If I belong to a health club I need to be in shape before I can work out there. Health clubs are meat markets, where singles go to get dates.

In reality, health club members are just like you. They have many of the same worries and concerns about life and they share many of the same goals in terms of improving or maintaining their health as you do. The fact is, most people who felt uneasy about belonging to a health club found that once they walked into their club they felt very comfortable and enjoyed the camaraderie shared with other members. Remember, most health club members have had to deal with the struggle of getting started on a regular physical activity routine and balancing time for physical activity with life's other demands. Current health club members are great people to talk to about how to feel more comfortable in a club or how to get acquainted with a work out routine -- just ask them -- they'll tell you. When visiting a health club, you will see all types of people at all levels of fitness who have made a commitment to feeling better and living longer. According to industry data 1 out of 4 club members have been a member for less than a year. A club is a great place to start a physical activity program because a club's fitness professionals will show you exactly how to get started, use fitness equipment, and recommend fun physical activity classes or activities.

A membership is too expensive and I won't have enough time to make the most of it.

Can a longer healthier life really have a price tag? While some health clubs may be more expensive than others, keep in mind that the cost of just one night out on the town represents the cost of membership for an entire month at many clubs. Physical activity, even as little as a half hour on most days of the week has been shown to increase life span, decrease risk of developing heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, helps control depression, and maintain healthy bone, muscle and joints. With their busy members in mind, health clubs work hard to develop programs that are of value. Programs such as half-hour strength sessions and group exercise classes are intended to make getting into and out of the club as effective and convenient as possible. Most health clubs also open early and remain open as late as eleven at night, allowing members to fit a workout in when it makes sense for them.

Only young people are members of a health club.

Actually, the typical health club member is likely a parent in his or her late thirties to early forties with children at home. In fact, the fastest growing population among health club members is people over the age of fifty-five.

There is nothing that I can do in a health club that I can't do at home.

While in part this may be true, do you have access to state of the art equipment and a personal trainer in your home? A health club is the only place where you can go for support, camaraderie, and coaching to make sure you are exercising safely and effectively. Health clubs also offer state of the art equipment and knowledgeable staff to help you get motivated and stay motivated.

Health clubs are overcrowded and unsanitary.

Many health clubs have peak times during which they may be busier than other times. Knowing who works out at a club and when peak hours are can help you to avoid having to wait for equipment. The peak hours at clubs differ based on their location and clientele. Any employee of that facility should be able to tell you when the majority of its members work out. As for being unsanitary, many clubs have staff that makes sure all of the equipment is cleaned off and in working order. Industry research has found that potential members are often impressed by the spaciousness, cleanliness, and lighting of clubs. In addition Clubs are required by law to keep their facility clean and up to par with the local health code.

Health clubs are in inconvenient locations.

Convenience of location depends on who is traveling to the club. Health club locations are determined by many factors a few of which include travel time to the facility (80-90% of the members live with in 12-15 minutes drive in the suburbs, 8-10 minutes walk for urban clubs), traffic flow, and the number of other types of business in the area.