Q: Can you give me some guidelines for choosing a good gym for bodybuilding training?
A: Gladly – and from your question it appears that you appreciate that not all good gyms are good bodybuilding gyms. Gyms, of course, are commercial enterprises. They are there to make money. Obviously they cater predominantly to the greatest needs of the society in which they operate. That usually means that many of them have little interest in providing for the needs of hardcore bodybuilders. Which is not to say that there aren’t some damn fine bodybuilding gyms out there – there are. You’ve just got to search – and know what you’re looking for – to find them.
What follows are some things to look out for in selecting your training base. Very few gyms will have all of these factors – the key is to find one with appreciably more plusses than minuses:
(1) When you visit the gym, can you spot members who are of like frame of mind to you? Can you see people working out with the same level of intensity and focus that you will bring to the gym floor? If not, you’ll find it tough to find the external motivation that we all need from time to time. In a similar vein, can you spot guys who are at a plane above yourself in terms of their training – guys who are stronger, better developed? Don’t see this an ego threat – look at it as a source of motivation.
(2) What is the general atmosphere of the gym like? Is it predominantly social, with lots of conversing and not too much exerting? Or is it more of a focused, get on with it atmosphere? Be aware that in most gyms the atmosphere changes throughout the day, so if you plan to work out early in the morning, that’s when you need to check out the atmosphere.
(3) Look carefully at the equipment. Does the gym have enough free weights that when the place is packed, you’ll still have access to dumbbells and barbells? Are there enough benches and are they adjustable to set at the angle you choose? Does the gym have at least one Smith Machine, several high and low pulley setups, chinning and dipping bars (with weight belts), power racks, sturdy collars for the Olympic bars, at least one leg press machine, at least one preacher curl bench, a hack squat machine, a seated leg curl machine, both seated and standing calf raise machines, a pec deck machine and EZ-curl bars? Are the dumbbells provided in sufficiently small incremental jumps that you can progressively increase your weights? Are there plenty of handles for the pulley machines? Are there at least two lat pull-down machines with bar supports to secure the body? And what about the cardio equipment? Is there enough of it? Do the treadmills, elliptical trainers and rowers feel smooth and natural when you use them or are they uncomfortable to use? Does the equipment appear to be well maintained?
(4) How conveniently located is the gym to your home and place of work? Ideally the gym will actually be on your route between home and work. This makes it less likely that you’ll cite inconvenience or lack of time as an excuse on those sagging motivation days. The gym hours are another important consideration. Are they flexible enough to accommodate those weeks when you just can’t meet your regular workout commitments?
(5) What is the gym staff like? Are they bodybuilders themselves? Are they able to relate to the demands of hardcore training? Do they know how to spot properly? Do they have real life gym knowledge and experience or they are full of theoretical claptrap? Are they easy-going and likeable?
(6) Check out the locker rooms. Are they clean and free of mold and mildew? Do the showers have both hot and cold water? Can you see signs that lockers have been tampered with? Back in the gym, are there plenty of drinking fountains available?
(7) What are the gym rules? Do they have policies on dropping weights that could get you in trouble on your descending sets of dumbbell presses? Are cell phones and pagers banned? Do they have time limits on cardio equipment? Do they require all members to carry a towel and wipe benches after use? (In case you’re wondering, these last two are good things).
That’s a lot to consider? But wait – there’s more. There are certain intangibles about a gym that are impossible to describe. You simply feel comfortable there, you know you can get a super charged work-out – maybe, even, in spite of the lack of ticks on our check-list. In short, the place fits you like a glove. In that case, still give heed to our considerations. In the end, though, we wouldn’t be human if we didn’t go with our gut feelings.