Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Exercise Your Gym-Membership Options

“By now, you're probably a few days into that resolution to lose weight, munching on celery sticks and low-fat yogurt, wondering how best to follow through on the exercise portion of your pledge to improve your health. But before you sign up for some pricey gym membership, ask yourself a question: Are you really going to go? We regretful holiday revelers are good at joining gyms this time of year. About 1 million people across the nation—50 percent of total gym membership nationally—join health clubs in January, the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association said in a blog posting Monday. But then what? The same group estimates that average members attended their gym 90 days in 2007, yet the retention rate of gym memberships is in the range of 75 percent, meaning many of us are paying for unused gym time because we won't accept reality and end our contracts. Let's break the cycle, people. I'm not gym bashing; I belong to one myself. It's all about being smart—and realistic—about your fitness goals and picking a gym that allows you to accomplish them economically. The first step in choosing a gym, experts say, is to shop around. Don't rush and sign up on impulse. The fat will be there tomorrow. Take your time to find the right fit, experts say. ‘Make sure that they're picking a club that suits their needs, that's close to work or home, that they feel comfortable in, because feeling intimidated is a barrier,’ said Rosemary Lavery, spokeswoman for the association. ‘If you can get past that, you have a much better chance of sticking with it.’ And in some cases, a smaller, less fancy gym might be your best bet, said Jamie Kopf Hirsh, an associate editor with Consumer Reports magazine. In a survey of more than 10,000 gymgoers, Consumer Reports found that consumers were more satisfied at community and workplace gyms than they were at larger chains.”

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-tue-consumerland-0106-jan06,0,3068958.column

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