REFLECT ON YOUR SUMMER BREAK:

Before diving into your fitness routine, take a moment to reflect on your summer break. Acknowledge any challenges or setbacks you may have faced and use them as motivation to move forward. Remember, it’s never too late to start again.

SET REALISTIC GOALS:

Setting realistic and achievable goals is crucial when reclaiming your fitness routine. Whether it’s losing weight, gaining strength, or improving overall fitness, define your goals and break them down into smaller, manageable milestones. This will help you stay motivated and track your progress effectively.

PRIORITIZE TIME MANAGEMENT:

As a busy parent, time management is key to fitting workouts into your schedule. Identify pockets of time throughout the day when you can dedicate to exercise. Whether it’s waking up earlier, utilizing your lunch break, or finding time after the kids have gone to bed, make a commitment to prioritize your fitness.

EXPLORE ABSOLUTELY FITNESS:

To support your fitness journey, consider joining Absolutely Fitness. This exceptional gym offers a range of amenities tailored to meet your needs. With a dedicated Ladies Only room, you can exercise in a comfortable and supportive environment. Additionally, their huge functional room provides ample space for dynamic workouts. Explore their mobile app, which offers hundreds of workouts at your fingertips, allowing you to exercise anytime, anywhere. Join their vibrant community and benefit from fitness advice from experienced Fitness Gurus.

FIND YOUR FITNESS PASSION:

Discovering activities that you genuinely enjoy is essential for long-term adherence to your fitness routine. Experiment with different workouts and classes offered at Absolutely Fitness, such as yoga, Zumba, or strength training. Finding your fitness passion will make exercising feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable part of your day.

CREATE A BALANCED WORKOUT PLAN:

A well-rounded workout plan is essential for overall fitness. Incorporate cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and flexibility exercises into your routine. Absolutely Fitness offers a variety of classes and equipment to cater to all aspects of fitness, ensuring you have everything you need to create a balanced workout plan.

SEEK SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY:

Reclaiming your fitness routine is easier when you have a support system in place. Connect with like-minded individuals at Absolutely Fitness who share similar goals and aspirations. Engage in group classes or join fitness challenges to stay motivated and accountable. The supportive community at Absolutely Fitness will help you stay on track and celebrate your achievements.

Woman working out in a bootcamp class at Absolutely Fitness

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS:

Monitoring your progress is crucial to stay motivated and make adjustments to your fitness routine. Keep a record of your workouts, measurements, and achievements. Absolutely Fitness offers tools and resources to track your progress, allowing you to see how far you’ve come and stay motivated on your fitness journey.

CONCLUSION:

As summer comes to an end, it’s time to prioritize your fitness and reclaim your routine. By setting realistic goals, managing your time effectively, and finding support at Absolutely Fitness in Bracknell, you can achieve your fitness aspirations. Take advantage of their Ladies Only room, functional room, mobile app with hundreds of workouts, and a supportive community led by Fitness Gurus. Embrace this opportunity to prioritize your health and well-being, and let Absolutely Fitness guide you on your fitness journey.

Remember, the end of summer is just the beginning of a new chapter in your fitness story. Start today and experience the transformative power of reclaiming your fitness routine.

To learn more about Absolutely Fitness and start your fitness journey, visit their website at www.absolutely-fitness.co.uk/bracknell. Take the first step towards a healthier and fitter you!

All the money raised from the car wash will be donated to Absolutely Together, which works with families who have children and young adults with additional needs. It aims to put thousands of smiles on faces across the area by giving families free access to leisure activities that they can take part in together – something not always possible due to financial or physical restrictions.

Whilst visitors are having their car cleaned by our team – in return for a suggested donation of £5 – they can make use of the gym’s state-of-the-art facilities, which include a ladies-only gym, functional training zone, fitness classes and in excess of 150 pieces of equipment.

Sandra Grochowska, Club Manager at our gym in Slough, commented:

“We already give families that Absolutely Together works with free access to our gym every Sunday morning and we see first-hand the benefits that being able to enjoy an activity as a family can have. The charity car wash is our way of giving something back and raising funds to ensure Absolutely Together can offer even more families crucial access to other leisure activities.

“Everyone who donates to have their car cleaned is welcome to have a look around the gym and use our facilities, and we look forward to welcoming them along.”

The charity car wash takes place between 10am and 6pm on Saturday 13th August at our Slough gym, which is located on Slough Trading Estate.

From Saturday 30th July to Monday 1st August, people can try our Bracknell gym’s state-of-the-art facilities, which include a ladies-only gym, functional training area, boxing zone, free parking and in excess of 150 pieces of equipment, at no cost.

Throughout the weekend, visitors will be able to take part in games and raffles, and everyone who visits will receive a free can of alcohol-free gin and tonic.

Harry Smith, Club Manager, commented:

“Some people can feel scared or intimidated about joining a gym. Our Gym & Tonic weekend will give them the opportunity to experience the friendly atmosphere before they commit to a membership.

“Our team will be on hand to answer questions, talk about fitness goals, help people feel relaxed and show how fun deciding to improve their fitness can be. We look forward to welcoming everyone through the door.”

The first 50 people who join our Bracknell gym during the weekend will receive an upgraded HERO membership for the first three months. This equates to a saving of £70.

If you can’t make the weekend, you can still try out our gym with our ‘3 for FREE’ offer.

Statistics indicate that out of all the people in the UK who pay for a gym membership, 12% don’t visit their gym regularly*, so we’ve put together our top 10 tips on how to make the most out of your gym membership.

TIP 1 – TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Before you even sign up to join a gym, ask to have a look around and have a free trial. Being in an environment you like and feel comfortable is a factor in whether you will regularly visit. It will also give you a chance to visit at a time that fits into your lifestyle – if you are going to regularly workout when you finish work, but the gym is super busy at that time, will that stop you?

TIP 2 – HAVE A PROPER INDUCTION
At the start of your membership make sure you have a gym induction. You’ll be shown all the facilities and how to use the equipment, which can help you feel more comfortable and stop you from injuring yourself. We provide booster sessions every day where our members can have a refresh of how to operate our machines.

TIP 3 – COMMIT TO A REGULAR ROUTINE
If you just plan to go to the gym when you have a bit of free time, spoiler alert, you won’t go! And the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to get into a routine, so commit at the start of your gym membership. Do you want to workout before you start work, or after work? Are you planning to go to the gym twice a week, three times a week, or every weekend? Set a routine and stick with it.

TIP 4 – SET YOURSELF REALISTIC GOALS
You may have an over-arching reason for taking out a gym membership – whatever that is, setting realistic goals will help you to achieve your target. If you want to lose weight, have a plan of how much you want to lose in the first month. If you want to improve your fitness, how much further can you run on a treadmill at the end of month one, compared to at the start of your gym membership? By doing this you will get little boosts along the way that will help keep you motivated.

TIP 5 – HAVE A PERSONAL TRAINING SESSION
Whether you want to get your gym membership off to a good start, or you feel you’re stuck in a workout rut, setting up a session with a personal trainer can really give you a boost. They will listen to your goals and set up a routine of exercises that will help you achieve them.

TIP 6 – SET UP A JOINT MEMBERSHIP
If you’re someone who benefits from working out with a friend or friends, then speak to your gym about a group membership. We have one, it’s called Squad Membership, and we have special prices for between two and five people who join together. If you have colleagues who would like to head for a workout during a lunch break, or before or after work, then speak to your company about the possibility of setting up a corporate membership, as that will entitle you to discounted gym fees.

TIP 7 – INCLUDE CLASSES
From yoga and spin classes to HIIT workouts and boxercise, your gym will offer a variety of group fitness classes that can be a lot of fun and will add something different to your fitness routine. Classes are also a fantastic way of meeting other members, making friends and discovering a new favourite exercise.

TIP 8 – KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET
If you think that you need to spend hours working out during every gym session, think again. You’ll achieve significant results by completing a regular 30–40-minute workout. In fact, the majority of our group fitness classes are only half an hour.

TIP 9 – MIX UP YOUR WORKOUTS
If you always use one piece of equipment, you may become bored very quickly, so mix it up. Your gym will be full of state-of-the-art machines for you to make use of. This will also help you to achieve your goals by working different muscle groups and areas of the body.

TIP 10 – ENGAGE WITH THE GYM’S ONLINE COMMUNITY
Nowadays, most gyms will have an app where you can find a whole plethora of helpful information that will benefit your gym membership, such as online workouts and nutritional advice. There will also be an area where members and gym staff will chat and add messages, so get involved. Our community are really engaged and offer support to each other.

Worried about entering a contract? Then our hero and superhero membership packages may be ideal for you as they are contract free. With a range of gym membership options, we’re certain there will be a package that will help you reach your fitness goals.

* Research conducted by NatWest in 2020.

Our Slough gym, Bracknell gym and Langley gym teams have put together the following advice to help you prepare, from dealing with nerves to what weights to pick up first.

OVERCOMING GYM ANXIETY
Absolutely Fitness’s tips on getting started at a gymIf you’ve never stepped foot in a gym before, they can seem quite daunting places, but like everything, once you have a routine you realise that the equipment is easy to use, everyone working out has the same goal – to improve and maintain fitness, and they can be really supportive and friendly places.

Every new member at a gym – including those who join Absolutely Fitness – will take part in an induction. Don’t skip this, as it will answer a lot of your questions. You’ll receive a tour of the facilities, be shown how to use equipment, and find out what you need to do when you arrive for a workout, ie, whether you need to sign in, log your car number plate, etc. These inductions really do help to deal with any gym anxiety you may have.

At Absolutely Fitness, members can join booster sessions, which take place every day and give advice about how to use our app and equipment, and allow you to ask questions. However, our members don’t have to wait for a booster session if they need advice; our fitness gurus are an extremely friendly bunch and do everything they can to make new members feel welcome and comfortable and are always available to help you reach your fitness goals.

To help our members feel comfortable working out, we have specialist ladies only areas our Slough gym and our Bracknell gym.

WHAT TO WEAR
Overall, you want to feel comfortable. There is a lot of specialist workout clothing on the market, but when you’re just starting out, you only really need leggings, tracksuit bottoms, or shorts and a lightweight t-shirt. Trainers are a must, and whilst there are specific gym shoes for different types of workouts, such as cross fit trainers and weightlifting shoes, start with a decent pair of trainers that fit your feet correctly and offer some support. It’s also essential to invest in a good quality sports bra if you need one.

As your fitness journey progresses, you may want to invest in new clothing.

USING THE MACHINES
Your gym will be full of equipment that can work every type of muscle. At our gyms we have state-of-the-art machines from industry-leading brand Technogym.

During your gym induction you will be shown how to use the machines, but if you’re unsure please ask. Using a piece of equipment incorrectly can cause damage to the apparatus and yourself.

Depending on what you want to achieve will determine the type of machines and equipment you use:

If you’re looking to lose weight or improve your fitness, head straight for the cardio machines.

Treadmill
Exercise bike
Cross trainer
Rowing machine
Stepper
Looking to tone muscles or build strength? The resistance and free weight areas are for you.

Dumbbells
Resistance machines
Kettlebells
Barbells
Cable machine
If you want to improve your endurance, motion and balance, the functional training zone is ideal.

Suspension straps
Kettlebells
Tyres
HOW TO NOT INJURE YOURSELF
Expert advice from Absolutely Fitness about working out at a gymMake sure you warm-up before starting any form of exercise. Gym anxiety can mean you just want to get started and jump straight on that treadmill, but it would be a massive mistake. A warm-up helps loosen your muscles and reduces the risk of injury – everyone needs to warm up, so don’t feel nervous. Include exercises that gently stretch your muscles, such as lunges, squats, and push-ups.
Free weights, such as dumbbells, can be heavier than they look and you can cause muscle injuries by grabbing the first weight you see! Start by using the lighter weights and work your way up – if using a barbell, this can simply be starting with the bar without any weights.
Don’t overestimate your abilities by doing too much. Begin by working at a lower intensity and gradually increase the amount of exercise you do. It will be better to do this than throw yourself in, injure yourself on your first visit, and have to rest up for a few weeks.
When you exercise, you will sweat meaning you will lose body fluid. It’s important to drink water so you don’t become dehydrated. Drinking before, after and during a workout can help to boost your energy and avoid cramp.
AND FINALLY, SOME GYM ETIQUETTE
Put weights back after use, and don’t drop them
Wipe down a piece of equipment after use
Don’t hog a machine or piece of equipment – 20 minutes is a good amount of time
Be patient if the piece of equipment you want to use is being used by someone else
Keep the music to yourself – whether you are listening to music or a podcast, use headphones/earpods
If you’re looking to kick-start a fitness programme or join a new gym, the teams at our Slough gym, Bracknell gym and Langley gym will be happy to show you around, just click book a tour.

As part of the work we do for our own charity Absolutely Together, the Absolutely Fitness team is fully aware of the amazing work Promise Inclusion does with young people in the local area.

Absolutely Together provides families who have members with additional needs with free access to leisure facilities that they can take part in together – something that is not always possible due to financial or physical restrictions – and is building a relationship with Promise Inclusion.

Promise Inclusion is an independent charity that supports adults and children with learning disabilities and/or autism, their parents, carers and their families, by providing information and activities, amongst many other services.

Suzanne Kaplan, Assistant Manager at Absolutely Fitness Bracknell, visited the charity to pass on all the donations. She commented:

“We have seen the support that Promise Inclusion gives to local children, and we wanted to do something that would help put smiles on their faces. We encouraged members and visitors to donate an egg when they came to work out, and we are delighted with the response the appeal received. Thank you to our members for their generosity and kindness. We are aiming to do more for Promise Inclusion in the future.”