Mirror, Mirror

Forget, for a moment, your constant quest for new members. Step onto the fitness floor and take a look at the members you already have — the ones who have been with you for a while, and slowly but steadily made changes in their appearance and their lives. You can see the difference between the person they were when they joined and the person they’ve become, but can they?

We’re our own worst critics, and there are few people who look in the mirror without picking out one (or 10) things they’d like to improve. Helping your members actually see their success is a challenge, but it’s one that can help keep them coming to your fitness center.

Get creative
In the United Kingdom, nine women who collectively shed almost 500 pounds sought a physical representation of their success — and they found it at Colchester Zoo. The women adopted a baby hippo weighing roughly what they had lost to serve as a constant (and cute) reminder of their accomplishments.

Your facility can do the same thing for your members. What about teaming with the local animal shelter to host an adoption drive? List each animal’s weight, along with other pertinent information, and give your members the opportunity to lavish love on an animal that represents their hard-earned success.

Hold a food drive, and ask members to donate food items that total the number of pounds they’ve lost at your fitness center. Keep a running tally, and be sure to post it in the club where everyone can see. When the food drive is over, send out a press release to the local media so everyone can appreciate your members’ weight loss successes (and their generosity).

Partner with a local clothing store and present members with a $5 gift card each time they lose another 5 pounds. You’ll acknowledge their achievement and encourage them to reward themselves with a new outfit to fit their new bodies.

There are dozens of ways to hold a mirror up to your members’ accomplishments. How are you helping members take a moment to acknowledge the results of their hard work? What are you doing to encourage them to strive for even greater success at your fitness center?