Well Worked Out -- Just Choosing A Club Can Be An Exercise

I TOOK A LITTLE DRIVE one sunny Sunday last month to check out some health clubs on the Eastside. Eight hours later, I'd been to 22 clubs - and still hadn't seen them all.

As with last year's overview of downtown Seattle clubs, I've singled out four statistics to help compare and contrast the facilities: monthly dues (for one), number of members (or, in some cases, memberships), square footage and number of machines for cardiovascular exercise (treadmills, bicycles, stair climbers and the like), plus a few observations. All have aerobics floors and strength-training equipment, unless otherwise noted. Most offer child care for a fee; some have reciprocal arrangements with other clubs and reduced fees for those who work out at off-peak hours.

With card fees, special offers and varied dues structures, health clubs don't make it easy to do an across-the-board comparison. Perhaps that's the idea. If you're thinking of joining one, consider calling the state attorney general's hotline (800-551-4636) for a helpful brochure.

What's not included here: primarily swim or tennis clubs (even though they may also have fitness equipment); clubs in Mill Creek and Bothell (in my book, they're north, not east) or east of Issaquah; nor yoga, Pilates or martial arts studios.

American Woman Health & Fitness, 3080 148th Ave. S.E., Bellevue, 747-8333. $30, women only. 3,000 members, 12,000 square feet, 48 cardio machines. An estimated 85 percent of members do circuit training (six-minute warm-up, then 14 minutes of strength and cardio exercises, 30 seconds each).

Bally Total Fitness, two locations: Bellevue, 3235 148th Ave. S.E., 643-0060. 39,000 square feet, 102 cardio machines, pool, basketball, racquetball, squash, indoor track. Kirkland, 6601 132nd Ave. N.E., 885-2600. 26,000 square feet, 64 cardio machines, pool, racquetball, indoor track. Number of members - difficult to determine, because many pay for use at other clubs, locally or nationally - is estimated at more than 10,000 for each club. Fees likewise vary, $25-$46, with renewals $10-$22. Loaded with equipment and people, understandably lured by the low renewal rate. Best for the social or the self-motivated who don't mind crowds and some wear and tear around the edges.

The Bellevue Club, 11200 S.E. Sixth St.; 455-1616. $86 ($2,500 initiation). 4,000 memberships, 100,000 square feet, 55 cardio machines, two pools, four outdoor and six indoor tennis courts, gymnasium, racquetball, squash, indoor track. An upscale multipurpose club that includes social programs, restaurants, banquet rooms and a hotel.

Bellevue Place Club, 800 Bellevue Way N.E., Suite 200, 646-1111. Formerly The Seattle Club/Bellevue. $105 ($250 initiation). 1,200 memberships, 22,000 square feet, 38 cardio machines, pool, active seniors group. It sees the usual before- and after-work crowds but, despite its downtown location, also a weekday rush after 9 a.m., once the children are off to school.

BodySculpt, 14479 Woodinville-Redmond Road, Woodinville, 483-0701. $120 a month for twice-a-week, small-group training. 75 regular clients, 1,300 square feet, 5 cardio machines, no aerobics floor. Runners and bikers along the Sammamish Slough can pop in for a workout and get a latte at the neighborhood coffee shop afterward.

City Club, two locations: Issaquah, 710 N.W. Gilman Blvd.; 392-5554. 7,500 square feet, 50 cardio machines, no aerobics room. Kennydale, 1755 N.E. 48th St., Renton; 271-2056. 13,000 square feet, 50 cardio machines. $400 annually. 5,000 members between the two. Targets professional men and women, most between 30 and 40, and employs an up-front annual fee to attract committed, consistent exercisers. Free personal training helps, too.

Club Emerald, 3028 78th Ave. S.E., Mercer Island; 232-7080. $49 initiation, $49 a month. 320 members, 6,000 square feet, 15 cardio machines. Added 1,500 square feet last fall, doubling the weight room. Clean, small and uncrowded facility with a neighborhood feel and plenty of personal attention.

Columbia Athletic Club, two Eastside locations: Juanita Bay, 11450 98th Ave. N.E., Kirkland; 821-0882. $51. 1,200 memberships, 34,000 square feet, 40 cardio machines, pool, basketball, racquetball, squash. Pine Lake Club, 2830 228th Ave. S.E., Issaquah; 313-0123. With tennis, $75 (initiation $800), without tennis, $55 (initiation $300). 1,400 members, 56,000 square feet, 33 cardio machines, indoor tennis, basketball, kids' club. Not only allows but welcomes children; afternoons are busy with after-school lessons.

Gold's Gym & Aerobics, two Eastside locations: Bellevue, 13440 N.E. 16th St.; 644-6100. $29. 1,500 members, 35,000 square feet, 88 cardio machines, women-only room. Tons of equipment and perhaps the best juice bar (Juice Excuse) among Eastside clubs. Kirkland, 11133 120th Ave. N.E.; 827-0777. $29-$35. 2,500 members, 23,000 square feet, 37 cardio machines. Voted "favorite place to work out" in a reader poll by the Kirkland Courier last year.

Hart's, two Eastside locations: Kirkland Parkplace, 529 Parkplace Center; 889-2582. 5,000 members, 25,000 square feet, 75 cardio, women's area with women's Nautilus. Geared toward adult professionals; one-stop living, with QFC and Starbucks in the same complex. Bellevue, 1505 140th Ave. N.E.; 641-1111. 5,000 members, 40,000 square feet, 75 cardio, pool, racquetball, squash, pickleball, indoor track. Family oriented; voted best Eastside Health Club last year by Eastside Weekly. Dues at either club is $9 or $18 ($125 initiation), no contracts, month-to-month only.

The Ironworks Gym, 12708 Northup Way; 883-6006. $29, no contracts. 450 members (limited to 600), 10,000 square feet, 11 cardio machines, speed bags, heavy bags. Slightly funky, deliberately un-trendy place with a weight-lifting bent; regulars include many off-duty police officers.

Pro Sports Club, 4455 148th Ave. N.E., Bellevue, 885-5566. With tennis $121.25 ($1,500 initiation), without $94.75 ($600 initiation). 13,000 members, 150,000 square feet, 173 cardio machines, two indoor pools, nine indoor tennis courts, two basketball courts, racquetball, squash. Along with the Bellevue Club, the cream of Eastside facilities. Promotes "20/20 Lifestyles," a disease-treatment program that works with personal physicians. Considered by some one of the healthier places to meet a Microsoft millionaire (membership is one perk of being employed by the software giant).

Redmond Athletic Club, 7937 159th Place N.E., Redmond; 883-4449. $35 ($99 initiation). 900 members, 14,000 square feet, 23 cardio machines. Low-key environment, no sales people. A new 28,000-square-foot club a half-mile to the north, adding basketball and racquetball, is scheduled to open this fall.

Scientific Conditioning, 127 Bellevue Way S.E., Suite 103, Bellevue; 450-9860. $359 for 20 one-on-one sessions. 70 clients, 1,200 square feet, strength-training equipment only. A licensed facility for the SuperSlow approach, a high-intensity strength-training technique that takes 20 minutes, twice a week.

Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island; 232-7115. $35 basic (includes pool, gymnasium, racquetball, small weight room, indoor running track), $69 for health club (whirlpool/sauna/steam room, additional weights and cardio machines, no charge for fitness classes). 2,000 fitness members (being Jewish is not a prerequisite), 50,000 square feet (fitness-related), five cardio machines for basic members, 11 more for health-club members. A family club, with many adult and youth programs, CAPRI heart-patient rehab program, a warmer-than-normal pool for water exercise.

Woodinville Athletic Club, 13400 N.E. 175th St.; 481-4334. $32 ($139 initiation). 920 memberships, 11,000 square feet, 25 cardio machines. Average member age 40 (many parents with small children); 73 percent women; used by 34 percent of its membership daily (the national average is 19).

World Gym of Redmond, 7370 170th Ave. N.E.; 882-1700. $25-$46 ($49 initiation). 3,000 members, 17,200 square feet, 44 cardio machines. Low-key, service-oriented, free personal training, open 24 hours.

YMCA, two locations with fitness facilities: Bellevue Family, 14230 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue; 746-9900. 2,007 memberships, 42,000 square feet, 48 cardio machines. Family atmosphere, plus a 12-week program for new and returning exercisers. Plaza Fitness Center, 777 108th Ave. N.E., Level C, Bellevue; 451-2422. 285 members, 6,600 square feet, 16 cardio machines. Oriented toward downtown workers; tight but cozy, located off parking level C in the Rainier Plaza. The nonprofit YMCAs consider themselves family-oriented community organizations, not health clubs. Fees are for overall membership but compare well to many clubs; call for rates.

Which Eastside club would I join? If money were no obstacle, probably Pro Sports Club. If on a very tight budget, Bally in Kirkland. In between, perhaps World Gym of Redmond.

Facilities, amenities, atmosphere - all play a role in the decision to join. Ultimately, of course, determining which is the best club for you is simple:

It's the one you'd use the most.

Molly Martin is assistant editor of Pacific Magazine. Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Send them to On Fitness, Pacific Magazine, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111, e-mail mmar-new@seatimes.com or call 464-8243.