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To maintain health and wellness it is important to eat nutritiously and exercise. However with our busy lifestyles, this does not always rise to the top of our priority lists. People will not do something if it is inconvenient and unfortunately, exercise often falls into that category. Finding the right exercise and the time to do it is an easy way to skip doing any exercise at all. Fortunately, one gym takes the "no-time" excuse out of the equation.

24-hour fitness has based its business model on having conveniently placed facilities with the most current cardiovascular and weight lifting /strength training equipment. These facilities are all open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This allows patrons to work out any time of day or night, whenever it fits into their schedules.

There are five different types of 24-hour fitness centers and their differences reflect their size and the equipment available on site. Active clubs are the bare bones model as they are usually around 25,000 square feet and provide cardiovascular equipment, free weights, a variety of strength training machines and personal training. They usually also offer "Group X"
the group exercise classes taught by individual fitness professionals.

Sport clubs are fairly larger in size ranging between 35,000 and 50,000 square feet. These clubs host additional facilities of basketball courts and swimming pools. Super sport clubs include sauna, Jacuzzi, and even massage to participants. Ultra sport clubs are the largest boasting 100,000 square feet of floor space. These facilities include the additional amenities of racquet courts, running tracks, rock-climbing areas, smoothie bars, and day spas.

A more recent focus for 24-hour fitness is the Express Club, geared mainly at women. These facilities are usually between 6,000 and 10,000 square feet and provide a limited selection of weight training equipment. Here the focus is on group exercise classes, cardiovascular and personal training.

In 2004, 24-hour fitness heard the complaint from clientele that they did not have much time to spend in the gym. At this time, they had coincidentally begun working with the Olympic Committee's Sport Science and Sports Medicate Divisions to come up with exercise program for the US Olympians. This cooperative effort gave rise to the Xpress Zone circuit-training program. This allows the participant to perform a full body workout in just 30-minutes of time.

Another advantage 24-hour fitness offers its customers is access to numerous locations worldwide. Depending on the membership level you have, you will be able to access any 24-hour fitness location when you travel. The catch here is, if you have an Ultra sport membership, you can go to any other 24-hour fitness center. However if you only have an Active membership, you can only visit other Active and Sport locations Ultra sport are not included in this level of membership. The good news is, even where there is an Ultra sport center there is often an Active facility close by.

But even with this caveat, 24-hour fitness centers make exercise convenient, fun and relatively low priced. It is hard to find an excuse not to just "go do it."

Learn more about this author, CD Gozzi.
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