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Psych Yourself Up for the Gym! – Part 2

Last week we shared three super simple tips that can help put you in the right frame of mind to start coming to the gym. And remember, this isn’t necessarily just useful for potential new gym members. If you’re already part of our Pivotal Fitness Greenville sports club, but you’ve fallen behind, these methods can help you regain some of that all-important motivation.

Here’s the second half of these exercises, designed to help you visualize yourself as a healthier person — which is half of the battle to becoming one.

  1. Think about wardrobe. You need certain apparel and accessories to come to the Greenville gym. Don’t let this be an excuse that keeps you from your health aspirations! You should figure out if you have the correct shoes, shorts, leggings, undergarments, headbands, water bottles, mats, etc. necessary for the type of fitness you wish to perform. You can make a list of things you need and begin checking them off.
  1. Share your plans. Talk to someone you know about the fact that you’re considering a gym membership. They may raise questions that you haven’t thought to ask, and they can lend support. You might want to talk to someone who already belongs to a gym, and you can ask that person questions as well. Saying them out loud can help make your plans seem more like a reality.
  1. Make an appointment. Now you’re ready to come by our Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym for a look around. Even before you’re ready to fully commit, it’s important to come get a tour so that you can fully realize the look and feel of our layout and equipment. You can ask questions and witness others working out. This visit will help you visualize yourself coming by on a regular basis.

Once you’ve gone through all of these exercises, it will be much easier to envision yourself going to the gym on a regular basis. And remember, you get a week long free trial membership to come try it out, too — so there’s absolutely no pressure if you just want to find out in person if a healthy gym lifestyle is right for you.

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New Year’s Resolutions You Can Keep

It’s that time of year again – time to make your resolutions for the New Year. For many people, at least one of the goals on their list will include getting in shape or losing weight. In fact, that’s one of the most popular resolutions across the board, coming in at No. 1 on many surveys next to saving money and similar financial concerns.

It’s not that people have a problem with evaluating their life and honestly targeting areas that need improvement. The usual complication comes from following through with plans to integrate nutrition and workouts into an established lifestyle. So how can you buckle down this year and achieve your wellness goals?

  1. Set realistic goals. It’s extremely important to specify what you hope to accomplish so that you can measure your success. A nebulous definition of success leaves room for excuses and discouragement. But when you have a concrete goal and can see yourself getting closer to it and progressing, it’s a powerful motivator to keep going. That’s also why it’s a good reason to delineate several smaller goals leading up to the ultimate one – like losing two pounds per week rather than 20 pounds in six months. And hitting the gym isn’t always about losing weight. For many people, the end goal involves lowering medical bills and increasing their overall lifespan. These goals are harder to measure; instead you can fulfill plans like going to the gym three times a week.
  2. Think positively. Your own mindset can make or break you when it comes to achieving New Year’s resolutions. In December, we’re all very confident about our ability to fulfill our promises. This ambition is very important when it comes to pushing yourself forward every week. Instead of making a list of your goals, you can write notes to yourself for each month of 2012, encouraging your future self to keep going and reminding yourself of all the reasons it’s important to you. Contain and keep hold of that enthusiasm to succeed all year round. There is no motivational tool that works as well as your own conviction.
  3. Get a gym membership. It’s much easier to stay on track when you have a prefixed membership to a health club. You benefit from knowledgeable staff, including class instructors and personal trainers. You can make friends and workout partners to form a community of encouragement and support. Plus, you have access to all the equipment and instruction you need to hit any goal, from a certain weight to a certain way you want to feel about yourself. By joining Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym, you’re on the road to reaching your resolutions in the New Year.
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Presenting Gym Membership

People often ask us how they can go about giving Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym membership to a loved one during the holidays. You don’t want to insult anyone by suggesting that they need to improve themselves, but you do want to make the gesture.

Here are a few things to consider that might help:

Yes, you can purchase a gym membership for someone other than yourself. But you may want to make sure that it’s something they’ll definitely enjoy and use before you do.

One way to help your loved one enjoy the gift of membership is to make it an activity you can do together. If you’re already a member, you can start by inviting your friend to visit the gym as your guest, so they can check it out for themselves. They can then sign up for their free 30-day trial gym membership. This allows both of you to see how that person will actually like the gift, and no purchase is necessary. Then, your friend will feel like the decision to join was something you helped with – but they ultimately chose for themselves.

When they’re ready to become a member, you can step in and help your friend buy the gift. Right now, he or she can currently take advantage of a complimentary personal training session, too. And if your loved one is a spouse, relation or co-worker, you might be able to take advantage of couples, family or corporate gym membership rates. We’re here to help you find the best options whenever you’re ready.

Because membership isn’t just something you can hand over in a bow-tied box, it requires some conversation between you and your friend. You definitely want to avoid suggesting that it’s something the other person “needs.” You can frame the membership as something you would enjoy giving to them or doing with them. Words like “fitness” and “well being” are optimal, while you may want to avoid suggesting someone isn’t healthy or needs to lose weight. We’re happy to talk to them about all the benefits if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.

Joining Pivotal Fitness Greenville gym has many perks. There are obvious ones, like toning up or slimming down. Working out can alleviate symptoms from a wide number of ailments – and even potentially lengthen a person’s lifespan. People often come just to relieve stress and gain self-confidence. It’s also a great place to make new friends and establish a sense of community. Any one of these is a great reason to make gym membership a gift this holiday season.

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Muscle Conditioning

To make the most of your membership to our Greenville gym, you’ll want to do more than just come often and spend a lot of time in our classes, on machines and with weights. An important part of the workout process is muscle conditioning, which you can practice at or away from Pivotal Fitness Greenville.

By building up your muscles prior to and between gym visits, you can actually accomplish more during the time you spend here. You can work out stronger, smarter and with greater effect by toning up and training your muscles to tolerate and familiarize with certain motions.

This is also better overall for the health of your body over the years. It prevents excessive strain and injury when you’re ready to actually buckle down and work on your body. Plus, muscle conditioning exercises are fairly simple and don’t require the full effort of a workout – so you can fit them in daily.

For example, if you’re a runner, you may wish to do basic stretches and squats that help tone your biceps, quads, hamstring and inner thigh muscles. Then, your muscles have greater resistance when you drop by and go for a long jaunt on our treadmills or elliptical machines. If you simply use gym visits to work out, you may not be able to go as long or get as much out of your time as you would otherwise.

Personal trainers and other members of our staff are happy to recommend specific exercises you can practice here or at home to help you target and condition your muscles to achieve your personal goals and make the most of your gym membership.

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Bring A Friend

Did you know that your Greenville gym membership comes with guest privileges?

Your friends and family are going to be thrilled that you’re a member of Pivotal Fitness Greenville’s health club. Because that means they can stop by and work out at our top-rate facilities, too.

If your guest is a local resident who may consider their own membership, they can spend a day with you for free. They must be 18 and can only attain this privilege once for free. On the plus side, those considering gym membership don’t have to rely on you, since we offer a 7-day free trial; but your “sponsorship” can give them a taste to let them see the workout facilities and enjoy their time with you at the gym before considering their trial.

Return guests can pay a flat, low fee of $15 to come by for the day. So if you’ve got guests visiting you or want to bond with a co-worker outside of the office, just invite them along. All of our workout facilities and services are open to them when they sign up and get their guest card.

Plus, having a buddy with you can drastically improve your morale and therefore the overall effectiveness of your workout. You’re inspired to work harder, do more reps and simply have a fun time despite the challenges when your friend is at the gym with you.

We love to see new faces enjoying the equipment, classes and services available at our Greenville gym, so please never hesitate to talk to us about bringing along the people close to you — we know you’d love them to experience the many rewards of your healthy lifestyle.

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April Showers Bring …

Just when it’s starting to finally warm up outside, this month’s deluge of rainstorms may put a damper on your outdoor workout routine. Instead of getting frustrated or using this as an excuse to take a little month-long break, think of it as motivation to finally join a Greenville gym and make a habit of visiting it.

Although most health professionals are extremely supportive of supplementing gym time with an outdoor sports regimen, the best structure may be a blend of both. Those who exercise outdoors do gain some additional benefits, such as excess exposure to sunlight, and therefore Vitamin D. You also get to take in the fresh air and experience a change of scene each and every time you head outside. Meanwhile, those with a gym membership can also partake of the gym community, gym classes, personal training and plenty of diverse, top-rate equipment.

Other tips for beating the rain in order to work out this month include:

  • Start early: April showers are more common in the afternoons, so getting an early start can help you avoid many storms. Plus, you have the rest of the day to reschedule your exercise if need be.
  • Prep your gear: Whether you’re jogging with your headphones in or wearing your new top-dollar running shoes, getting caught in the rain can mean more than a minor annoyance. Having a towel, parka or plastic baggy on hand can be the difference between a successful (but slightly damp) rainy day workout and the frustrations and high costs of property damage.
  • Remember the perks: Whether it helps you keep a positive attitude by thinking about the beautiful flowers that are about to arrive or just being grateful it’s not snowing anymore, a sunny attitude can go a long way toward combating gray skies. Plus, if you work out in the rain you can skip the shower afterward–just kidding!
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