Over the last few years most of my workouts have either been done in the comfort of my home or in the form of fast-paced walks through the local parks. I find it harder to come up with excuses not to fit in exercise when I’m doing it at home, and I’ve got a nice little routine down that works well for me. But I have to admit, the call of the gym has been getting stronger recently. My dumbbells and yoga mat just can’t compete with the huge range of equipment you find at the gym, and I do miss the atmosphere and challenge of group classes.
So when the chance came up to give a Fitness First gym a try for free I couldn’t pass it up. With this deal that gets you a free day pass you can put the gym through its paces, be taken on a personal guided tour of the place, and even try out a class or two. So what happened when I trained for free at Fitness First? Well, spoiler alert, I’m not sure I’ll look at my humble home workouts the same again!
As soon as I stepped through the doors of the Fitness First gym in Tottenham Court Road I was pretty much sold. I was given a really warm welcome by the friendly staff who happily showed me round and talked me through all the different facilities on offer.
The atmosphere in general was really welcoming, which was a relief because I was a bit worried I might find it intimidating after not being in a gym in a long time. The whole place was also pretty much spotless and clearly well-looked after, which is impressive when you realise quite how much is on offer there.
Fitness First Facilities
After I was shown around I was free to explore a bit more on my own and get stuck into everything Fitness First has to offer, and I dove right into exploring the gym, starting with the cardio area. It’s stacked with treadmills, bikes, crosstrainers, rowers, and steppers – basically, everything you need to get your heart racing. Then, I checked out the strength area, and let me tell you, it’s a paradise for lifters! With four squat racks, Olympic lifting platforms, a range of Olympic bumper weight plates, and dumbbells ranging from 2kg to 50kg, there’s something for everyone no matter where you are on your fitness journey.
And just when I was starting to worry that it might all be a bit too much like hard work, I stepped into the sauna and steam room. It honestly was a real highlight for me, the perfect way to relax a bit after a tough workout, and something that I could never really replicate at home!
The other thing I found with working out in a gym after doing home workouts for so long is how great it feels to be in a supportive, encouraging environment. The staff were all super helpful, always ready to assist or offer advice. Their friendly approach made a big difference, especially when trying out new equipment.
While I was already impressed when I trained for free at Fitness First, enjoying the amazing range of machines in the gym, what kind of pushed me over the edge was the pool and the group classes on offer. The swimming pool was a big plus because it’s not something you find in every gym, and the classes were so diverse you can really mix up your workouts each week and never get bored.
I tried out a Shred class during my visit and it was intense, in the best possible way. And having looked at the class schedule I’m also really keen to try the Body Pump and Yoga sessions too.
So, has this home workout enthusiast been won over by the Fitness First gym? It’s a resounding yes! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, the equipment was amazing, and the classes and facilities were all incredible.
What I really loved though was getting the chance to try all this out for free, without needing to commit to a contract until I was ready and certain that joining a gym was the right move for me.
If you’ve been toying with the idea of joining a gym yourself then you should absolutely take this chance as well, find your local Fitness First gym and try a free day pass so you can see for yourself if it’s the right option for you.
