Bally Total Fitness-R- and General Mills to Offer Free 30-Day Trial Me

Bally Total Fitness-R- and General Mills to Offer Free 30-Day Trial Memberships on Nearly Three Million Cereal Boxes

    Business Editors/Fitness Writers/Health Editors

    CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 2005--Bally Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT):

--	Cereal Giant Will Print Bally Membership Passes On Boxes of Total(R) Raisin Bran, Total(R) Corn Flakes and Total(R) Brown Sugar & Oats
--	General Mills is the Latest Addition to Bally's "Best-in-Class" Team of Corporate Partners

    Bally Total Fitness (NYSE: BFT), the nation's leader in health and fitness, has partnered with international food company and cereal giant General Mills, to offer nearly three million 30-day trial Bally memberships on specially marked boxes of Total Raisin Bran, Total Corn Flakes and Total Brown Sugar & Oats. The boxes will be available at most major retailers this spring, and consumers will have until June of 2006 to redeem the coupon at any Bally Total Fitness location nationwide.
    "Our partnership with General Mills will help millions of Americans start each day with fitness on their minds, while offering them an open invitation to try out the fitness services available at any of our more than 400 locations across the country," said Paul Toback, Chairman, President and CEO of Bally Total Fitness. "As one of the world's largest and most trusted food companies, General Mills is a tremendous addition to our team of 'best-in-class' corporate partners."
    "We're excited to bring consumers an opportunity to not only start the day with 100% nutrition, but also to get active through this promotion with Bally Total Fitness," said Sean Foster, Marketing Manager of the Total Cereal franchise. "We know that the key to health is driven by diet plus exercise and this gives consumers the opportunity to capitalize on both fronts."
    "Over the past two years," Toback added, "Bally has proudly partnered with some of the most powerful and recognized companies in the world to create innovative campaigns that strengthen the brand and drive traffic into our clubs. These partnerships have been a key part of an overall marketing strategy that has seen a significant increase in the generation of new membership sales."

    About Bally Total Fitness

    Bally Total Fitness is the largest and only nationwide commercial operator of fitness centers, with approximately four million members and nearly 440 facilities located in 29 states, Mexico, Canada, China, Korea and the Caribbean under the Bally Total Fitness(R), Crunch Fitness(SM), Gorilla Sports(SM), Pinnacle Fitness(R), Bally Sports Clubs(R) and Sports Clubs of Canada(R) brands. With an estimated 150 million annual visits to its clubs, Bally offers a unique platform for distribution of a wide range of products and services targeted to active, fitness-conscious adult consumers. For more information, visit http://www.ballyfitness.com.

    About General Mills

    General Mills is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products. Its global brand portfolio includes Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso and more. Included in the U.S. portfolio are some of the nation's most popular brands including Cheerios, Wheaties and other Big G cereal brands; Colombo, Yoplait, Totino's and Progresso. General Mills is also a leader in the bakeries and foodservice business as a major supplier of baking and other food products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries. For more information, visit www.generalmills.com

--30--JC/ny*

CONTACT: Bally Total Fitness Sara Matheu, 773-864-6822 www.Ballyfitness.com or MWW Group Public Relations Jessica Lascar, 201-460-2846 jlascar@mww.com or General Mills Tom Johnson, 763-764-2531 Tom.Johnson3@genmills.com

KEYWORD: ILLINOIS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SPORTS MEDICAL FOODS/BEVERAGES RETAIL MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Bally Total Fitness

Copyright Business Wire 2005