Enjoy Fitness for a Lifetime and a Healthy Way of Life by Joining a Club with a Free Pass

Most health and fitness clubs have in place a program for offering a free pass to prospective members. Ask at the front desk or call ahead to save the time and effort of traveling there. Expect to be offered a 7 day trial pass or even a 30 day trial pass. Either way, plan to make the most of the free pass in order to get a good feel for the quality of the club.

Fitness for a lifetime requires a balance of aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is generally lower intensity over a longer period. Examples at the fitness center might include treadmills, elliptical machines, stair master machines, rowing machines, and cross-country skiing machines. These devices allow participants to slowly build up the heart rate and maintain a 'fat burning' level of exertion for an extended period.

In contrast, anaerobic exercise causes sugar stores in the body to be burned without the presence of oxygen. This is a less efficient process and usually cannot be maintained for extended periods of time. Anaerobic exercises tend to be strength related; weight training and explovise movements fall into this category.

 Weight loss predominates as the primary benefit of a healthy way of life. A lifetime fitness regimen generally results in a lower body weight and lower percentage of body fat. Your local Health and Fitness club has counselors on staff who can guide you in setting up a program that you can maintain and adjust for the long term. Plan on a life-changing experience, just don't be in a hurry. Ask about the results you should expect; counselors and trainers at fitness centers have a wealth of experience with all body types. They can guide you in the proper direction and provide much needed encouragement when your motivation lags.

Don't lose your momentum by dropping your workouts when traveling. Most hotels have some type of fitness room, admission to which is included with your reservation. Expect to see exercise bicycles, StairMasters, cross-country skiing machines, and simple treadmills. Some hotels even offer free weights or weight machines for anaerobic exercise as well.

When making an online reservation, use the advanced search tool to identify hotels with fitness rooms. It takes a few more clicks, but the payoff ican be a more enjoyable trip.

A feature of some hotels is a reciprocal agreement with a full-featured health and fitness club. Instead of a single room in the hotel, you may have access to all the accouterments of a real club. Usually the club is within walking distance of the hotel grounds. Expect to pay a small fee, but remember that you are investing in yourself.

 Some photos may be courtesy of http://sxc.hu/