Recently, there's been an increase in the number of online fitness pros slamming working out in a gym. It's annoying but I totally get it.
They've done their research and they're very aware of the all-too-prevalent fear some people have of joining a fitness center.
They've created a product (at-home workouts or equipment) to appeal to those people. Now, they're pushing the buttons of their target market. Since many people are already apprehensive about going to a gym, these marketers, I mean fitness pros demonize the health club setting.
I'm the first person to tell you that you don't need a bunch of equipment to lose weight and get in shape. Even though I own a gym, I will never pretend that you can't get a great workout outside or at home.
I am also very aware that some fitness centers do a lousy job educating members and making them feel at home. So, while I won't say it's true for every gym, I do believe that there can be definite advantages to working out at facilities like Body & Soul and here's why...
* You will get a solid, well balanced, effective workout program. Too many people piece together a strength training program willy-nilly. For optimum benefits and lowest risk of injury, use a professionally designed routine.
* Social support from like-minded people. You can commiserate with other members about certain exercises that your evil trainer includes in your program. :-) Body & Soul is like Cheers; other members know you by name and ask about you when they haven't seen you in a while. If you miss too many workouts, you'll get an e-mail or call from me.
* Fewer distractions. Working out at home can be great but way too many people (especially women) end up skipping workouts because the phone rings or their kids need something or because a chore needs to be done around the house. You deserve some time to yourself to take care of yourself.
* Form check. If you're performing an exercise incorrectly, I'll let you know. Unless you've been working out for years, reading about an exercise and doing it with good form are often two different things.
* Variety. You probably don't have a fully equipped gym in your home. Being able to challenge your muscles with a wide variety of exercises is better for you physically and it prevents boredom.
* Encouragement. You'll be regularly reminded to challenge yourself by increasing your weights, learning new exercises, working harder, etc. Too often, when exercising on their own, people end up just going through the motions.
Those are a few advantages to working out in a fitness center, or at least in mine. If you prefer exercising at home, regularly do so and are getting results, good for you. I'm all for people exercising period. The point of this article was to show the positive aspects of being a member of a place like Body & Soul.
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Quick, Delicious Recipes From Celebrity Chefs
Are you one of those people who thinks eating right means spending a lot of money?
Do you know you should eat better but rely on fast food or take-out because you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen?
Recently, Oprah had celebrity chefs on her program. Cat Cora, Curtis Stone and Tyler Florence meet with families to show them how to prepare delicious, healthy, low-cost meals that don't take long to prepare.
Here's a link to 7 days worth of meals from each of those chefs ==> Celebrity Recipes
Do you know you should eat better but rely on fast food or take-out because you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen?
Recently, Oprah had celebrity chefs on her program. Cat Cora, Curtis Stone and Tyler Florence meet with families to show them how to prepare delicious, healthy, low-cost meals that don't take long to prepare.
Here's a link to 7 days worth of meals from each of those chefs ==> Celebrity Recipes
Saturday, March 14, 2009
50+ Group Fitness Training
Did you know that one-on-one personal training can run anywhere from $35-$75 per session?
Would you like to get in shape but are leary of trying to design an appropriate workout program on your own? And, how do you know you're performing the exercises correctly?
Do you enjoy group activities?
Now you can get the instructional benefits of personal training along with the support and camaraderie of a group, at a fraction of the cost of individual personal training.
Body & Soul Fitness Studio is offering "Fit & Feisty" group fitness training. This 4-week program is designed for men and women, ages 50 and over who want to be leaner, stronger and live better. Join us as we put the fun in functional training.
Training will take place Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 – 10:00 AM at Body & Soul, beginning March 31st.
Sessions will be led by certified personal trainers Mike and Loretta DeCarlo. Cost is $89 for members, $99 for non members.
Contact Mickey at (717) 509-7777 to register or for more information.
Body & Soul Fitness Studio
618 Columbia Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 509-7777
Plenty of free parking.
Would you like to get in shape but are leary of trying to design an appropriate workout program on your own? And, how do you know you're performing the exercises correctly?
Do you enjoy group activities?
Now you can get the instructional benefits of personal training along with the support and camaraderie of a group, at a fraction of the cost of individual personal training.
Body & Soul Fitness Studio is offering "Fit & Feisty" group fitness training. This 4-week program is designed for men and women, ages 50 and over who want to be leaner, stronger and live better. Join us as we put the fun in functional training.
Training will take place Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 – 10:00 AM at Body & Soul, beginning March 31st.
Sessions will be led by certified personal trainers Mike and Loretta DeCarlo. Cost is $89 for members, $99 for non members.
Contact Mickey at (717) 509-7777 to register or for more information.
Body & Soul Fitness Studio
618 Columbia Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17603
(717) 509-7777
Plenty of free parking.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
5 Reasons Why The Term "Cardio" Is Lame
5 Reasons Why the Term "Cardio" is Lame
by Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
"Cardio" is the "Economic Stimulus Bill" of the fitness world. You can put your hopes in it, but generally it isn't going to do anything for you, and it will just waste your time and resources.
Most people don't realize that there was "life before cardio". People used to exercise outdoors. They participated in sports. They played games - outside! - with their family and friends. They used their feet or bicycles for transportation (rather than driving 15 minutes to the gym to go do "cardio").
So here are the top 5 reasons why I think the term "cardio" is lame.
1) People hate doing cardio.
Have you ever met a person who smiled when they said, "Oh, I have to go do cardio now." (That's not the same as the excitement an endurance athlete gets when they go "training". That's different from "cardio". Endurance athletes don't call their workouts, "cardio".)
NOTE:
So if you are a runner, and you love to run, and you tell me (with a smile), "I'm going out for a run", then that's cool by me. Nothing wrong with that. But if don't like to run, and you tell me (with a pout), "I'm going out for a run because I have to get my cardio", then I say, "Boooooo to that". Life's to short to hate your workouts!
2) People mistakenly believe that 30 minutes of half-assed cardio (which is what most people do) will help them lose weight.
But it won't. It just wastes their time. People are obsessed with the calorie counters on machines. I truly believe this is how folks get hooked and obsessive compulsive with cardio...because all they can think about is how many calories they have burned, and how much food that means they can eat.
"Cardio" does not promote healthy relationships with food.
3) People think you have to "cardio" (i.e. go to a gym and exercise on a machine that doesn't go anywhere) for 30 minutes in order to be healthy.
You don't have to do "cardio" to be healthy. There is so much more to health than 30 minutes of "cardio". Your diet is more important for your cardiovascular health than your exercise regime. Plus, as long as you're active each day (doing manual labor, "cardio", playing sports, or lifting weights), you're doing enough to meet the minimum required amount of exercise for cardiovascular health.
4) People think "cardio" will help them with sports performance or their short, burst fitness (like climbing stairs).
It rarely does.
In fact, the guy who does "cardio" in preparation for his basketball, soccer, hockey, or Ultimate Frisbee league is going to be sorely disappointed by how slow he is - and by how he lacks sports-specific fitness as much as all the guys who just lifted weights all off-season. Plus, doing traditional "machine cardio" does not prepare you for sports-specific movements or speed of movement, so you're just as likely - if not more likely - to get injured during the early season.
5) It signifies a waste of time, inefficiency, and a sheep-like mentality towards doing something just because everyone else is doing it.
Seriously, if you were from another planet and you came down to earth and went into a big commercial gym and look at the "cardio" section, pardon me, the "cardio theater" section, you'd smile to yourself and say, "wow, this planet is going to e easy pickens".
"Cardio" is also lame because people use cardio as a time to catch up on their magazine reading and TV watching (and now Internet and email time). That about says it all. Workout time is not multi-task time.
So what should you be doing instead if you want to sculpt your body, burn fat, lose your belly, and get lean before summer?
You should skip the "cardio" (let's not ever use that phrase again) and focus on total-body, multi-muscle resistance training and interval training exercises to help you build "everyday" strength and fitness (like the ability to carry groceries or children, or climb 3 flights of stairs as fast as possible).
Plus, with these total body workouts, you'll save time and get more health benefits than you will with straight "cardio". (Sorry to use that term again.)
Helping you get more results while saving time and money,
Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training
PS - If you want the best, fastest, and most effective fat burning workouts that you can do at home...
...(without the indignity of driving to a gym to use a sweaty, disgusting "cardio" machine), then grab your copy of Turbulence Training for Fat Loss.
Click here for a $4.95 Trial Offer of Turbulence Training for Fat Loss
by Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
"Cardio" is the "Economic Stimulus Bill" of the fitness world. You can put your hopes in it, but generally it isn't going to do anything for you, and it will just waste your time and resources.
Most people don't realize that there was "life before cardio". People used to exercise outdoors. They participated in sports. They played games - outside! - with their family and friends. They used their feet or bicycles for transportation (rather than driving 15 minutes to the gym to go do "cardio").
So here are the top 5 reasons why I think the term "cardio" is lame.
1) People hate doing cardio.
Have you ever met a person who smiled when they said, "Oh, I have to go do cardio now." (That's not the same as the excitement an endurance athlete gets when they go "training". That's different from "cardio". Endurance athletes don't call their workouts, "cardio".)
NOTE:
So if you are a runner, and you love to run, and you tell me (with a smile), "I'm going out for a run", then that's cool by me. Nothing wrong with that. But if don't like to run, and you tell me (with a pout), "I'm going out for a run because I have to get my cardio", then I say, "Boooooo to that". Life's to short to hate your workouts!
2) People mistakenly believe that 30 minutes of half-assed cardio (which is what most people do) will help them lose weight.
But it won't. It just wastes their time. People are obsessed with the calorie counters on machines. I truly believe this is how folks get hooked and obsessive compulsive with cardio...because all they can think about is how many calories they have burned, and how much food that means they can eat.
"Cardio" does not promote healthy relationships with food.
3) People think you have to "cardio" (i.e. go to a gym and exercise on a machine that doesn't go anywhere) for 30 minutes in order to be healthy.
You don't have to do "cardio" to be healthy. There is so much more to health than 30 minutes of "cardio". Your diet is more important for your cardiovascular health than your exercise regime. Plus, as long as you're active each day (doing manual labor, "cardio", playing sports, or lifting weights), you're doing enough to meet the minimum required amount of exercise for cardiovascular health.
4) People think "cardio" will help them with sports performance or their short, burst fitness (like climbing stairs).
It rarely does.
In fact, the guy who does "cardio" in preparation for his basketball, soccer, hockey, or Ultimate Frisbee league is going to be sorely disappointed by how slow he is - and by how he lacks sports-specific fitness as much as all the guys who just lifted weights all off-season. Plus, doing traditional "machine cardio" does not prepare you for sports-specific movements or speed of movement, so you're just as likely - if not more likely - to get injured during the early season.
5) It signifies a waste of time, inefficiency, and a sheep-like mentality towards doing something just because everyone else is doing it.
Seriously, if you were from another planet and you came down to earth and went into a big commercial gym and look at the "cardio" section, pardon me, the "cardio theater" section, you'd smile to yourself and say, "wow, this planet is going to e easy pickens".
"Cardio" is also lame because people use cardio as a time to catch up on their magazine reading and TV watching (and now Internet and email time). That about says it all. Workout time is not multi-task time.
So what should you be doing instead if you want to sculpt your body, burn fat, lose your belly, and get lean before summer?
You should skip the "cardio" (let's not ever use that phrase again) and focus on total-body, multi-muscle resistance training and interval training exercises to help you build "everyday" strength and fitness (like the ability to carry groceries or children, or climb 3 flights of stairs as fast as possible).
Plus, with these total body workouts, you'll save time and get more health benefits than you will with straight "cardio". (Sorry to use that term again.)
Helping you get more results while saving time and money,
Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training
PS - If you want the best, fastest, and most effective fat burning workouts that you can do at home...
...(without the indignity of driving to a gym to use a sweaty, disgusting "cardio" machine), then grab your copy of Turbulence Training for Fat Loss.
Click here for a $4.95 Trial Offer of Turbulence Training for Fat Loss
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Collected Fitness Wisdom #4
I used to read any kind of "fitness" magazine I could buy. You know the typical ones on the news stands, ladies. Well, I can tell you that there is no way on earth my body was going to transform into one of those cover models doing the workouts they suggest. I realized I was going to have to do a lot harder work than that and I can also say I don't want the skinny-fat look either. It wasn't until I started tapping into more of the resources geared to men that I really began challenging myself, increasing my weight during workouts and seeing changes in my body.
~Kelley Moore
More than anything else, I believe that they key to success is to put effort into what you’re doing. You would make better progress putting maximal effort into an average program than putting a half-hearted effort into a superior program.
~John Alvino
If there is one over-riding secret that controls our future, it is that we can not win-out over our own self-image. This is so important and hardly ever talked about. Someone can use every other success strategy in the world, and if their self-image is in conflict with what they are trying to achieve, they will not achieve any long-term success with their desired goal.
~Doug Jackson
Most people are on a constant search for the path of least resistance. A drug, a supplement, a "breakthrough technique" a new machine, a shortcut in exercise form - anything and everything they think will help them reach their goals with less effort and in less time. This is typical human nature. Unfortunately, this is also faulty thinking and you will NEVER become a champion with this type of attitude.
~Tom Venuto
.
~Kelley Moore
More than anything else, I believe that they key to success is to put effort into what you’re doing. You would make better progress putting maximal effort into an average program than putting a half-hearted effort into a superior program.
~John Alvino
If there is one over-riding secret that controls our future, it is that we can not win-out over our own self-image. This is so important and hardly ever talked about. Someone can use every other success strategy in the world, and if their self-image is in conflict with what they are trying to achieve, they will not achieve any long-term success with their desired goal.
~Doug Jackson
Most people are on a constant search for the path of least resistance. A drug, a supplement, a "breakthrough technique" a new machine, a shortcut in exercise form - anything and everything they think will help them reach their goals with less effort and in less time. This is typical human nature. Unfortunately, this is also faulty thinking and you will NEVER become a champion with this type of attitude.
~Tom Venuto
.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Exercise And The Brain by Jon Benson
Sorry I've been M.I.A. from the blog. I'm sure you can understand how time consuming unpacking and setting up the gym are.
Although I'm still finishing up, members can definitely come and work out. If you want to check out Body & Soul's new digs, call me at (717) 509-7777.
Until things calm down I'll have little time to post but I wanted to pass along the following info from Jon Benson.
Exercise And The Brain
If you ever needed another good reason to exercise, I've got one for you:
Exercise makes your brain bigger.
Actually this isn't entirely accurate. To be more specific, exercise was found to increase brain size slightly, but far more important to increase "spatial reasoning."
This is the ability to recognize patterns, remember phrases, numbers, and so-on. This was discovered by researchers at the Universities of Chicago and Pittsburgh.
It is also one of the most important factors to the prevention of Alzheimer's and dementia.
My mom suffered with dementia the last ten years of her life. But unlike most dementia patients she was fully functional thanks to exercise. She drove and had a mind that was unbelievably sharp right up until an accident injured her beyond the ability to exercise.
After that, she mentally went downhill rapidly. Thankfully, she passed in peace... and she had ten wonderfully active years thanks to her willingness to take up weight training at the age of 71.
She eventually walked up to 3 miles per day and trained in the gym 3 days per week.
That kept her mind sharp, along with fish oil and N-Acetyl L-Carnitine, a wonderful brain nutrient.
Once again, we see the power of exercise. It increases the QUALITY of your life.
Quantity is no where near as important to me as quality.
The links at the bottom of this newsletter are to my books on exercise. Pick the one that appeals to you most and take action.
Your brain will thank you, as will the rest of your body.
One of the best ways to start exercising when you are over 40 is by using the routines covered in "Fit Over 40".
This book profiles 53 different men and women, age 40 to 80, all sharing their workouts, nutrition plans, and mental empowerment techniques.
It is a MUST-HAVE for anyone wanting to begin exercising or improve their level of fitness after the age of 40.
For a free fat-burning course from Fit Over 40, go here -- Free Fatburning Course
If you're in the Lancaster area, call and schedule an appointment to come see me. Body & Soul has members of all shapes and sizes, ranging in age from teenager to 92. It's never too early or too late to start a regular exercise program.
Although I'm still finishing up, members can definitely come and work out. If you want to check out Body & Soul's new digs, call me at (717) 509-7777.
Until things calm down I'll have little time to post but I wanted to pass along the following info from Jon Benson.
Exercise And The Brain
If you ever needed another good reason to exercise, I've got one for you:
Exercise makes your brain bigger.
Actually this isn't entirely accurate. To be more specific, exercise was found to increase brain size slightly, but far more important to increase "spatial reasoning."
This is the ability to recognize patterns, remember phrases, numbers, and so-on. This was discovered by researchers at the Universities of Chicago and Pittsburgh.
It is also one of the most important factors to the prevention of Alzheimer's and dementia.
My mom suffered with dementia the last ten years of her life. But unlike most dementia patients she was fully functional thanks to exercise. She drove and had a mind that was unbelievably sharp right up until an accident injured her beyond the ability to exercise.
After that, she mentally went downhill rapidly. Thankfully, she passed in peace... and she had ten wonderfully active years thanks to her willingness to take up weight training at the age of 71.
She eventually walked up to 3 miles per day and trained in the gym 3 days per week.
That kept her mind sharp, along with fish oil and N-Acetyl L-Carnitine, a wonderful brain nutrient.
Once again, we see the power of exercise. It increases the QUALITY of your life.
Quantity is no where near as important to me as quality.
The links at the bottom of this newsletter are to my books on exercise. Pick the one that appeals to you most and take action.
Your brain will thank you, as will the rest of your body.
One of the best ways to start exercising when you are over 40 is by using the routines covered in "Fit Over 40".
This book profiles 53 different men and women, age 40 to 80, all sharing their workouts, nutrition plans, and mental empowerment techniques.
It is a MUST-HAVE for anyone wanting to begin exercising or improve their level of fitness after the age of 40.
For a free fat-burning course from Fit Over 40, go here -- Free Fatburning Course
If you're in the Lancaster area, call and schedule an appointment to come see me. Body & Soul has members of all shapes and sizes, ranging in age from teenager to 92. It's never too early or too late to start a regular exercise program.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Quick Update on Body & Soul Fitness
Except for my computer and phone, Body & Soul's move is complete. Our new address is 618 Columbia Avenue in Lancaster, PA.
There is a ton of stuff that needs to find a home but things are coming along. Unfortunately, my new (freebie) desk has not been picked up yet (because of the snow) so I can't organize my office.
Since most of the equipment is set up, there's not much I can do until the desk arrives so I stayed home for a rare day off. However, the snow has stopped so I may stop in later.
The fire marshal was supposed to come today and approve opening for business but I haven't heard anything yet so the weather probably delayed inspection.
Hopefully, Body & Soul will be up and running very soon. Keep your fingers crossed.
There is a ton of stuff that needs to find a home but things are coming along. Unfortunately, my new (freebie) desk has not been picked up yet (because of the snow) so I can't organize my office.
Since most of the equipment is set up, there's not much I can do until the desk arrives so I stayed home for a rare day off. However, the snow has stopped so I may stop in later.
The fire marshal was supposed to come today and approve opening for business but I haven't heard anything yet so the weather probably delayed inspection.
Hopefully, Body & Soul will be up and running very soon. Keep your fingers crossed.
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