Jake Bowler
- Oct 10, 2021
- 6 min read

TOP 5 TIPS FOR STARTING IN THE GYM

What is up Gym N Japan Fam! This week we are talking to all you noobs out there, all the skinny guys and girls, the chunky but funky friends and the lazy gamers who never leave their sweaty ass bedroom. It is almost summer here in Australia, so why not join a gym?

There are many things that we probably could have covered a bit earlier but ah well here we are… we want to help those who are thinking about joining the gym and hopefully help you with your decision! Then you can go back and use our other blogs to help you with your training.

Without further ado: Here are our top 5 tips for starting in the gym.

Do you need a PT session when joining?

Odds are when you join you will be harassed and asked to do some training sessions, and look, if they offer noob discounts and good rates because you just started, then stuff it I say go for it. Do 1-2 or more if you like that sort of thing, 1. To get some confidence with the space you’re in, and 2. To learn what some basics are and have someone correct the harder exercises.

PTs can be a great way to begin your gym routine! Although they generally come with additional costs but we believe they are super important! If you’ve never been to the gym before and don’t have anyone to show you the ropes they can be great. They’ll make you feel comfortable in the gym and show you how to complete exercises properly which reduces your risk of injury. Don’t be a gym bro who learnt poor technique off someone else with bad technique!

PTs can also offer extra services such as gym programs for you to complete and nutritional plans which can help you lose weight or gain muscle.

Now that you might be thinking about a PT and price is a major factor! Ask yourself this question to decide which type of gym: do you want a personalised plan or generalised plan?

So if you answered Personalised Plan: we would recommend joining a normal gym like Good Life, Snap Fitness, YMCA etc and enlist the help of a PT who will be able to help you! With this they’ll be able to create a personalised plan tailored to you and keep you on track. A PT can also work around your busy schedule which is great! Only downfall to a PT is that you may not be able to afford to pay for multiple sessions a week so will need to complete some sessions by yourself.

If you answered Generalised Plan: something like CrossFit or F45 would be a great start! With this they pretty much train a group of people at a dedicated time! This can also be slightly cheaper than a PT but it isn’t for everyone! The best part about this type is that they’ll offer heaps of different classes and you’ll always have other people training with you!

Obviously there are a variety of factors to consider when choosing what is right for you so consider your options and do your research.

Diet or Exercise

Like you have heard before, eating is 90% of the battle when training in the gym. Honestly it is true and it is tough. If you are starting from nothing, then download an app like MyFitnessPal and start tracking everything you eat over 2 weeks. This will show you where you are at, then you can start adjusting stuff from there. But if that sounds like too much effort, then just get yo ass into the gym and lift some fkn heavy weights!!!! At least start somewhere.

There are so many things you can do in this space, you can pay for nutritional plans online or get PT who offers meal plans as well as training plans if you are struggling. Don’t read too much into these fad diets because they can be bad for your health if done incorrectly!

Location of the gym

Don’t be an idiot and choose the fanciest gym where all your mates go but would have to drive 40minutes to get there...IDIOT! Pick one either close to work or home, wherever you will be training the most and go there. Make it convenient, don’t let time or travel become another one of your pathetic excuses. I agree when people say ‘I don’t have time’ and totally disagree with those wankers that say ‘we have 24hrs in a day and you only work blah blah blah’...yeah dip shit, there are that many hours in a day, but some people also have a full time job, husband/wife, 3 kids, school sports, family and the list goes on. Make going to the gym as convenient as possible for you!

Some gyms these days will have multiple locations that you will have access to in one membership! Look at Snap Fitness for example, you’ll have access to every Snap branded gym in the WORLD! There might be a gym close to your work, where you can go straight after work but there might also be one near your home that you can go on the weekends! Just do your research for your local gyms and ask them what locations you can go to!

If you are considering a PT, do some research on the PTs that are at gyms near you because all of them are different and offer different services/ specialities!

Is the gym 24/7

These days most gyms are, but if you are someone who thinks they are going to go super stupidly early or ridiculously late, then make sure it is 24/7 access or even these days like Derrimuts 24/7 staffed. Simple.

To be fair when does anyone use the gym at 2am? It’s definitely a selling point but still not a deal breaker if it’s open when you’d go!

The PRICE

This one is last for a reason. Because yes for some it is a factor but shouldn’t be what determines whether you go or not. Some people pay $60 per week...to go to those group F45, Body Fit, High Intensity, CrossFit type gyms, and that is perfectly okay. Like I said before, keep it close and convenient. Also go and check the gyms out for their equipment, members and staff. The cheaper one just down the road (5 mins for example) may be $9.95 per week, but is absolutely shit in every way. Verse the (10 mins drive) which is charging $14.95 a week, but the staff are friendly and the members aren’t all wankers, then pick the one you feel like you would enjoy training in.

As we said before, just a gym membership is great if you know what you are doing but you may need to pay for a PT on top at a minimum of 1 session per week. Usually a PT will charge $60+ per hour so take that into consideration. This is why a lot of people choose to go with f45 or CrossFit because it’s only $60 a week with unlimited classes.

So there you have it. There are plenty of other tips we could give but we think these are the most important ones. But because we like you Gym N Japan readers so much we will chuck in an extra point, which a gym MUST HAVE...

A SAUNA

Pretty simple...get yourself a gym with a sauna, enough said. (we are obviously kidding for all you Karen’s out there reading this who can’t take a joke)

Basically can lose weight by sitting there hahah!

Star Wars: Visions update - Haydon

Guess what! I actually finished it.. I’m glad that it’s finally over though I’m not gonna lie!

My favourite 2 episodes were eps 3 and 8! I’d probably say that my favourite fight scene was in ep 8 with the elder! He’s an absolute beast plus his red light sabres were sick, I’d also say the Jedi in that episode would be my favourite character because he is very mysterious and had been to a lot of places in the galaxy! Also not forgetting how much of a beast he was when fighting.

This series had some great some episodes, whereas others felt boring or finished without a real ending and unanswered questions… I think an original story exploring the planets in the Star Wars universe would be awesome which was kinda lacking in most eps.

Rating: 7/10