Business & Tech

Fitness Clubs Trying To Retain Exercisers

Although member sign-ups rose this January for some health clubs, they're fighting the dreaded six-week falloff.

 

It's been just over a month since the hopeful made New Year's Resolutions.

They accounted for the traditional early January rush of people signing up for fitness clubs.

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The six-week dropoff

But although member sign-ups rose this year at the and the --and are just slightly down at the Morton Grove Park District's Club Fitness--the facilities are aware a cliff lies ahead.

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"The New Years Resolution is what draws people in, and they put a lot of energy into it for about the first six weeks, but research says they may start dropping out after that," said Carl Maniscalco, Niles Family Fitness Center director.

Earlier:

The goal is to break that barrier and get people to make fitness a part of their lives, he added.

The various health clubs have their strategies for doing that.

Competing against yourself

People who join a fitness club want to see results quickly, said Linda Mathis, membership services manager at the Niles Family Fitness Center. That can be tricky, though, she explained, because the fitness center can't control what they eat.

So the Niles Family Fitness Center enters its members in an Individual Weight Loss Challenge, in which the contestants set their own goals, whether they be to lose a pound a week, or 12 pounds overall, for example.

More than 40 people have signed up for the challenge, which includes a weekly weigh-in and a chance to win raffle prizes when goals are met.

"We set goals, the staff weighs them, we give them exercise tips and tips on good things to eat," said Mathis. Getting them working out with other people, such as in a group fitness class, also helps motivate them.

Getting people in the habit of logging their exercise also makes them want to continue exercising, Maniscalco said.

"Our goal is to keep them connected beyond the challenge," he added.

Parties and punch cards

The Leaning Tower YMCA, which has had a big influx of members just this week, is also trying to engage and retain the January joiners.

Member Relations Director Heather Liplin attributes the bump, which is even bigger than the beginning-of-January signups, to a special that waives the joiner fee and offers 100 Y Bucks, which members can use on fitness classes.

The Y is trying everything from parties to punch cards to get its new members involved.

Once or twice a month, it offers free Family Fun Nights that offer games, activities and dinner. Staff organized a Chinese New Year party recently, and will throw a poolside luau this week, complete with hula hoops, limbo, water basketball and an inflatable water slide.

The Casual Athlete Triathlon

The Y also uses prizes as incentives. Members can get a punch in their punch card every time they work out, and when 30 visits are recorded, they get a prize.

And while not everyone can compete in the Iron Man, the Y has organized a Casual Athlete Triathlon for February. Contestants must swim, bike and run a total of 50 miles during the month to complete it, and they get a water bottle and a t-shirt with the slogan, "I competed in the casual athlete triathlon."

Reaching out on the phone

There's also the personal touch.

"When new members join, our fitness staff and desk staff make regular phone calls to them," Liplin said.

"We want them to feel a connection so they come back and participate."

At Morton Grove's Club Fitness, Sue Braubach, marketing manager, said the staff also tries to reach out to new members.

Supervisors call new members to ask if they have any questions or see how they can help, she said.

"We just try to increase our contact with them," she added.

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