My Contract With Fitness First

I'm contemplating on renewing my current 1-year member contract with Fitness First. I have until late February 2008 to decide on it.

Most of my friends are asking me why do I need to think twice to renew a passport membership contract that only requires me to pay RM105 per-month. It's something I believe every commercial gym goer will be begging on their knees to get such package.

The things that really make my head spinning to think about are:


Cons

1. The nearest Fitness First clubs are 15km away from my home, which is IOI and Leisure Mall respectively. Driving 15km which could take up to 30minutes due to heavy trafic or JAM is no fun. Besides, petrol price will be increasing in 2008, plus with the toll rate, I'll be having less pocket money to spend. Used to drop by the gym on the way coming home from college, but due to various reasons, I've hardly do so.
   
2. Getting a back injury on August and caused me not able to workout regularly started to make me think about paying for nothing. Although members are allowed to freeze their account, but you'll have to go one long hell of a ride before getting it frozen.
   
3. I don't like working out in air-conditioned environment.

Pro

1. I enjoy group exercise classes. Especially RPM.
2. I don't just workout in the gym, but I observe how the Personal Trainers there work with clients. It somehow broadens my perspective on being a Personal Trainer.
   
3. Having girls with tight fitting attire in sight improves my blood circulation.

I'm currently waiting for news from Fitness First in regards to another branch in Mines that is supposed to be opened by December 2007(information according to the Membership Consultant when I signed up). Now it's already December, but still no sign of Fitness First at The Mines, or even any news about it.

Opening of a branch at The Mines will affect my decision making a lot more.

YOU, please give me some thoughts about it. Yeah, I mean YOU!!!!

Getting started with Yoga

I did my first yoga class last Wednesday at Fitness First Leisure Mall under Jazamine. After just attending my first class, I would say that I HAVE to pick up yoga more seriously.


I realise a few things while going half-way through the class;

-If I would have trained Martial Arts WITH Yoga last time, It would certainly had helped in many ways. Now I know why MMA fighters like Diego Sanchez, Renato Sobral and Luke Cummo does yoga.

-If I would still want to compete in Martial Arts, yoga is the tool I need for me to get back to my fitness level.

-Yoga will strenghten my core, get me toned, flexible and of course, would be good for my knee. I managed to confirmed how yoga would be good for knees through this article.


I can remember clearly we started the class with a few minutes of Anapanasati Meditation, where we relax our body and focus on our breathing in and out. Then proceed with Sun Salutation. I wont be going talking about the WHOLE class, but I failed to perform Crane and a few other moves that involve in using my right tight's muscle. My right leg was shivering so obviously that the next person beside me was laughing( Of course, I laughed at my ownself too )

Before I started my first yoga class on Wednesday, I was hesitating. It's normal for any first timers/beginners. Therefore, I suggest beginners who are interested with yoga to read up Tips for Yoga Beginners before joining a class.

Besides that, don't worry about people laughing at you. No one is there to really pay attention at you ( unless you are a HUNK or HOT chick in real sexy outfit ). Just go into the studio, let the instructor know you're a first timer, get a mat and get the front and middle spot, where you can see the instructor clearly on stage, and finally, just get it started !

Best trainings!

Fitness First Leisure Mall and IOI Mall Quickview(without Photos :-p)

My last post I mentioned that I would like to review Fitness First branches all around Klang Valley. However, up to now, I've only trained in two FF's branches, Leisure Mall, Cheras and IOI Mall, Puchong. I've lost count how many times I trained in Leisure Mall, but I only trained twice at IOI Mall. The reason, Leisure Mall is nearer to my house and I would pass by there going and coming back from college via MRR2 highway.

Anyway, Let's get a quick review. Sorry, No photos. According to their policy, members are not allowed to take photos of their premises. Not sure if it's allowed upon special request. Check it out yourself.


Fitness First Leisure Mall (FFLM)

Divided into two floors;

Cardio Theatre weight resistant machines, stretching area, Group Exercise Studio, Juice Bar and Lounge is located at the lower ground.

For those who wants to lift free weights, would need to go to the upper floor, where the Cosmic Cycling Studio is also located. However, there is no squat rack here. You would need to use Smith Machine to perform squats or just the barbell without rack's support.


Fitness First IOI Mall (FFIO)

Everything is located in just 1 floor. Nothing much more for me to mention, every equipment is standard I guess? Similar to FFLM, but they have Squat Rack. But I dissapointed that the Squat Rack's spotter could not be adjusted. So that means you can't go too low on performing your squat.

Just use the Smith Machine for squats then :P



Things they have in common are:

• Separate Male and Female Sauna and Steam (Inside changing area)
• Shower Gel, Shampoo are provided. Including hair dryer.
• Plastic bags are available for you to put your soaked clothes.

Nothing much for me to complain about now. For first timers who need someone to bring you around in the gym, just go to the Personal Trainer's desk and request for a Gym Introduction.

I Joined Fitness First

Since I’ve stopped working at an Assistant Instructor at my college’s gym, I’ve also stopped stepping into the gym for the past 2 months. 23^rd December 2006 to be exact was the last time I stepped into the gym just to submit my pay claim form.

The last time I measure my weight at the gym, it was 72kg, and now it’s showing 77kg on my house weighing scale. Thanks to all the good food and my eating habit with no exercise at all [except my fingers (while on the pc)]. My belly is showing and I’m currently being called fatty by my friends. How sad? :-(

So I went around fitness shops around the Klang Valley asking for equipments quotation thinking to convert one the empty rooms in my house as a small workout area for me. What I had in mind was a treadmill, cross-trainer, and a bench press’ bench. Of course, with other miscellaneous items as well like weights and barbell.

The most pain in the ass part was the price of a treadmill and a cross-trainer. For me, I wouldn’t want something with too simple features, but advanced features with at least 15% percent incline and 20km/h on my treadmill. But the better the features, the higher the price goes.

Anyway, I got myself quoted from a few fitness shops like Johnson Fitness, Kettler and Fitness Concept. The price tag for everything goes up to a whopping RM9K for my “not so basic after all” needs.

It was definitely not going to be reasonable to my dad. And personally, I would have other factors to make me reconsider about;

1. To train at home would need higher level of determination and discipline.

2. Long term maintenance of equipments. It’s humid at my house plus with the air, it would cause the equipments to rust. The treadmill’s motor and belt would be a headache too in the long term.

3. Might not know how long I would really use the equipments. Who knows one day I might find something better to do than working out.

So I actually decided that I would sign-up as a member in a decent equipped gym somewhere near to my house. However, I went to check out 1 of them, and It was disappointing. In terms of environment and equipments that are not so well maintained.

My cousin, Lim Soo Aun who is a personal trainer at Menara Manulife’s Fitness First told me that there’s a promotion going on for Family and Friend’s package for a monthly fee of RM175 RM105 for a Passport membership.

I went over to Fitness First at Menara Manulife yesterday to check the gym and chicks out, and straight away I signed up a 1 year membership contract with them with a monthly fee of RM105 for the mentioned Passport membership. I paid a total RM328 [RM19 (February’s fee) +RM105 (March’s fee) +RM105 (1 month deposit)].

Stay tuned for reviews on Fitness First branches all around Klang Valley.