The do’s and don’ts when looking for a new gym to join

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — The new year is already 2 weeks old, which means plenty of people have started working on their New Year’s resolutions.

One of the most popular resolutions is to start going to the gym.

But, there are many things to watch out for when looking for a gym to join.

Brandon Cala, owner of Eternal Fitness in Leland, said one of the most common mistakes new gym members make is signing bad contracts after not fully reading through them.

So, he said to make sure you fully understand what you are signing up for.

“You want to have something that is lasting, so you want something to really go after that’s going to last you a long time because fitness is a lifestyle change,” Cala said. “It’s something you want to do for a long time and has good benefits throughout the entirety of your life.

Mary Anne Peters said she’s experienced being tied up in bad contracts at gyms before.

She also said its important to fully tour the gym before signing up.

“You know, you take a tour, you look at, especially looking at the locker rooms and restrooms,” Peters said. “If they’re not kept clean, then you know that the equipment is not going to be kept clean and you don’t want to end up with skin infections.”

Cala said going to the gym just because its a new year isn’t the right mentality to have when joining one.

“Don’t do it just cause its the new year Do it for you because you want to change and do a lifestyle change.”

He also said the most important thing to keep in mind when starting out at a gym is to make a goal that is both achievable and realistic for you.