Study shows 30 percent would rather work than workout, Bally hosts Resolution Rescue

CHICAGO, Feb. 13 — When the ball drops to mark a New Year, millions of Americans resolve to make positive changes in their lives, and while intentions are strong at the start, they quickly fade. Bally Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT), the nation’s leader in health and fitness, announced today the results of a nationwide study(1) of more than 1,100 Americans, which analyzed fitness attitudes associated with New Year’s Resolutions. Results indicated that most resolution-makers pledge to get in shape at New Year’s (50.5%), but nearly half give up on their goals by Valentine’s Day (49%). Additionally, the survey reported that 1/3 of all respondents would rather stay at work an extra hour than go to the gym.

“Fitness should be fun and one of the best parts of your day, a time when you can focus on yourself, your body and ultimately feel good at the end of your work-out. People make New Year’s Resolutions with the best intentions, but can become discouraged when they realize that fitness can be hard work,” said Nikki Kimbrough, National Spokesperson for Bally Total Fitness. “We are opening our clubs for free on February 15th to teach people how to have fun while they exercise, and help them stick to their resolutions, while also burning off some Valentine’s Day calories.”

Bally Total Fitness announced that it is hosting a free “Resolution Rescue” at all of its 380 clubs across the nation to help make fitness fun for the Workaholic Nation and provide support to struggling Resolution-Makers. The daylong event includes “total access” to all Bally locations, including popular classes, free 30-minute healthy eating seminars, discounts on memberships and nutritional products, and much more.

“It’s hard enough to stay fit and live a healthy lifestyle, and with Valentine’s Day and the cold winter weeks in February, many people have built- in excuses to give up on their fitness resolutions,” said Tia Willows, senior vice president of customer care and member services for Bally Total Fitness. “Our goal is that the ‘Resolution Rescue’ event helps people re-energize their goals of living a healthier lifestyle, and also teach them that fitness should be both fun and fulfilling.”

Additional “Resolution Rescue” survey findings include:
* Weighty Choices – “Losing weight” remains the most popular New Year’s
resolution, with more than half (50.5%) hoping to trim their waistlines
in 2007
* Workaholic Nation – One in three Americans would rather stay at work an
extra hour than go to the gym
* The Six-Week Fall-Off – Nearly 49 percent of respondents give up on
their resolution by Valentine’s Day (a short six weeks after New Year’s
Day)
* The Downward Chocolate Spiral – Thirty percent of respondents eat
three-five chocolates on Valentine’s Day, which can be as many as 55
grams of fat – the equivalent of eating two fast food hamburgers
(www.calorieking.com)
* Vicious Cycle – More than 1/3 of resolution makers (37%) make the same
resolution every year
* Sending Out an SOS – Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed have requested
a “resolution rescue” and the opportunity to start fresh

(1) The national survey was conducted online in February 2007 among a
sample of Americans that closely represents U.S. population
demographics. Overall sampling error is +/- 3 percent at the 95
percent level of confidence.

About Bally Total Fitness
Bally Total Fitness is the largest publicly-traded full-service commercial North American fitness center operator, with over 400 owned and franchised facilities located in 27 states, Mexico, Canada, Korea, China and the Caribbean under the Bally Total Fitness®, Bally Sports Clubs® and Sports Clubs of Canada® brands. Bally offers a unique platform for distribution of a wide range of products and services targeted to active, fitness-conscious adult consumers.