Pataskala Gyms and Fitness

CrossFit Future's high-ceilinged, 4,750-square-foot facility is anchored by kettlebell areas, ring stations, and deadlift bars waiting to be hoisted high. Trainers—each with a CrossFit Level 1 certification or better—fuel 60-minute group or one-on-one workouts with calls of encouragement. The seven-strong staff unites backgrounds as diverse as a mechanical-engineering degree, a fireman, and a seventh-place finish in the breaststroke in the 1996 Olympics. Using up to date equipment, the team motivates students to sprint up and down the back alley, drag sleds, or toss medicine balls into giant pill bottles.

AussieFIT models its gym environment after Australia's lively culture, right down to the adventurous attitudes of its staff. The two clubs welcome members—or "mates"—into their fitness fold with workouts that embrace a fun-centric philosophy. Vigorous Les Mills classes transport their routines from New Zealand to the studio floor, where instructors guide BodyPump's barbell lifts and BodyCombat's martial arts strikes as they play invigorating music. Regardless of prior gym experience, visitors can groove along to BodyJam's intuitive dance choreography before taking a cooldown jog or slow-motion sprint on one of the many cardio machines. The exercise floor also includes a full-body circuit deemed the Quickie workout—an intense, nine-station regimen. Certified personal trainers oversee private sessions for a more customized approach, and attentive employees watch over youngsters at the onsite Joeys' Club.

Physicians Weight Loss Centers peppers the nation, doling out slim-down tips honed during the course of three decades in business. Each center staffs a physician who, in tandem with a team of skilled counselors, selects one of six weight-loss and lifestyle programs to guide each client toward his or her desired results. The center’s sextet of plans are tailored to those who prefer not to exercise, those who travel often, those who cook at home, and those who cook in nonfunctional stage kitchens. Patients chat with their counselors often, soaking up the tips the staffers have learned from continual training programs. Clients are encouraged to build a bond with their counselor, as camaraderie not only eases the process but also improves one’s chances of finding a lifelong three-legged-race partner.