Work out for less: Shape up and save in 2009

Jacqueline Stenson MSNBC contributor

Tough economic times prompted Benjamin Gordon to move into a smaller apartment last fall. Among other cost-cutting measures, he canceled the gym membership near his old residence but hasn’t joined a new one since the move across town.

“I decided that spending $60 a month on a gym membership was a waste of money and time,” says Gordon, 25, of Tampa, Fla., who owns a Web site development business. “I am currently working twice as hard on my business, so that free hour after work is no longer. To save on money and time, I just go running for about 20 minutes outside, all year round in Florida, and then do some push-ups, sit-ups and curls in my living room.”

Joanne Olson, 44, of Crofton, Md., is keeping her $30 a month gym membership but she recently stopped her twice-monthly personal training sessions that she loved. She and her husband are trying to save up in case he gets laid off and they’re down to one income.

“Although I didn’t spend a lot on personal training, about $125 a month, it was an obvious cutback to help us put more money away,” she says. “Also, no more Sports Authority for workout clothes. I'll be hitting Marshalls and other discount chains from now on.”

If, like Gordon and Olson, you’re doing some financial belt-tightening at the same time you’re working to whittle your waistline, don’t give up. There are cost-effective ways to keep up that New Year’s fitness resolution. Consider these money-saving strategies:

Wheel and deal at the gym. January and February are traditionally the months when gyms run specials to draw in all those people who’ve newly resolved to make this the year they finally shape up. “There are generally discounts to be had,” says Joe Moore, president and CEO of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, a trade group based in Boston.

Once you’ve identified a few clubs in your price range that you like and are convenient to your home or work, take a close look at membership options. Do you need the priciest membership that includes spa services and pool access? Or, if you really only plan to use the treadmill and some weight machines, will the basic membership, which may be as low as $20 or $30 a month, suffice? “Most clubs offer almost a menu of services,” says Moore.

Ask for some free passes to try the gyms out at the times you would normally go. And when you’ve picked a favorite, don’t sign up on the spot. Wait a few days and see if you get a call about even better rates. Determine if it’s better for you to pay monthly or yearly (keeping in mind that the latter won’t be cost-effective if you stop going).

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Also inquire whether the initiation fee is negotiable. Gold’s Gym, for instance, is running an online promotion that waives the $99 enrollment fee for new members (but includes a $19.99 administrative fee). Their monthly fees and contract terms vary around the country.

If you’re already a member of a gym and considering quitting due to cost, talk to the membership office to see what they can do to help keep your business.

Partner up. Personal training can cost $50 to $100 or more an hour. But if you’re game for some personal training that’s a little less personal, you can pair up with a partner or two, three or even four and share the cost. It’s called “partner training” or “small group personal training” and is on the rise, says Kathie Davis, executive director of the IDEA Health and Fitness Association in San Diego.

An IDEA survey of more than 900 personal trainers conducted last February showed that 84 percent of respondents offered partner training in which two clients share the session and 49 percent offered small group training with three to five clients. “I think both of these numbers will grow,” says Davis, citing the economy.

If the buddy system isn’t your style, ask about personal training specials. This month, for example, 24 Hour Fitness is offering five 25-minute personal training sessions for $99, according to the chain’s chief executive officer Carl Liebert.

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