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The Cutting Edge: Getting the Most From Your Gym

The New Year is almost here, and if you’re one of the countless people who’ve vowed to shed that dead weight and stay fit for 2009, you may be considering a gym or weight loss program. With money tight, you don’t want to join a program only to stop a month later and still be stuck in a contract.

And while many fitness facilities and diet programs offer a host of classes and coaching to get you on the right track, it’s not uncommon to encounter roadblocks along the way. Of the nearly 33 million people that are members of health clubs the Federal Trade Commission says the biggest complaints include high pressure sales tactics, misrepresentation of facilities and services, broken cancellation and refund clauses, and lost membership fees as a result of companies going out of business. Here are a few things to consider before dropping your hard earned cash on that gym or weight lost program.

Take advantage of trial periods. To entice customers to join, many gyms let potential members test out what they offer. “Most gyms should be flexible about letting you try out their facility before joining,” says Jennifer Andrus, registered dietitian and nutritionist. “If you’re not able to try it out before signing up then that’s a big red flag.” Use this time to sample the gym’s services and equipment. Be sure to look for cleanliness and possibly view some of the classes you plan to talk to instructors. Also, make sure to visit during hours that you’d normally use the gym to gauge how crowded the facility can get during your usage, says the FTC.

Resist on-the-spot incentives. Some gyms and weight loss programs ask you to join and pay the first time you visit, and offer special rates to entice you to sign on the spot, says the FTC. Wait a few days before deciding, take the contract home and read it carefully before you sign. Make sure the following items are included. What’s the cancellation policy? Is everything the salesperson guaranteed actually in the contract? Is there a cooling off period that allows you a few days to cancel the contract once it is signed? Can you receive a refund for various portions of your membership based on certain circumstances? Be sure to ask lots of questions.

Ask about additional fees. Find out if there are any finance charges and annual percentage rates when you calculate the total cost of your membership. Break down the cost to weekly and even daily payments to get a better idea of what it will really cost you to use

the facility. As for weight loss programs, compare expenses for the plans food to what you normally spend on meals, says Constance Brown-Riggs, nutrition specialist and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. People should consider “whether all their foods are coming from that program,” says Brown-Riggs, “If they have to buy fruits and dairy they have to take all that into consideration when looking at the cost factor,” she adds.

Do your research. Knowing the history of a fitness or health center before you join or even visit can be crucial in avoiding headaches. Contact your local consumer protection office, state attorney general, or Better Business Bureau to find out whether they have received any complaints about the business. Also, a simple Google search can yield some useful information about a particular company. Look at message boards to see if there are any common gripes and praises.

See a doctor. Before going to the gym or starting any weight loss program experts recommend getting clearance from your primary care physician. “You need to find out if you have any medical conditions that would prevent you from joining a particular program and whether or not a particular program is able to meet your needs,” Riggs-Brown says.

Think about convenience. Sure, the gym looks nice and the muscular arms

of that eye candy of a personal trainer can be a great motivator, but if a training center is out of the way or has inflexible hours then you can consider your membership money misspent. “People spend thousands of dollars on packages and they find out they can’t fit it in the schedule the way they’d like to,” says Andrus. Brown-Riggs suggests weight loss centers and gyms should be close to home or work. “The first thing to consider is proximity,” she says. With so many excuses not to exercise — too tired, too busy, don’t want to mess up your hair, etc. — you don’t want to distance to add to the list.

Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate. Prices and packages are not set in stone, and with this ailing economy, people are cutting back on luxury items and that includes gym membership. “Some [gyms] will let you go month-to-month instead of a whole year,” says Andrus. “Find out other deals going on. If they’re not willing to come down in the price of a monthly membership, ask for extra training sessions or coupons that they have at the gym store,” she says. But she cautions against signing up in January.. “It’s the classic [New Year’s] resolution, there’s always a peak in registration from January to March,” which means companies are less likely to be flexible with membership deals during this period.

Know your history. Before signing up to any weight loss program think about what has and hasn’t worked in the past, says Andrus. “If you sign up to the South Beach Diet plan and don’t cook, that’s not good choice,” she says. “How realistic are your diet plans?” Andrus also recommends looking for programs that include support networks. There are also online support networks including Ediets.com CalorieKing.com and a host of online communities and chartrooms.

There’s no quick fix. Say no to diet pills “The thing you really need to be aware of are any places selling you supplements or pushing some sort of weight loss pill,” she says. “If an experienced nutritionist is pushing weight loss supplements it’s probably not effective and is a scam,” she says.

Check out your benefits. The average cost of a gym membership is $33.64 a month, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. But with prices varying by region and the club’s amenities and features, find out if your health insurance plan or employer offers special rates for gyms or weight loss programs.

Be sure to check out my cost cutting blog for more on getting fit on a budget in 2009.

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