The busiest time for a fitness club is just after Christmas but many people stop attending within a few months so if you join a club you want to make sure they will motivate you enough to keep coming back. However, you need to asses what your priorities are and try to find a club that will meet these needs. Once you have done this it will make the search easier and hopefully you will be able to join a club that you will want to stay at. Where your club is situated is crucial because if it is too far away from work or home, you will make excuses why you can't go along for a workout.

A good instructor can make or break a club because he is the motivator and that is the most important aspect for users. Always inform your physical trainer if you require any special attention or have any limitations they need to know about in advance. Ask the staff what additional services are available; how they treat you will give you a good idea how enthusiastic and professional they are in their work. Many fitness clubs these days employ the services of nutritionists and sports therapist for example.

You also need to know that their opening times are extensive as if they are short you may find the club becomes very busy or it might be difficult for you to fit in with their schedule. Most fitness clubs these days have group classes which are chargeable but you may be able to ask for a free ‘taster' lesson. It may seem like a minor point but if the club doesn't have sufficient training equipment to go around, queues are likely to form and that is when people start to leave. Modern equipment is safer and more comfortable to use but machines and other training facilities should be in clean and in good order so if you see a lot of ‘out of order' signs, it could be something to think about.

You may be invited to one of the clubs events to enable you to meet current member, this is well worth the effort on your part as you may make a few friends before you actually join. The cost of membership is obviously a deciding factor so ensure you know all the charges, including those for classes and how often they increase the membership fee. Try to locate other fitness clubs in the area for a comparison as they might be less expensive or offer additional facilities for the membership. This may seem like a great deal of effort but if you find a club that you feel comfortable with, the chances are you won't cancel your membership and will continue to attend on a regular basis.