Koko Fitclub Takes Guesswork Out Of Your Workout

There is something comforting about not having to think about your workout at all "" you just show up, plug in your Koko key and the machines start telling you what to do. Koko has it down to a science, and online testimonials can get you jazzed to believe that just a half hour three-four times a week will have you losing weight in no time. They do offer a 30-day "hapiness pledge," where if you do the cardio and strength training three times a week for a month and aren"�t happy, they will let you go, no questions asked.

DenverPost.com, Denver, CO

Membership has these privileges: Koko FitClub is not an open gym, but rather a training system that combines cardio, strength training and a nutrition program customized for you based on a combination of assessments and your continuing workouts. Koko "" the name is Japanese for "individual" "" is a national franchise, and I visited the Columbine location in Littleton, one of two owned by Alex Keller (his second, in Ken Caryl, is scheduled to open Monday).

Class I tried: No classes at the 24-hour Koko. You first schedule a demo workout, which includes a 15-minute cardio session and explanation of the strength training, which takes about 10-15 minutes. The cardio is offered on either a treadmill or elliptical machine; you're handed an mp3 player with about a dozen program options based on intensity (ostensibly targeting things such as fat-burning or endurance). Then you move to a strength-training pod, which instructs you on what exercises to do and at what weights, number of reps and exact pace. You get points for doing everything precisely "" the machine knows if you go too fast or slow "" and those points are tallied to trade for T-shirts, lanyards and other goodies. During my visit, the place was being overseen by the enthusiastic Sharon McNeil, a Koko coach who monitors workouts for participants during staffed hours (8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. at this location), checking form and answering questions.

This club is for: newbies who don't know what to do when they get to the gym; those who don't like the sense that others are checking them out during a workout (everyone is way too focused on the monitors or the voices in the mp3 players to be paying any attention to you); folks who don't like to watch themselves work out (not a mirror in the place); and exercisers who want everything lined out and taken care of for them. All you need to do here is show up and follow the instructions.

Know before you go: You only get a key fob for 24-hour access, a Koko key and an assessment after officially joining, so your initial visit will be a cardio and demo strength-training session. Wear the usual workout attire and bring a water bottle.

Amenities: Small lockers in the back and a couple of hooks for hanging a coat or purse in the workout room. Otherwise, this is a one-room facility with four strength machines, two ellipticals and three treadmills. Free, big parking lot.

The bottom line: There is something comforting about not having to think about your workout at all "" you just show up, plug in your Koko key and the machines start telling you what to do. There's also something a little cold about it, too, that reminded me of a hospital. But I could get used to that, especially if the results are there. Koko promises that it has this down to a science, and online testimonials can get you jazzed to believe that just a half hour three-four times a week will have you losing weight in no time "" but you also need to follow their nutrition program, which does involve eating real food (no supplements or replacements) while being mindful of portion control and keeping calories in line with your workouts. You also get a personal website that tracks your progress which you can access at the club and at home, and as a member, the nutrition segment, called "Koko Fuel," involves daily meal plans, recipes and grocery lists. Now, if they could come up with a plan that cleans house, too...

The real bottom line: Memberships cost $79 a month if you sign up for a year (plus $158 starter kit fee for the keys, headphones and assessments); there's a three-month plan for $99. They do offer a 30-day "hapiness pledge," where if you do the cardio and strength training three times a week for a month and aren't happy, they will let you go, no questions asked. The memberships get you unlimited access to any Koko owned by the same franchisee and three visits a month to other Kokos nationwide.

Kyle Wagner: 303-954-1599, [email protected] or twitter.com/kylewagnerworld

KOKO FITCLUB

Columbine Koko FitClub, 6750 S. Pierce St., Littleton, 303-346-5656, columbine.kokofitclub.com (Ken Caryl site opens Monday). Locations also in Westminster, Broomfield and more than 120 other locations nationwide, kokofitclub.com

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