As if virtue -- and thin thighs -- weren t rewards enough, there may be significant financial benefits for those eager to stick with their workouts throughout the holiday season. Between the flagging economy and the annual seasonal drop-off -- gyms attract just 9% of their members during November and December, compared to 12% in January alone, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association gyms are especially eager to make a deal now, industry experts say.

It s true that you won t see splashy promotions right now, because most gyms wait to publicize big promotions until the New Year s resolution rush. But if you walk in and ask, you ll find they re very willing to give a discount to get you in the door. Right now, gyms are likely to waive joiner s fees, typically between $49 and $150, because most will offer that perk in January anyway, says John Rowley, the wellness director of the International Sports Science Association. That s probably the easiest $49 you re ever going to save, Rowley says.

As a bonus, exercise can also help manage holiday stress and avoid holiday weight gain-- says Kelli Calabrese, a master trainer with Adventure Boot Camp in Texas. And if your employer offers a fitness reimbursement more than one in four do -- you can get cash back from the program for 2010 and still have the benefit reset in 2011.

Here are three ways to save this fall on fitness:

Look for the stealth deals or ask for one

Absent those splashy New Year s promotions, start with the web sites or window displays of gyms in your area. You may find an early round of stealth promotions denoted only by small signs, or online. At 24 Hour Fitness, for example, three different promotions run through the end of October, available online or in clubs. MySportsClubs is running a $19-to-join promotion through October 27.

If you don t find one of these quietly-advertised offers, don t be deterred. Go in person, and ask if the current membership price is the lowest price they ll be offering in the upcoming year, says Penny Ray, a DealPro for Savings.com. Posing this question won Ray a promise that if his local gym drops their prices for a new promotion later, he ll get the lower rate and if the initiation fee drops, part of the fee he paid will be applied to a future month s membership.

Make a commitment

If you can pay upfront for a 12-month membership, you may be able to score a discount, says Mike Allen, the founder of Shopping-Bargains.com. You can ask for the same rate those New Year s resolution joiners will get in just a few months. If that tactic falls short, ask for November and December free in exchange for paying for 2011 upfront. Either way, paying for a full year can yield significant savings. At 24 Hour Fitness, a 15-month prepaid membership costs $260 42% less than monthly payments over the same time period. And a two-year membership is better deal yet: At $370, it s just $10 more than a one-year membership at the monthly price.

Most trainers will also offer discounts to clients who commit to a longer program, Calabrese says. Buying 10 or more sessions could save you 10 or 20%, she says. And you ll be more likely to get your pick of days and times if you start now, says Graham Melstrand, vice president of operations for the American Council on Exercise, so no fighting with the January crowd for that coveted 6:30 a.m. slot. Alternatively, consider sharing a trainer with a friend. Bethanne Weiss, an ACE-certified trainer and the owner of Orlando-based Better Butts by Beth, says that she s been pushing two-for-one deals--where two friends can train for the price of one-- more in the past year than she typically would.

Get free money

Almost 70% of employers offer discounted gym or fitness club memberships, and 27% offer reimbursements for membership costs, but only one out of eight regular exercisers take advantage of those benefits, says Frank Napolitano, CEO of GlobalFit, a wellness benefit provider. For Jack LaLane s sake, find out if you re eligible for reimbursement or a discount, because the deadline for submitting those reimbursements is likely coming up. Most programs require you to submit receipts between October 31 and December 31, says Arlene Singer, the CEO of WellCall, a national wellness program provider. The details of each plan are different, but it s possible that if you pre-pay for, say, a set of training sessions, you could get reimbursed now for future costs.

Many health insurers also offer gym-membership discounts, Singer says. For example, Cigna s Healthy Rewards program offers discounts of up to 60% on fitness club memberships. Members can sign up at any time during the year and simply pay a discounted rate no reimbursement forms necessary.