Congratulations on taking the first step to becoming a fitter, healthier version of yourself! Whether you’ve been a gym member before or are a first-timer, you’re in the right place. Here, you'll find like-minded folks who are striving to simply be better than they were yesterday. Welcome to the Anytime Fitness family!

By: Becky Fulton

I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just got the notice that my divorce was final and I knew I was ready for change. I don’t remember if I saw a picture of myself, heard a comment from someone, or what exactly “clicked," but Gary (my new personal trainer) must have noticed something.

The expectation for college students is to eat whatever you can, whenever you can, as long as it's cheap. But I didn't. I started meal planning sophomore year. Sundays were spent seeking out deals in the local ads, creating a meal plan and shopping list, grocery shopping, and finally, preparing food for the week. Meal planning may seem like a hassle, but it actually comes with a lot of benefits.

Despite a freakish May snowfall here at Anytime HQ, summer has pretty much arrived for most of us in North America. It’s the time of year when everyone wants to be outside biking, hiking, running, golfing, swimming, gardening, grilling, or whatever your chosen activity may be.

It’s all-too-easy to skip the gym on days like these. But we’re here to set you straight. Turns out that now might just be the very best time to get in the gym. Self-serving? Most assuredly. But that doesn’t make it any less true! Allow us to explain.

We've all heard it before—one of the cornerstones of keeping a healthy body is keeping that body well-hydrated. Drinking water helps regulate your body temperature, transport nutrients and oxygen to the necessary parts of your body, lubricate joints, and flush out toxins and waste. But sometimes, even when we know what's best for us, it can be difficult to follow through. If you're battling with hydration, try some of these easy tricks to up your H20 intake.

Weighing over 400 pounds made me feel very nervous when walking into any place, let alone the gym. I always thought everyone was staring and judging me. It can be incredibly intimidating. But don't think you have to be in shape to join a gym. I wasn't and I lost over 200 pounds! Let me tell you a story.

"If You Think You Can't, You Can."

Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme running event. This fierce running series is held on the most challenging and rugged terrain across the globe. And now, it’s also a great way to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital save children from cancer and other deadly diseases.

Grain bowls are one of my favorite meals. A perfect balance of carbs, fats, and protein, they're the best way to get a lot of flavor and nutrients in one dish. Plus, they're hearty and filling. There's nothing better on a cool spring day.

So what are we waiting for? Let's build a bowl!

With spring suddenly upon us, I’m sure many of you are looking to take your fitness to the next level. After all, we all want to look lean and fit for the summer, right? And many of us want to perform at our best when it comes to training and competition too! Whether you’re looking to run a few extra miles outside, join a new boot camp class, or get back into your favorite warm weather sport, one thing is for certain—you need to adequately fuel your body.