LA CRITIC ON THE SWITCH

HOLLYWOOD'S BALLYS:IS IT WORTH IT?
Has Ballys learned how to help newcomers get back into shape? Not Quite.


The Bally's Total Fitness- in Hollywood,CA is located at 1638 El Centro Av. It is a huge two level gym, filled with every possible fitness contraption ever conceived. The gym's leader is Tim Gilbert, a jovial ,yet professional fellow -that runs his place with an easy, going charm and dedication to physical health. The amenities in this fitness shopping mall includes: Cardio Equipment, A Figure 8 Indoor Track, a four level parking structure (right next door,) pricey Personal Trainers , Pilates, Sauna, Pool, Cycling stations, Group Exercise Classes,Steam room,whirlpool,Yoga room (where boxing and caporeira classes also take place,)day care center and bilingual staffing.

The gym advertises its famous 7-day free pass, while trying to get the would-be athletes, to commit to either: its 2 year $28/mo,1 year $20/mo. or month-to-month workout (no contracts) of $35 per month. The firm now offers- a $5 month discount- under their "Getting Started" promotion. To truly enjoy to the services,the tour guide known only as David stressed: Bring your headset for TV exercisers and You must bring you own towel. They have had theft and forgotten ones left behind- so much, they are no longer able to tolerate this- maybe that's why they went into bankruptcy.

The best part of workout here, is you won't bothered by the other guests. If you stick to your routine, the others won't bother you either. This can also make the work out rather lonely, if looking to meet new people.

Also, much like a Wal-Mart-you'll have to hunt around for a instructor, to find which machines, does the best benefits for your body. You can hire a personal trainer, but they cost anywhere from $25-50 an hour extra (on top of the usage fee of the club.) If you are an official member of the club, Bally's will let one "test drive" a trainer for about 45 minutes for free.

One problem with the locker room (beside potential Think Fast Red Herrings) are actually have to see neo-naked, and the small, hidden fees there. You can bring you own lock for unlimited use, or pay a $1 to use a time based token system. Again, the pictures on the machines aren't always the best guide to using the gear correctly, so more trainers patrolling the ground looking the newbies, could help in the short run. The best bets are the jogging machines that allow runners to watch a small bevy of TV cable networks or simply leg lift where one CAN feel the burn at least two days after using the device.

The place is good, for those how know what they want- in their workout and can or want to be left alone. However, this is a terrible place to begin a workout regime, as the place itself tries to nickel and dime customers, as much as possible and your left to guess without the instruction and advice of a personal trainer, you''ll have to play almost through the roof to use. At this particular location, the babe-watching is scarce,but once find some (such as the Young J.Lo and Julie Benz look-a-likes, that paraded about the facility one day) almost make-up for the confusion and pain of cycling badly or using the ab crunch incorrectly.

Dates visited April 5,10,13,14

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