Several men work out at Crossfit Slash in Beijing. Photo: Courtesy of Crossfit Slash

Screen captures of FitTime. Photos: Li Jingjing/GT

Screen captures of Nike Running. Photos: Li Jingjing/GT

Summer is here. It's a time when people with nice waistline, long legs and muscles love finally having a reason to show off what they got.

If you're like me you may feel a bit envious of those toned women and muscular men who can get away with dressing for the heat and still look good.

Instead of giving into jealousy and sulking and eating more to release your inner anger, why not look for ways to improve your own health so others will envy you?

I've searched throughout Beijing for fine gyms and have tried all kinds of apps from the App Store. If you are ready for a change, or maybe want to make some improvements to your current routine, you might be able to find a little help here.

Gyms

It seems that we are living in an age in which "if you don't have a gym card, you're a loser."

Everyone has a gym card in their wallet or purse, but how many are actually taking the time to go there?

Paying for a gym card and not going doesn't make anyone but the gym owner happy. So the most important thing is, persistence. Here are two places with good environments that may actually make you look forward to heading the gym.

Fitness center in Kerry Hotel

The best thing about a fitness center in a 5-star hotel is the environment. The 7,000 square meter area makes the Kerry Hotel's fitness center one of the largest centers in Beijing.

Open 24/7 the gym has excellent work out equipment that are well maintained. It also has a 35-meter long swimming pool, a separate swimming pool for children, hot tubs, sauna and a steam room. Massages are also available if you feel sore after your workout.

About 30 classes including yoga, pilates, boxing and dancing are held in the yoga room every week.

The center is open to both guests at the hotel as well as the public.

http://www.shangri-la.com/cn/beijing/kerry/health-leisure/

CrossFit Slash

If you have ever heard of the CrossFit workout and hope to give it a go, or simply want to try something different, this is a place you shouldn't miss.

The CrossFit workout, initiated by CrossFit Inc. in the US, includes high-intensity interval training, weight-lifting, plyometrics, powerlifting, gymnastics and girevoy. Its aim is to improve physical strength, the explosive force of muscles and endurance.

The company has affiliates across the world and has just started in China.

Located in Sanlitun, a bustling area in Beijing, the 1,200 square meter CrossFit Slash is one of the company's official affiliates and the only such center recognized by Reebok in Beijing. Equipment includes rowers, ski-ergs and atlas stones, as well as a 25-meter artificial turf track, which is something you don't see in most gyms. The gym just opened in June, and no matter if it's the facilities or the decorations, it has already become one of the top gyms in Beijing.

Professional coaches from the US organize training classes and provide nutritional guidance. While such high intensity training is extremely tough, those who have been through it all rave about how their physical power and endurance have reached a whole new level.

http://www.crossfitslash.com/en/index.html

There are also many franchise gyms that have several branches in different areas of Beijing. CSI-Bally Total Fitness has gyms in the Asian Sports Village, Sanlitun and Haidian District. HosaFitness also has nearly 31 locations in Beijing.

Apps

Whether you are short of money, too busy to go to a gym or simply prefer exercising alone, working out and getting instructions from professionals is still possible.

That's why I've selected several useful apps you can use to work out outside the gym.

FitTime

There two different FitTime apps in the Apple App Store, a blue one and a yellow one.

In the blue one, you can register for its social network and share images and thoughts with other bodybuilding addicts. Seeing how perfect these people's bodies have become may also help motivate you as well.

More importantly, a lot of videos can be found and added to your personal training course. They cover things like how to work on your abs, yoga, or tone your buns and thighs.

The yellow one provides more training courses, such as "four minutes training at home," "workout schedule for the white collar man" and "bodybuilding plans for mommies."

For those have lots of questions about bodybuilding, you may also find your answers in this app. Articles from professional trainers will answer your questions from how to enhance muscles to nutritional guidance.

Nike Running

Those who love running should not miss this app. Although there are different apps for running, it's still one of the best.

If you prefer running outdoors, the app uses your phone's GPS to follow you and allows you to see the course you took as you ran around.

By setting the app in running mode, it will automatically keep records for you.

The app analyzes your speed, mileage and saves all the history from previous runs.

Whenever you reach a new record, the color of the user interface changes too. It's exciting to see your figures improve every time you reach a new milestone.