What do You Want to Do Today?
Written: Jun 14 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great variety, inexpensive, clean and well maintained
Cons: The scope of the place can be intimidating and confusing, can be a meat market at times
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| Don_Carnage's Full Review: Gold's Gym |
Gold's is to fitness what the Cornucopia was to the first Thanksgiving feast. The hard part is deciding what to do and what you want to get out of it. There's something for everyone, whether you're a seasoned bodybuilder, an aerobic fitness junkie, or if you're walking in to a gym for the first time. And it's not expensive. I pay less than $30 a month after an initial payment of $75, and that gives me unlimited access to all the aerobics classes, spin classes, and everything else. There is onsite child care, too, although I believe that's an extra charge.
For bodybuilders/strength trainers, it's heaven. Gold's roots are in the golden age of bodybuilding, and it shows. These guys know what bodybuilders and strength trainers want, and they deliver. The mix of free weights and machines is perfect to hit every single muscle group as hard as you want, with enough different exercises to allow you to change your program around from time to time to prevent boredom and increase your results.
There are racks and racks of dumbells from 5 lbs up to 200 lbs. There are benches for all types of presses, rows, and curls, with all sizes of plates. Some of the Gold's I've visited even have a powerlifting platform, with the rubber Olympic-style weights that can be dropped after a deadlift or clean and jerk.
I've worked out at a number of other clubs, and they tend to be machine intensive, without a lot of free weights. It's widely believed (and I've seen it in my own training) that working out primarily with free weights is the best way to really develop strength, tone and power. Gold's is second to none in that area.
If it's aerobice training you want, look no further. Gold's offers everything from step aerobics, kickboxing, and spin to yoga. And if you're a sit-and-spin type, there are plenty of Lifecycles, Stairmasters, and Stepmills (my favorite form of aerobic torture) to make your heart pound with fear and loathing.
If you're new to the gym scene, tell them at the front desk, and they'll connect you with a personal trainer who will help you build a program tailored to your goals. The trainers I've met and observed at my local Golds' seem to know their stuff for the most part, and take good care of their clients.
There are a couple of minor downsides to Gold's. One is that it can be intimidating to a beginner, not so much because of the size of the people in the gym (the really huge guys are a minority), but because of the sheer magnitude of the place. It's easy to wander over to a sexy-looking machine that looks impressive but really is intended for some minor shaping or train a small muscle, and just spin your wheels until you get frustrated by your lack of results. Knowledge is the best weapon, and it's always best to do a little homework before you start any kind of fitness program. There are lots of good books on the subject, so find one that is in line with your goals. My fave is Arnold Schwarzenegger's Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding, but there are lots of them out there.
The second drawback is a cultural one, and that is at certain times of the day, it kind of turns into a meat market. In the hours right after work, say 5:30 or so to 7:30, there tends to be lots of posing and flirting and not so much hard training going on. I do my training in the morning or at lunch to avoid it, and if I have to go in the evening, I make it later, say 8pm or so. You can still get a good workout in, but it can be distracting.
So check it out. Your body will thank you.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Don_Carnage
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Location: San Jose, CA
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 11 members
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