Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

With spring in the air, right now might be the best time to hit the gym and get those bodies in shape.

Last spring Thompson Falls’ Bear Muscle Fitness implemented a 100-Mile Club encouraging members to follow a long-term path to better overall health through exercise. Now, eight months later, gym owner Jill Fairbank is happy to announce there are a handful of members still on track.

The 100-Mile Club encourages exercise by celebrating milestones when certain levels of logged miles are reached. T-shirts are awarded at the 100-mile mark, embroidered gym bags upon reaching 500 miles of exercise, and a Fitbit is earned after 1,000 recorded miles.

The popular Fitbit was the main inspiration for Fairbank to start this challenge. She competes with family members living long distances away by recording exercise recorded on the device.

She realized how much the Fitbit encouraged her and her loved ones to maintain a healthy lifestyle. So, she decided to “bring it into the gym.” Logging exercise in the form of miles seems to be motivation to keep going, adding in monthly prize drawing after reaching 50 miles was icing on the cake.

“Initially, we entered a monthly drawing for every 50 miles reached,” said Fairbanks. “We just wanted to get everyone moving and motivated. We wanted them to keep it rolling and get into it.”

Of the handful of members continuing to taking the challenge seriously, Brad Duffield has reached the 1,000-mile mark. He has earned his Fitbit and doesn’t appear to be stopping at that mark.

When Duffield was asked to share his secret to staying motivated, he said, “You just have to put one foot in front of the other and go for it. It is hard sometimes, but you just gotta do it!” It took Duffield seven months to reach the 1,000-mile mark. His current workout regimen consists of lifting weights Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and performing cardiovascular exercises Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“I have seen people shuffle in, and after one month it is amazing how much better they are moving,” Fairbank said. “If people just keep moving, they will increase muscle strength, burn fat and improve their health.”

Bear Muscle Fitness is available to paying members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The gym is home to various exercise equipment including: treadmills, elliptical machines, tread climbers, weight machines and free weights. In addition, the gym has a dry sauna, tanning beds (available for an extra fee) and two showers.

Membership fees include a $50 start-up fee and $35 a month for individuals. Family/household member fees are set at $60. Senior citizens receive a bargain at $30 per month. With automatic electronic payment, members will receive $5 off their monthly fee.

“Some health care insurance covers the cost of the membership,” Fairbank stated. Insurance companies have realized that when clients exercise regularly, it is a cost savings to them in the long run.

Visitors to the area are also allowed access to the fitness center. Fairbank understands that holidays and vacation time can be a major bump in the road when it comes to staying on track with an exercise program. Bear Muscle Fitness has a solution to that problem, “We also have daily rates for family members who might be in town visiting, so they can keep going too.”

Fairbank and her husband Steve purchased Bear Muscle Fitness in 2003. “We moved the location up the hill at least 10 years ago,” Fairbank said of the 502 Preston Ave. setting.

For more information on the 100-Mile Club program or gym operations, contact Fairbank at (406) 827-1177.