enroll in a gym and at the same time have other physical activities to have a synergistic effect in his or her weight loss program,” she added.

 

Gyms not necessary

 

Pitargue noted that enrolling in a gym has many benefits which include the expertise of professional trainers, and being in the company of people who share the same goal to be fit.

 

“Also enrolling in a gym or fitness club can keep one on his or her toes and pique his or her interest so as not to fall off a fitness program or fitness goal,” she added.

 

That said, here’s a bit of good news for those who simply can’t afford the hefty price tag of a gym membership: enrolling in one is not necessary to lose weight.

 

According to Pitargue, the key to weight loss is that age-old formula of diet and exercise — not a gym membership.

 

“Through moderate and sensible food intake combined with a good fitness regimen, one will be able to achieve losing weight whether [enrolled] in a gym or not,” she said. –KG, GMA News