Health & Fitness Clubs in High Rise

Health and fitness clubs surprise on the upside?

I was not surprised. The FinancialWeek.com report pronounced that health and fitness club memberships were actually on the rise, even despite current economic conditions. The biggest growth is coming from the oldest ‘Boomers’, ages 55 and up.

Um… that would be me!

So why the surprise? The fact that my age demographic is leading the current membership explosion should come as no surprise. It was the Boomers who started the whole craze.

I can’t say that I like joining a gym as I prefer to do my own thing. Here in my high-rise condo, I have access to an indoor pool and a very well-equipped gym.

I rarely use it. But every time I walk by, most of the people using it are… you guessed it, minimum 45+. One of the regulars is 78 years old!

For my part, I spend a fair amount of time on the stairs, currently going up and down 5 cycles of 22 stories, three times a week. It takes just over 30 minutes. Also, Maggie and I do a lot of walking after dinner and on the weekends. Add some stretching along with some occasional resistance training as most professional trainers recommend and I’m good. In fact, I am quite proud of my 55+ body! 🙂

The allure of health and fitness clubs

It’s hard to resist those health and fitness club flyers, isn’t it? Boomers especially cling to the vision of maintaining a youthful and vigorous appearance. We are receiving more ‘quantity’ of life, with life expectancy increasing all the time. However, what the Boomers now demand is ‘quality’. They want to squeeze as much enjoyment out of their ever-longer years.

Of course, you can always take the Rodney Dangerfield approach to looking your best: “If you want to look thinner, hang out with more fat people.”

Personally, I think you actually become the person you hang out with. My work teaching young children for the past 37 years has certainly had a better effect than any gym. Also, the fact that Maggie is 12 years younger keeps me energized too!

Choosing a health and fitness club

Whether or not to join a health and fitness club is a matter of choice. Some people need the extra push and responsibility that a personal trainer or other club members will give them. Organized gyms can also provide a social outlet which is very important in this time of increasing isolation and isolation.

Of course, due diligence is required before signing on the dotted line at any gym. While the initial offer to get you in the door can be quite tempting, you should be extremely aware of the inevitable upsell of an annual or ‘family’ package.

The main question is, will he really continue the show? Most of the clubs are trusting that you won’t! They know that most people are very weak when it comes to following through on commitments, especially the pain-for-gain kind. They also know that these same people are even weaker when it comes to requesting a refund. They would rather just slip away than be held accountable.

The fact is that most health and fitness clubs are very strict with their refund policies. This gives a whole new meaning to the term, “Use it (your membership) or lose it (hundreds of dollars of your hard-earned cash!).”

Warning: Health and Fitness Club Scam

It’s not bad enough that you have to be aware of ‘sales hell’ when looking for a training center. It is extremely rare NOT to be faced with an upsell opportunity, so wait for it. (Do you want fries with that?)

Maggie actually had such an experience with a spa, very similar to the gym bait and switch routine. She bought a basic package, only to be told the following week that the package was ‘discontinued’. She would have to update.

The following week, they asked him to add a massage. The following week, a representative followed her around with a clipboard, showing her all the benefits she would get if she upgraded to the next best offer. Maggie didn’t come back after the fifth week. She just cut the loss on her. Obviously, this spa mistook it for an ATM.

However, from time to time, you will come across outright frauds. News out of my old hometown of Nashua, NH recently reported that the president of a new unregistered health and fitness club was found guilty of illegally using $14,000 in prepaid memberships to carpet his facility. Apparently, this person was a firm believer in the exercise, as law enforcement officers concluded that he planned to take the money and run!

For the next several months, you’ll be working out in one of the best gyms in New Hampshire, aka jail!