5 Resources To Help You Get In Shape And Stay Fit

If you've got a busy schedule, travel frequently, or don't have a good gym close by, getting in shape can be a real challenge. Thanks to innovations in technology and customer-friendly business practices, there are new ways to find what works for you. In no particular order, here are some tools and resources to try if you're ready to get fit.

Kicking off the list at #1 is Anytime Fitness, which has over 4,700 franchise locations serving 4 million members worldwide. Each location has different rates, policies, and amenities, but members can easily transfer to a new local club when they move, or take advantage of the company's worldwide club access to visit gyms all over the globe and work out while traveling.

The Anytime Fitness app provides users with tools to succeed on their fitness journeys, connecting them to coaches and trainers to book sessions or take part in video calls. The company also has a partnership with the Special Olympics, encouraging its gym owners and staff to invite athletes to train and hold fundraisers for teams.

In the #2 spot is StudioHop, an all-in-one membership that allows participants to attend classes at a variety of boutique gyms and studios without being constrained by lengthy contracts. Members can choose Unlimited or Pro plans or purchase classes a la carte. With participating locations across Texas and Oklahoma, frequent travelers can even choose a multi-city plan.

Classes can be found through the official StudioHop app, and both in-person and virtual activities are available, including boxing, Pilates, yoga, and other workouts. Members are also treated to perks like discounts at local spas and healthy restaurants.

Coming in at #3 is Zen Labs Fitness, makers of the popular Couch Potato to 5K app, which shows beginners how to build up from nothing to running five kilometers in just eight weeks. Over 5 million people have lost weight, gained endurance, and developed successful habits through the company's suite of apps.

Runners ready for the next step can advance to the 10K Trainer Pro, Half Marathon 13.1 Trainer, and Marathon 26.2 Trainer apps. Other offerings from Zen Labs Fitness include the Track My Steps pedometer, 7 Minute Workout, and Zen Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock apps, as well as options for push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, and squats.

For the #4 selection we have Echelon, makers of the Connect series of bikes, which allow users to take part in studio classes from their own homes with dozens of trainers in cycling, stretching, pre-and-post workout sessions, meditation, kickboxing, Zumba, and more.

Echelon also offers the Reflect touchscreen, which provides high-energy cardio, yoga, strength, Pilates, and boxing workouts on-demand, and the Smart Rower, offering a total-body workout. The FitPass Plus streams classes onto users' televisions, and the provided heart rate monitor allows for tracking and participation in the leaderboard community.

Rounding out the list at #5 is Step It Up with Steph, a two-time Emmy-nominated show hosted by celebrity health and fitness expert Stephanie Mansour. A weekly dose of health, fitness, food, and lifestyle entertainment, it features the host working with people who want to get healthier, along with advice on exercise and interviews with dietitians.

Mansour offers a private weight-loss program that aims to help people integrate health and fitness back into their lives in sustainable, effective ways. She also works as a corporate wellness speaker, covering topics like weight loss, her top 5 foods to eat daily, and stretches & exercises to reduce stress and increase productivity. Steph also has a variety of DVDs and books full of workouts and recipes.