To Gym or Not to Gym: The Case for Fitness Everywhere!

Image via funkstar.co.uk

BY: DAVID PRADO, CONTRIBUTOR

For those of you out there who know me, you already know that I am not the type to spring for fads in fitness. As a matter of fact, when it comes to judging a new fitness craze or cult workout, I am downright bordering on pretentious. But... that's only because I'm a downright genius. Well... not really. I've just spent more time than I would like to admit in gyms, talking to 'fitness gurus'. So when people ask me if they should try out Zumba, I promptly inform them that we are no longer friends and to keep an eye on their Facebook friends count because it just went -1.

I mean, c'mon people! If it's something you can do after a few long islands, it's not a workout. And unless you are leading a completely sedentary lifestyle and are on the verge of having the doors to your place widened, I can tell you with Nostradamus-like accuracy what Zumba will do for you... nothing. Leave that and the shake weight for your mom and her bridge group.

If you are reading this blog, chances are you already cook healthy food, workout all the time and look pretty damn good if I might say so myself. Yeah, you sexy beast! This post is for you! Let's talk about RESULTS. 

I hear it all the time... 

"David, I'm working with Brad, my personal trainer at LA Fitness, but I don't see results anymore."

OR

"Summertime snuck up on me! Even after 4 months at the gym, I'm not exactly beach-worthy and 'so and so' will be there. I need to look GOOD! I mean, GOOD! What do I do, David?"

DIVERSIFY (AND NOT JUST YOUR PORTFOLIO):

From the no-nonsense way I started this article, you might think I'm going to suggest jumping on a treadmill and grinding it out for 2 hours a day. For an absolute stranger, yeah... that might be my suggestion. But for you? You are a sexy beast... you need more. You, my friend, are fine-tuning with the precision of an infinite decimal. 

You need to do the following...

Image via runningofthereeses.com

GET OUT!

That's right! It's already warming up so now's the time to start working on that tan. Go for a jog with a friend or Charlie your dog. Got a bike? Ride it. I don't mean leisurely. I mean go 'Lance Armstrong' on that thing (minus the blood doping of course). GO FOR TIME. Get a $30 bike speedo, attach it to your bike and see how much you can improve your mile. Lastly, do not underestimate the pool. There is a reason why everyone tunes in for the swimming portion of the Olympics. I mean... look at those bodies! When I saw the bodies on Avatar, I thought to myself 'No way! Thank God it's CGI and not real life!', but then I saw the 400 meter swim at the Olympics and hit the pool shortly thereafter with a renewed passion.

Image via nytimes.com

NOT THAT CLASS!

"But David, you HATE classes!". No, I don't. I HATE some classes, not all of them. Which classes do I HATE? Well, we already addressed those seen at your local gym's Silver Sneaker's program, such as Zumba. Now let's address the rest of the offenders.

Generally speaking, classes offered at the big box gyms suck. How does one figure that out? Ask yourself - Could I have done this workout without the instructor?. If you answered 'yes', then you most likely took a class at LA Fitness, Life Time Fitness or whatever big box you walked into. The instructor didn't motivate you, instruct you properly or even bother asking if you were new to the class. That's because most instructors at these types of gyms are not certified, nor have they done any sort of in-house training. And why should they? They only get paid $30-50 per class. Most just do it for the free membership.

The big corporate gym owners don't care if you show up for a class. They don't make any extra money when you show up. It's not part of their business model. As a matter of fact, it makes much more sense for them to charge your account each month for membership and have you NOT show up for group classes. I mean, heaven forbid you put their equipment to use and it breaks from wear and tear!

Image via nytimes.com

THIS CLASS!

So what classes should you take? Those classes with instructors that care about how you feel and perform in their class. Why? Because they make money on your attendance and they will work hard to make you come back! They have to earn your love and commitment. So pedal that indoor cycling bike until it breaks! They don't care! Sure, these gyms are small, but they have classes back-to-back on the hour. And instead of having to fight for your place in class like you do at the big box gyms, you can reserve your place beforehand and take your sweet time getting there, knowing your spot is secure.

Here are a few classes that will help you in your quest for the perfect summer bod (in order of preference)...

*SOUL CYCLE - Indoor cycling that will get you dancing on the bike!

*TRX - Suspension training that leverages gravity and body weight to perform hundreds of exercises!

*FAST TWITCH - Circuit-based training that utilizes your speed and power!

*CROSSFIT - It's a cult. Find one.

If you find yourself hitting a wall with your workouts, maybe it's time you tried something new! Mix it up a bit, hit the pool, visit a boutique studio and I'll see you sexy things at the beach!

David Prado is a cycling instructor, personal trainer, general fitness enthusiast and recent law school grad (woot! woot!). On his days off, he can be found on his road bike, biking more miles than you've ever thought possible in one day. He also makes a mean mojito and dances salsa like a pro, thereby making him one of the most fascinating men in the Atlanta area, if not the most opinionated. 

The Experts Weigh In: Picking the Perfect Personal Trainer

Image courtesy of ehow.com

BY: DAVID PRADO, CONTRIBUTOR

When I worked as a personal trainer I was often asked what made me decide to be a trainer. Many people actually thought “He must be really good at working out" - like I got up one day, decided on a whim to become a personal trainer, took an online course, and here I am.

While that may actually be the case for some,  it is not the case for ALL trainers. So before picking out your trainer, best friend, and psychologist (we do all three), take some time, do some research and ask around.

Most importantly, 'stalk' your potential mate. You can learn a lot.

Here are some typical personal trainer personalities to keep an eye out for when choosing your ideal trainer...

Image courtesy of bodygeeks.com

THE BIG BOX TRAINER

First things first, ask yourself “Where am I standing?”. If you answered L.A. Fitness or any “Big Box Gym”, turn around, go to the front desk and cancel your membership. Nine times out of ten you are not likely to find anything resembling a good personal trainer at one of these places. Places like these do not center their business on offering the best workout, but rather in having the most stuff; and sometimes even that is done poorly. More does not necessarily equal better, but instead confusion, especially when first getting into a workout routine.

As a consequence of seeking out a trainer at one of these gyms, you are likely to work with a poorly educated trainer who got their certification at the equivalent of the Devry of personal training schools. This trainer will have you doing three sets of ten on every machine in the room while counting out loud, with the occasional “Great Job!" thrown in for good measure.  Honestly, a well trained lemur could do this.

But there are other things to consider at the Big Box Gyms. Most of these trainers are paid by the hour, taking just a small cut of your fee. These gyms rarely care about the how happy their trainers are or give them incentives to be better trainers. As such, these trainers do the bare minimum because they are underpaid and lacking in incentives. 

Image courtesy of mikesbodysculpting.com

BOUTIQUE GYM TRAINER

At boutique gyms your chances of finding a REAL trainer increase. Think about it, these are small mom and pop owned gyms. While they may not have the BEST facilities with all the glitz and glam, they do have the equipment to get the job done, and their trainers have a real incentive to keep you around.

Now for the 'bummer', you get what you pay for. You will not be paying Big Box Gym prices. You'll be paying a premium for the opportunity to work with a more experienced personal trainer who will give you real insight into cooking, dieting, and a healthy lifestyle. Chances are you guys will become good friends. Hell, you might even find him or her at your holiday party next year.

Image courtesy of womenhealthwebsites.com

THE CONTRACTOR

Finally we come to the elite personal trainer. This trainer went to school for this stuff. Their parents were trainers, they were an alternate on the USA Olympic gymnastics team, and they studied Exercise and Sports Science at Yale. They know exactly what to say and when to say it to get you motivated. They can give you a workout at the park with a Swiss ball and a TRX trainer that will leave you unable to go to work the next day because every muscle and tendon in your body is screaming in pain (side note - no pain, no gain).

At this point you must be thinking "WOW! That's great! Sign me up!". Well, these types of trainers do not come cheap - they are good and they know it. One hundred dollars per hour is on the low end for this type of trainer, and if you want him or her at your home, well then tack on anther fifty plus. If you are in NYC, ATL, LA or any other larger city, you can expect to drop $250 plus.

So who are you? What do you need? After personally witnessing some very dangerous “exercises” and spotting work at Big Box Gyms, I seriously warn everyone to stay away from that type of trainer / gym. But of course, keep in mind that there are exceptions to every rule.

If you find your self in a boutique gym, you are likely to find a good or great trainer but do a little research before committing. Find out what kind of person they are. Do you think you'll get along? Take him or her on a trial run “first date”. Gyms will generally give new members a free trial with the trainer of their choosing, so definitely take advantage of that. And if you are still not sure, STALK your potential mate. Oh yeah, I’m talking Facebook as well as in the gym. Trainers usually friend their clients and other gym members. Use Facebook to see if you guys have anything in common, and don't be afraid to creep around the gym, using the bench next to the trainer while they're helping other clients. Sometimes it takes only their conversation to know whether your potential relationship will be mutually beneficial.

If this all seems like too much work, my best advice is to go with “The Contractor”. Your wallet may be thinner, but so will your waist! 

David Prado is a cycling instructor at Flywheel Atlanta, personal trainer and general fitness enthusiast. On his days off, he can be found on his road bike, biking more miles than you've ever thought possible in one day. He also makes a mean mojito and dances salsa like a pro, thereby making him one of the most fascinating men in the Atlanta area.

Makely's Magic: Pump Up The Jam!

So there's this guy I know. His name is Ryan. He loves the show Honey Boo Boo. He contemplates his Halloween costume 364 days in advance. He's obsessed with Lululemon and doesn't care if anyone knows. Sometimes he carries a murse (that's a man-purse, for those of you who aren't familiar with the lingo). And you know what? He's not afraid to play a little Britney Spears in his cycling class. 

Ryan is my kinda guy.

Today, he's given us a sneak peek into his latest playlist. It's guaranteed to be a good time. I mean, this is the guy who just threw a Boy Band Ride at Flywheel Sports and dressed up like AJ from the Backstreet Boys.  I've included the pictures so you can take a break from Hurricane Sandy updates and get a good laugh.

So download these jams... hit the gym... and work out that beautiful body of yours! New music = new-found motivation!    ...And if you're stuck inside with no power thanks to Hurricane Sandy, well... enjoy your free ticket to R-E-L-A-X!

Ryan Makely is an instructor at Flywheel Sports in New York City. When he's not teaching (which is almost never), you can find Ryan flexing his acting muscles. One day you may even catch him on Broadway! Until then, you can get tickets to his FLY show in NYC at least 10 times a week by clicking HERE!