Columbus gyms brace for New Year's rush

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For gym owners, January can serve as a business fitness test. 

"The first year I was here, I was expecting 50 to 100 (new) people," Jeff May, the owner of The Fitness Loft in Columbus, said. "We got seven or eight times that."

But oftentimes, those new year's fitness habits fall off. "By February, that number dies down pretty quickly," local gym owner Ryan Bickford said.

Gyms in Columbus and across the country struggle to navigate the influx of new customers and turn them into long-term clients.

"One of the reasons people quit is because they're not seeing results, right? And if you have a plan that's not efficient and effective, you won't see results," Dr. Shawn Bailey, owner of The Armory in Grandview, said. 

"It can be a little bit overwhelming seeing, you know, 700 different pieces of equipment. And where do I start?" Bickford said.

According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control, Ohio is in need of a new fitness plan. Ohio ranks among the ten most obese states in the nation, with nearly 37% of the population qualifying as obese. That's an increase of 8% since 2011. 

Former Ohio State and NFL linebacker Anthony Schlegel has trained elite college and professional athletes, and now trains clients at The Armory. He says one of the biggest problems in modern fitness is social media fitness.

"Instantaneous gratification and false narratives that are out there of social media that everybody sees," Schlegel said. "Don't fall into the trap of comparing yourself, your body image to anybody else. You are your own; you're beautifully and wonderfully made. Just go in there and put the work in."

Commitment to a gym typically includes a contact. In Ohio, state law requires gyms to allow customers to cancel their memberships under certain circumstances. Gym owners say to be careful about contracts with no exclusions for major injury or illness, or deals with large termination fees.

"Whoever is presenting you with that contract should be able to explain it clearly and briefly," Bickford said. "What is in that contract and what you're agreeing to? It shouldn't take a lawyer to read a contract for a gym."

No matter which gym you choose, success starts slowly.

"What we're looking for is 30 days, maybe 45 days, of doing something over and over again until that becomes your new habit," Bailey said. "We're looking for a new lifestyle." 

Fitness professionals suggest that before joining a gym, follow some simple guidelines for better outcomes:

• Before you start any new program, get a physical exam
• Start slow, do things you enjoy. For example, if you hate running, don't run.
• Build an eating plan with a dietician. In many cases, people actually eat too few calories to promote overall wellness.
• Have an accountability team. Work with a gym buddy or join a fitness class.