If you hit the gym this month, you may have to wait a little longer than usual for a turn on the treadmill.
As people vow to keep the common New Year’s resolution of getting into shape, local gyms are filled to near capacity.
Beth Jeffers, owner of The Fitness Factor, said her gym sees an average membership increase of 15 to 20 percent in the first of the year.
“For the size of our community, we have a lot of gyms so I am sure the numbers get split up,” she said. “I think nationwide there is a 20-30-percent increase. We just have a smaller market.”
Jeffers said instead of a sudden rush of new members on Jan. 1, she sees a steady increase in membership throughout the first months of the new year.
“It is more of a steady stream versus a sudden rush at our gym,” she said. “Our style is not to try and get a ton of members just to run them through, we try to be more personal-based.”
Jeffers thinks people join a gym at the New Year for a new start and new lease on life.
“They realize that exercise is important for them so they want to get it going,” she said. “Also, statistics show that the average person gains five to seven pounds between Thanksgiving and the New Year so some want to take off unwanted weight.”
Melissa Parsons with the YMCA in downtown Columbus said her gym sees an increase in membership as well. Parsons said she feels people want to give themselves a fresh start for the New Year and joining a gym is one of the best ways to do that.
“Everyone knows how good it feels to have a clean slate,” Parsons said. “It’s an easy place to start. New day. New year. New hope.”
Both Jeffers and Parsons said that all too often, people burn out and give up on their commitment.
“One of the main reasons (they give up) is that they have no plan and no one assisting them in designing one, so they guess at what they should be doing and see little results,” Jeffers said. “Also, many times they start out too fast and get burned out, as well as very sore and uncomfortable. Reasonable goals need to be set with a plan to get there.”
Parsons said a “slow and steady” attitude can help those who aren’t used to incorporating a workout routine into their daily lives.
“I believe folks have a mindset to hit the gym hard and fast to make up for lost time, which can easily lead to injury, burn-out and even frustration when fast results aren’t noticed,” she said. “Adopting a ‘slow and steady wins the race’ attitude is important for a successful lifestyle change.”
She continued, “A healthy lifestyle is just that — it is a lifetime commitment. The body is designed to eat and to move throughout our lifespan. There’s no need to rush in. Also, instead of thinking of what you have to lose, think of what you have to gain, increased energy, increased muscle strength, increased metabolism and self-satisfaction.”
Jeffers said by planning ahead and making your workout routine a habit, you quickly get into the ebb and flow of working out on a daily basis.
“Make it part of your day,” she said. “Plan ahead, pack your gym bag and go straight from work or at lunch.”
Having a personal trainer to help guide you into your new routine will pay off in the long run, Jeffers said.
“I also think that people under-value the guidance of a fitness professional. It is worth it to get advice from an educated fitness professional on what to do and how to do it. Joining a type of training program helps hold you accountable and gives you proper guidance. I’m not going to try and do my own accounting. I’m going to seek the advice of an accountant. Its the same with fitness.”
Both the YMCA and The Fitness Factor offer a variety of classes.
The Fitness Factor offers both small and large classes to appeal to the novice and the expert.
“I would say that our most popular programs are our functional fitness group team trainings that are led by trainers,” she said. “Some are more strength-based and others more metabolic. There are different levels of classes, so even the new exerciser does not feel intimidated. They are not those extreme workouts that are seen on TV, but they are fun, safe and there is a purpose for the exercises that are chosen.”
To help kick start the New Year, the YMCA is offering an expo tonight to help acquaint those new to the workout scene with what best suits them and their goals.
“We’re rolling out the red carpet to the entire community to come have a look-see of all that we do,” Parsons said. “We want your family to come meet our family. We will offer demonstrations of most of our fitness classes that range from senior stretch, water aerobics, Spinning, yoga, Pilates, Zumba and of course our new Pound Rockout Workout. We’ll be showcasing all of our summer and spring programs for families to prepare for a safe place for their children, plus you can have your blood pressure checked, have your height and weight measured and more at our Health Fair.”
The expo will be held at the downtown branch of the YMCA from 5-7 p.m.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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Beth Jeffers, owner of The Fitness Factor
