Crossfit, Orange Theory, Bootcamp, Planet Fitness....ahhh which one do you pick?! How do you determine which gym is best for you. Each one of these fitness programs are different and offer didnt benefits. I am going to go over each one of the different types and explain which ones will work best for you and which one will get you to your goals faster. All of them are helping people to move and exercise more but which one is truly right for you?!

1. Big Box Gyms- Planet Fitness, Crunch, Equinox, LA Fitness, Lifetime all the same concept. You pay to have access to all the equipment they have. No set appointments you just show up and thats it. They all vary in price ranging from $10 to $120 per month with various contract lengths. These setting are for the self motivated and advanced individuals. You need to have a more experienced exercise background to be successful here as well as good nutritional background.

Training: Lots of these big box gyms have personal trainers, most of the time these personal trainers are newly certified and they are priced very high. There is also no accountability at big box gyms. The only time the gym is going to call you is when your credit card on file has expired. Also no one is going to watch your exercise form. Proper form is very important especially when it comes to getting results long term.  They also offer no type of education when it comes to proper training and nutrition.

2. Bootcamps- F45/ Fit Body Bootcamp /Orange Theory / Crossfit 
Bootcamps were the craze a couple of years ago. They provide an intense way to get a good "workout" in. The problem is a good workout doesnt mean productive. Bootcamps provide a high intensity setting. There is usually 20-30 people in the room with 1 coach or trainer instructing the whole class. These class based concepts have been around for quite some time.  These methods can be fun but there are some drawbacks.

Crossfits are very similar to bootcamps just with added barbell work. Crossfits are 10-30 people in a room doing a workout of the day. That workout of the day is randomly generated and it lacks the real periodization needed to truly transform your physique. Crossfit also utilizes big complex olympic movements which can be very dangerous when done incorrectly. Crossfits have died down in popularity over the years I believe due to the extreme risk of injury. Crossfits are ideal for people who have a previous background in olympic lifts. A more advanced individual who do fine here but keep in mind the coaching isnt going to be super hands on. If you decide training here is for you I would recommend paying the extra money and get a 1on1 personal training inside the crossfit to properly teach you each movements. 

The Training: When training in this large group class settings exercise form is not the focus. The focus is on sweating and having you "feel" it. This is dangerous because how can you be ensured that your form is really being monitored? There is no physical way for 1 or even 2 coaches to truly keep an eye on 20-30 individuals. Most of the movements that are being done have to be quick to use and not complexed movements. Most of these places utilize alot of cardio movements or machines to cut down the learning curve. Problem is most people end up getting hurt on a rower or treadmill because of improper use. The ratio here of 20-30 to 1 or 2 coaches isnt ideal. Most of these coaches are not nationally accredited either. That can be a big problem for you. This training is definitely for the more advanced experienced person. But this type of training also lacks the core element of periodized training. The random cardio based workouts just focus on burning calories not on body transformations. 

​3.  Yoga/ Pilates 

Lots of people use yoga and pilates to try and get in shape. While I do like yoga its for a different reason. Yoga/ Pilates are great for mobility but not so much for changing body composition and longevity. Studies have shown that strength training done correctly improves bone density and improves lifespan. Yoga/Pilates doesnt give your body the same stimulus a proper strength training workout does.

Yoga/Pilates have their place but that is in addition to a proper strength training protocol. I would recommend doing yoga/pilates as activity outside of strength training 2x a week. This way you get the best of both worlds!


4. Personal Training Gyms

A maybe a bit bias here but this is the ideal gym for someone looking to transform their body. Inside a personal training gym like AB Fitness Center you will get a customized program based around YOU and YOUR goals. You will be working on a 1on1 or small group 1-6 which will help to boost your results because you will have the personal trainers attention the entire session. The personal trainer will be monitoring and tracking your results to ensure each workout counts and moves you toward your ultimate goal. The personal trainers will be nationally accredited and will have in depth training. At AB Fitness Center we make all our personal trainers go thru a 6 week internship process where they get hand trained by Anthony Bevilacqua and go through our in depth learning syllabus. 

The training and the nutrition: The good thing about this type of gym is that our aim to really teach you how this works so you can do it on your own. You will be getting an education and learning why things work for your body. Besides the exercise component at AB Fitness Center we also help you with nutrition. All of our personal trainers are nutrition coaches as well and we strive to teach you this important element of fitness. 70% of your results will come from what you eat....you cant out exercise a bad diet! 

Personal training can work for beginners, intermediates and advanced individuals because we work with you on a 1 to 1 basis. We take your fitness goals into consideration when we create your program. So whether you want to lose your first 20lbs or deadlift 400lbs we can help you!

The cost for a personal trainer can range depending on the package you choose. If you are interested in working with a personal trainer click the button below and give us a call. We will explain to you the ins and outs of the program and see if we can truly help you!