So you've eaten a year's worth of sweets in the first three weeks of 1999 and your fitness workout has consisted of walks from your front door to your car and back.
It's OK, there's no law that says your New Year's resolution to get in shape has to take effect Jan. 1.
Last week, we looked into the treadmill market to assist local residents who prefer at-home, private fitness programs. This week, we checked out some local health clubs to see what is going on in the world of public fitness.
It's always a good idea, when spending significant amounts of money, to have a set limit and to have a specific purchase in mind. This can be particularly true when the purchase is a health club membership.
Inquiring with club personnel about services and fees--whether by phone or in person--will often lead to a battery of questions for which it is best to be prepared: Are you interested in cardiovascular fitness, muscle toning, maintenance? How often do you work out now? What time today would you like to come in as our guest and meet with a fitness counselor?
It is no secret that gyms--or spas, health clubs, fitness centers and the other names they go by--have widely ranging personalities. Some are as much singles clubs as health clubs, some are devoted to the most serious of bodybuilders, others are designed for the average person struggling to stay in shape. Some are loud and crowded, others are quiet and spacious.
Some have monthly fees, some yearly fees, some initiation fees, some family discounts, some monthly specials. Most gyms offer specials from time to time, and many of them offer discounts at the beginning of a year.
It's enough to exercise your body at a gym--we thought we'd spare you the hassle of exercising the brain as well. We took a look at a sampling of Ventura County's health clubs, the ranks of which are growing quickly with the additions of establishments including Gymasters in Ventura and the Spectrum Club in Thousand Oaks.
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The Bryant Street Gym, an independently operated gym in Ojai, offers a range of weight machines, free weights, cardiovascular equipment and aerobics classes. The gym offers a single, six-month membership package for $269 and a single year membership package for $409. A family of three can sign up for $799 per year.
The gym currently is offering a 10-week membership special for $99 per person.
