Anytime Fitness Aims to Eliminate Excuses

Anytime Fitness is a neighborhood gym that tries to take away the intimidation factor often associated with modern fitness centers.

Beyond its amazingly clean interior, Anytime Fitness works hard to make its members feel comfortable and at home when they workout at the Northeast Cobb County facility, located at 3595 Canton Road in the Kroger Shopping Center.

One of the most unique perks about Anytime Fitness is that its members can use the Marietta facility's 6,500 pounds of free weights, six treadmills, five ellipticals and three bikes 24 hours a day.

"We've never turned our lights off or closed the doors since we opened (last February)," said owner Todd Devine, who has been involved in fitness throughout his life. "Even though it's a franchise, I put my personal touch on it like keeping it clean and always talking to people."

The Northeast Cobb facility is one of more than 2,000 worldwide. Members are able to use any of these clubs, including ones in other countries such as Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia.

Meredith Poteet, a teacher at nearby Blackwell Elementary School, appreciated this benefit when she returned to her hometown in Ohio over the Thanksgiving break. She found an Anytime Fitness in the old shopping center she frequented as a child.

"What I really like here is that it's a gym for everybody," said Poteet, a seven-month member. "I've been working out for years off and on, but what I like about here is the feel of the gym. People who know what to do can come here and work out on their own, but new people come in and can talk to trainers. I feel that new people can come in here and not feel intimidated."

Presenting a gym that isn't intimidating is one of Devine's goals. His manager, Ben McCullough, said he identifies with many people's fear of being able to measure up to others in a fitness center.

"I'm an average guy helping average people not to be scared of a gym setting. I think it brings a lot of comfort," McCullough said. "Gyms are intimidating; everyone knows that. It's that Gold's Gym persona. You're intimidated by the mere thought."

To try to alleviate that anxiety, McCullough said he purposely tries to really get to know each of the club's roughly 700 members. Another aspect of Anytime Fitness that can help members who are new to the fitness atmosphere or are trying to get back into shape is the fact that the gym is available all hours of the day. McCullough estimated an average of 20 people come in throughout the night between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

"There's no excuse you can't have 20 to 30 minutes to work out each day," he said.

When people visit Anytime Fitness late at night or before sunrise, they gain access to the building with their own "security-access key."

"Whenever we leave the office, the alarm system is set and only one person can come in at a time per key card," McCullough explained. "An alarm goes off and takes a picture of the second person following the primary person in."

Membership, which Devine said is "less than buying a cup of coffee a day," includes free unlimited tanning, classes such as Zumba, yoga and boot camp, and private bathrooms with showers. Anytime Fitness also offers its prospective members a free seven-day pass to try out the club and discounts to students, seniors and people who work in "hero" professions such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses and military personnel.  

For more information about the Marietta Anytime Fitness, call 770-592-5650. The Minnesota-based fitness center chain also has franchises in Kennesaw, Roswell, Acworth and Canton.