WHILE many gyms experienced the usual rush of new members after the Christmas and New Year celebrations, new research shows more than half of those in the UK who signed up have already quit.

However the latest figures from St John’s and Nunnery Woods Sports Centres, run by Worcester City Council, show that Worcester residents are made of sterner stuff.

In January St John’s Sports Centre signed up 235 new members and just 27 have cancelled their membership. Of those two said they were not using the facilities, one said it was due to finances and 24 gave no reason for leaving.

Nunnery Wood Sports Centre sold 57 memberships in January this year and just one member left saying it was because they were not using it.

In the UK research, which polled 1,452 people and was conducted by money saving website www.vouchercodespro.co.uk, 58 per cent said they had already quit the gym after joining in January and this was because they were not using their membership and needed to save money.

The poll involved an equal number of male and female respondents all aged over 18 years.

The top five reasons for quitting the gym were:

1. I wasn’t using my membership – 41 per cent

2. I needed to save money/couldn’t afford it – 34 per cent

3. I wasn’t seeing any results– 29 per cent

4. I prefer to work out at home – 26 per cent

5. I didn’t enjoy going – 22 per cent

When asked how they were now exercising, if at all, 74 per cent of individuals who had already quit the gym revealed that they were now exercising at home while 11per cent said that they were no longer exercising at all.

Those respondents who said they were exercising at home were asked to reveal whether they had found it more beneficial in terms of their fitness goals than going to the gym.

A majority of 43 per cent revealed that they had benefited more from exercising at home, while 38 per cent said going to the gym was more beneficial. The remaining 19 per cent said that they had not noticed a difference.

Nick Swan, chief executive of www.vouchercodepro.co.uk, said: “We always see the post-Christmas gym rush, but I am surprised by how many have quit the gym already. It’s important to stay fit and healthy so the gym can be a great way to do that. Unfortunately, it can be extremely expensive.

“It’s important to make sure that your budget allows for a gym membership. There’re also some great budget gyms available, so there is no reason to pay over the odds. There are plenty of ways to work out for free though, such as going for a run. Fitness doesn’t have to be expensive.”