Looking to lose weight as a New Year’s resolution?
Anytime Fitness wants to help
Losing weight is on the top of many people’s 2013 New Year’s resolutions, and for good reason. 28.7 percent of citizens in Jasper County are obese, and 24.8 percent have high blood pressure. A common way to prevent this is proper exercise, and Anytime Fitness of Newton does see an increase in customers during the early months of the year.
Manager Jeremy Vesely has been employed with Anytime Fitness of Newton for three years. He has seen a lot of members over the years, and New Year’s is one of the busiest seasons at the facility. He wants members to stay fit, but urges them not to do too much at once.
“When you sign up, don’t come every day because then you’re going to get bored with it,” Vesely said. “So come back every two or three days and get used to it and don’t burn yourself out.”
Vesely heard that many people think they need to go to the gym every day, but this is not the case. The rule of thumb is that 1 pound lost equals 3,500 calories expelled, which means exercisers need to burn 500 calories every day, or space it out throughout multiple days.
Many beginning members try to do cardio more than anything else, but Vesely often finds that members get bored with doing the same cardio routine day in and day out.
“I recommend doing cardio every other day,” Vesely said. “Let’s say you come in five days a week. Do cardio maybe three days and do weight training or the machine with weights the other two days. Spread it out.”
Anytime Fitness does offer professional training if needed, for a limited time.
“Our trainer is back from college,” Vesely said. “She will be training until Jan. 10, then she leaves. I do a little bit of a program, too.”
His program includes a full tour of the gym, showing how to properly use the equipment. The gym will give out a program with an in-depth routine workout on how lose weight and be healthy.
When working out, it is important to not eat more because of the workout. A major issue Vesely deals with is customers who are not losing weight because they eat more.
“I have seen people bring in the 16-ounce pops and run on the treadmill and drink,” Vesely said.
The gym even offers a program, for no additional charge for members, that allows them to count calories.
During the busy season, it can be difficult to find open equipment.
“Usually 5 to 7 a.m. is busy,” Vesely said. “Between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. it will be busy, (and) it usually starts up again at 9 p.m.”
The machines that are the hardest to obtain during peak hours are ellipticals. Ellipticals are popular with men. They have five in the gym, but bikes and treadmills may be open. There usually are two open in prime hours Vesely said.
Anytime Fitness is located at 1718 First Ave. E. in Newton, and is open 24/7. New members can sign up at Anytime Fitness during office hours, which include 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Matthew Shepard can be contacted at (641) 792-3121 ext. 425 or via email at mshepard@newtondailynews.com.
