Exercise more, eat more?

FITNESS-CLUB FEARS
Q: There's a gym across the street from where I work, and I know I should go because all I do is sit at my desk all day. But when I decide to go I inevitably come up with any excuse to postpone my trip. I actually think I'm afraid to go. What could cause this?

A: In a recent column, I wrote about a survey conducted by the American Council on Exercise that looked at the top excuses for not going to the gym. Among the findings, 21 percent of respondents said they don't go because they won't know what to do when they get there. Another 19 percent said they're too far out of shape to essentially subject themselves to a room full of disapproving hard bodies.

It sounds like you might fall into one or both of these categories. But there are solutions.

Wein says plenty of people are intimidated by gyms because they don't know how to use exercise equipment. To remedy that, schedule a tour of the facility and arrange for a private session or two with a personal trainer who can show you the ropes. "You become comfortable by building knowledge,” Wein says.

If the gym across the street has a lot of young, fit members and you're embarrassed about your spare tire or not-so-taut thighs, don't go. Getting in shape shouldn't be humiliating.

There are plenty of other options. Among them: engaging in an outdoor activity, like hiking, power-walking or biking; joining a recreational sports league in your area; buying home exercise videos or equipment; or signing up for swing-dancing lessons. None requires a speck of Spandex.

If you prefer to go the health-club route, though, look around to find one that suits your needs. Facilities like the YMCA usually have a less image-conscious clientele, as do gyms like Curves that now make up the fastest growing segment of the health-club industry, according to recent statistics from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, an industry group in Boston.

These no-frills clubs, which also include chains like Ladies Workout Express, Slender Lady and Cuts Fitness for Men, are generally smaller than traditional gyms and offer a short circuit-training workout. IHRSA statistics show there are now more than 10,000 such clubs across the nation.

"Given the success of Curves, there are just scads of imitators," says Bill Howland, director of research for IHRSA. "It's hard to keep track of them."

Often dubbed "express workouts," these fitness plans can be a good starting point for people who aren't ready for the full-service traditional gyms, says Howland.

"We think they're making a real contribution by getting people off the couch." After a few trips, he says, people say, "I can do this. This isn't so tough."

Then they might be ready to move on to a larger club with more amenities — perhaps like the one across the street.

Smart Fitness appears the second Tuesday of each month.

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