How do you choose your gym? Is it the location, facilities, instructors or something else that matters for you when looking for the right gym?

I have had memberships for several gyms during my life. The reasons why I have chosen them have varied depending on my lifestyle and other various reasons. Here's a little list what you should consider when picking up the best possible gym for you:

• Costs
• what is your budget?
• what does the fee include?
• can you sign out easily?
• Location
• should it be near your home or work place?
• easy access
• Equipment
• do they have those machines you like to use?
• weight machines
• cardio machines
• stretcing area
• weights, matts, pilates tubes etc.
• Cleanliness
• how clean does the space look?
• what about the locker rooms and showers?
• are there spray bottles and wipes to clean the equipments after use?
• Hours of operation
• is it open when you prefer to wotk out?
• morning/evening hours?
• weekends/holidays?
• Classes
• do they have group classes?
• at what time are the classes?
• do you need to pay extra fee for joining classes?
• do they have that instructor you want to follow?
• Personal trainers
• is there someone you can ask how the machines work?
• can they provide personal trainers?
• do you need to pay extra fee for their services?
• Facilities
• how are the locker rooms?
• showers?
• sauna?
• swimming pool?
• shower gel, body lotion?
• towels?
• hair dryers?
• drinks? snacks?
• day care for kids?
• does it have day light or is it below the ground level?
• Membership privileges
• do they offer something extra for members?

At the moment on the top of my list are:

• costs - as low as possible
• location - as near my home as possible
• daylight - for me it's important that I can see outside
• open 24/7
• not too crowded
• basic equipment for cardio and weight, good space for stretching
• shower

So my choice is the simple gym above. Fitness Nro1 is a budget gym and works well for me. The gym below - Holmes Place - is a luxury gym. It has everything. Unfortunately it's a bit too costly for me and as it has a swimming pool and jaquzzi it also means that I would stay there longer as I love to a have a swim and relax in bubbles.

Here's a bit more about Holmes Place!

Which one is your choice - a simple gym or a luxury gym?

****

(FI) Tässä kaksi kuntosalia. Toinen on pelkistetty, mutta toimiva ja toinen on todellinen luksussali uima-altaineen, poreammeineen, kosmetiikkatuotteineen, vitamiinibaareineen...

Tämän hetkinen valintani on ylimmäinen eli simppeli sali, jossa ei ole ohjattuja tunteja eikä saunaosastoa, mutta toimivat laitteet, paljon luonnonvaloa ja auki vuorokauden ympäri. Aikaa ei kulu muuta kuin tehokkaaseen treenaukseen.

Kumpi olisi oma valintasi?

Fitbit Bracelet

My new Fitbit bracelet tracks my steps & calories burned during daytime and at night it tracks hours slept, times awakened and sleep quality. Let's see how it works in action. I need to add food and drinks consumed during a day, so it might be a bit complicated. During Xmas time I won't add anything...

It syncs with my mac laptop and iphone without any extra cabel. As it needs to be worn 24/7 I'm slightly worried how this black piece suits with my jewellery... saw a beautiful silver bracelet especially design for Fitbit by one of my favourite designers Tory Burch. Just can't find a place where to purchase it here in Europe. In London, perhaps?

Fitbit bracelets by Tory Burch.

ps. I'm sure after one month I can give more specific info on how the Fitbit's Flex wireless wristband works in action, and how useful it really is. 

Have A Break..

...and go out for a walk or jogging. Fresh air makes wonders!

Margit Island in Budapest is such a great place to get rid of the buzy hubbub of the city.

So quiet out there!

Look Who's Coming!

 Yes, it's true - Lululemon will open its store in Covent Garden in London this spring. Lululemon is absolutely my favorite fitness wear brand. Here're some examples wink, wink, wink.

And it's not just a small corner shop, it's a huge store.

ps. In Finland people were queuing for Burger King and Starbucks when they were opened in Helsinki last year. In London there was an enormous queue in from of Shake Shack in Covent Garden! There was a bit of a queue in SoBe when it was opened in 1111 Building some seasons ago, but still…queuing for burgers!

To The Top

Read the book, watched the film. Both about sports, of course, and how you need to be passionate and eager to win to get to the top. Not giving up. Practicing, practicing, practicing and enjoying every minute. Learning from your mistakes. When you get to the top it's still practicing, knowing and trusting yourself and also keeping your mind straight, not loosing it in all that fame, and criticism too. Do you want to loose it all for a stupid mistake? Hardly. 

Kirja luettu, leffa katsottu. Molemmat kertovat tietty urheilusta, mutta myös siitä kuinka päästäkseen huipulle pitää olla ihtohimoinen ja haluta voittaa, pistettävä itsensä likoon täysillä joka hetki. On harjoiteltava ja harjoiteltava ja nautittava joka minuutista. On opittava tehdyistä virheistä. Huipulle päästyä pitää edelleenkin harjoitella, opittava tuntemaan ja luottamaan itseensä. Kaiken suosion ja myös kritiikin keskellä mieli täytyy pitää koossa. Oletko valmis menettämään kaiken yhden tyhmän erehdyksen takia? Tuskin.

David Beckham book - football

Selänne DVD - ice-hockey

Both are entertaining and have a story to tell.

Molemmat ovat viihdyttäviä ja niissä on tarina kerrottavana.

Mellow Yellow

 Bought some new fitness tops at Lululemon.

No excuses anymore to avoid doing some sports. 

 I have never liked yellow, but now this Power Up Tank

 is my favourite one.

No limits Tank in black with floral bra capture the freeing feeling of practising in a bra with the coverage of a tank.

Love it!

Pump It Up Tank in bright orange and dark blue has a loose-fitting and bra with adjustable straps to fine-tune the fit.

Feels good on but not really my colour.

I'm a big fan of Lululemon wear!

click click

Zapatillas

After a long long period being without running because of my back problems I finally gave it a try.

First walking, almost power walking, then jogging 

and now running.

I just loved it!

Bought my running "zapatillas" a year ago at Sports In Motion on Alton Road in Miami Beach. Great shoes!

Top and pants by Lululemon.

Balance Studio

 Got a nice Xmas present from my pilates studio.

Balance Studio

VI Budapest

Eötvös utca 29.

Great place, good instructors!

Pilates is a body conditioning routine that may help build flexibility, muscle strength, 

and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips and back. 

It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing,

 and developing a strong core or center, and improving coordination and balance. 

Pilates' system allows for different exercises to be modified 

in range of difficulty from beginning to advanced. 

Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions 

and adapts to the exercises.

Sporty Shopping

 Hopefully the sun will shine soon!

Bought new running equipment:

- practical Nike double shorts:

black dry-fit shorts with pink tight ones under 

and a black Nike cap

(actually it's a mens cap but who cares!)

What a comfy giant armchair!

- made of plastic bottles

at Mom Park

Instead of running feel like resting here

Early Morning

Woke up already at 6am...

The breakfast time starting at 8.30am

so had to wait a bit.

The hotel's breakfast is served at

the terrace of Atlantic restaurant

Had some fruit of the season with yoghurt

.

After the breakfast walked to buy running shoes

at Sports In Motion on Alton Road

- unfortunately it wasn't open untill 11am
.

So went to Starbucks next to it for a mug of tea
.
Bought a pair of Asics running shoes,
socks and a Nike top - just in case
- heard that there was Miami Marathon last Sunday
and these shoes were a huge hit - the best
running shoes at the moment
.
Sports in motion
1448 Alton Road
SoBe
- by the way bought a pair of Asics shoes
there last year as well
- great professional service!
.

Finland-USA

Had cheese tray ready for the evening

.

Would've been great to eat marvellous cheese

& watch a fantastic professional ice-hockey match...

Well, it didn't quite go that way...

.

Very sad & dissapointing night for the Finns

.

As was surfing to find out more about the horrible earthquake in Chile,

read on the front page of Miami Herald:

"Two little American boys decked out in red, white and blue

waved a pair of homemade posters that read:

``Finnish 'em!''

The U.S. men's Olympic hockey team granted their wish

- in 13 high-flying minutes that left Finnish forward

Teemu Selanne wishing he were on the curling team."
.

Loosing 6-1 doesn't leave much for explanations.

.

Morning run

Finally my nose is not running any more!

Seems like the flu or allergy or whatsoever is gone.

So went for running to Margit Island this morning

- first time this year

It was lovely,

beautiful wheather

- not too chilly nor warm,

gorgeous scents

coming from the blooming trees.

.

Perfect start for the day!

.

Pretty small tree with orange-red flowers

- no idea of its name...

&

it's not on Margit Island

but at Kodály körönd...

.

Running music:

Die Toten Hosen: In Aller Stille

Kinesis

Last week started to do Kinesis at Pure Wellness

Betti showed me first how to work with these machines:

Quite interesting

You can adjust the "ropes" as you like.

There are exercises and movements for different muscles.

.

Pure Wellness

Ó utca 43-49

1066 Budapest

www.cityhome.hu/pure

Week's workout

Succesfull week concerning the gym!

.

Monday

Running 40mins

Workout program

.

jaguzzi

...

Tuesday

Crosstrainer 10mins

Stretching

Swimming 20min

.

Jaguzzi

Steam room

...

Wednesday

Running 40mins

Workout program

.

Jaguzzi

...

Thursday

Crosstrainer 10mins

Stretching

Swimming 20mins

.

Jaguzzi

(the steam room was off!)

...

Sunday

Running 40mins

Back & abdominals

Stretching

.

Jaguzzi

Steam room

...

- not a bad week!

Pure Wellness Club & Spa

www.cityhomes.hu

Gym sessions

Awfull pain in the legs!

On Saturday went to gym and made some excercises that hadn't done for ages.

Can feel it now in the legs and stomach!

On Sunday went to do some stretching and swimming.

Will just do some walking today.

Actually it is a good feeling to notice that after all that running and gym there are still some muscles that had ignore totally.

Fruit & veg stall

Monday & Tuesday passed by without running or gym... did some stretching though!

And had 35mins in infra sauna & afterwards facial massage with vacuum & ultrasound at Beauty Box

Wednesday & Thursday

Running 1,5 round on Margit Island + walking for 25mins in the mornings

- feeling happy for that

- the weather has been perfect: sunshine & app. 14C

Found a nice fruit & veg stall in 13th district in the corner of

Raoul Wallenberg utca and Tátra utca.

- everything seems very fresh

- blueberries, rasberries, even lingonberries

- also more exotic fruits like sharons and liches

....

Asian type of dinner at home

...

Tom yam soup

Beef with rice noodles and diced carrots