INTERNATIONAL DAILY NEWS

 

1. A Teen ‘Gym Rat’ in Gaza Goes Global

Nineteen-year-old Mohamed Hatem, known as @gym_rat_in_gaza, has gained over 350,000 followers for documenting his improvised workouts in Gaza amid war, displacement, and resource scarcity. Training with water jugs and rubble, Hatem uses fitness content to share a message of resilience, survival, and hope—even aspiring to coach and study nutrition online. New York PostMen's Health

2. Bill Maeda’s Fitness Comeback After Cancer

At 56, personal trainer and fitness influencer Bill Maeda says he’s in the best shape of his life, attributing it to a lifestyle overhaul after surviving stage 3 colon cancer. His minimalist, recovery-focused routines now center on rest, nutrition, and sustainable training—boasting 8% body fat and millions of online followers. New York Post

3. Gyms Backing “Gym Loyalty Month” in NYC

Multiple independent studios and gyms in New York are pushing a “Gym Loyalty Month” initiative to encourage members to book directly and reduce reliance on third-party booking platforms. Athletech News

4. Gym Revival Group Establishes GRITM Benchmark

The Gym Revival Group has launched GRITM, an institutional benchmarking standard aimed at professionalizing the $100B global fitness industry through consistent benchmarking and best practices.

5. VR Fitness Platform Adds Meditation Workouts

FunFitLand has introduced a new “moving meditation” series on Meta Quest, blending gentle movement and mindfulness for immersive VR wellness training.

6. Chain Acquisitions Reshape the Fitness Franchising Landscape

Extraordinary Brands has acquired both CycleBar and Rumble, merging premium boutique fitness formats and promising enhanced franchisee support and operational synergies.

7. Presidential Fitness Test Returns to Schools

After over a decade, the U.S. Presidential Fitness Test is officially reinstated in schools, marking a renewed government focus on youth fitness standards and physical education.

8. Planet Fitness Drives Community & Earnings Momentum

Planet Fitness aims to beat Q2 2025 EPS estimates with projected revenue of $334M, while also relocating a Texarkana gym as part of a broader remodel. Additionally, Texas-based Planet Fitness affiliates raised six‑figure flood relief funds for communities impacted by severe flooding.

9. 24 Hour Fitness Continues LA Rams Partnership

24 Hour Fitness has renewed its collaboration with the Los Angeles Rams, organizing community events and delivering exclusive fitness content across Southern California.

10. Saquon Barkley Rejects Fitness Council Invitation

NFL star Saquon Barkley publicly declined an unrequested appointment to former President Trump’s revived President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition—stressing he never agreed to participate.

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🔎 What’s Trending from the Industry?

• Technology in fitness is advancing fast, with mixed‑reality meditation from FunFitLand and the launch of GRITM standards signifying institutional efforts to raise the bar for global fitness operations.

• Fitness amid adversity remains a powerful theme: stories like Hatem’s in Gaza and Maeda’s recovery-centric routines highlight fitness as resilience and narrative, not just aesthetics.

• Community-first strategies are taking root—initiatives like Gym Loyalty Month in NYC and Planet Fitness’s flood relief efforts show gyms doubling as local advocates and supporters.