On Jan.19, 2009 I signed up to be a part of a 21-day fitness study with Anytime Fitness. There’s one in the Dulles area fairly close to me, so I signed-up with a $20 refundable deposit upon completion of the program.

In a nutshell, they take some metrics and tests and then set up a plan for you to follow for the next 21 days — the next 3-weeks with a least 3 visits to the gym a week.  (You don’t get your $20 back if you don’t go at least 3 times a week).

Here were the metrics/tests (results):

• weighed in (204lbs — I told the dude what I was going to be and was spot on when I stepped on the scale)
• body fat measurement (said I was FAT .. 24%)
• do as many pushups I can do in 1 minute (17)
• do as many full situps I can do in 1 minute (14)
• VO2 max test (target heart rates: 114bpm / 140bpm)

So, the point of the study (other than to get you to sign up at their gym) is to get you to do 20 or more minutes of cardio switching at regular intervals to get as close to the “fat burn” target heart rate (lo intensity intended to be most efficient) and the “cardio” target heart rate (hi intensity intended to increase overall cardiovascular health).

I wanted to be sure I “got my money’s worth” and get my $20 back.  I knew that it was going to be tough as busy as I am in the evenings — most of my trips to the gym were going to have to be after 9:30pm. Here’s how the FAIL happens…

I started the program and did well the first 2 weeks — I went in 3 times the 1st week and 4 times the 2nd week.  I felt good about the results and felt like progress was being made. But the 3rd week turned into a busy and snowy mess — lots of evening obligations, and that week was when it snowed and iced up the roads.  I made into the gym 1 time during that 3rd week, thus effectively losing my $20.

The second FAIL was getting back in to do the followup metrics and tests to complete the study. The dude calls me to set up an appointment.  We set one up for Feb.12 — a couple days after the study’s completion date.  Dude calls me TWICE to confirm.  He never shows.  He calls me 4 days later to reschedule and we meet on Feb.17 — a whole week after the test is done and I’ve not been to the gym or worked out in 10 or so days!

I walked in at 8pm… gabbed about the overall experience… and then took some metrics:

• weighed in (207lbs — but I had eaten earlier)
• body fat measurement (said I was FATTER .. 27% — of course that handheld device is far from perfect)
• do as many pushups I can do in 1 minute ( — )
• do as many full situps I can do in 1 minute ( — )
• VO2 max test ( — )

The results?

I ended up weighing more than when I started… me FAIL.

My body fat percentage was higher than when I started… me FAIL.

Dunno why he didn’t have me do the pushups and situps… And I don’t know why he didn’t have me do the VO2 test.  He mumbled while he was scribbling stuff down that he didn’t give me the VO2 test when I started (which he did)… he FAIL.

And then, as expected, he gave me the “so, how’s about signing up?” sell.

I politely declined… a bazillion times… turned in my access fob… and left.

If I had the extra $30/month, I *might* join… but I don’t… so, I can’t.

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Now that the 21-day test is over, I will jump back in and resume the Hundred Pushups regimen that I put on hold for this test.  I will start again with WEEK 2 to get back into the groove.

Why is keeping up with your own health and exercising so hard?