Get Your Gym On, Yelpers

We all have our vices. Some of you are likely polishing off the last remainders of 75-percent-off post-Valentine’s Day chocolates. Others were perhaps recently treated by their sweetheart to a delicious romantic dinner, likely accompanied by a tasteful bottle (or two) of wine. Or maybe your weekend was filled with a feast of take-out Chinese food accompanied by the mighty accomplishment of watching every episode of “Downton Abbey” season three in one sitting. Either way, I hate to break it to you, but you probably have a few extra calories laying around and it might be time for a trip to the gym.

I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but the truth hurts sometimes. Maybe you’ve kicked up your gym routine a notch lately and aren’t too concerned about falling off the wagon. I beg you to reconsider. The data says Yelpers check in to fitness-related businesses drastically more starting in January and the activity starts to decline right about now. And the data doesn’t lie. It’s clutch time, baby, and the gym is calling your name.

Check it out – when dividing check ins for businesses in the fitness category by check ins in the pizza category, we see that the ratio is much higher at the beginning of each year, dropping steadily through December. So basically, when compared to pizza check ins, people are checking in to gyms and fitness businesses way more often in the beginning of the year, with the frequency of check ins plunging into an abyss devoid of treadmills by December. The beginning of February has Yelpers hitting the gym three times for every two visits to pizza joints.

Review activity shows a similar pattern, but with a noticeable bump in in the summer. Maybe bikini season is motivating Yelpers to renew their fitness goals. (Sun’s out, guns out…am I right?!) And when fall rolls around, it’s possible we throw in the towel on healthy aspirations in favor of beer drinking, football watching and the mystery that layers upon layers of fluffy clothing provides.

All we know is that Yelpers are the best around – nothing’s gonna ever keep you down! (Yes that was a “Karate Kid” reference) Whether you maintain a Paul Ryan level of pump or hit your maximum activity level on a leisurely stroll through the mall, keep on checking in to and reviewing your favorite fitness businesses. We have high hopes for 2013, and we’re off to a good start so far.