How To Choose The Right Gym

You want to start working out, great, but which gym to choose? This question can be a bit confusing and perhaps a little intimidating for someone considering a gym membership for the first time. It’s important to choose a gym that you are comfortable at and that will meet your needs. In order to find the best workout environment for you should consider the following:

1. Recommendations- Ask your friends which gym they go to and why they like it. Also having a  friend at the gym makes you more likely to go regularly and the support system will help you achieve your goals.
2. Location- Since getting up out of the house in of itself can be a reason we avoid going to the gym, having a membership at one near your home makes it harder for you to justify not going.
3. Hours- Do you need a gym that is open late? Or are you an early morning person? Be sure to take note of when the gym is open so you can be sure you can get there in accordance with your schedule.
4. Staff- The staff can really make or break your decision, were the staff helpful? Did they put too much pressure on you to buy a membership? In choosing my gym the staff was extremely helpful, friendly, and supportive. All the qualities you need to feel confident and keep you coming back.
5. The other members- Most likely you will get a tour of the facility before you join; you need to feel comfortable in your work out environment not intimidated. Look around and see what kind of clientele this facility caters to and whether or not you will be relaxed and comfortable there.
6. Cleanliness- This is especially important in the locker room, make sure that the showering facilities are properly cleaned and maintained. Also take note to see if towels are readily available to clean the machines.
7. Equipment- Make sure the equipment has clear instructions for use, or that the staff is available to help you. See if there are any ‘out of order’ signs on the equipment it could indicate that the gym is poorly maintained. Also be sure to check if the machines have time limits, if you like to run for an hour on the treadmill but there is a half hour limit it may not be the right gym for you.

When you take your tour of the gym remember that you should be picky and shop around, you are paying your hard earned dollars and you deserve the best gym for you!

Angie Picardo is a writer at NerdWallet, a financial literacy website where you can find information on making a host of financial decisions from gym memberships, retirement, to divorce finances.

Investigator's Props

Have you ever wondered how private investigators or PIs get their information? It always fascinates me when I read stories about detective work and what equipment they use to gather information and solve the puzzles. They use various equipments like ncstar binoculars, spy gears, costumes, surveillance cameras and recorders. These equipment are very important to gather information and to keep their work undercover to solve crime, find a missing loved one or catch on philandering spouses.

Barcode Scanners

I found some brochures lying on the office counter and wondered what they were about. We normally receive free brochures from fashion outlets or promotional offers from electronic stores. These brochures were slightly different.

The brochures were about Symbol LS2208. I got very curious so I opened one and found out it was about barcode scanners. I wonder who left them there? Maybe one of my colleagues or bosses is planning to have a different venture on the side. I just find it a wee odd to find such brochures lying around in an airline company such as ours.

Fitness First!

Oh no, not the famous fitness club. I am referring to my goal this year to give priority to fitness and healthy lifestyle.

I am lucky enough to now spend a fortune by joining a fitness club because we have a gym in our residential building. The fitness equipment may not be as fabulous as the ones you will find in Fitness First or other top rate fitness gyms and health clubs here in Dubai. They are just fine if you are aiming to do regular and light exercise like running on the treadmill, lifting dumb bells or flexing and toning your muscles.

Smile! Click! Click!

My hubby has a penchant for photography. It is such a shame that I do not share the same passion as he has. My daughter is also following his footsteps and loves taking snaps of just about anything. I was not surprised when one day, hubby came home with an SLR Canon camera he bought from a colleague who had barely used it. I can see how he loves the camera so much as he tinkers on it every day and cleans it like it is his priced possession. I have never seen him so attached to material things except for his small notebook.

I am glad he bought that camera because we can capture so many priceless poses and candid shots from everybody including our cute pooch named Millie. So, whenever we see him holding his nice camera, we just "smile" and the camera goes "click! click!"

The Demi-Nurse

When my dad was still alive and was under treatment for his diabetes and major heart stroke, I was the one taking his pulse regularly and noting the results on a chart. I was his "home-nurse." I remember seeing small medical equipment in our house then which was lent to us by my aunt who happens to be an anaesthesiologist. Although I have no training as a nurse nor was a medical student, I just learned the basics by reading many medical books. I also read the manuals of the medical equipment at home to familiarize myself with their functions. It was really interesting to know more about the medical world when you're an ordinary denizen of the planet. Makes me remember the days when I was keen to pursue medicine but due to my frail health, I had to change my dream.

Zapped to Life

I have never seen a medic using an AED in real life. I see this machine in action only in movies and TV shows. Deep inside, I would really not like to see one being used in real life because that would mean a person is down and is being zapped to life. That is quite a traumatic sight to see. I think it will leave a stigma to me for the rest of my life.

That must be one of the reasons I did not pursue medicine. I don't think I can see life and death in a more scientific way. These two will always have a spiritual meaning to me.