Getting fit

I just got back from a trip that was both fun and physically demanding so I apologize if I haven’t been updating my blog as regularly as I would like. It’s the holiday season and I’ve only a couple of days with family and friends in Singapore before I continue my travels on Christmas Day.

In the last few months, I’ve have been fortunate enough to go forth and experience different aspects of life that I may have not been able to focus on previously. Some these experiences are kindly sponsored while others I pay out of my own pocket. Regardless, I look forward to continuing to share my adventures (misadventures) and reviews with you 🙂

One of the aspects I explored was fitness. Being rather desk bound in the last year, I haven’t been keeping fit as much as I shoud. It was time to get evaluated on my fitness levels and consult an expert to direct me on where I should begin. With this in mind, I had the privilege of having Mr Dennis Tew, director of Dennis Gym to personally assist me in my quest. Dennis is a famous former Singapore National Bodybuilding Champion and a coach for the Singapore National Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (SBBF). He coached Team Singapore for the SEA games and continues to train up numbers countless of champions in sports and bodybuilding each year.

Despite his impressive credentials, Dennis was very approachable and friendly. He has a vision to populate the heartlands with top notch gyms requiring very low membership fees so that everyone of all ages and fitness level can have access to a good fitness lifestyle. The gym I went to is the newest in his chain and located in Tampines. Despite being in a community center, it is 100% privately managed by Dennis Gym and the gym equipment is as good as those you find in the heart of the city. If his gym is good enough for competing champions to train in, it’s more than good enough for me!

Before I got started, I had to fill up a questionnaire on my fitness levels and lifestyle habits. It’s quite a realization for me as I answered those questions and tick those boxes to see how unfit I am. I guilty in failing to incorporate health as part of my life goals and lifestyle.

Dennis also went ahead to take my blood pressure, weight and fat analysis so he could get a benchmark of my physical standing. It turns out that my blood pressure is on the low side which meant I need more iron and protein in my diet. This is probably due to me being a terribly huge carb lover and having tons of bread, potatoes, rice and noodles as a large part of my regular diet.

My BMI and fats are in the healthy range (thankfully!) but I am a lot weaker in my upper body compared to my lower half. Dennis looked into my dietary choices and gave suggestions on what I should do to improve it. I love how he didn’t expect me to drastically modify my intake or tell me to stick to just fruits and vegetables. In fact, his suggestions were very realistic and doable such as skipping the gravy when I have my favorite Katong Laksa or changing my midnight ice-cream cravings into yogurt choices. It’s the little things over time that helps.

Dennis showed me how to navigate every single equipment he had in the gym, which muscles it’ll target and how I should structure my fitness routine. This way, even if I choose not to have a personal trainer every time I’m at the gym, I would know how to use the equipments available and can enforce self discipline.

I’m sure you must be wondering about the cost of being a member at the gym. At just $135 for 3 months, it’s a super value compared to the prices other gyms are charging! I still remember that several year back, I used to pay close to $200 a month for a gym in town and I didn’t even had the dedication or the time to make use of it cause it was always so crowded on peak periods.

Personally, I feel it is best to have a personal trainer to make sure you are maximizing your training session and guide you throughout so that you can achieve your fitness goals with more efficiency.  Dennis Gym specialists are not only certified trainers but are also  carefully handpicked by Mr Dennis Tew based on their track record achievements in the fitness industry. The trainers at Dennis Gym can help to encourage you and motivate you to work out harder and more intensely than you would normally by yourself. Most people start off their training with much enthusiasm, but with the myriad of exercises and machines in a gym, it is easy to over exert or start on a program which is not suitable to your currrent physical limitations.  Having Dennis Gym specialists ensures that there will be an watchful eye on you at all times to prevent any mishaps as well as ensure that you are working well within your limits and not pushing yourself to the point of possible injury.

My session at the gym went pass me in a flash and the gym’s huge heavy equipment is now a lot less intimidating to me. Hopefully I have the determination to follow my resolutions to a healthier me. If you are thinking of setting a health goal in your 2013 new year resolutions or just looking for a great friendly place in the East to shed those extra weight after the Christmas indulgences, give Dennis Gym a try. They have gyms at Kallang and Semei as well but the branch I went to is located at Tampines.

Dennis Gym Tampines Branch

5 Tampines Avenue 3 Singapore 529705 Tampines West Community Club

(Conveniently located in Tampines, just a 5 minutes walk from Temasek Poly, 20 mins walk fr Tampines central.)

Phone: 8543-2903

Operation Hours: Mon – Fri (7:00am to 10:00pm) Sat – Sun (8:00am to 8:00pm)

Website

Email: Enquiry@dennisgym.com

Public Transit: 20 mins walk fr Tampines MRT Exit C

Nearest bus stop : bus no. 291, 293