Bally Total Fitness Teams Up With Discovery Health to Encourage Families to Get Fit

Bally Total Fitness Teams Up With Discovery Health to Encourage Families to Get Fit

The Third Annual National Body Challenge Kicks off this Weekend and Provides Participants with the Tools They need to Trim Down and Tone Up in 2006; Register Now at www.discoveryhealth.com

CHICAGO, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bally Total Fitness (NYSE:BFT), the nation's leader in health and fitness, announced today that it has again partnered with Discovery Health to encourage Americans to get fit and promote family fitness in 2006. The NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE is a free eight-week comprehensive fitness and weight-loss challenge that provides the tools and inspiration people need to get in shape, shed extra pounds and adopt a healthier lifestyle. To register for the NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE, log on to www.discoveryhealth.com.

This year's Challenge is geared towards families, as well as individuals and groups and offers the tools needed to help participants make the right choices and meet their personal nutrition and fitness goals. In its first two years, more than 700,000 participants stepped up to the challenge and collectively lost nearly 300 tons! As part of the Challenge, Bally Total Fitness is offering a free eight-week membership to all participants who sign up by January 17. The membership grants them access to a Bally Total Fitness location in their area and is valid January 14 through March 11. In addition, to encourage families to sign up for the challenge together and make fitness a family affair, Bally Total Fitness has launched Bfit(R) Family classes, group exercise classes that are specifically designed for kids ages 8-12 and their parents. The classes will be held on Saturdays and will include a variety of fitness activities including games that feature kid-friendly versions of several Bally exercise classes such as Kwando(R), Step, Urban Rebounding(R) and yoga. Check with your local Bally Total Fitness club for times in your area.

"We are excited to once again partner with Discovery Health to encourage Americans to make a pledge to live a healthier lifestyle and find time for fitness this New Year. The National Body Challenge is a great way to get started, which is why we are offering free passes to our clubs and a variety of activities such as our new group exercise classes for families, to give people the tools they need to get started and take the first step towards a healthier, and more fit, lifestyle," said Jim McDonald, chief marketing officer for Bally Total Fitness.

This year's Challenge offers more comprehensive and personalized diet and exercise resources than ever before. Participants who register receive the following tools and resources:

* A free 8-week membership to Bally Total Fitness (participants must sign
up by January 17 at 11:59 PM (ET) to be eligible. The membership is
effective January 14, 2006 through March 11)

* Customized meal plan

* Personalized weight and activity tracker

* Expert weight loss and healthy-lifestyle information for individuals of
all ages

* More than 100 great-tasting and healthy recipes available online at
www.discoveryhealth.com

Participants in the Challenge can also find additional inspiration by watching the two-part special, NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE, which airs January 15 and 16, from 8-10 PM (ET/PT). Presented over two consecutive nights, NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE takes an in-depth look at obesity in America by following the physical and emotional journeys of four families as they work together to achieve their weight loss goals and lead a healthier lifestyle.

For information on the NATIONAL BODY CHALLENGE or to sign up, log on to www.discoveryhealth.com. For more information on Bally Total Fitness or to find a club near you, log on to www.ballyfitness.com or call 1-800-Fitness.

About Bally Total Fitness

Bally Total Fitness is the largest and only nationwide commercial operator of fitness centers, with 440 facilities located in 29 states, Mexico, Canada, Korea, China and the Caribbean under the Bally Total Fitness(R), Crunch Fitness(SM), Gorilla Sports(SM), Pinnacle Fitness(R), Bally Sports Clubs(R) and Sports Clubs of Canada(R) brands. Bally offers a unique platform for distribution of a wide range of products and services targeted to active, fitness-conscious adult consumers.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications is the leading global real-world media and entertainment company. Discovery has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, first launched in the United States in 1985, to current global operations in more than 160 countries and territories with 1.3 billion cumulative subscribers. DCI's over 90 networks of distinctive programming represent 25 network entertainment brands including TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Military Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Discovery en Español, Discovery Kids En Espanol, Discovery HD Theater, FitTV, Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir), Discovery Home & Health and Discovery Real Time. DCI's other properties consist of Discovery Education and Discovery Commerce, which operates 120 Discovery Channel Stores. DCI also distributes BBC America in the United States. DCI's ownership consists of four shareholders: Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ:DISCA)(NASDAQ:DISCB), Cox Communications, Inc., Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, the Company's Founder and Chairman.

Source: Bally Total Fitness

CONTACT: Matt Messinger, +1-773-864-6850; Joe Cohen of MWW GROUP,
+1-201-964-2443, jcohen@mww.com

Web site: http://www.ballyfitness.com/
http://www.discoveryhealth.com/

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