Wheeling's fitness center goes high-tech

Members of the Wheeling Park District Fitness Center will have to find a different excuse to avoid working out. Claiming that exercise is boring just won't cut it anymore.

The new equipment at the refurbished center includes jacks for iPods and other MP3 players and individual televisions at each of the machines. Those with movies or music videos on iPods can watch those on the big screens at each station.

There's also a USB drive so that fitness enthusiasts can track exactly how much work they've done on every machine.

"We've undergone this whole transformation to make fitness fun and user-friendly," said Amy Lindstedt, wellness manager at the facility.

The fitness center at 333 W. Dundee Road has been closed this week and will have a grand reopening from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday. The center is offering membership deals for new participants such as a free month after paying for a year.

Existing members can also refer someone and get a free month added to their memberships.

During the closing, new floors and carpet were put in, and LifeFitness brought in new cardio equipment - treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bicycles.

The center also bought weight equipment from Hammer Strength.

Lindstedt said the machines all come with instructions in 13 languages, which attracted her to LifeFitness.

"Wheeling is so diverse, and that's what drew me to the company," she said.

For more information on the Fitness Center, call (847) 465-2943.

"We're hoping more people in the community will choose our facility," Lindstedt said. "We do have good stuff here."