Get Your Body Movin’ to Prevent Colon Cancer: 5 Tips for Choosing a GymIt’s a brand new year, and, like many Americans, I’m making some resolutions. My number one resolution, which could also help me prevent colon cancer, is to get this body movin’ so that when I want it to stop, it will! You know when you’re waving goodbye and your arm flab keeps jiggling, even after you’ve stopped waving? Gross, I know. But besides the need to get in shape, I’m also driven by a desire for good colon health. Unlike age or family history, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are two risk factors of colon cancer that you and I can effectively change.

Also, if you or someone you know has been treated for colon cancer, getting exercise can help prevent colon cancer from recurring by as much as 50 percent.

Learn how much exercise experts say you need to help prevent colon cancer.

So, in order to help me keep my New Year’s resolution, I’ve decided to join a local gym, but finding the perfect place to workout is a bit daunting.

Here are Five Tips for Choosing the Perfect Gym 

1. Determine which gyms are nearby (& safe).
Because you are more likely to continue going to the gym if it’s in your proximity, pick one that is convenient to where you live or work.

If you have to drive clear across town to get there, you’ll very likely stop going. However, if you’re trying to keep costs low, opt for the gym farthest away and ride your bike there and back—certainly that’s a much cheaper option than actually joining. Also, consider the safety of the location: I visited a gym once with great equipment but in a sketchy neighborhood. Needless to say, after sprinting to my car and immediately locking the doors, I quickly nixed that place from my list.

2. Consider the cost.
Is this gym in your price range, or will the membership fees wreck your budget? Do you have to commit to a year-long contract, or can you pay monthly? Watch out for gyms that require a lengthy contract commitment with steep penalties if you break it.  Also, ask if the gym offers a refund should you decide to quit.  If you’re a cheapskate, refer to number 1.

3. Think about what kind of exercise you most enjoy doing (because how many people really like to exercise?).
Do you prefer to run or use an elliptical, or do you enjoy strength training and swimming laps?  Do you like the camaraderie of group classes like spinning or Zumba? Be sure to inquire about the equipment and facilities available as well as the classes offered and their times.

4. Talk to your friends.
To find a good gym, ask your friends what they like and dislike about theirs. If you have similar schedules, see if you can work out together. A good way to stay committed to the gym is to go with a spouse or friend. They’ll hold you accountable when a carton of ice cream and a Gilmore Girls marathon sounds so much more appealing.

5. Visit said nearby gyms to see what they have to offer.
Many gyms offer a free pass to try out their facilities. Take them up on it. Not only do you want to check out the classes offered, but also the quality and quantity of the equipment available.

Do the weight machines seem outdated or the treadmills worn out? Are there several exercise bikes or just one?  Also, find out which amenities (i.e., sauna, trainer, nutrition counseling, massage) are included in the monthly fee and which cost extra. Talk to the staff: If their physiques resemble the Shoney’s Big Boy or their attitudes are very similar to your teenage daughter’s, then maybe that isn’t the right gym for you.

Sure, finding the perfect gym requires some work, but watching those extra pounds on your backside melt right off is worth the effort, right?  Even more importantly, consider joining a gym as an investment in your health, which will significantly lower your risk of colon cancer. Next to getting a colonoscopy, or colon cancer screening, keeping weight off is a great way to help prevent colon cancer.

So, I’m getting my body movin’ this year by joining a local gym and hope you will too.

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