Best Holiday Gym Deals

'Tis the season for resolving to get fit in the New Year. Health and fitness clubs across the country know this, and their promotions are in full force right now. Join in December and you will likely get the best deal of the year.

Finding out about special pricing at your local gym can feel a bit like car shopping. Call to ask, and they usually want you to come in, tour the facility and sit down in a small glassed-in office to review the contract. Then -- and only then -- will they reveal their true membership fees, at which point you may feel pressured to sign on the dotted line amidst all the fine print.

But before you lock yourself into 36 months of Zumba classes, we have done some homework so you can comparison shop and decide which club is right for you.

Here are the current holiday offers from some of the largest gym chains:

Bally Total Fitness. Sign up online and there is no enrollment fee. However, there is a $29 card fee plus your initial monthly payment, which can vary depending on your location and the range of services you select. You also receive a free six-month membership for a friend.

Lifetime Fitness. They are waiving the enrollment fee, plus six free personal training sessions.

24 Hour Fitness. For $199.99, you can get a one-year, all-club membership, meaning you can use any of the 350 facilities across the country. Or you can choose a monthly membership, which runs $9.99 for the initiation fee and $31.99 or $21.99 per month depending on an all-club or single-club membership. Family add-on specials are also available.

Gold's Gym. The gym is advertising an online enrollment special for $1. However, there is also a $19.99 administrative fee, plus monthly fees of $28. Not all locations are participating, so check the website.

Equinox. The gym is not offering any specials right now (at least none that it would divulge at the time of this article).

YMCA. Each YMCA operates independently, so individual branches will have their own membership deals.

NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington Sports Clubs. While the fitness centers would not disclose the specific rates, they did say there will be some "great" deals during the last two weeks of December.

Most gyms offer a free trial pass, which is a good thing to take advantage of. It will allow you to test the equipment, classes, crowds and staff before making any long-term commitments. It's also a great way to keep those holiday pounds at bay before you commit to a facility in the New Year!

More on That's Fit:
How to Pick the Best Gym
New Year's Resolutions: Celebs Weigh In
Health Club Pays Off! Man Loses 100 Pounds in One Year