Resolutions push health club memberships up

COLUMBUS -- New Year’s resolutions to exercise more and live healthier have increased the number of memberships sold for the Columbus Family YMCA.

Whether fitness facility enrollment increases as a result of packing on the holiday pounds or the new year is a good time to turn a new leaf, Corey Briggs, executive director of the Columbus YMCA, is encouraging people to make exercise a part of their regular routines and stick with it through 2009.

“Every January, February and sometimes into March, we usually see a totally different group of people,” Briggs said. “Most of the time they drop off after two to three months.”

He said hopefully for many, 2009 will be different, and if a person can make it over that hump they are more likely to commit and stick with it.

One of those new members is Dianna Lippstreu, who purchased a YMCA membership in August in preparation for her New Year’s resolution to live healthy so she would look better, feel better and have better health.

“We started on Jan. 2,” Lippstreu said. “I came to the Y because I’m going to do it this time.”

Briggs said the YMCA has run a number of promotions in preparation for the new year to make it affordable for people to follow through with their resolutions and entice people to become new members.

“We did a 13-month special last month. People got a membership, but didn’t start paying for it until January,” he said

Briggs said the special added 60 new memberships.

Currently, a person may pay $22 with no membership fees and use the facility through Jan. 11.

“We are trying to draw people in and provide incentives besides health to keep people going,” Briggs said.

The incentives include a drawing for a high-definition TV and a cash prize for the winner of the Biggest Loser contest, which begins next week.

He said the new year provides a great time to change old habits and start anew.

“I am a beginning and an ending type person. The last year is gone, and this year is new,” Briggs said. “When you have a new year, it is like wiping the slate clean.”