Bangkok’s Expatriate and Traveler’s Online Magazine

Fitness First

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Many expats in Thailand tend to pack on the pounds and I was not the exception. I was tipping the scales at 140 kilograms and decided that it was time to get back into shape. I had checked out several fitness clubs and finally settled on Fitness First. Fitness First has 15 locations in Thailand and boasts a worldwide membership of 1.5 million.

Every club has cardio equipment such as treadmills, step machines, elliptical machines located in air conditioned studios with televisions for entertainment. The televisions offer 5 to 6 channels that will help your workout to fly by. You can catch news, sports, movies or music videos while performing your cardio routine. There are plenty of machines and I have yet to have to wait for a cardio machine.

If you are looking for group cardio workouts, then Fitness First is for you. They offer Yoga, Body Combat classes, Bodyjam, and several other group exercise classes. My personal favorite is the RPM cycling class, which lasts almost an hour. It gets your heat pumping and the sweat pouring. The RPM class was instrumental in my weight loss program.

Cardiovascular training combined with a healthy diet will lead to weight loss, increased stamina and a longer life span. It also leads to improved mental health, helps activate your immune system and decreases your chance of disease. Cardiovascular training combined with a healthy diet will lead to weight loss, increased stamina and a longer life span. It also leads to improved mental health, helps activate your immune system and decreases your chance of disease.

If you like to pump iron then Fitness First will satisfy your desires. Each club has over 3 tons of free weight equipment, stretching machines and Technogym brand machines. You can easily pack on the muscle all the equipment they provide. Weight training tones your muscles, can reverse the natural decline in your metabolism which begins around age 30, decreases your risk of developing diabetes, makes you less prone to low-back injuries and improves your posture.
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Each location has spacious air conditioned locker room, with personalized lockers, hair dryers, rest rooms, clean private showers with free shampoo, body wash and conditioner. The locker rooms also have a hot sauna and steam room for the members to enjoy. Saunas may provide some relief to patients with asthma and chronic bronchitis and may also alleviate pain and improve joint mobility in patients with rheumatic disease. Saunas are also known to help in the detoxification of the body by clearing chemicals, solvents, drugs and alcohol and other toxins through the sweating caused by the dry heat. Steam rooms also help with asthma, bronchitis, and other upper respiratory problems. Steam rooms have also been shown to provide relief to people that suffer from joint pain and benefit people that suffer from sleeping disorders.

Each Fitness First club has a member's lounge that offers free soft drinks, coffee, tea, magazines and newspapers. There are comfortable couches and chairs where members can do some reading, socialize or enjoy healthy snacks that can be purchased from the Squeeze snack bar located in the lounge. Each lounge has free DVD's displayed that may be checked out for free for 48 hours.

My experience with Fitness First has been good and my weight loss has been over 25 kilograms in the last 12 months. This has been a result of following a healthy diet and faithful participation in the Fitness First RPM class and working out with weights regularly. Personal trainers are available to members for a fee above the monthly membership cost.

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