This time of year, the Halloween decorations go up, the diets come to a screeching halt and the attendance in fitness programs takes a nosedive. Apparently, the idea that swimsuit season is behind us and the holidays are lurking, combined with cooler weather, is a real mood wrecker when it comes to exercise. In fact, a lot of people won't really get interested again until around New Year's, when the resolutions kick in.
It may not be the same everywhere, but it's a notoriously quiet time in our gym. So when I saw advertisements for two programs designed to turn people on to the benefits of healthy living, I was intrigued.
Normally, I only get enthused about fun and novel gym promotions, the kind that result in T-shirts and goofy prizes, but these were more serious. Both were physician referral-based programs, meaning they started with a doctor's written recommendation to a patient. Actually, that in itself is great because physician referral programs were listed as one of the top emerging trends in health and fitness programs for 2012, according to a survey done by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Both programs were unique to our organization, but could be tailored to any facility. One program, Fit Beginnings, is a 60-day referral program designed to help individuals successfully integrate regular exercise into their lifestyle. It includes twice-weekly small group meetings, 30 minutes long, with fitness professionals from the gym who help individuals develop physical activity programs. The fitness professionals provide an introduction to the gym's facilities and classes, and can give an overview as to which are suitable for those who might be recovering from an injury, having joint problems, or just hitting the gym for the first time. In addition, the program offers a 30-minute personal consultation with a nutrition consultant. For the program's duration, it also includes full access to all programs and services in our gym and the other facilities in the same corporate network.
The plan would certainly appeal to the budget-conscious consumer. It's $1 per day, and if individuals attend at least 14 of the 16 sessions with their fitness professional, they can apply the full $60 toward an annual membership. The $60 program fee is also tax deductible and reimbursable through health flex-spending plans.
A second plan, Optimal Health, is more complex and as a consequence, more expensive. It starts with a physician's referral, but specifically targets individuals more than 20 pounds overweight who have a history of unsuccessful dieting and weight-related problems like diabetes, heart problems or joint pain. It is longer (eight weeks), incorporates more professional assistance including personal training sessions, and has optional post-program maintenance meetings.
In both programs, it's easy for people to get their doctors to refer them; there is a downloadable referral form for individuals and physicians to use. There's also a hotline so that interested individuals can get the answers they need.
I've seen similar programs advertised in brochures and posters at physical therapy offices, college wellness centers, even senior centers. It seems like a great way to bring new people in the door, and turn them on to a healthy lifestyle. And if it works during the slow season, just think about what it might be able to accomplish after New Year's, or before bathing suit season.
