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Local Business Works To Help People Meet Fitness Goals

TIMONIUM, Md. (WJZ) -- Many people make New Year's resolutions. Most of the time, it has to do with health--eating better or losing weight.

Mike Schuh reports one local business is helping people meet those goals.

It's a place to get strong, become more flexible, to lose or keep off the weight. But when some people look into joining a gym, they can be intimidated by people who are more fit than they are.

"People are worried that they don't look right or they're not going to feel like they fit in when they get here or they don't know how to use the machines," said Tim Rhodes.

MAC co-owner Tim Rhodes says those fears keep a large percentage of people out of the gym--so he remodeled all three of his fitness centers to include a separate space called the Healthy Start Center.

"We began the Healthy Start Center for people who are new to exercise and returning to exercise," Rhodes said.

People like 69-year-old Helen Roby, who, now, no longer needs a walker to move around.

"I am...a lot more happier than I was before because I don't like to be dependent on other people. My husband had to help me out of a chair all the time," Roby said.

This program designs a series of exercises for each client.

"But I didn't want to work out on the other side because I am a bit intimidated by the other side," said Sharon Lougouri.

The 64-year-old resolved to lose 10 pounds and strengthen her upper body.

"Probably gained a couple of pounds, the holiday weight. And thinking New Year's resolutions, and I'm going to stick to it," she said.

Right now, there are some 200 people enrolled in this program. People pay about half the cost of a regular gym membership: $60 for 60 days.

MAC says 75 percent of them then join the regular gym and continue to work out.

"At the end of the program, we offer people an incentive. If they decide to continue with the MAC, we'll roll the cost of their program into their membership, but they need to complete at least 14 of the 16 sessions," said Rhodes.

So far, more than 2,500 people have completed the Healthy Start program.

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