Cuyahoga County Residents Offered Free Three Month Fitness Membership & Access to Weight Management Programs

Getting in shape and losing weight are at the top of most people's list of New Year's resolutions each and every year. For us Clevelanders who are about to enter that time of the year when outdoor exercise becomes nearly impossible and access to fitness clubs is limited to those with enough disposable income to afford it, many of us will inevitably slack on working out and instead stay indoors under a pile of blankets and in front of the TV. But this year there is simply no excuse. All residents of Cuyahoga County will now have access to a free 3-month membership at any local YMCA or Curves facility, thanks to a partnership with the Cleveland Clinic.

The go!FIT program is a public health campaign designed to break down barriers and increase access to fitness and weight management facilities, and strives to improve the overall health and well-being of Cuyahoga County residents.

The go!FIT program will provide three free months of access to fitness and nutrition programs to adult residents of Cuyahoga County. This includes free access to fitness facilities, weight management programs and educational events.

In order to participate, you need to go online to www.gofitcleveland.com and register. Print out the confirmation and bring it to the Curves or YMCA location of your choice (within Cuyahoga County) by January 31, 2010.

By joining the program, you won't just have access to a fitness facility, you'll also get the help you need to meet your goals. Participants need to check in and exercise at least three times per week at the designated fitness location, and will have key health criteria measured weekly. Prior to starting, you'll also need to complete the fitness and nutrition assessments and review with a go!FIT representative.

Each week, the following health indicators will be measured: number of workouts per week, minutes of exercise per week, various quality-of-life questions, and participation in weight management program. Throughout the campaign, participants will also have their height, waist, hip and BMI measured.

For more information or to register, visit GoFitCleveland.com.