Game On

Training camp starts now: Discover football-inspired fitness spots across Dallas-Fort Worth

Cowboys fit was designed with the help of its famous namesake.

Photo courtesy of Cowboys Fit

Football season is almost here, and whether you're counting down to kickoff or simply looking for a fresh fitness goal, August is the perfect time to start your own training camp.

You don't need to suit up for game day to train like an athlete. Across Dallas-Fort Worth, you'll find everything from football-inspired strength workouts and high-energy conditioning classes to mobility sessions and recovery treatments designed to help you feel your best all season long.

From building strength and speed to improving flexibility and recovery, these local fitness destinations can help you kick off your own training camp.

Build power
Every great team starts with a strong foundation, and these fitness destinations focus on functional strength, endurance and total-body conditioning.

Cowboys Fit
The closest thing to an official football training camp experience, Cowboys Fit was designed in partnership with the Dallas Cowboys and blends athletic performance with everyday fitness. Expect expansive weight rooms, indoor turf for sled pushes and agility drills, personal training, and more than 50 weekly group classes ranging from HIIT and strength training to yoga and cycling.

Get your sweat on at Cowboys Fit.Photo courtesy of Cowboys Fit

The club also offers Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Dance Fitness classes, giving fans a chance to learn game-day-inspired choreography while building endurance, coordination and confidence. Recovery lounges, body composition testing and nutrition coaching round out the experience, making it easy to train — and recover — like an athlete.

Life Time
Life Time goes beyond the traditional gym with a luxury health club experience. Members can move between Alpha strength classes, GTX interval training, Pilates, yoga, pickleball, indoor and outdoor pools, and recovery amenities including saunas and whirlpools. Many locations also feature cafés, co-working spaces, and spa services, making it easy to spend an entire day focused on wellness.

Cooper Fitness Center
Founded by preventive medicine pioneer Dr. Kenneth Cooper, this Dallas institution has helped generations of North Texans prioritize long-term health. Along with an expansive fitness floor, members have access to certified trainers, group exercise, indoor and outdoor pools, running programs, nutrition counseling, and sports medicine services. The emphasis is less on trends and more on sustainable fitness backed by decades of research.

Welcome to Cooper Fitness Center.Photo courtesy of Cooper Fitness Center

Build speed and agility
Quick feet aren't just for wide receivers. Agility training improves balance, coordination and cardiovascular fitness for every age and fitness level.

F45 Training
Think of F45 as your own mini training camp. Every 45-minute class combines functional strength and cardio through timed stations that keep participants moving. Expect sled pushes, battle ropes, kettlebells, rowing, and explosive movements that challenge power, endurance, and coordination. Because workouts change daily, boredom rarely has a chance to set in.

Athletic Republic
Originally developed for competitive athletes, Athletic Republic specializes in improving speed, acceleration, balance, and power through coach-led performance training. Turf fields, resistance equipment and data-driven assessments make it a great option for adults who want to train beyond traditional gym workouts.

Train like a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have taken center stage thanks to Netflix's hit docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, showcasing the athleticism, discipline, and dedication required to earn a coveted spot on the squad. While making the team takes elite-level training, anyone can borrow inspiration from workouts that build the same key qualities: strength, endurance, flexibility, balance and confidence.

HOTWORX
Infrared heat meets boutique fitness at HOTWORX, where virtual instructors lead 15- and 30-minute sessions inside heated saunas. Members can choose from yoga, Pilates, barre, HIIT, rowing and cycling, creating an efficient workout that combines cardio, flexibility and core strength.

Pure Barre
Don't let the small movements fool you. Barre combines strength, balance and muscular endurance through low-impact, high-repetition exercises that target the core, glutes and legs. It's a favorite cross-training option for dancers and anyone looking to improve posture and stability.

Recover like a pro
Training camp isn't just about pushing harder — it's also about recovering smarter. Professional athletes prioritize recovery to improve performance, prevent injury, and prepare for the next workout. Whether you're lifting heavier, training for your first 5K, or simply staying active, these recovery-focused destinations can help keep your body ready for whatever comes next.

StretchLab
Recovery starts with movement. StretchLab's certified Flexologists guide members through personalized assisted stretching sessions designed to improve flexibility, increase range of motion, and reduce muscle tightness. It's especially helpful after intense strength training or long hours at a desk.

Restore hyper wellness
From whole-body cryotherapy and red light therapy to infrared sauna sessions, compression therapy and IV drips, Restore offers nearly every recovery modality under one roof. Whether you're easing post-workout soreness or simply prioritizing wellness, it's one of the most comprehensive recovery destinations in DFW.

If your goal is to build strength, improve endurance, increase flexibility, or simply establish a healthier routine, training camp season is the perfect reminder that every athlete starts somewhere. Find the workout that fits your style, grab a water bottle, and get ready to kick off your strongest fall yet.

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list news

New report ranks Texas among worst states to have a baby in U.S.

Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash

The best places to have a baby are in the Midwest and the Northeast, not the South, according to the report.

Texas might be a family friendly state, but it certainly isn't baby friendly, according to a new WalletHub study.

Texas earned a dismal rank as No. 45 in WalletHub's 2026 report "Best and Worst States to Have a Baby," which compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 31 "baby friendliness" metrics, such as affordability, health care accessibility, infant care costs, and others.

The top five best states to have a baby, in order, are: Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

Texas ranked 7th worst overall in the U.S. because of how expensive it is to have a child in the state, and because of its low prevalence of healthcare professionals for mothers and children relative to other states.

Across the four main categories in the report, Texas landed 47th nationally for its medical costs, 42nd in healthcare quality, and its baby- and family-friendliness both ranked 34th best in the country.

WalletHub says the average cost for a conventional delivery in the U.S. comes out to more than $15,700, and families with health insurance have an average out-of-pocket cost of about $2,600. The report doesn't break down state-by-state charges, but it ranked Texas 35th and 36th respectively in the national comparisons of states with the lowest costs for hospital cesarean and conventional deliveries.

The cost of childcare is another factor bringing down the state's overall performance, as WalletHub says Texas has the 23rd "best" annual cost of early childcare on average.

Here's how the report broke down the rest of Texas' ranking:

No. 27 – Parental leave policy score
No. 27 – Infant mortality rate
No. 28 – Rate of low-birth weight
No. 44 – Midwives and OB-GYNs per capita
No. 36 – Pediatricians and family medicine physicians per capita
No. 33 – Childcare centers per capita

According to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, expecting families should consider living in the states that "minimize costs while providing top-notch care for both newborns and their mothers."

"[The best states] also continue to be good environments for parents even long after the birth, with high-quality pediatric care, affordable and accessible child care, and a strong economic environment that makes providing for a child easier,” Lupo said.

Mississippi (No. 51), Alabama (No. 50), Florida (No. 49), New Mexico (No. 48), Nevada (No. 47), and South Carolina (No. 46) all join Texas at the bottom of the list as the worst states to have a baby.

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