How to choose the Dallas-area gym that works for you

Anew year, a new you. You told yourself you were going to join a gym – and actually keep going this time. Just like last year.

And 2008. And 1998.

Fitness centers provide some of the best opportunities to shape up. What you need is a game plan for finding the right place, making fitness goals and sticking to them. Just like buying a house, location is one of the most important considerations when choosing a gym – ideally, close to home or work. Some fitness chains let you have it both ways, allowing you to work out at more than one location.

"The gym that"s most convenient for you is the one you"re more likely to go to," said Kelli Houston, assistant fitness manager at 24 Hour Fitness Sport in Southlake.

Many gyms will let you try before you buy. For example, 24 Hour Fitness will give you a seven-day pass to give it a spin, Houston said.

While you"re trying out a gym, pay attention to its cleanliness and whether there are enough cardio machines to meet demand during peak hours.

Don"t forget to put your personal tastes and needs on the checklist: hours that accommodate your schedule; sign-up and membership fees that fit your budget; child care; and availability of amenities you would enjoy, such as a swimming pool, sauna or senior workout programs.

Ann Orsinger of Dallas recently tried the Park Cities Family YMCA with free passes.

"I tried the yoga class because a Y membership is less expensive than what I am currently spending . . . and I thought it would be great if I could get yoga, a pool and all the other benefits of the Y for less than I am paying now," she said.

But the gold standard for any gym"s worthiness is how responsive its employees are.

"If the staff isn"t willing to help you, how are you going to reach your goals?" Houston says.

Speaking of goals, it"s important to get a new member assessment or to hire a trainer to help clearly define what you want out of your gym membership experience, Houston says.

"We have clients close their eyes and picture what they want – how they feel, what they look like, what they"re doing, who"s surrounding them when they meet this goal. It needs to be so clear they can taste it, they can see it," she said.

Help stay motivated by rewarding yourself. Houston suggests put...