How to Pick the Best Gym

The start of the New Year -- and the weight-loss resolutions that usually come with it -- is the reason that more people join a gym or health club in January than any other month of the year. It's also why, as the author of one of the only books published about finding, joining and using a gym (The Gym Bible), I get a flood of calls every year from newspaper editors and TV reporters looking for quotes on all the do's and don'ts of signing up for a health club membership.

I love it whenever someone feels compelled to finally take control of their fitness, but I hate it worse when someone picks a club or gym that's the wrong fit for them. It's the quickest way to fail -- and one of the main reasons why nearly 80 percent of new members stop going to their gym after 30-60 days.

To keep That's Fit readers from being a statistic (and instead, making sure that you find the perfect gym or club that will help you reach your exercise goals), I thought it was absolutely necessary to share some of those tried-and-true tips with you. Before you sign on the dotted line, these hard-and-fast rules can increase your chances of picking the best gym to help you get hard muscles fast.

Tip 1: Stick with the 15-minute rule. Your best bet is to 'only' choose gyms or clubs that are within a 15-minute radius from where you live. Any farther and experts say you'll drastically reduce your odds of staying committed. If you plan on leaving for the gym from work instead, then pick gyms that are 15 minutes away from your workplace instead.

Tip 2: Take a tour . Many clubs and gyms have a variety of amenities, but you may not have access, or even need, most of them. Once you're in the club, get a complete tour, then ask yourself two questions whenever you come across anything of interest:

A. Will I use this area?
If over 50 percent of the things they offer (like a swimming pool, daycare, etc.) aren't what you'll be using, you may find a different club that may offer more of what you're looking for and less of what you don't at a lower cost.

B. Will I be charged for this area?
Some gyms show you all of their services, but never tell you which may cost extra unless you ask. To play it safe, just ask, "Is this extra?" every time you see a class, service, special equipment or areas (such as a pool or racquetball court).

Tip 3: Take a test drive . You wouldn't buy a car without driving it, right? The same goes for a gym. Ask for a few one-day passes to try it out. If they balk, that should give you a sense that they may be hiding something they don't want you to see before you sign on the dotted line.

Tip 4: Look around the gym for 'you'. What I mean is, if you don't see anyone that looks like you (both in age of physique), then you may be in the wrong club. Different clubs attract different groups, such as serious bodybuilders, powerlifters, mostly female, an older crowd, etc. You'll be more motivated to work out regularly if you never feel too out of place.

Tip 5: Pay attention to how other members are handled. You may be getting treated like a star while you're testing the gym out, but eventually, it's how the staff treats you once you're a member that counts. So pay attention to other members and notice what type of attention they receive when they have questions, such as having difficulties with a machine, or, asking questions about a class, etc.

For even more tips that can help you lose weight this year, check out this easy-to-do primer on interval training and our feature on how to stick with 'any' exercise program.

Fitness expert Myatt Murphy is the author of the best-selling books, The Body You Want in the Time You Have, Ultimate Dumbbell Guide and The Men's Health Gym Bible.