
The gym is a jungle of shiny weight stacks, clanging dumbbells, and more than a few sleeveless beasts screaming through every rep. Then there’s the gridlocked cardio area (um, does anyone enforce the 30-minute-limit-while-people-are-waiting rule?), the dozens of group fitness classes — and what’s up with that 24-ingredient concoction they dole out at the juice bar? It’s no wonder women eschew this chaos for a simple elliptical routine. But when you’re shelling out an average of $55 a month to exercise, you should be getting more for your money. We asked fitness club owners, doctors, nutrition gurus, and trainers to share their insider info so you can make the most of every dollar.