Montana Athletic Club has four outdoor pickleball courts at 850 Holt Drive in Bigfork, Montana — about 20 minutes from Kalispell. When Montana winters arrive, indoor play continues in the club’s three-quarter gymnasium so your game never stops. Court time is available for members, and open play is welcome for all skill levels. Stop by the front desk or call (406) 837-2582 for the current schedule and open-play times.
Step into more than a gym. The Montana Athletic Club is the gym in Bigfork, MT where your goals matter, your effort counts, and your journey is celebrated. Find your strength, your community, and your confidence — all in one place built for you.
The Montana Athletic Club was built as a partnership between Doug Mahlum and Jack Tawney in 1991 at 17,000 SF with 600 members. Today the MAC is a 32,000 SF, full-service facility serving 3,000 members with world-class trainers and instructors.
We pride ourselves on exemplary service and strive to meet the needs of every member and guest. Come be part of our family and enjoy all we offer — what's keeping you from getting fit?
Contact Us →Two heated indoor pools — a lap pool for year-round swimming and a 92-degree therapy pool. Three group fitness studios plus a dedicated Pilates studio. Twenty-five hundred square feet of functional turf with power racks, a rig and suspension training. A three-quarter size gymnasium, four outdoor pickleball courts and family change rooms.
Weight and cardio floors feature Matrix, Precor and Octane premium equipment. Locker rooms with steam, sauna and hot tub. A recovery room, tanning, a full Pro Shop and a café corner with grab-and-go meals.
RiverBend Physical Therapy and the Elysian Institute are here too — same roof, same front door.
Doug and Nancy Mahlum have run the MAC as a family business for more than three decades — Doug on the floor and the build-outs, Nancy on the members and the programming. Their goal has always been providing the most up to date quality equipment, programs and experience possible to the community of Bigfork.
Christine Neu has led the Group Exercise Department for 34 years. Ashton Freeman leads an outstanding Personal Training Department, which has over 120 years of combined training experience. Cutting edge CNU Stretch Therapy is now available and quite popular. Private Pilates is led by Lesli Skidgell with Michelle Wiggins. Our Concierge Department staff, led by Sara Tanzi, are trained to find out what YOU actually want, then figure out a way to get you there at the best price possible. We care about your results - at the MAC you are more than just a number.
Almost everyone who works here knows the regulars by name — and most of them by their goals. Join the MAC Family today!
Seventy-plus live classes a week taught by real instructors, including eight licensed Les Mills programs. A staffed front desk every hour we're open.
Testing that goes as deep as you want to take it — from InBody composition scans to PNOE metabolic analysis. Or don't take it at all, and just swim your laps.
Month-to-month membership, no long-term contract, and Scholarship Memberships for anyone who needs one. Your membership travels too: reciprocal access at partner clubs across Montana, Idaho and Washington. No one in Bigfork can offer you so much value for your dollar!
Come see it for yourself — a Concierge will walk you through the whole building.
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Founded in 1991 as a partnership between Doug Mahlum and Jack Tawney, the MAC opened at 17,000 SF with 600 members. Today we span 32,000 SF and serve 3,000 members across Bigfork and the Flathead Valley.
We're a full-service facility with world-class trainers and instructors. We pride ourselves on exemplary service and treat every member and guest like family.
Montana Athletic Club is a member-owned, full-service health club at 850 Holt Drive in Bigfork, Montana. Inside roughly 32,000 square feet you'll find weights and cardio floors, a heated indoor pool, three group fitness studios, outdoor pickleball courts, a recovery room, tanning, a complete Pro Shop featuring Oakley, Helly Hansen and other fitness brands and a café corner with grab-and-go meals — everything under one roof, included in one membership. The club has served the Flathead Valley since 1991, when it was founded by Doug Mahlum and Jack Tawney, and today counts about 3,000 members. In 2026, they added the most complete recovery and wellness business in the Pacific Northwest — the Elysian Institute.
That's the difference from a 24-hour access gym: A Montana friendly staffed front desk, 70+ live classes a week, actual pools, real courts, and people who know your name — not just a keycard and a room of machines.
Members drive in from across the valley — Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Lakeside, Somers and Polson — because a single membership covers the pool, courts and every class. Bigfork sits on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake, about 20 minutes from Kalispell and 15 from Lakeside — here is what the club looks like for members driving from Kalispell. And when you travel the other way, your membership travels too: MAC has reciprocal access at partner clubs across Montana, Idaho and Washington at no extra charge.
Walk in, say Howdy! at the Front Desk, and a MAC Concierge will show you around — the pools, the training floors, the studios and the courts. Our Concierges are trained to find out what YOU want - and then figure out a way to meet those needs! You can go as deep as you want—sophisticated InBody testing, medically based PNOE Metabolic testing, blood draws, there is no limit. Perhaps you just want a place to swim a few laps or push around some weights - we can do that for you, too! Most people simply pick what they came for, whether that's a lap swim, a group class or open court time. If you want guidance, personal training starts with a conversation about your goals, and membership options are flexible month-to-month — no long-term contract required.
Right here. About 20 minutes from Kalispell, Montana Athletic Club offers pickleball at 850 Holt Drive — four outdoor pickleball courts, plus indoor play in the club's three-quarter-size gymnasium, so play continues year-round through Montana winters. All levels are welcome, and the Front Desk can point you to current court schedules and open-play times.
Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork has a heated indoor pool — for lap swimming, aquatic group classes and swim lessons — all included with membership. That makes it one of the few places in the Flathead Valley where you can swim year-round regardless of the weather, whether you're driving in from Kalispell, Lakeside, Somers or Polson.
Yes — group and private swim lessons run in our heated indoor pool for every age and ability, from water-safety basics for little ones to stroke refinement for adults. Questions? Contact the club or call (406) 837‑2582.
No long-term contracts. Flexible month-to-month gym membership in Bigfork, MT. Why pay more elsewhere and get less? Every MAC Membership includes the gymnasium, three weight rooms, three Studios, two pools, sauna, steam and hot tubs and over 70 Group Exercise classes a week. But the best part? The friendly, welcoming smile you receive every time you come in - after all, you are part of the MAC Family now!
Available for those who qualify — please don't hesitate to ask. Your health is too important to be governed by your financial situation.
For businesses and large organizations — like school districts. Ask the front desk about group pricing for your team.
High school and college memberships are available, as are senior rates.
In Bigfork for a few days or weeks? There's a membership solution for that, too.
Membership rates vary based on the type of membership you need. Our ultimate goal is essentially the same as yours — to get you into the club so we can help you optimize your health and wellness.
MAC rates run anywhere from $48 to $65 per month for year-round memberships, with slightly higher rates for short-term options.
The MAC Concierge will help you find the best possible solution for your health and wellness needs.
Year-round memberships run $48–$65/mo (a little more for short-term). Scholarship Memberships are available for those who need them — just ask. Confirm current rates with the front desk at 406·837·2582.
The Montana Athletic Club is the full-service health club for the Flathead Valley — one building in Bigfork holding two heated indoor pools, three group fitness studios, a dedicated Pilates studio, four outdoor pickleball courts, two racquetball courts and a recovery room. Members drive in from Kalispell, Whitefish, Polson and Columbia Falls because no other health club in the valley keeps this much under a single roof.
Browse and book from our live class schedule — group fitness, Les Mills, spin, yoga, Pilates and more, updated in real time from our SmartHealthClubs system.
A full-service gym for Kalispell and the Flathead Valley — 20 minutes away in Bigfork.
Montana Athletic Club is one 32,000-square-foot club at 850 Holt Drive in Bigfork, not a chain of small locations. A single membership covers the weight and cardio floors, two heated indoor pools, three group fitness studios, functional turf, racquetball courts, a recovery room and four outdoor pickleball courts. The MAC draws members from across the Flathead Valley, including Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Lakeside, Somers and Polson.
Everything above is included in one membership — there are no per-class or per-pool add-on fees. Browse every amenity at the club to see exactly what a membership opens before you make the drive.
The MAC is built to work for a whole family rather than one member. Individual, couple and family plans are all available. Both heated indoor pools — a lap pool and a 92-degree therapy pool — run year-round, so swimming is not a summer-only activity here. Children and adults learn in the same building through swim lessons, and the four outdoor pickleball courts move indoors to the gymnasium once winter arrives. Ask the front desk which family plan fits before you commit.
The MAC runs a full weekly schedule of land and aquatic group fitness classes, included with membership at no extra charge. The lineup covers eight licensed Les Mills programs — BODYPUMP, BODYCOMBAT, BODYBALANCE, BODYATTACK, LES MILLS GRIT, RPM, THE TRIP and LES MILLS SPRINT — plus Pilates and yoga, beginning ballet, indoor cycling, aqua fitness, HIIT and Zumba. Classes run across three separate studios, so a drive over from Kalispell is rarely a wasted trip.
Montana Athletic Club is at 850 Holt Drive, Bigfork, MT 59911 — roughly 20 minutes from Kalispell, on the northeast shore of Flathead Lake. The club is open seven days a week. Call (406) 837-2582 or stop by the front desk for a tour.
Your MAC membership travels with you. Through our reciprocating network, members in good standing can work out at partner clubs across the region while on the road — same great access, no extra fee.
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Show your MAC membership in good standing at any of these partner clubs.
The most sophisticated health baseline available in Montana.
Most gyms hand you a keycard and leave the rest to guesswork. The Montana Athletic Club gives you actual physiological data — your metabolism, your blood, your body composition — then builds your training around those real numbers. Members from across the Flathead Valley, from Kalispell and Whitefish to Polson and Columbia Falls, drive to the MAC specifically for access to this level of analysis.
Medical-grade breath analysis that measures how your body actually produces and burns energy — the most precise metabolic picture available in Montana.
PNOE (pronounced "P-no-ee") is a medical-grade metabolic analyzer that measures how your body produces and burns energy at rest and during exercise. By analyzing the gases you exhale — oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide produced — it maps your complete metabolic profile: resting metabolic rate, fat-vs-carbohydrate burn ratios, cardiorespiratory fitness level and metabolic age.
The result is not an estimate based on height and weight. It is a direct measurement of your individual physiology — the kind of data previously available only in clinical or research settings.
Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork offers PNOE metabolic testing through the on-site Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive — the only location in the Flathead Valley offering this level of metabolic analysis. Members from Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Polson and across the valley make the trip specifically for this test.
How many calories your body burns at complete rest — the foundation of any accurate calorie target, not a formula estimate.
The exact proportion of fat versus carbohydrate your body uses for fuel at each heart-rate zone — so training zones are personal, not generic.
A direct measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness and how it compares to your biological age — a true benchmark for long-term health.
Full lab blood panels drawn on site through the Elysian Institute — so your program is built on your actual biomarkers, not guesswork.
At the MAC, yes. Through the Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive, certified phlebotomists draw full lab panels on site. Results give you a complete picture of your internal biomarkers — testosterone and hormone levels, thyroid function, inflammatory markers, lipid panel, metabolic panel, glucose and insulin response, iron, vitamin D and more.
Most gyms in the Flathead Valley — or anywhere in Montana — cannot offer this. The MAC can because the Elysian Institute is a full clinical-grade facility operating at the same campus at 850 Holt Drive, Bigfork.
Feeling better is real feedback — but actual biomarkers do not lie. A baseline panel at the start of a new program and a repeat panel after 8–12 weeks shows exactly what changed: testosterone, inflammation levels, metabolic markers, all in numbers. Combined with InBody and PNOE, you have the most complete physiological picture available at any gym in Montana.
No separate lab trip. The Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive handles the draw and your results through a certified clinical team.
Hormones, thyroid, inflammation, lipids, metabolic markers, glucose response, iron, vitamin D and more — a real clinical-grade panel, not a generic wellness screen.
When your trainer can see your actual biomarkers, they stop guessing on intensity, recovery time and nutrition guidance. The plan becomes specific to your physiology.
Precise body composition in under 45 seconds — muscle mass, body fat, visceral fat, hydration and more — the real baseline to measure progress against over time.
The InBody scan uses bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure your body's composition with clinical precision. In under a minute, it produces a full segmental breakdown: lean muscle mass in each limb, body fat percentage, visceral fat level, skeletal muscle mass, total body water and a basal metabolic rate estimate — everything a scale cannot tell you.
Unlike BMI calculations, the InBody shows exactly where your muscle is distributed and where your fat is stored. Re-test every 4–6 weeks and you can see whether your program is building muscle, reducing fat or doing both simultaneously — in numbers, not feelings.
Step on the platform, grab the handles — 45 seconds later you have a precise segmental map of your body: muscle, fat, visceral fat and hydration in each region.
Lose five pounds of muscle, gain five of fat — the scale calls it even while your health moves backward. The InBody splits the story into its actual parts.
Scan every 4–6 weeks under the same conditions. A good training block often shows the scale flat while muscle climbs and fat falls — the scan shows you both.
Beyond the three core analysis tools, MAC members have access to additional technology that informs training, movement and recovery.
Video-based movement analysis that identifies imbalances and compensation patterns before they become injuries. Available through the Elysian Institute.
Learn more ↗Certified assisted-stretching at the Elysian Stretch Center — targeted stretching to restore range of motion, reduce chronic tightness and accelerate recovery.
Learn more ↗Real-time heart-rate zones during every workout. When your PNOE data defines your actual zones, MyZone tracks whether you are truly training there.
See group classes →PNOE is a medical-grade metabolic analyzer that measures how your body produces and burns energy by analyzing your exhaled breath gases. It produces your resting metabolic rate, the ratio of fat versus carbohydrate your body burns, your cardiorespiratory fitness level and your metabolic age — precise data previously available only in clinical research settings. Available at Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork through the Elysian Institute.
Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork offers PNOE metabolic testing through the on-site Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive — the only location in the Flathead Valley offering this level of metabolic analysis. Members travel from Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Polson and across the valley for the test.
An InBody scan uses bioelectrical impedance to measure lean muscle mass in each body segment, total body fat percentage, visceral fat, skeletal muscle mass, body water balance and an estimated basal metabolic rate — all in under 45 seconds. Unlike a scale, it shows the composition of your body so you can distinguish fat loss from muscle gain.
At the Montana Athletic Club, yes. The Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive offers certified lab blood draws on site. Full biomarker panels cover hormones, thyroid function, inflammatory markers, lipid panel, metabolic panel, glucose and insulin response, iron, vitamin D and more. No separate lab trip required.
The most reliable answer is a combination of re-testing at regular intervals: an InBody scan every 4–6 weeks to track changes in muscle and fat mass, a follow-up blood panel after 8–12 weeks to see how biomarkers have shifted, and periodic PNOE retests to check whether cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic efficiency are improving. Together these three data points make progress — or its absence — impossible to miss.
Not sure which testing is right for you? Stop by the front desk or give us a call — a MAC Concierge will walk you through the options and help you build the right baseline for your goals.
A full body composition scan in under a minute. Included with your MAC membership.
The InBody test cannot be used by anyone with a pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device.
The trainable muscle separated from organs and body water. This is the number to protect when losing weight — if it falls alongside fat mass, the program needs adjustment. If it holds or rises while fat falls, the program is working.
Total fat in kilograms and as a percentage of body weight. The percentage provides context the raw number alone cannot — two people of identical weight but different composition face completely different training priorities.
Fat stored around the abdominal organs, reported in square centimeters — distinct from subcutaneous fat stored under the skin. The InBody estimates and tracks it over time using the same impedance measurement.
Lean mass measured across five compartments: both arms, both legs and trunk. Left-right imbalances and a weak trunk show up as numbers rather than guesses — useful for injury prevention, rehab tracking and strength programming.
Split into intracellular (inside cells) and extracellular (outside cells). Roughly 60% of body weight in men and 55% in women is water, and fat-free tissue is about 73% water — which is why hydration moves your reading. Body water is best read as a consistency check on the test, not as a health metric.
An estimate of calories burned at complete rest, derived from lean mass rather than height and weight. Because muscle burns more at rest than fat does, two people of identical weight can have meaningfully different resting calorie requirements.
Clean, dry contact points are essential for accurate impedance readings. The machine’s sensors need direct skin contact.
Both thumbs rest on the upper sensors and your fingers on the lower sensors. Keep your arms slightly away from your sides so they don’t touch your torso.
Arms slightly away from your body, feet on the marked contact points. No talking, no shifting weight.
The current is imperceptible. Lean tissue — which is roughly 73% water — conducts easily. Fat resists. The difference in resistance is what the device measures and translates into composition data.
Depending on the specific InBody model. You’ll hear a tone when it’s complete.
A MAC team member walks you through your numbers so you leave with a clear picture of your current baseline and what to watch on your next scan.
Preparation genuinely changes result quality. The more consistently you follow these steps across sessions, the more meaningful your comparisons over time. Consistency matters more than perfection.
Let your body fluids settle before testing. If you’ve been sitting in a car or at a desk, stand and move for a few minutes.
Food and drink in your system affects body water distribution, which directly moves the impedance reading.
Intense exercise causes temporary fluid shifts and muscle swelling. Test 1 to 3 days after a hard session, not the morning after.
A full bladder adds water weight that will show up in your reading. Use the restroom immediately before the test.
Heat exposure and water immersion both shift body water temporarily. Avoid sauna, steam room and pool sessions before testing.
Test at the same time of day, in the same hydration state, after the same type of preparation. The consistency of your protocol is what makes the trend meaningful.
One scan is a data point. Two scans are information. The most useful thing you can do with an InBody result is compare it to your previous one, taken under the same conditions, 8 to 12 weeks later.
The most important comparison is simple: did skeletal muscle hold or rise, and did fat mass fall? If both, the program is working regardless of what the scale says. The scale cannot distinguish between those two numbers — the InBody can.
Segmental analysis is most useful for spotting asymmetry. If your right arm is consistently stronger than your left, or if your trunk lean mass is low relative to your limbs, that shows up in the segmental table. A trainer can use that directly.
Body water is best read as a consistency check on the test itself rather than as a health metric. If total body water changes dramatically between sessions without a change in diet or training, it usually means preparation was different — not that your health changed.
An InBody scan is useful for anyone who wants to know what their body is actually made of. It is especially valuable for:
Every 4 to 12 weeks, depending on how actively your training or nutrition is changing.
More often than every 4 weeks and you are mostly measuring normal water fluctuations rather than genuine changes in muscle or fat tissue. Those take time to build or reduce in a way the scan can detect.
If you are working with a MAC personal trainer, they will typically schedule your retests at 6 to 8 week intervals to align with training blocks.
Manufacturer accuracy data: InBody publishes a 98% correlation with DEXA scanning and 99% reproducibility for its devices. Those are the manufacturer’s own published specifications, not claims made by the Montana Athletic Club.
An InBody scan measures skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass and percentage, visceral fat area, segmental lean analysis across both arms, both legs and trunk, total body water split into intracellular and extracellular, and an estimated basal metabolic rate — all in under 60 seconds.
Between 15 and 60 seconds depending on the device, plus a few minutes for setup and removing shoes and socks. A MAC team member walks you through your printed result sheet after the scan.
Stand upright for 5 to 10 minutes before testing. Wait at least 3 hours after eating. Test 1 to 3 days after hard exercise rather than the morning after. Empty your bladder first. Avoid testing after sauna, steam or a long swim. Repeat under the same conditions every time — consistency matters more than perfection.
Yes. InBody scanning is included with your MAC membership. Stop by the front desk or ask a team member to get your first scan scheduled.
Every 4 to 12 weeks. More often than 4 weeks and you are mostly measuring normal water fluctuations rather than genuine changes in muscle or fat.
The InBody test cannot be used by anyone with a pacemaker or other implanted electronic medical device. For all other members, there are no age or fitness-level restrictions.
Measure how your body produces and burns energy — resting metabolic rate, VO2 max and personalised training zones.
Full PNOE guide →Drawn on site through the Elysian Institute. The internal picture to go with your composition data.
Blood work details →Start with a real baseline. Pair your InBody results with a trainer who can build a program around your actual numbers.
Meet the trainers →InBody’s own overview of bioelectrical impedance analysis and what the numbers mean.
InBody website ↗The Montana Athletic Club is a fitness and wellness facility, not a medical provider. Testing offered at the MAC is for fitness and wellness purposes and does not diagnose, treat, or rule out any medical condition. Please talk to your physician about any health concern, and before starting a new exercise program.
Breath analysis that measures how your body actually produces and burns energy.
Available at the MAC through the Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive, Bigfork.
The PNOE analyzer directly measures oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide produced. Everything else on your report — every number, every zone, every ratio — is calculated from that pair. That honesty matters because it means the calculations are only as good as the raw measurements, which is why the device is calibrated before every test.
The only two values the device actually measures. Oxygen consumed in and carbon dioxide produced out. From these two numbers, every other output is derived. Knowing this helps you understand what the test can and cannot tell you.
The ratio of CO₂ produced to oxygen consumed. Around 0.7 indicates predominantly fat being burned. Around 1.0 indicates predominantly carbohydrate. Most people sit near 0.8 at rest. The ratio shifts with exercise intensity — tracking where it shifts is how the analyzer identifies your personal crossover point.
The proportion of each fuel source your body uses at a given intensity, and the crossover point — the specific exercise intensity at which carbohydrate overtakes fat as the dominant fuel. This typically lands around 60 to 70% of maximum aerobic capacity, but is individual, which is the entire reason to measure rather than assume.
The calories your body burns simply existing — accounting for roughly 60 to 75% of total daily energy expenditure. Online calculators estimating RMR from height, weight, age and sex can be off by 20% or more at the individual level. A direct measurement replaces the estimate with an actual number.
The maximum rate at which your body can take up and use oxygen, expressed in millilitres per kilogram per minute. It is the single best established measure of cardiorespiratory fitness and responds directly to training.
Zones derived from your measured physiology rather than from an age-based heart-rate formula. Formula-based zones assume a population average. Measured zones reflect you — which is why people who have always trained “hard enough” by feel often discover they have been consistently in the wrong zone.
Breath analysis measures gas exchange. That is all it measures. It does not measure hormones and cannot assess thyroid function, cortisol levels or estrogen. Those require a blood panel.
PNOE is not a diagnostic test. It does not screen for disease. A low VO2 max result is not a diagnosis of anything — it is a starting point for improving cardiorespiratory fitness. A low resting metabolic rate result is not a clinical finding — it is a real calorie baseline that replaces a formula estimate.
If you have a specific health concern, see your physician. The Elysian Institute’s medical team can also advise on whether metabolic testing is appropriate for your situation before you book.
There are two tests. A resting metabolic rate test and a VO2 max test. They can be done separately or together depending on your goals. The Elysian team will advise which is appropriate when you book.
The mask is not enclosed. You breathe normally. It captures the gases you exhale and sends them to the PNOE analyzer for continuous measurement.
You sit or recline in a calm room while the analyzer records your breath at rest. The result is your true resting calorie burn — no formula, no estimate.
You walk, run or ride a bike. The resistance or speed increases in stages. Gas is captured continuously throughout. You stop when you reach your limit. The result is your maximum aerobic capacity and the training zones derived from it.
Calibration is not optional. A calibration check before each session ensures the gas measurements are accurate and the results are reliable.
You sit down with a member of the Elysian team after the test and go through what the numbers mean for your training. You leave with a report and a clear plan.
Preparation matters more for a metabolic test than for most fitness assessments. The test is measuring your physiology at a specific moment — and anything that shifts your resting state shifts your result. Follow the Elysian team’s specific instructions when you book; these are general guidelines.
Digestion raises your metabolic rate above true resting. For a resting metabolic rate test, fast for at least 3 to 4 hours beforehand.
All stimulants elevate resting metabolic rate. Avoid coffee, tea, pre-workout supplements and nicotine on the day of the test.
Exercise elevates metabolic rate for hours after you stop. Save the workout for after the test, or schedule the test on a rest day.
Arriving rushed or stressed changes the reading. Arrive a few minutes early, sit down and let your body return to its resting state before the test begins.
You will be walking, running or cycling. Dress accordingly. Bring appropriate footwear.
Bring a list of any regular medications and supplements to discuss with the Elysian team before the test starts.
The most actionable outputs from a metabolic test are your measured training zones and your resting metabolic rate. Everything else flows from those two numbers.
Your measured training zones very often differ meaningfully from the ones an age-based formula would have given you. That gap is usually why training felt wrong, plateaued or produced results slower than expected. Formula zones assume a population average. Your measured zones are specific to your cardiovascular system as it is right now.
Your resting metabolic rate gives you a real calorie baseline instead of an estimate. If your calorie target has never seemed to match your results, the measured RMR is where to look first. A number 200 or 300 calories below a formula estimate is not unusual, and it explains a lot.
On retest, the most meaningful change to track is whether your VO2 max has risen and whether your fat oxidation crossover point has shifted upward — both are signs of improving fitness. Your resting metabolic rate should be stable unless body composition has shifted significantly.
Metabolic testing is useful any time the standard formulas are not working. It is especially useful for:
Every 3 to 6 months, or after a significant block of training.
A retest shows whether your resting metabolic rate has shifted and whether your training zones have changed — both of which happen as cardiorespiratory fitness improves. If you are working toward a specific event or season, schedule a retest at the end of each training block.
PNOE is a medical-grade metabolic analyzer that measures how your body produces and burns energy by analyzing the gases you exhale — specifically oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. From those two measurements it calculates your resting metabolic rate, the ratio of fat versus carbohydrate your body burns at different intensities, your VO2 max and personalised training zones based on your actual physiology.
Montana Athletic Club in Bigfork offers PNOE metabolic testing through the on-site Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive — the only location in the Flathead Valley offering this level of metabolic analysis. Members travel from Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Polson specifically for this test.
A resting metabolic rate test is done sitting or reclining quietly for 10 to 15 minutes. The result is a precise calorie baseline — how many calories you burn simply existing. A VO2 max test involves a progressive exercise ramp that gets harder in stages until you reach your limit. The result is your maximum aerobic capacity and your true training zones.
Do not eat for at least 3 to 4 hours before a resting metabolic rate test. Avoid caffeine, nicotine and stimulants. No hard exercise on the day of the test. Arrive early and sit quietly before starting. Wear exercise clothing for a VO2 max test. The Elysian team will give you specific instructions when you book — follow theirs over any general guidance.
No. Breath analysis measures gas exchange — specifically oxygen and carbon dioxide. It does not measure hormones and cannot assess thyroid function, cortisol or estrogen. PNOE is not a diagnostic test and a result is not a diagnosis. For hormone-related testing, the Elysian Institute’s blood panels are the relevant option.
Every 3 to 6 months, or after a significant training block. Retesting shows whether your resting metabolic rate has shifted and whether your training zones have changed — both of which happen as fitness improves.
See exactly what your weight is made of — muscle, fat and body water. Pair with your RMR for a complete energy and composition baseline.
Full InBody guide →Drawn on site through the Elysian Institute. Adds the internal biomarker picture that breath analysis cannot provide.
Blood work details →Your trainer can use your measured training zones directly in your program. No more guessing what “moderate intensity” means for you.
Meet the trainers →Overview of all three analysis tools available at the MAC and how they fit together.
Health Technology overview →The Montana Athletic Club is a fitness and wellness facility, not a medical provider. Testing offered at the MAC is for fitness and wellness purposes and does not diagnose, treat, or rule out any medical condition. Please talk to your physician about any health concern, and before starting a new exercise program.
Certified lab blood panels, drawn on site through the Elysian Institute.
At 850 Holt Drive, Bigfork — same building, same front door as the MAC.
Full lab blood panels are available in the same building as the MAC, processed by a certified laboratory, and ordered and reviewed by the Elysian Institute’s medical team. The Elysian Institute is a full clinical-grade facility operating at 850 Holt Drive — same address, same front door as the Montana Athletic Club.
The MAC is a fitness and wellness facility. Elysian is the medical provider. The distinction matters because it means the blood draw, the panel selection and the result interpretation all belong to qualified clinical professionals, not gym staff.
For training purposes, why does this matter? Body composition testing measures structure. Metabolic testing measures energy use. Blood work shows the internal picture — the markers that neither of the other two tests can reach. Having all three available under one roof is unusual for a health club anywhere in Montana.
The Elysian clinical team performs the draw at 850 Holt Drive. The sample goes to a certified laboratory for processing.
Panel selection and result interpretation belong to Elysian’s qualified clinicians. MAC staff are not involved in the clinical process.
InBody shows your body’s structure. PNOE shows your energy use. Blood work adds the internal markers. Together they represent a complete physiological picture.
The Elysian medical team decides what panel is appropriate based on your situation and goals. That decision belongs to them, not to the MAC and not to you alone.
The draw is performed by qualified clinical professionals in Elysian’s facility at 850 Holt Drive. It takes a few minutes.
Samples are processed by a certified external laboratory. Results are not instant — turnaround time varies by panel; the Elysian team will advise.
The Elysian medical team goes through your results with you. They interpret the numbers. This is a clinical conversation — it is not something MAC staff can participate in.
If you train at the MAC and want your program to reflect what your results show, you can choose to share the relevant parts with your trainer. That conversation is between you and your trainer — Elysian does not share your results with MAC staff without your consent.
The Elysian team will give you specific preparation instructions when you book. Their instructions take priority over anything general on this page, because preparation depends on the specific panel ordered.
Typically 8 to 12 hours, but this depends on the panel. Confirm with Elysian when you book.
Stay hydrated. Do not restrict water unless the Elysian team specifically advises otherwise.
Bring a complete list of everything you take regularly — prescription medications, supplements, vitamins. This matters for accurate interpretation.
Several markers vary through the day. Morning appointments, before normal daily activity begins, tend to produce the most consistent baselines.
The Elysian team knows which panel you are having. Their preparation guidance is specific to your situation.
Blood work interpretation is a clinical act. The Elysian Institute’s medical team goes through your results with you in full. They explain what each marker shows, what the numbers mean in your context and what, if anything, warrants follow-up with your own physician.
MAC staff are not involved in reviewing, interpreting or advising on blood work results. The front desk can direct you to the Elysian entrance at 850 Holt Drive, but the clinical conversation belongs to Elysian’s team.
If something in your results is relevant to how you train — and you want your MAC trainer to know about it — you can choose to share it. That decision is entirely yours.
Blood work is useful for anyone who wants their training and nutrition decisions grounded in internal data rather than assumption. It is especially relevant for:
Retest timing is a clinical decision. The Elysian team will advise based on the panel and your individual situation.
The MAC does not publish a recommended retest interval for blood work. What the right interval looks like depends on what was found, what has changed and what the Elysian medical team recommends for you.
At the Montana Athletic Club, yes. The Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive offers certified lab blood panels drawn on site. The draw is performed by the Elysian clinical team, not MAC staff. The MAC is a fitness facility; the Elysian Institute is the medical provider.
The Elysian Institute’s clinical staff perform the blood draw. The Montana Athletic Club is not involved in the clinical process. The MAC provides the building; Elysian provides the medical service.
Most panels require fasting, typically 8 to 12 hours, but it depends on the specific panel the Elysian team orders for you. Confirm with Elysian when you book and follow their instructions, which take priority over any general guidance on this page.
The Elysian Institute’s medical team reviews and goes through your results with you. Blood work interpretation is a clinical act that belongs to qualified medical professionals. MAC staff are not involved in reviewing or interpreting results.
No. The Elysian Institute at 850 Holt Drive serves its own patients independently of MAC membership. Contact Elysian directly to find out what is required for your visit.
Book directly through the Elysian Institute at elysianmt.com or by contacting the Elysian team. The MAC front desk can point you to the Elysian entrance, but bookings go through Elysian.
Measure resting metabolic rate and VO2 max through breath analysis. The energy-use layer to pair with your internal markers.
Full PNOE guide →See muscle, fat and body water in under 60 seconds. The structural layer that completes the picture.
Full InBody guide →When your trainer has real data to work from, your program becomes specific to your actual physiology.
Meet the trainers →Overview of all three analysis tools and how they fit together.
Health Technology overview →The Montana Athletic Club is a fitness and wellness facility, not a medical provider. Testing offered at the MAC is for fitness and wellness purposes and does not diagnose, treat, or rule out any medical condition. Please talk to your physician about any health concern, and before starting a new exercise program.
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All three happen on a bike — but they’re genuinely different rides. RPM is the rhythm ride, THE TRIP is the immersive big-screen journey, and SPRINT is the short, all-out HIIT session.
Every Les Mills class is on the live group exercise calendar — and every one is included with your MAC membership.
Led by Fitness Director Ashton Freeman, our certified trainers bring decades of combined experience across strength, post-rehab, sports performance and weight loss.
Our coaches and staff are here to encourage, support and celebrate you every step of the way — so you can discover what you're capable of. The team works with members from across the Flathead Valley, including Kalispell.
Be inspired by real journeys of growth, achievement and transformation. Discover how MAC members turned their goals into reality — with personalized programs, group classes and expert support every step of the way.
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