The economy has many of us tightening our budgets. If you’re goal is to tighten your waistline as well, you may be shocked to find out that the average, monthly fees for a gym membership range between $40 and $80 per month. If you go to the gym 20 times per month, $3.50 per visit doesn’t seem unreasonable. But let’s face it, life happens. There will be months when you may only get there 4 or 5 times. Are you okay paying $17 or more per visit? If you’re in the market for a new gym, or would like to save on your current membership, read on:

5 ways to save on a gym membership:

1. Don’t be afraid to negotiate. If they won’t budge on the fees, ask if they can waive initiation fees or offer a flexible contract (say, 3 or 6 months rather than a full year.) This way, if stumble upon a better deal, or find a gym that more closely matches your needs, you won’t be tied to a lengthy contract.
2. If your employer offers a discount for gym memberships, use it. Some employers will offer to pay up to 1/2 of the annual fee.
3. Choose a gym that meets your needs. There is no use paying for all of the bells and whistles if you won’t use all of them. Consider what you need in a gym, the equipment you know you will use, and the types of classes offered. Most gyms have a free trial period – this is an excellent opportunity to try before you buy!
4. Don’t sign up at the beginning of the month – wait until the last day of the month when the sales staff will be more likely to negotiate to meet their sales quota.
5. If you travel to major cities, like Chicago, Boston and New York, buy a PassBook. You can get free admission to many of the best health clubs and lots of other free stuff. It costs $75 for one passbook (there is a discount for multiple PassBook purchase), but if you like to stay on top of your fitness routine when you travel, the investment is priceless.

With summer in full swing and vacations on the horizon, one question seems to arise again and again: “How do I stay fit while I’m away from home?”

Whether you want to stay active during your vacation or not, there could be unwelcome consequences to stopping, even for a week. According JAMA, regular exercisers who suddenly turn into Buffett-loving hammock sloths experience higher levels of glucose and fat in their bloodstreams. Unfortunately, 90% of frequent travelers admit that while being health conscious is important during their travels, they end up slacking off. According to a survey conducted by Hilton Hotels, women follow these tendencies more than men, and it is no wonder – one in four household trips include children under the age of 18. It is hard enough to muster the will-power to workout when you’re alone, much less traveling with the family.

While taking a break from your routine now and then can be a good thing, it doesn’t have to come to a screeching halt the minute your plane leaves the terminal. Traveling with kids? Make them part of the action too.

Here are a few of my favorite vacation workout tips:

• Rent bikes. No matter where you go, there is almost always a bike trail and a place to rent
  bikes. To locate a trail, visit: http://www.trails.com/
• Run in your room. Many hotels now offer in-room treadmills. This is not only convenient, it is
  time-efficient as well. Wake up, log a few clicks, and your day is off to a great start.
• Take your resistance tube with you. The resistance tube is, in my opinion, the most versatile piece of fitness equipment invented. It weighs next to nothing and fits nicely in any-size
  suitcase. Virtually any exercise that can be performed with fixed equipment or free weights can be mimicked as effectively (often more effectively) with a stretch tube.

Layovers, long flights, travel fatigue, fast food, no suitcase space for even a resistance tube…staying fit when traveling can prove quite challenging. Luckily, Hilton Garden Inn is making it easier with their Stay Fit Kit. Each kit comes with a resistance tube, 3lb weights, 8lb core ball, pilates band, and yoga props (mat, strap and bricks). You can check out the kit upon check-in, and work out in the privacy of your hotel room. You can use the equipment on your own with the instruction cards provided, or purchase a fitness program.

Hilton Garden Inn has also changed their breakfast menu to include fresh, healthy foods specially designed for today’s health-conscious traveler. Top Chef’s star CJ (from season 3) has been hired to revamp the hotel’s menu.