March is National Nutrition Month: Shape Up With HealthSaver, Fitness Center Discounts

NORWALK, Conn., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Since March is National Nutrition Month, an emerging health care discount service called HealthSaver can help you step into good health and flex your muscles into better shape through a national network of the nation's top-rated fitness centers.

National Nutrition Month was created by the American Dietetic Association in 1973 to promote smart eating and physical activity for the month -- and all year long. The association's key messages include: Eat right and be physically active; make smart choices from all five food groups to attain balanced nutrition; get the most nutrition out of your calories and choose the most nutritionally rich foods -- those packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients; find your balance between food and physical activity -- to help control body weight, promote well being and reduce risks of chronic diseases; and play it safe with foods -- prepare, handle and store food properly.

"National nutrition month sharpens our focus on healthy lifestyles and a better well-being," said HealthSaver Vice President Lorien Saumier. "It is more important than ever to eat right and engage in fitness and exercise routines that will keep you in shape throughout your life."

HealthSaver offers its members discounts to more than 1,500 fitness clubs nationwide, including select Bally Total Fitness, World Gym and Ladies Workout Express locations.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture's 2005 Dietary Guidelines Report, adults need 30 minutes of moderate activity on five or more days a week to be healthy. If you increase that to 60 minutes you can also maintain an appropriate body weight.

Here are tips from the experts at HealthSaver and recommendations from The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports*:

  1.  Be moderately physically active at least 30 minutes a day on five or
      more days a week. This is the minimum amount of physical activity you
      need for health. If you can't do 30 minutes, try increments of 10 or
      15 minutes, adding up to 30 minutes a day.

  2.  Keep in mind that proper nutrition and physical activity go hand in
      hand. One without the other is a recipe for failure. Just because you
      walked for 30 minutes doesn't mean you can reward yourself with a pint
      of your favorite ice cream!

  3.  Build physical activity into your daily routine.  Adding 30 minutes of
      walking to your daily schedule will use, on average, around 150
      calories per day, enough to lose over a pound a month. You can lose
      more than 15 pounds in a year, if you keep it up and follow a healthy
      diet.

  4.  Try building small amounts of physical activity into your day.  Take
      the stairs, park your car further away, get off the bus a stop
      earlier, take a walk at lunch.

  5.  Keep a daily log of your progress in maintaining daily physical
      activity.

  6.  Continually upgrade your fitness program. Choose physical activities
      you enjoy that you'll keep doing. Consider earning a Presidential
      Sports Award, which includes over 60 activities you can choose from to
      earn Presidential recognition for your fitness efforts.

  7.  For added health benefits, do 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity
      three or more times a week. This might include running, aerobics,
      swimming, or working out on cardiovascular equipment in a gym
      (treadmill, Stairmaster, elliptical trainer), and do strength training
      and flexibility activities at least twice a week. To lose weight
      through physical activity, engage in vigorous physical activity for at
      least 40 minutes no less than three times per week.

  8.  Shift your fitness focus to your health, not just your appearance. You
      can add years to your life and reduce major health risks by following
      a sound nutrition and physical activity program. And you'll look
      better and feel better too!

  9.  Avoid being obsessed with weight as it appears on a scale. People who
      do vigorous physical activity may increase lean body mass while
      decreasing their overall fat level. This can result in a loss of
      inches without weight loss, since muscle weighs more than fat.  Weigh
      yourself once, then put the scale away and focus on physical activity
      and nutrition.

  10. Play actively with your children every day. This can be in the yard at
      home or away from home. Take the kids and the dog with you for a walk.
      Make sure children get an hour of physical activity each day to help
      the whole family stay healthy, physically and emotionally.

In addition to great fitness club benefits, HealthSaver also offers discounts of 10 to 50 percent on prescriptions at participating pharmacies, 20 percent off vision care and 20 percent off complementary and alternative health care treatments. Members can also save from 5 to 50 percent off vitamins and supplements by mail. Discounts are based upon reasonable and customary costs or manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) and are only available from participating providers. HealthSaver is not an insurance product or service.

About HealthSaver

HealthSaver offers discounts of 20 percent on vision care, as well as discounts of 10 to 50 percent on prescriptions, 20 percent off complementary and alternative health care treatments and fitness club benefits at participating pharmacies and facilities. Members can also save from 5 to 50 percent off vitamins and supplements by mail. All discounts are based upon reasonable and customary costs or manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP) and are only available from participating providers. HealthSaver is not an insurance product or service. More information about HealthSaver is available online at http://www.healthsaver.com/ or toll free by calling 1-800-7HEALTH (1-800-743-2584). HealthSaver is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance, value added checking and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

About Affinion Group

Affinion Group is a leading affinity direct marketer of value-added membership, insurance and package enhancement programs and services to consumers. With more than 30 years of experience, Affinion Group currently offers its programs and services worldwide through more than 4,500 affinity partners. Its diversified base of affinity partners includes leading companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, retail, travel, telecommunications, utilities and Internet. Affinion Group also has a growing loyalty solutions operation which administers points-based loyalty programs. Based in Norwalk, Conn., Affinion Group has approximately 3,600 employees throughout the United States and in 13 countries across Europe.

*If you are habitually sedentary/inactive, see your health care provider before beginning a program of physical exercise.