Fitness
The Fitness Industry is Worth $22.4 Billion to the U.S. Economy, Says…

These numbers tell a compelling story in concise terms, explains Dunham.
“We use tables to show the importance of the industry and build
content points,” he said. “You’ve got five minutes in front of a
legislator to tell them what’s important. Everything comes from the
data, and all of that is available, but in the end, they want to know
the bottom line.”
The report provides state-by-state statistics, which is designed to
be utilized by Health & Fitness Association members when
communicating with local and state policymakers. These are valuable data
points for grassroots advocacy and networking with industry colleagues.
“Knowing where your allies are can help when there are public policy
or public affairs issues,” he said. “It’s always better to have friends
with you.”
More than 115 attendees from health clubs, studios, and suppliers are
participating in the fly-in, with many leaders hailing the new report.
“When I was hired by the board almost three years ago, one of my
goals was to be able to share real numbers about the value our industry
creates in this country,” said Health & Fitness Association
President & CEO Liz Clark. “This data makes that goal a reality.”
Highlights from the report show that the industry:
- Creates 432,942 direct jobs in the country.
- Pays $10.7 billion in direct wages.
- Pays $5.29 billion in federal taxes.
- Pays $5.35 billion in state and local taxes.
Also figuring into the totals were the contributions of industry
suppliers. According to the report, suppliers are responsible for
creating 60,625 U.S. jobs, paying $4 billion in wages.
In the coming weeks, the report will be available on the Health & Fitness Association website and Club Business International
magazine.
In addition to the JDA report, the Health & Fitness Association provided more statistics from its 2024 U.S. Health and Fitness Consumer Report, which will be released in four installments throughout the rest of the year. The report found that:
- The U.S has more than 72 million health club and studio members.
- The U.S has a higher percentage of active members of fitness facilities than any country other than Sweden.
- Americans pay an average of $59 per month for membership, and 41% of facility users pay $25 or less per month for membership.
“The data from this economic impact study and from our next Consumer Report
show just how important the health and fitness industry is to the
economy of the country as well as to the physical and mental health of
Americans,” Health & Fitness Association Vice President of
Government Affairs Mike Goscinski said. “This data is an essential part
of our campaign to educate Representatives, Senators, and their staff,
about the mental and physical health benefits of exercise—and of the
size and scope of the businesses where consumers exercise.”
The agenda for the historic 2024 Health & Fitness Association
Fly-in and Advocacy Summit, the first under the new association name,
includes education sessions on proposed legislation important to the
industry, including the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act, the
Cardiac Arrest Survival Act, and the AFFIM act, which promotes military
readiness and retention through community-based fitness initiatives. On
Wednesday, May 8, the 115 attendees will separate into 15 groups to
attend arranged meetings with members of Congress to discuss these bills
and other issues important to the industry.
Also scheduled at the two-day event is a briefing on current polling
for the upcoming presidential election; an Advocacy 101 session for
first timers; a session on the importance of youth fitness; and a
workout organized with members of Congress and their staff who are
participating in the Congressional Physical Activity Challenge
(sponsored by Myzone).
The Health & Fitness Association would like to thank the following sponsors of the 2024 Fly-in and Advocacy Summit.
Premier Level: ABC Fitness, Studio Grow, and Technogym
Industry Leader: Matrix Fitness
Advocate Level: Daxko, Myzone, and ROR Partners
Supporter Level: Alta Technology Group, ClubConnect,
DX Factor, EGYM, FitOn Health, NASM/AFAA, Precor, Tivity, Wellhub
(formerly Gympass), WellnessSpace Brands (formerly Hydromassage), and
Wexer
For more information, visit the 2024 Health and Fitness Fly-in and Advocacy page.

Fitness
Donald Trump Fitness: Can His Golf Workouts Replace the Gym? Explore Trump’s Golf Exercise Routine and Health Benefits

Donald Trump’s fitness routine centres around golf, not the gym. Let’s know how his golf workouts burn calories, improve health, and whether golf can truly replace traditional exercise.
When you consider Donald Trump, you probably don’t think of fitness. Yet, one thing that he always swears by is golf. Beyond being a hobby, Trump uses golf in his leisure a great deal, as a way to stay active, socialise, and keep his body in motion. But here’s the big question: Can Trump’s Golf Workouts Replace the Gyms? Let’s explore his regimen and discover the unexpected health benefits of golf as a form of exercise.
Does Donald Trump Work Out At The Gym?
Unlike several celebrities or political figures who are stuck to a gym regimen, Donald Trump is not known for pumping iron or running on treadmills. Instead, it is his fitness in playing golf that comes first. Trump is said to spend hours of his day at the golf course, walking around, swinging and being active while he is managing both business and leisure conversation. While it may not sound like a real workout, golf requires you to move around, control your posture and your coordination all the time, making it a low-impact exercise for burning calories.
How Many Calories Does Playing Golf Burn?
Yes, and here’s why. On average:
- Walking 18 holes may cover 4 – 6 miles.
- The number of calories burned by carrying clubs or pushing a cart is 600-1,000 calories per round.
- A golf cart even allows golf players to burn up to 300-450 calories because of swinging, short walks, and postural control.
And when you’re an early riser, a workaholic and a frequent visitor to the course, as Donald Trump is, that calorie burn adds up, making golf something of a fitness powerhouse.
Health Benefits Of Trump’s Golf Routines
People grossly underestimate golf, but Trump’s steady play grants him some wrist flexing fitness advantages:
1. Improves Heart Health
Walking the course and swinging regularly provides greater blood circulation and makes the cardiovascular system stronger.
2. Increases Flexibility and Balance
The golf swing to develop: Spine, shoulders, hips, and core. After a certain period of time, repeating the same movements helps your body gain flexibility and balance.
3. Improves Muscles Without Heavy Lifting
While not weight training, swinging a golf club develops arms and shoulders and core muscles.
4. Reduces Stress
Golf is an outdoor game, and it is played in often lush and calm surroundings. For Trump, it’s also a break from the pressures of politics and business, mentally.
5. Promotes Longevity
Studies show that golfers live longer on average due to the combination of moderate physical activity and the provision of relief.
Can Golf Replace The Gym?
This is where opinion becomes polarised. For Donald Trump, golf might be sufficient to get a workout, but for most people, the gym allows for targeted exercises on strength training and cardio intensity which golf simply cannot match. However, golf is an excellent option for those who hate gyms but still desire a regular workout. The combination of walking, swinging, and being outdoors means that this is an effective low-impact workout.
Golf Smart: Maximise Your Workout
If you want to follow in Trump’s footsteps-but maximise the amount of fitness benefits you are getting-try these:
- Use your feet to walk the course rather than use a cart.
- Carry or use a push cart for your own clubs.
- Always warm up before playing by stretching.
- Galea does weight exercises, such as squats or push-ups, after golf to try to balance with force.
While Donald Trump is not known for lifting heavy weights or running marathons, his golf workouts keep him active and in shape in a sustainable way that is both fun and engaging. While a game of golf cannot completely take the place of a workout in the gym, it proves that fitness doesn’t always need to come from traditional workouts.
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Fitness
Michael Chiklis Had to Get in Football Shape Well After 50. Here’s How He Did It.

MICHAEL CHIKLIS HAS played tough cops in shows like The Shield and a granite-strong superhero in The Fantastic Four, but the most difficult physical challenge the actor has faced over a long career might just have been playing a regular, real-life guy. That regular guy did something remarkable, however—Chiklis’s most recent film, The Senior, is about 59-year-old Mike Flynt, who suited up for college football as the oldest player in the NCAA.
Stepping into the shoes of this character wasn’t a stretch for Chiklis, who is now 62—he says he was the captain of his football team in high school, so he has the background—but getting in shape for the film well after 50 was a trial. The actor did “about 90 percent” of the football action on screen, so he needed to be able to do more than just look the part. He had to be able to move, too.
How did he do it? A dedicated strength and conditioning plan (and plenty of focused warm-up and mobility). Chiklis stacked up full-body training sessions to prep his body to get into football shape. He did more than just gym training, however; Chiklis says he would often spent 40 minutes in the pool jogging and walked 10,000 steps to raise up his general activity levels.
Chiklis says that overall, the most important part of his training was preventing injury. His priorities are being healthy and strong—both for his career, and for the stage he’s at in life. “If you’re an older person and you’re interested in keeping your body strong and being fit, then listen to yourself,” he says. “Don’t get pulled into the whole machismo crap.”
Check out Chiklis’s breakdown of his routine here.
Michael Chiklis’s The Senior Workout
Lower Body Exercises
Reps or 45 seconds per exercise
Suitcase Squat
Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
Dumbbell Lateral Lunge
Dumbbell Goblet Squat
Push and Pull Movements
4 rounds of 30 to 40 second intervals
Pushups
Dumbbell Floor Press
Dumbbell Row Variations
Arm and Shoulder Circuit
4 sets of 45 seconds per exercise
Dumbbell Curls
Arnold Press
Triceps Kickbacks
Want more celebrity workout routines? Check out all of our Train Like videos.
Brett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men’s Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.
Fitness
How Many Days a Week Should You Do HIIT? A Trainer Weighs In

For some people trying to lose weight, they might find that they’ve plateaued and wonder if there is anything they can add to their workout routine to jumpstart their metabolism. Enjoying a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout a handful of days per week can be just the thing that works.
“If you’re looking to be more explosive, athletic or build muscle, HIIT workouts are best suited to help you do that,” Rafique “Flex” Cabral previously told TODAY.com.
Trainer Tip of the Day: HIIT Workouts 3 Days a Week Boosts Metabolism
A HIIT workout focuses on brief moments of super-intense activity with rest periods sprinkled between the exercise. While the high energy exertion occurs in quick bursts — often 30 to 45 seconds, with rest in between — it demands more of the muscles. This type of exercise builds and maintains lean muscle mass, which can help with weight loss.
“Maintaining a routine that involves HIIT training three to four times a week will help compound that post-workout effect on your metabolism,” Cabral said.
HIIT sparks something called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), which enables people to burn calories even after their workout ends. The American Council on Exercise says that HIIT works best for kickstarting EPOC.
“You will produce an after-burn effects with 25% more calories burned post-workout compared to going for a walk or a run,” Lisa Reed, a performance coach and owner of Lisa Reed Fitness, previously told TODAY.com.
Why It Matters
HIIT’s impact on people’s metabolism lingers for some time — Reed estimates it bolsters metabolism up to 10% for three days after a workout.
Having lean muscle mass helps with weight loss but also promotes healthy aging. People with more lean muscle are less likely to experience falls and engage in their daily activities with ease.
How to Get Started
Dedicating even 20 minutes three times a week to a HIIT workout can lead to boosted metabolism and weight loss. Workouts can be customized to exercise preference and the equipment people have handy.
“You can also keep things interesting by switching up the sequence or swapping out different exercises from strength to high-intensity movement,” Reed says. “HIIT workouts are an excellent way to increase your workout intensity in a short amount of time — 20 minutes or less.”
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
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