Exhibit 99.1

Investor Contact: John Heller – 952-229-7427 or ir@lifetimefitness.com

Media Contact: Jason Thunstrom – 952-229-7435 or pr@lifetimefitness.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LIFE TIME FITNESS ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2012 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenue Grew 11.1%, Net Income Grew 19.1% and Diluted EPS was $0.77, up 16.7%

CHANHASSEN, Minn. (October 18, 2012) – Life Time Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: LTM), The Healthy Way of Life Company, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Third quarter 2012 revenue grew 11.1% to $294.9 million from $265.4 million during the same period last year. Total revenue for the first nine months of 2012 grew 11.7% to $851.6 million from $762.8 million during the same period last year.

Net income for the quarter was $32.1 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, compared to net income of $27.0 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for 3Q 2011. Net income for the first nine months of 2012 was $88.1 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $72.8 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, for the prior-year period.

“We saw continued earnings growth, cash flow and margin improvement in the third quarter, and are pleased with our revenue metrics, which were highlighted by double-digit growth in total revenue and in-center revenue,” said Bahram Akradi, Life Time chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We remain focused on building our Healthy Way of Life brand by making strategic investments in programs and services that we see as powerful opportunities to enhance our members’ experience, while driving membership acquisition and retention. Our business model is strong, and we are steadfast in our focus on driving long-term growth and success.”

During the quarter, the Company completed the integration and rebranding activities associated with the acquired Lifestyle Family Fitness facilities. Additionally, the Company expanded plans in connection with its previously announced acquisition of the Atlanta-based Racquet Club of the South by incorporating enhanced fitness and nutrition programs, services and membership opportunities as part of the overall renovation of the tennis complex.

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Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 2

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012, Financial Highlights:

Total revenue for the third quarter grew 11.1% to $294.9 million from $265.4 million in 3Q 2011. Total revenue for the first nine months of 2012 grew 11.7% to $851.6 million from $762.8 million during the same period last year.

Memberships grew 6.4% to 695,271 at September 30, 2012, from 653,300 at September 30, 2011.

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Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 3

Total operating expenses during 3Q 2012 were $235.5 million compared to $215.5 million for 3Q 2011. Total operating expenses for the first nine months of 2012 were $687.3 million compared to $626.4 million in 2011.

Net income for 3Q 2012 was $32.1 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, compared to net income of $27.0 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for 3Q 2011. Net income for the first nine months of 2012 was $88.1 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, compared to net income of $72.8 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, for the prior-year period.

EBITDA for 3Q 2012 was $89.2 million compared with $75.6 million in 3Q 2011. For the first nine months of 2012, EBITDA was $250.7 million compared with $211.0 million in the prior-year period.

Cash flows from operating activities for the first nine months of 2012 totaled $202.7 million compared with $177.3 million in the prior-year period.

Weighted average fully diluted shares for 3Q 2012 totaled 41.9 million compared to 40.9 million in 3Q 2011. For the first nine months of 2012, weighted average fully diluted shares totaled 41.9 million compared to 40.8 million for the prior-year period.

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Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 4

Updated 2012 Business Outlook:

The following statements are based on the Company’s current expectations for fiscal year 2012 and incorporate year-to-date 2012 operating trends. These 2012 expectations are subject to the risks and uncertainties further described in the Company’s forward-looking statements:

As announced on October 11, 2012, the Company will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2012 results. Bahram Akradi, Michael Robinson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and John Heller, senior director, investor relations & treasurer, will host the conference call. The conference call will be webcast and may be accessed via the Company’s Investor Relations section of its website at lifetimefitness.com. A replay of the call will be available the same day via the Company’s website beginning at approximately 2:00 p.m. ET.

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Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 5

About Life Time Fitness, Inc.

As The Healthy Way of Life Company, Life Time Fitness (NYSE: LTM) helps organizations, communities and individuals achieve their total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals by engaging in their areas of interest – or discovering new passions – both inside and outside of Life Time’s distinctive and large sports, professional fitness, family recreation and spa destinations, most of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Company’s Healthy Way of Life approach enables customers to achieve this by providing the best programs, people and places of uncompromising quality and value. As of October 18, 2012, the Company operated 105 centers under the LIFE TIME FITNESS^® and LIFE TIME ATHLETIC(SM) brands in the United States and Canada. Additional information about Life Time centers, programs and services is available at lifetimefitness.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual results in the future to differ materially from its historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. Among these factors are attracting and retaining members, risks related to our debt levels and debt covenants, the ability to access our existing credit facility and obtain additional financing, strains on our business from continued and future growth, including potential acquisitions and other strategic initiatives, risks related to maintenance and security of our data, competition from other health and fitness centers, identifying and acquiring suitable sites for new centers, delays in opening new centers and other factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Diluted earnings per common share could also be affected by the number of shares outstanding, which depends on factors such as the number of shares issued upon exercise of stock options and future grants of awards pursuant to equity-based incentive plans as well as stock offerings and repurchases. The Company’s expectations for fiscal year 2012 exclude any additional unusual items that might occur during the fiscal year, such as litigation matters or the potential recognition of compensation expense associated with the May 2012 grant of long-term performance-based restricted stock to the Company’s senior management team. While the Company has determined that achieving the 2012 diluted earnings per common share performance criteria required for vesting of the remaining stock related to the June 2009 performance-based restricted stock grant is probable and anticipates recognizing additional performance share-based compensation expense in 2012, the Company may not be able to meet those criteria due to risks and uncertainties, including those factors described above.

The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date. All remarks made during the Company’s financial results conference call will be current at the time of the call and the Company undertakes no obligation to update the replay.

Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 6

LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 7

LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 8

LIFE TIME FITNESS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 9

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release and the related conference call disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures.

EBITDA. Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) is a non-GAAP disclosure consisting of net income plus interest expense, net, provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. This term, as the Company defines it, may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by other companies and is not a measure of performance presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses EBITDA as a measure of operating performance. The funds depicted by EBITDA are not necessarily available for discretionary use if they are reserved for particular capital purposes, to maintain compliance with debt covenants, to service debt or to pay taxes. EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute for net income, net cash provided by operating activities or other income or cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additional details related to EBITDA are provided in the Form 8-K that the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this press release. The following table provides a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to EBITDA:

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO EBITDA

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 10

Free Cash Flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure consisting of net cash provided by operating activities, less purchases of property and equipment, excluding acquisitions. This term, as the Company defines it, may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure used by other companies and does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses free cash flow as a measure of cash generated after spending on property and equipment. Free cash flow should not be considered as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additional details related to free cash flow are provided in the Form 8-K that the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date of this press release. The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to free cash flow:

RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

Non-GAAP Average Center Revenue Per Membership. Non-GAAP average center revenue per membership is a non-GAAP financial measure consisting of average center revenue per membership excluding the impact of the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction, which may provide a better metric for comparing operating results. The following table provides a reconciliation of average center revenue per membership, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to non-GAAP average center revenue per membership:

RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP

TO NON-GAAP AVERAGE CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP

(Unaudited)

Life Time Fitness Third Quarter 2012 Results – Page 11

Non-GAAP Average In-Center Revenue Per Membership. Non-GAAP average in-center revenue per membership is a non-GAAP financial measure consisting of average in-center revenue per membership excluding the impact of the Lifestyle Family Fitness transaction, which may provide a better metric for comparing operating results. The following table provides a reconciliation of average in-center revenue per membership, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, to non-GAAP average in-center revenue per membership:

RECONCILIATION OF AVERAGE IN-CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP

TO NON-GAAP AVERAGE IN-CENTER REVENUE PER MEMBERSHIP

(Unaudited)