I am all for gym membership; people getting and keeping themselves fit, but if you're going to make it awkward for people then it's really not going to encourage people to join up. A prime example of this is the Esporta gyms, I was a member of Esporta for a good 3 years and at £60 a month (outside of London) it wasn't cheap.

I used all the facilities and found that it was really very good, it was nicely kept and always had a nice working out environment. When I got myself a job in London I moved down and gave in my months notice. After 3 years I assumed a month would suffice. Little did I know that they wanted 3 MONTHS NOTICE!.

This is a bit unrealistic due to me moving house and jobs, I thought who could never predict what may happen in three months time? Who knows whether they'd even get the job?!

Either way I had to pay the remaining fees as I was contracted to so and didn't want to go to court over something so trivial. I should have really known this from the start and I guess it's my fault, but either way I'd never use and Esporta again! I'd not want to be held to such a long contract, on top of this the London clubs were £5 entry EXTRA, on top of each gym session as well as £60+ a month!

Fortunately I found myself a gym that's pay monthly no lengthy contract and even better facilities than Esporta! Which made me very happy!

The moral, Read and fully understand any contract they are trying to get you to sign and shop around when looking for a good gym!

While I am not currently able to be working out in a gym it’s slightly frustrating! In a gym it’s much easier for me to get a broad range of exercises done, working out my whole body or targeting specific areas to improve my overall fitness, but as I’m not able to currently get into a gym, then I guess it’s easier to try and think of all the good things about gym training and why I want to get myself back in. So to make myself feel a bit better I thought I’d come up with a list of my own personal top 5 gym annoyances in no particular order, to try and make me not miss being there so much.

#1 – Mobile phones in the gym.
There is nothing more annoying (to me) than someone during their so called “fitness routine” chatting on the phone. Why bring your phone to the gym?! Surly if you can’t leave the phone for half an hour you should really consider if you have the time for a gym workout. Plus it really annoys others, someone shouting down a phone when you’re there to just work out.

#2 – Gossiping
This phrase makes me laugh, as my old maths teacher used to use the phrase “Stop Gossiping!” But when you’ve got two people who think that they are doing a “serious fitness routine”, and yet all they’re able to discuss who looks hot, how fit and healthy they’re getting (not visual), or even what not wear on Friday night when out on the p*ss, then you have to question what’s the point in them actually being in the gym in the 1st place. If you’re able to have a comfortable chat it’s not even cardio, you’ll be better off going for a walk.

#3 – Badly performed exercises
I’ve seen people that think they’re doing sit-ups on a Swiss ball but actually their just bouncing up and down on it. It’s like watching one of those naff “text these girls in your area” crappy adverts on television, as they are simply bouncing up and down on the Swiss ball! Ok it’s not always the gym members fault, the instructors should be telling them “that’s wrong” but still you’d like to think they must wonder why they’re not seeing any fitness gain whatsoever! Technique is vital!

#4 – Not putting weights away
These people must be incapable of reading, every single gym I’ve ever been to has a sign “could you please return the weights after using them, thank you.” Or something along these lines, I don’t see the impracticality of this, it allows you to find where the specific weight is, or see if it’s being used if it’s not on the floor it’s also generally much safer. Some of these people must be used to being weighted on hand and foot as they refuse to return any fitness equipment they use whatsoever. It’s so annoying and also dangerous as people can trip over the strewn weights all over the gym floor. You have to question; if these people are so lazy NOT to return weights to where they got them from, then do you actually think they’re going to be bothered to maintain a regular “fitness routine”? These are perfect gym customers, well for the gym’s bank balance at least.

#5 – Use another machine!
People that cannot use their initiative and HAVE GOT TO USE the machine you’re on?! Why not find something else to do until I’ve finished? I mean I’m not one to “hog” a certain item in a gym all night long, but if I’m using it, then why not find something else to use? I'll not be more than 10 minutes and you can ALWAYS find something else to do!

That’s my top 5 gym annoyances in no particular order, but it's still not enough to put me off wanting to get back in, especially as it’s now getting dark and cold outside. But as training outside is working and the only option for now then I’m sticking to it.

For guys sometimes it's simply put on a cap or hat to hide the mop of hair, or just not bother. I tend not to mind too much about my appearance in the gym as I'm there for one reason only, to work out and get/keep fit! Just as long as I am clean and healthy then it's ok.

Still, it's always nice to be presentable for many reasons, especially in the gym.

Sometimes I just use some gel, wipe that though my hair, brush it back with my hands and it's done! Yet it always seems to look better when I do it like this than if I try to "do it" before going out for a meal or a night out! - Typical! :)

For women it can be a real pain on how to wear your hair in the gym, as longer hair can be harder to manage and you really don't want hair getting in the way of your eyes when you're exercising. So... after looking through some forums, hair based websites, and various information I found some good answers for women's hairstyles when in the gym, one of the best solutions for women's hair in the gym was on "Yahoo! Answers"

The question:

Hey! What type of hairstyles can I do that won't get messed up from running around in gym except for the common pony tail? Thank you to everyone who answers!

The best answer:

Pull your hair into a tight pony tail, then make it into a loose/messy bun. making a tight ponytail first will keep it from falling apart during gym, it will just loosen up a bit. try adding a cute headband or hair clips to spice it up.

Another good solution for fitness fanatics would be to change your hair style to a more manageable style that would work for both day to day as well as the gym! There is some great information and tips on hair styles at www.hair-craft.co.uk

It looks as though the gym I'm going to be joining in September is getting a "Power Plates" machine, there is a lot of interest surrounding these machines, although I've never seen a good solid review on them or even a developed published training program.

I've written a review the power plates machine a few posts back from all the information I've collected online, but still have yet to test one out. Looking around some of the health and fitness forums some users have left reviews and some tips on the machines. From what I've read and found out from online and user reviews the vibrations just make your muscles work harder when exercising on the machine because they are fighting to stabilise themselves, helping to develop core fitness as well as exercising the area you're targeting.

To get the most out the power plates machine you'll really need decent circuit or routine set out for you which I hope to publish here on my blog once I joined the gym and have eventually got to use one of these machines, watch this space!

Power plates machines are lowering in price and they are actually affordable for the home user, as well as various power plates training DVD's becoming available. It would be great for some users to write their reviews of the machine, leave a comment letting me know of your experience or training program you may have developed on a power plate machine.

Well so far this week I've managed to do my sit up and press up routine twice this week and also go for a 30 minute run so I'm on target to meet my 1st weeks goals and move into week two of my fitness programme.

I've found it much easier to meet my targets as I've written them out and know what I want to achieve, little and often is the key to getting back on track, and not try to achieve all I want to do in the first week.

For next weeks fitness plan I hope to include some pilates work. I'm looking forward to getting the option of joining a gym when gain some fitness and I get the company benefit after 3 months. I look forward to seeing if they have an Aero Pilates machine as I like the idea of working with pilates equipment as I feel it gives superb core fitness.

I don't use fitness equipment at the moment, but I do have a fitness mat which I would fully recommend as it will stop you from injuring your back and it also makes exercising much more comfortable for you to achieve a good solid sit up routine.

It's vital to get fit and get the exercise to give results technique and quality need to be done over quantity. Take it slowly, don't rush and make sure you can feel the correct muscles working out.

My sit up & press up fitness routine:

30 x Crunches (hands on head focusing on stomach as sitting up)

30 x Rowing crunches - Pulling legs towards body as the same time as sitting up

25 x incline press ups

30 x Sit ups each side

25 x incline press ups

30 x Rowing crunches - Pulling legs towards body as the same time as sitting up

30 x Crunches (hands on head focusing on stomach as sitting up)

50 x incline press ups