Bangalore, April 18:

Health club operator Fitness First plans to grow the brand through new users rather than aggregating demand from the existing market.

If you have never exercised before we want to get you, says Mr Vikram Bhatia, Managing Director, Fitness First.

His rationale is that the club chain has the knowledge and the technology to educate the new user on new trends and benefits of exercising, but not the marketing dollars' of luring the existing user pool.

Therefore, although India is the slowest and the most sluggish fitness market in the world, it makes it more attractive for players such as Fitness First.

The nascent Indian fitness market has no supporting data to estimate its size. Most of the data is derived from consumption or expenditure patterns of consumers, says Mr Bhatia, adding that the fitness delivery business is still a trade and not an industry.

Interestingly, once Indians get hooked to the fitness culture, they spend more time at the gym than their peers in other countries. Fitness First users in India visit the gym at least 11 times a month compared to members in other countries who visit the gym seven times a month. This means that once you get them into the fitness routine, they are serious about their exercises, says Mr Bhatia.

Fitness First has a chain of six clubs across India in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai. With elements like a call centre and IT-based training for trainers, Fitness First has positioned itself in the premium segment. We are priced at least 40 per cent more than our competitors in the market.

The UK-based health club operator plans to grow through the franchising route when it enters new markets like Chennai and Hyderabad. Fitness First came to India in 2008 through the FDI route and has invested about Rs 100 crore in its six clubs. Currently, it has 10,000 members across the country and plans to grow it to 55,000 in three years.

Globally, Fitness First has 450 clubs and 1.2 million members.

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Fitness First to focus on new users to pump up brand

Add one more to the list of consumer publishing brands leveraging YouTubes aggressive video channel push. (Or is it the other way around?)

Earlier this week, service publishing company Rodale parterned with Los Angeles-area production shop BermanBraun to launch a new health- and fitness-oriented YouTube channnel, 3V.

Titled around the desirable attributes of vigor, verve and vitality, 3V is a production collaboration between Emmaus, Pennsylvania-based Rodale, publisher of such print lifestyle brands as Mens Health, Runners World and Prevention, and BermanBraun, the multi-faceted production company founded by Hollywood TV heavyweights Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.

The first series to be showcased on the channel is Woman v. Workout, a series of reality-lifestyle shorts featuring fitness model Lauren Berlingeri trying out various taxing and exotic exercise regimens.

Other short-form series include Fitness Fail, which will feature comedians delivering Talk Soup-like commentary on the flora and fauna of fitness-themed video dispersed all over the internet. YouCube, meanwhile, will offer Mens Health-esque workout tips that desk jockeys can do in their cubicles.

Spotting each other on production

Rodale and BermanBraun are also at work on a separate healthy-eating-themed channel that will be launched later this year.

YouTube, which is dispersing an initial round of about $100 million in financial support to around 100 channel operators, and currently trying to sell TVs traditional advertiser base on its collective video offering, has characteristically urged both companies not to reveal the monetary details of their arrangement.

In basic terms, however, the agreement is similar to virtually all of YouTubes other premium content deals, with Rodale and BermanBraun splitting a majority share of advertising once YouTube recoups its start-up costs. YouTube, and parent company Google, will handle all the advertising sales. Ground-floor sponsors include cosmetics-maker Rimmel, as well as various packaged-goods companies

With YouTube dividing $100 million about 100 times, production budgets will be typically lean, with Hollywood union acronyms like SAG-AFTRA, WGA, DGA and IATSE nowhere to be found.

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Rodale takes YouTube plunge, launches fitness channel

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The Conejo Valley Health and Fitness Fair is excited to announce that Land Rover of Thousand Oaks, part of the Silver Star Family of Auto Dealerships, has signed on as the Title Sponsor of the Fair.

The First Annual Conejo Valley Health and Fitness Fair will be held on Sunday May 27th, 2012 from 8am to 5pm. The Fair will be located on Triunfo Canyon Rd. near the Hampshire Road intersection in Westlake Village, California. The Fair hopes to bring recognition to the growing issue of Child Obesity here in the United States. We anticipate over 100 firms offering healthy alternatives to families to display their products and services, offer samples, and give demonstrations. The Fair hopes to show parents that they have a healthier choice for their family within the Conejo Valley. There will be many kid's activities, including bicycle riding on a closed course, inflatable bounce houses, face painting, fitness class demonstrations, balloons, and music.

The Fair intends to donate most of the proceeds from the booths and activities to http://www.mykidhealthy.org , a charity promoting healthy lifestyles for families.

The Fair is being held in conjunction with a popular Southern California Bicycle Race "The Barry Wolfe Grand Prix." This race attracts over 1000 racers and their families, and it's considered one of the most prestigious races on the calendar in the Western US. The race course will be around the Fair area, covering Hampshire and Townsgate Roads. This will bring an air of colorful excitement to the Fair, as racers fly around course in different race categories throughout the day. Bicycle manufacturers, shops and service providers will be on hand with the latest in bicycles and cycling technology. Kids will be able to try competitive cycling on a closed course with bikes provided by local shops.

Joe Buchanan, Head of the Fair Organizing Committee commented: "We are very excited to have Land Rover as a sponsor. Whether its biking, kayaking or surfing, Land Rover has great family vehicles that can safely handle off-road conditions. They are true supporters of active lifestyles."

Bill Carroll, Manager of Land Rover Thousand Oaks also commented: "We love to support community activities that encourage healthy lifestyles and family activities outside if the living room. We hope our vehicles inspire families to get out and take advantage of the trails, the beaches, and mountains within close proximity of Thousand Oaks." http://www.1000oakslandrover.com

If you would like to participate in the Fair with a product demo Booth, or to donate, contact Joe Buchanan at buchananj2003@yahoo.com or by phone 805.728.5424. http://www.conejovalleyfitnessfair.com

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Land Rover of Thousand Oaks to Sponsor Conejo Health and Fitness Fair

SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwire -04/18/12)- NeedToEat (www.NeedToEat.com) unveils a powerfully intuitive health and wellness maintenance application designed to empower health-conscious users and to help them achieve healthier, more balanced lifestyles. Its proprietary methodology and algorithm intelligently integrates real-life factors into the planning process and continually analyzes historical trends to provide realistic, achievable goals.

"Simply tell NeedToEat what you want and require, and it will guide you with realistic goals," said NeedToEat's CEO and founder, Daniel Nguyen. "Our proprietary algorithm predicts users' current situation and then give them realistic guidelines to follow. It automatically adapts to your lifestyle instead of forcing you to follow a structured program that may be difficult to do. Users can now relax and focus on achieving their goals, instead of trying to guess if they are going to succeed."

It is difficult to follow a busy schedule, and then find time to plan healthy meals and journal them. People will ultimately eat foods that they crave regardless of how determined they are to achieve their health goals. NeedToEat's solution is to empower users with its intuitive application, allowing them to take charge of their health decisions. The application allows users to plan meals with just regular foods that they like or would normally consume.

NeedToEat is smart enough to learn about the users' habits, and to include their preferences, dietary restrictions, fitness goals, current emotional state and weather into the planning process. It seamlessly factors in local sale items, and presents them in simple and convenient meal plans for those budget-conscious users. Each suggested plan is generated in real time and tries to be as realistic to what the users would normally do, making it much easier for them to follow and to achieve their goals.

The plan can quickly be added to their journal or shared with others on social networks. Users can borrow other true-and-tried plans and personalize them to fit their lifestyles. If they like the plan but don't know if it actually fits their current situation, NeedToEat will give suggestions to guide them.

"We are very excited to deliver a product that is both innovative and useful for those individuals who are trying to manage a preexisting health problem, those who are incorporating foods into their preventative lifestyle, and especially those who are trying to lose weight," said Nguyen.

NeedToEat's future strategy is to provide a platform where it seamlessly allows both the consumers and retailers and manufacturers to come together. Consumers will be able to eat healthy and stay on budget, while the retailers and manufacturers will increase product promotions and ultimately revenues.

ABOUT NeedToEat

Based in Orange County, CA, NeedToEat believes that empowering users to take control of their health, regardless of their fitness status and goals, will lead to better adherence, and ultimately better outcomes. By giving them control of their needs and desires, and making their goals more realistic, they are more inclined to adhere and be successful with their program. NeedToEat's robust patient-facing tool analyzes historical trends to give realistic guidelines, and incorporates real-life factors to suggest personalized plans.

The company was started about eight years ago by the founder, a physician and a gourmand, who struggled with weight problems for most of his life. He wanted a diet program that would conform to his lifestyle, habits and preferences. He found that most programs did not allow for this, and in addition imposed other restrictions such as having to follow a point system, eat certain foods, buy prepackaged foods, etc. After this realization, he set out to develop an application that would allow users to take control, as well as be intelligent enough to adapt to their lifestyles and set realistic guidelines based on historic progresses.

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NeedToEat Debuts Innovative Health and Fitness Application, Empowers Users to Achieve Personal Goals

Even if you have enough money saved to support yourself throughout your retirement, you might still want to work for the intellectual stimulation and camaraderie a job environment offers. Many older workers would prefer to stay somewhat connected to the workforce instead of pursuing full-time retirement.

Most older workers (65%) say they would ideally like to include some form of work in their retirement, according to a 2011 Harris Interactive survey of 1,001 people age 55 and older commissioned by SunAmerica. But only 4% of the survey respondents want to work full time in retirement. A quarter of older workers would prefer to work part time, and 36% want to go back and forth between periods of work and leisure.

Most of us would like to enjoy some time away from the hustle of the working world. And yet, work does have positive aspects. Wouldn't it be nice to have the best of both worlds, with time to enjoy retirement as well as time dedicated to work?

Part-time retirement also allows you to address one of my biggest retirement fears, which is becoming bored as a retiree. As a part-time retiree, whenever you have had enough recharging and find yourself searching for things to do to keep busy and engaged, you can start looking for your next work opportunity. By continuing to engage with the working world on a somewhat regular basis, you will meet a new group of people and assume responsibilities requiring your mental effort and learned skills. You will not have time to be bored.

However, this dynamic retirement strategy may not be for everyone and comes with risks. You will need to save up for an extended period of unemployment and could be offered a reduced salary at a new job. You also might not be able to fully enjoy your time off knowing that you will need to find another job at some point. Part-time retirees need to decide whether to continue to invest in learning new skills and technologies and compete with younger workers who are eager to prove themselves.

It might take some experimentation to find a role that suits you, while also allowing enough of the free time you crave. If one job does not work out, you might need to find another or extend your retirement phase a bit longer. This variety and change could be exciting, and you will have a considerable amount of control over when and how you work. But part-time retirement could also be stressful if job offers are not forthcoming when you want or expect them to be.

For me, the ideal would be a cycle of working for one year and then taking three months of retirement. During the first retirement weeks I would take care of my to-do list. Then I would take an extended journey of three to four weeks. After that I would start researching and gearing up for my next job adventure. With such a plan, there is always something new and fresh on the horizon.

More from U.S. News & World Report:

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Is part-time retirement for you?

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Fidelity Investments, the leader in helping Americans save for retirement1, today unveiled its Retirement Savings Assessment, the first industry analysis that provides actionable and quantifiable steps across three generations (Baby Boomers born between 19461964, X born between 19651978 and Y born between 1979 1991) to potentially help close their estimated retirement income gaps.

The research finds working American households may experience a potential income drop of 28 percent in retirement2, and nearly four-in-ten (38 percent) retiree households report not having sufficient income to cover their monthly expenses. These estimated retirement income gaps could force significant sacrifices that could include cuts in discretionary expenses. To help improve Americans retirement readiness, Fidelity conducted an analysis that quantifies the potential monetary benefits of five straight-forward steps such as adjusting asset allocation and annuitizing retirement assets. Within the context of a comprehensive retirement plan, this analysis can help individuals better understand which steps may make the greatest impact.

While there is evidence that Americans are saving more for retirement, our analysis finds that they need to take additional steps to prepare for the future and take better control of their personal economy, said Kathleen A. Murphy, president, Personal Investing, Fidelity Investments. The study underscores the importance of early engagement in the retirement planning process and the potential impact these five actionable steps can have in helping address the retirement income gap that many Americans are facing today.

Five Steps That Can Improve Monthly Income in Retirement

Based on the analysis, Fidelity modeled five steps for three generations (Baby Boomers, X and Y) to determine the potential impact on future retirement income. The steps, which are actions often considered when developing and implementing a comprehensive retirement plan, include a mix of strategies that can be taken now, whether an investor is working or in retirement:

Most Americans have the potential to get significantly closer to achieving their retirement goals, but they have to take action and consider implementing a mix of these five steps, said Murphy. Whether youre a younger investor deciding to save a little more in a 401(k) or an older investor adjusting investment plans, its never too early or too late to impact your personal economy and take steps to improve your retirement readiness.

To help Americans take steps to improve their current retirement plan, Fidelity published a Viewpoints article today titled Dont take a lifestyle cut in retirement. The article outlines the five steps and the hypothetical impact of each for a Baby Boomer and Generation X household.

As highlighted within the Viewpoints article, the following hypothetical example outlines the profile of a Generation X household, based on the age groups survey responses4. This generation reported an estimated need of $4,900 in monthly retirement income. Based on their current household salary of $74,000 and the amount currently saved for retirement, Fidelity estimates these households will have approximately $3,200 in monthly retirement income, which represents a shortfall of $1,700 a month (see chart for complete methodology). After applying all five steps to the Generation X household, the estimated retirement income shortfall could be completely erased. The accompanying graphic depicts the potential impact of each step individually and also if taken together (For all generational graphics, please click here):

About the Generation X Graphic Methodology

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Fidelity Retirement Savings Assessment Finds Working Americans Facing Significant Drop in Income in Retirement

As kids, they sat on gas lines in the backs of their parents cars. As young adults, they saw the stock market crash, and when it finally came time to settle down, they bought a house at the peak of the housing bubble and then were faced with the worst economy since the Great Depression.

Its no shock that Generation X those born from 1965 to 1981 may get short changed in their golden years.

Though theyve watched parents and grandparents nestled with pensions, Social Security and strong economic growth, these are no longer guarantees. On the other hand, longer life spans with more medical bills and greater need for cash are the reality for many.

Gen X is the first generation to deal with the fact that the models of American retirement are changing and its members are flustered. The generation once called slackers has been true to form with retirement planning.

There's nothing cuter than viral videos of little kids being adorable, except maybe little kids being crabby. Kathie Lee a...

Gen X is a transition generation, says Carol ORourke, a certified financial planner and Executive Director for the Coalition for Debtor Education in New York City. Gen Xers were young during the tech bubble, and when they came of age, housing was a lot more expensive. With all the talk about whether Social Security is going to survive, there is a sense of not having something to look forward to.

According to a 2012 Insured Retirement Institute , IRI, report, only one-third of Gen Xers are "very confident" about having enough money to live comfortably during retirement, cover their medical expenses, and pay for their childrens higher education.

Just 41 percent of the group have tried to figure out how much money they will ultimately need to save for retirement, and among those who have saved, half have amassed less than $100,000.

Even though they have a longer time horizon toward retirement, there has been a tremendous emotional impact on their confidence in the future. What are they going to do to be sure that they have enough? adds Cathy Weatherford, IRI president and CEO.

Along the same lines, a November 2011 report from the Guardian Life Insurance Company of found 82 percent of Xers believe the economy is headed in the wrong direction.

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Retirement for Gen X workers? Get real

A House committee has approved a bill that would allow federal employees to phase into retirement by working part-time and collecting a partial annuity, while a Senate panel has brought out a budget plan that calls for making federal retirement benefits less generous.

The bill approved Wednesday by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee with bipartisan support mirrors language passed by the Senate last month as part of a transportation bill that is now stalled.

Under current law, the salaries of federal retirees who return to work for the government are reduced by the amount of their annuities, with some exceptions allowing for full payment of both. The phased retirement plan, which the Obama administration has proposed several times, would allow retirees to work one to four days a week, drawing a proportionate salary and a proportionate annuity.

The plan expects that phased retirees would spend a fifth of their time mentoring younger employees, and that savings of more than $460 million over 10 years would be achieved by not hiring full-time replacements and by paying only partial annuities.

Employees would like to work part time, and we would like them to be able to, said committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). He said phased retirement is a common practice in the private sector and noted that under the bill, it would be voluntary for federal retirees and available only at agencies discretion.

Currently, many federal employees retire from government service on a Friday and come back on a Monday either as a rehired annuitant or as a contractor, he said. However, the exceptions allowing both a full salary and full retirement benefits are rare, and if you tell people that if they keep working they only get half-pay or quarter-pay, youre effectively telling them to retire now.

The panels ranking Democrat, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), said, This bill will enable employees to ease into retirement and enable agencies to benefit from the institutional knowledge of their most senior employees.

The committee accepted an amendment that would allow employees to deposit in their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts the value of unused annual leave they receive upon separation or retirement.

The lawmakers also approved a bill that would require new standards for customer service at federal agencies and make compliance with those standards part of employees performance evaluations, and a bill that would clarify that TSP accounts are subject to federal tax levies, an issue that has been in dispute.

In the Senate, a plan offered by Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) contains several employee-related provisions based on proposals made by the Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction commission in 2010.

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Bill for phased retirement moves in House

Usually, when people talk about someone "going through a stage" they are talking about a 2-year-old or a teen. But there's another age at which people go through a key transitional period, also marked by angst and rebellion: Call it pre-retirement.

It sets in by the time workers hit their late 50s, even though they are told they should work for another decade or so to maximize their retirement security. But it hits for real about five years before an expected retirement date. It's the period that Prudential Financial Inc calls "the red zone" and another insurance company, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, calls "the transitional phase."

Both of those companies talk about that pre-retirement period in the context of selling annuities -- insurance products that offer tax benefits and lifetime income in exchange for large sums of money. But buying insurance or some other financial product is the easy part of retirement planning; the hard work should happen first.

[Related: Planning for Retirement: Plan to Live to 100]

Here are some guidelines for getting through that phase with a minimum of stress and strain.

Get specific about life planning. This can be the most challenging part of the exercise; the rest is just numbers. What are the activities you really care about? Where do you want to travel and need to travel? What kind of lifestyle do you think you will have? There are ways to get help with this. The University of North Carolina at Asheville runs "Creative Retirement Exploration" weekends (http://ncccr.unca.edu/creative-retirement-exploration-weekend). A variety of books and websites claim to be able to help with lifestyle planning. Mutual fund company T. Rowe Price has a new interactive online exercise called "Ready 2 Retire" that walks older workers through some of these questions.

Become a Social Security savant. The program is complicated, but will make a significant contribution to almost everyone who retires in the United States. There are a series of strategies you can use to maximize your benefits, especially if you are married. Couples can tag-team their benefits, claim them and suspend them, defer them and more.

It makes sense to get a good numbers person, an actuary or an accountant, who understands all of this, to help you figure out which strategy is best for you. At least one company, Social Security Solutions (http://www.socialsecuritysolutions) claims to have all of that down to a science. For a fee, it will come up with a comprehensive benefits plan for you.

Do a health-care plan. Private health insurance will change over the next few years, regardless of whether the Obama healthcare reform law is permitted to stand. And it's impossible to predict the future in the way that some companies ask you to. For example, T. Rowe Price asks: "Where would you prefer to receive long-term care? At home, adult day-care center, assisted living facility, nursing home?"

But you can figure out if you're covered for gaps before Medicare kicks in at 65 and afterwards. How is your health? Do you need to be near certain medical facilities? What drugs do you take regularly? Will they be covered under Medicare? What are your personal priorities in a gap-filling policy and how cheaply and reliably can you fulfill them?

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Stern Advice: Countdown to Retirement

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Transamerica Retirement Services announced today the appointment of Darren Zino as division vice president of the companys mid-Atlantic region. In this new role, Zino will oversee all sales activities for the region and will be based in North Carolina. He will report to Jason Crane, senior vice president and national sales director.

Transamericas prominence in the small and mid-sized retirement plan arena continues to gain momentum, and we are always looking for ways to meet the business needs of financial advisors and third party administrators, said Stig Nybo, president of Transamerica Retirement Services. Darren is an excellent addition to our sales management team, and I am confident he will be instrumental in helping us exceed our future strategic and growth objectives.

Transamerica continues to experience record-breaking results. For the three-year period ending 2011, new business written sales increased more than 50 percent, and the number of plans sold during the same period increased more than 25 percent. Additionally, at the end of 2011, assets under management and written sales reached all-time highs for the company.

With more than a decade in the retirement plan industry, Zino most recently served as divisional vice president for The Hartfords retirement plans group. He received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Florida.

Darren is a high caliber retirement services professional who has proven over a distinguished career his unique ability to build strong relationships, said Crane. Ive had the privilege of working alongside him in the past, and his sales record in the region speaks volumes about his acumen for this management role. He is an established leader in our industry, and I am honored to have him join our team.

About Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation

Transamerica Retirement Services Corporation (Transamerica or Transamerica Retirement Services), which is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, designs customized retirement plan solutions to meet the unique needs of small- to mid-sized businesses. Transamerica and its affiliates have more than 17,0001 retirement plans totaling more than $20 billion1 in assets. For more information about Transamerica, please refer to http://www.TA-Retirement.com.

1As of December 31, 2011.

TRSC 6293-0412

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Transamerica Retirement Services Names New Division Vice President