Conway Sax, a has-been race driver cum auto-mechanic, curses as he wrestles a rotted 30-pound muffler from a Nissan Maxima. Just then a woman, a beautiful woman with whom he has a tumultuous past, saunters into his auto-repair shop causing him to drop the muffler on his foot. He curses some more, she takes his face in her hands, his girlfriend walks in–things unravel from there. So begins a meeting that sets in motion a snarly web of campaign secrets, illegitimate babies, blackmail and murder that make up Steve Ulfelder’s second of three novels, “The Whole Lie,” a tale the Richmond Times-Dispatch calls “a work of hardcore crime-fiction art.”
You may have noticed a preponderance of “30 Day Challenge” postings in your social media of late. It’s one of those trends that’s been slowly gathering steam over the past few years and suddenly seems to have exploded into the interweb zeitgeist. Some trends can be fleeting and silly, but the good ones stick when people find value in them.
“Thirty days is enough to get started in the right way, to begin to understand what makes change easier and most importantly, how to stay on the right track,” says Ariane de Bonvoisin, author of “The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Making Any Change Easier.”
For people thinking about fitness, the 30 Day Challenge concept has merit for beginners and experts alike. The idea is to pick an exercise or a small series of exercises and repeat them daily, gradually increasing reps throughout the 30 days with periodic rest days, building toward a goal on day 30 that is significantly greater than the starting point. It’s perfect for beginners because the starting number of reps and duration is very manageable and not terribly time consuming; most people can bang out fifty squats on a commercial break. Such a challenge is also worthwhile for those with more advanced fitness goals as a way to boost the benefits of an existing routine. The idea that you can make a gradual but significant change or achieve something in as short as 30 days is appealing in our world of instant gratification and often inspires greater challenges to follow.
Mike Eaton
Fitness Together trainer Mike Eaton has spent the last year rehabilitating a severe arm and shoulder injury and knows the value of baby steps; it takes patience and perseverance to claw your way through the tiny achievements of those painful post-surgery PT sessions. It takes still more discipline to fully reclaim your pre-injury fitness, flexibility and strength. As a Fitness Together trainer, Mike sees the value of accountability not just for himself but with his clients every day because they identify the accountability component of their appointments as the key to their fitness success. For Mike, building accountability into his own routine by adding a 30 Day Challenge gave him a “no excuses mentality” and kept him on task.
Toward that end, he designed a grueling 30 Day Challenge for himself. “I had to do at least 100 chest-to-floor burpees, 200 squats, and 200 double-unders (where) the jump-rope passes under you twice instead of once.” (See video box above). For added discipline, Mike decided that the workout had to be completed in one structured session, not in piecemeal throughout the day. He logged each workout with a running total of each day.
“There were plenty of nights after work that I just wanted to get home but I needed to push myself and get the challenge done for the day. After a week I kind of looked forward to getting it done and logging my numbers.”
Mike completed the challenge in early May and says it was definitely worth it. “During and after the challenge I definitely saw improvements in CrossFit as well as my long distance running. I highly recommend trying a challenge and structure it to what you need improvements on.”
Alicia Tansey & Karen O’Connor Ripley
Fitness Together Norwell trainer Alicia Tasney began the 30 Day Squat Challenge in April as a way to motivate a few friends who have been historically reluctant to begin exercising. She baited these friends into doing the challenge by promising them that she would to do twice the amount outlined on the challenge web site.
“The squat is a great exercise to focus on for it’s functional benefits,” says Tasney. “It translates to things we do regularly in our every day lives, like getting in and out of the car, walking up stairs, bending over to tie shoes or pick up an object.” When done properly, the benefits of the squat include building muscle; improving flexibility and balance; and gaining strength in the glutes, legs, knees, feet and lower back.
Form is important when doing any exercise, but especially where high reps are involved. Even more important if you’re adding weights. Tasney says that for such a simple exercise, there are many ways to go wrong, and that can lead to injuries of the knees and lower back. (See below for tips on proper form.)
As of tomorrow, Alicia will be on day 21 of the challenge, which means 180 squats for her friends and 360 for her. By the time all is said and done, she’ll have completed 6,590 squats! She says she’s already feeling the benefits from the challenge. When running, her legs feel stronger and take much longer to fatigue. Another benefit? Friends have offered compliments, which we’ll refrain from repeating, but suffice it to say we could rename this challenge the “30 Day ‘Damn, Gurl!’ Awesome Booty Squat Challenge.”
Fitness Together client Karen O’Connor Ripley, a client at FT for several years, is always looking for ways to push herself further. A busy mom who also runs a cleaning business as well as a facebook page, “Ecomomics,” Ripley is a busy person. But when she overheard her trainers, Mike and Alicia, talking about their challenges she decided to incorporate one into her own routine as a way to boost her fitness level without eating up a lot of time. To focus on the area she most wants to improve, Ripley chose an abdominal challenge. “It consist of sit-ups, crunches, planks and push-ups with the reps increasing everyday. This also got me to do plank and push-ups which are two exercises I don’t usually do unless I’m at FT. It’s going good, I like it, it’s gets me going.”
As inhabitants of a planet whose circadian rhythms are tied to the 30-day cycle of the moon, you might say we are hard wired to operate within the parameters of this increment of time. When thinking about making a change or an improvement that involves discipline, a month isn’t really a daunting amount of time, but you may be surprised at what you can accomplish.
If you take up a 30-Day Challenge of any kind, keep these tips in mind:
Choose a challenge that is doable, but challenges you as it progresses. You’re in this to make progress, not waste time or injure yourself.
Make sure you’re using proper form. Check with your trainer if you have questions.
Journal your progress. This will keep you on task and give you a real sense of accomplishment at the end.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up: If you miss a day, pick up where you left off if possible. If you miss more than a few days, back up or start again. Just don’t give up!
Here are the challenges happening at Fitness Together in Norwell. If you try one, let us know how it goes, or share your challenge here. We’d love to know how you’re doing!
Mike Eaton’s 30 Day Beatin’
To be completed in one session each day for 30 Days
100 chest-to-floor burpees
200 squats
200 double-unders
30 Day Squat Challenge
(Again, Tasney’s doubling this.)
To do a proper squat, keep this slightly bizarre visual in mind: you’re testing a metal chair with your butt to see if it’s hot, discover it is and stand up again. You can even place a chair about a foot behind you to lightly touch down on before standing up. Keep these other tips in mind for proper form*:
Begin in an athletic stance, feet shoulder width apart, feet slightly turned out, spine in neutral position, abs engaged.
Keeping your weight in your heels, your head up and your eyes looking ahead (not at the floor) bend your knees until your upper leg is parallel or deeper to the ground. Your butt should be moving backwards as well as downward as your knees hinge, preventing your knees from going forward beyond your toes.
Throughout the squat, your head is still up, eyes forward, shoulders back and chest out. Don’t collapse your spine and hunch downward.
To return to the standing position, engage your legs, glutes and abs and squeeze as you “explode” back to your starting position.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
*Have your trainer check your form or help you modify if you have any physical constraints, or if you wish to add weights to increase difficulty.
Day 1 – 50 squats
Day 2 – 55 squats
Day 3- 60 squats
Day 4 – Rest
Day 5 – 70 squats
Day 6 – 75 squats
Day 7 – 80 squats
Day 8 – Rest
Day 9- 100 squats
Day 10 – 105 squats
Day 11 – 110 squats
Day 12 – Rest
Day 13 – 130 squats
Day 14 – 135 squats
Day 15 – 140 squats
Day 16 – Rest
Day 17 – 150 squats
Day 18 – 155 squats
Day 19 – 160 squats
Day 20 – Rest
Day 21 – 180 squats
Day 22 – 185 squats
Day 23 – 190 squats
Day 24 – Rest
Day 25 – 220 squats
Day 26 – 225 squats
Day 27 – 230 squats
Day 28 – Rest
Day 29 – 240 squats
Day 30 – 250 squats
The Mean Ab Challenge
(It says “June” but Karen O’Connor Ripley couldn’t wait. “Thirty days is 30 days!” she says.)
For more about Ariane de Bonvoisin’s inspirational books:. First30days.com
Bob Lexander – age 60
Production supervisor for the Dedham/Westwood Water District
For most of Bob’s adult life, he’s been an avid runner, marathoner and all around fitness enthusiast, partly because he loves being active and partly in hopes of hedging a family history of health issues. “My father had heart disease, arthritis and cancer,” says Bob. “I always hoped I could outrun it.” But as he got older, his knees began to break down. After his third knee replacement (the second on his right side) failed to heal as well as he’d hoped, doctors put him on heavy doses of arthritis and pain meds and told him he’d just have to live with it. Despite physical therapy his exercise routine all but came to a complete halt.
Last April, Bob’s wife, Mary Ellen Kelly, became concerned at seeing her husband slip into a funk the longer he went without exercise. Kelly, an attorney, had heard of Fitness Together through her professional networking group. When she suggested to Bob that a personal trainer might be able to help, he agreed to give it a try.
Trainer Kate McNally likes to take a holistic approach, striving to carefully match a client’s personality and goals to his or her program. Specializing in body composition change and endurance training, McNally uses a wide variety of training styles to fit her clients’ goals. Though she started Bob on a gentle regimen, she quickly saw that his determination could take him beyond his limitations.
“In his time at Fitness Together Bob has greatly increased leg strength and flexibility; two really important achievements for guy as active as Bob. All this with little complaint,” says McNally. “Bob Lexander is the model client. When you ask him to do something, he not only does it, but will give 110%. He really wants this. Wants to be stronger, healthier, more fit.”
Since first beginning at Fitness Together last April, Bob has lost 20 lbs and completely weaned himself from his medications. “It’s been a big deal to me to get off those pain meds,” says Bob. “It’s just been so good for my outlook.”
His wife, Mary Ellen, was so inspired by Bob’s success, she also signed on. After increasing her fitness level and losing weight, the couple is enjoying a more active lifestyle.
“Our quality of life is so much better now. I’m in better shape than I’ve been in years. We enjoy walking and hiking together. Now we can walk up big hills without breathing hard and my knee is even flexible enough that I can ride my bike. Going to Fitness Together has been a wonderful thing.”
Says his trainer, “I really enjoy training Bob, training someone with his motivation makes my job easy. Bob comes to every session ready to work hard, usually already dripping sweat from his so called “warm up” (30-40 mins hard on the elliptical). He is just as dedicated in life to family and work as he is in the gym. Bob is making great strides toward his goals and you can tell by just looking at him. He looks great!”
This week FT Gets Results would like to welcome a new columnist to our staff, Flabinnia May Bulgemoore. Ms. Bulgemoore is an elderly spinster who lives on a hamster farm on the outskirts of central Massachusetts with her 750 Cabbage Patch dolls and her cousin Flanders. Flabinnia—we like to call her “Flabby”—has spent her career combing yard sales for Magic Eight-balls, old tabloid magazines and used books about health and fitness from the 1970s, which she is happy to consult in order to answer her readers’ questions. To keep things interesting, we’ve opened up the forum to our trainers to provide a counterpoint to Flabby’s cockamamie advice. This week’s counterpoint comes from Derek Maxfield, owner and personal trainer at Fitness Together in Beverly, MA.
And now, FT Gets Results is proud to present: “Dear Flabby.”
Dear Flabby,
I’m wondering if you can settle a bet between me and my friend Pauline. Lately me and Pauline, we’ve been trying to eat healthier and get into a smaller size of Spanx. We’re seeing a personal trainer we found in the classifieds who has us keeping food journals and watching Richard Simmons on the VCR and he’s made us cut out desserts and cheese. (Boy has that been hard. I love a good cheese, don’t you? Those little individual slices with the cellophane wrapper get me going, ya know?) Anyhoo, my girlfriends and me, we were out to the ladies night over at the Holiday Inn out on Route 1 like we do every Sunday after Bingo and Pauline, she sees I’m not recording my cocktails in my food journal and she starts mouthing off like there’s no tomorrow about there being calories in martinis and I should count them in my food journal just like I do regular food. I told her she’s crazy and to take a hike. How can there be calories in something that’s clear like water? I ditched the olives into the ficus bush just to be safe, but I’m pretty sure it’s okay to have a few cocktails, right Flabby? Like, sometimes to have a few strawberry margaritas on account of all the fruit? So, who’s right, me or Pauline? There’s a nice David Hasselhoff poster riding on this one.
Thanks, Tiny
……
Dearest Tiny,
Judging by how skinny celebrities like Lindsay Lohan look in their drunk driving mug shots, I’d say there are absolutely no calories in alcohol, so my answer is: Yes!
Sincerely,
Flabby
P.S. My third cousin, once-removed, Earl goes up to that ladies night sometimes. If you happen to see him, short guy, usually in a Ramone’s T that’s a few sizes two small and should have been retired back in 2000, balding with a comb-over, orders “A Nice Tall Girl” instead of asking for a St. Pauli on draft, well, tell him I want my drain snake back.
……
Dear Tiny, Pauline and Flabby,
Hi. It’s Derek Maxfield here from Fitness Together in Beverly.
Really, Flabby? Just “Yes?” What does that even mean? Of course there are calories in alcoholic drinks. Sometimes lots!
Tiny, as diligent as you may be about counting your food intake calories, the cocktail menu is where you can really get yourself into trouble. Whether it’s at a family barbeque in your backyard or ladies night at the Holiday Inn, alcoholic beverages can directly influence what belt loop you’re notching.
The difficult part about alcohol is that it’s often overlooked when logging calorie intake in your journal and those calories can quickly put you over your daily allowance. You should know that 1 gram of alcohol contains 7 calories. To better relate that figure: 1 gram of fat equals 9 calories, so alcohol contains just about the same amount of calories as fat. To put it another way, one of those martinis of yours probably had between 200 and 300 calories, more than a serving of potato chips. (You’d count potato chips in your food journal if you ate them, right? Though you shouldn’t be eating chips if you really want to downsize those Spanx!)
I never expect anyone to fully eliminate alcohol from his or her diet. However, limiting how much you drink can make stepping on the scale less stressful and save your health in the long run. Slowly enjoying a nice glass of wine instead of swigging down numerous potent cocktails can potentially save hundreds of calories. If you have one glass of wine at approximately 170 calories instead of 3 martinis at 250 calories each, you’ll save upwards of almost 600 calories, as well as a hefty hangover!
And don’t be fooled, Tiny. Just because certain types of alcohol like vodka or gin are clear like water, they are not low in calories. A shot of straight alcohol can range from 120 to 180 calories—just as much as your average beer or even glass of wine. When sugary mixers are added to hard alcohol to create a margarita or fancy martini, calories can exceed 500! And don’t be fooled into thinking that tonic water is low in calories, either. It’s loaded with sugar and has about 124 calories per 12 oz. serving, almost as much as regular cola! Better to mix with club soda and a squeeze of lime, which has no calories.
When it comes to beer, my suggestion would be to go for light beer instead of heavy beer (Sam Adams Light instead of Sam Adams Octoberfest) or choose a glass of Cabernet, and try to avoid mixed drinks. After selecting your drink: enjoy it, make it last, and sip – don’t chug.
So, Tiny, I hate to tell you this, but I guess Pauline is now the proud owner of that David Hasselhoff poster. Just remember, those cocktail calories count just as much as food calories do. Be sure to log them in your food journal, and keep them to a minimum.
Derek Maxfield
Owner/Personal Trainer, FT Beverly
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Over 8,000 sessions experience
Derek Maxfield enjoys seeing his clients reach their goals and looks forward to exercising. He strongly believes that nutrition is a very important apsect of fitness and finding the correct activity is the key to total comittment. Derek is certified through the American Council of Exercise and has enjoyed working with clients ranging from 14 years old to 83 years old, from athletes to those who have had various injuries. He started his career working in a public gym, but joined Fitness Together in December of 2008 in Concord, MA. After two years of service which he thoroughly enjoyed, he became owner of Fitness Together in Beverly
All the sly marketers out there will tell you fitness results can be achieved in as little as 1 week…I’m sure you all know this is simply untrue, but perhaps you’re not aware of a realistic timeline. Most professionals agree (this one included) that 12 weeks is a good timeframe to see quantifiable results. Some may achieve results in 10 weeks and others in 14. Nevertheless, somewhere around 12 weeks is what you should shoot for when beginning a fitness routine. Anyone that tries to tell you it can happen in less time is simply uninformed or trying to SELL you something.
What do I mean by quantifiable results? It means measurable changes, not just when you look in the mirror and think to yourself, “Hmmm, I think I look better.” The only way to have measurable changes is to MEASURE YOURSELF before you start. And no…no…no, don’t just get on the scale and use your weight as the starting point…WHY??? Because weight is a very poor indication of your success; weight is made up of 2 different (and very important) variables: 1.) Lean Body Weight and 2.) Fat Weight. You want MORE of the first and less of the second. Yes, more of the first…and depending on your body type and starting point…you very well can and perhaps should GAIN some weight in the beginning. Time after time my clients tell me and readers email, “P.J., I’ve gained 3 lbs. since starting; what am I doing wrong?” DON’T WORRY! This is a good thing as long as the Lean weight is what’s going up and not the fat weight.
How do you know it’s the lean weight and not the fat? This is where the measuring you do at the beginning comes in to play. If you measure your body fat % before beginning your exercise routine, you can measure it again later and see QUANTIFIABLE CHANGES. If you start with 40% body fat and later have only 30% body fat, you know you’re headed in the right direction because you lost 10% body fat. Conversely, if you only use your weight to gauge results, you may start at 200lbs and later weigh only 180 lbs, but how do you know the 20 lbs you lost are from fat? Far too often people will lose a majority of their weight from lean body weight; therefore, causing more harm than good. You want to retain lean body weight because this is what burns fat. If you’re not sure how this works, email or call me (617-484-9048) and I’ll give you more information.
I’ll use another post in a few weeks to go into greater detail. So watch this space. But not intently as I want you all to push away from the computer and do some exercising, of course.
So class, for homework, find out your body fat percentage and overall measurements before you start on your journey. Moreover, don’t set yourself up for disappointment by expecting big changes in an unrealistic timeframe. Plan on approximately 12 weeks for quantifiable results; if you do so, you’ll set yourself up for success and just in time for the good weather!
Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with the ones you love—but it often means going out to a nice (heavy) restaurant meal and eating lots of chocolates.
There are plenty of other ways to show the love on this special day. Why not try cooking your own healthy and easy, yet elegant, meal at home instead? Or going on an adventurous date?
Here are better, healthier ways to show your valentine you care this week (or any date night!).
Cook a Romantic Meal at Home
You’ll be surprised how a simple entrée of roasted chicken breast can be transformed into an impressive meal with the addition of flavorful sides and a unique dessert. These recipes (all from our Recipes for Healthy Living!) offer a balanced meal that you can enjoy without much effort:
These quick chicken breasts can be used for anything—serve with steamed veggies and brown rice, use them for chicken salad or slice thinly for a sandwich with whole grain bread, spicy mustard, fresh spinach and thinly sliced tomato.
This Recipe Serves 4
Ingredients
Cooking Spray
4 4-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 Tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 ½ tsp. paprika
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
Place the chicken breasts on the baking sheet.
In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic and whisk until combined.
Brush on or pour lemon juice mixture over each chicken breast, coating evenly.
Sprinkle each chicken breast evenly with paprika and bake in oven for 35 minutes or until the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Let the chicken breasts rest, covered with foil for 10-15 minutes before slicing or serving.
MAKE IT GLUTEN-FREE: Make sure your spices are gluten free and this recipe can be gluten free.
Try this for a delicious and somewhat different dessert! If you have fresh mint, chop some up and add it to this salad for even more flavor!
This Recipe Serves 6
Ingredients
For Sugar-Free Chocolate Sauce
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/3 cup Splenda
2/3 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp Smart Balance
For Grilled Fruit
1 large wooden skewer, soaked in warm water
6 large strawberries, hulled
2 peaches, quartered and stone removed
½ pineapple, sliced into 1”-thick rings (or 1 can pineapple rings in juice, drained)
2 watermelon wedges, rind removed (about ¼ a small watermelon)
Cooking Spray
Instructions
Prepare an indoor or outdoor grill.
In a small sauce pan, whisk together cocoa powder, Splenda and water. Bring to a simmer for one minute over medium heat. Whisk in the vanilla and Smart Balance off the heat and set aside to cool.
Skewer the strawberries and other fruit on the soaked wooden skewer. Coat all of the fruit pieces with cooking spray and grill for 3-4 minutes on each just to mark the outside of the fruit. Do not cook all the way through.
Remove from grill and let cool. Cut the fruit into equal sized chunks and combine a medium bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Divide the fruit among six bowls and drizzle each with 1 Tbsp of the chocolate sauce. Any leftover chocolate sauce can be refrigerated in an air tight container and used for up to one week.
If it works with your meal plan, try our parfait with a quick five-minute prep time and only 19 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
This Recipe Serves 4
Ingredients
32 oz non fat, plain Greek yogurt
2 small lemons, zested and juices
¼ cup Splenda
1 Tbsp Vanilla
1 cup fresh blueberries
¼ cup sliced almonds
Instructions
In a medium bowl, whisk together yogurt, lemon zest, lemon juice and Splenda.
Add ½ cup yogurt to a parfait dish or small bowl. Top with ¼ cup blueberries, then another ½ cup of yogurt. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp sliced almonds.
Repeat with three more parfait glasses. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
Get Your Heartbeat Going
There are plenty of fun fitness ideas that you and your significant other can enjoy just as much as a heart-shaped pizza. Take a dance lesson together, like a waltz or ballroom class. Get outside (weather permitting!) and go on a romantic hike or bike ride. Challenge your partner to see who can get to the top while rock climbing—indoors or outdoors!
Once you’ve worked up your appetite, reward yourself with a healthy, sophisticated meal (see above!).
Skip the Food and Go out on the Town
Whether you’re single or romantically involved, there are lots of fun things to do on Valentine’s Day without having to feel guilty. Take a trip to a museum you’ve always wanted to visit, or go see a movie (if you can decide on one together!). Watch a film at home if you’re trying to save money. Learn new healthy recipes by signing up for a cooking class or relax with a massage (you might need it if you use the exercise tips above!).
Still Gifting?
FT has just the thing for you. Special deals just for Valentine’s Day. Check it out here.
So, what’s the plan for Valentine’s Day this year? You going to dash out to the pharmacy, grab a dinged-up card from the picked over card rack and a box of chocolates to get filed next to the moldering leftovers from Christmas and Halloween? Or maybe you’ll be driving home from work on Thursday night empty handed and you’ll remember that you forgot again, to come up with something just a little special for Valentine’s Day. Hey, nothing says, “I love you” like a bunch of half-dead flowers purchased from a sketchy looking guy at a stoplight, right?
The good news is, it’s not too late to do something simple but special that will have a lasting and positive impact on both of you—your health, your energy and your stamina–and that’s never a bad thing. Make Valentine’s Day a memorable and healthy experience this year by giving your Valentine the gift of fitness.
Couples who workout together can build stronger bonds and grow their relationships to new levels. Invite your loved one to join your health and fitness regimen this Valentine’s Day. Call or come into your Fitness Together studio today to purchase your Valentine’s Day gift card and start getting fit together with your loved one.
For Valentine’s specials at an FT Studio near you go to FTGetsResults.com
Offers and prices may vary.
Cooking dinner for your Valentine? Check out these elegant, easy, and tasty recipes recipes from the American Diabetes Association. Your valentine will never guess they’re actually healthy.
Twenty-pounds. That can seem like a daunting amount of weight to lose. For some of us, losing twenty pounds only gets us part of the way to our goal, and that’s enough to keep us from getting started at all.
Ed O’Brien, 60, came to Fitness together this past November. You remember November, right? It was the beginning of that season when you surrendered completely to your cravings and bad habits and, come January, emerged from your post-holiday food frenzy suspecting someone had been tampering with your scale, because you couldn’t possibly have gained that much weight in, wow, only a month and a half? Well, that’s not what Ed O’Brien has been doing. While you (and I) were polishing off the cookie tray and the last of the eggnog, Ed was getting busy at Fitness Together in Norwell.
Says trainer Joe Caruso, “Ed came to FT with the desire and discipline that all trainers love to see in a client. He was easy to motivate and was a sponge when it came to learning new nutritional concepts and strength training techniques. The staff at FT is very proud of Ed’s results and the amazing time frame in which they were achieved.”
In his own words, here’s how FT Norwell’s Client of the Month dropped nearly 20 pounds and redefined his approach to fitness in less than a month and a half.
“I have always had issues with my weight and fitness. When I was younger I was able to summon the willpower to lose the excess weight and get into shape without third party help. However, as I’ve gotten older and become more of a couch-potato, I found it more difficult to continually harness the required willpower. Luckily, I happened to watch a TV commercial for Fitness Together and decided to follow through. A check of their website led to an introductory lesson at the Norwell Studio. I’m glad I did!
After discussing my goals and assessing my fitness, the trainers at FT, Joe, Mike, and Alicia, developed a program of cardio and strength exercises, which have, after only 8 weeks, brought me to a point I didn’t think I’d see again! I’ve lost 20 pounds, shown vast improvement in cardio endurance, and put my body in a shape it hasn’t been in 20 years!
Joe, Mike, and Alicia have been the willpower drivers, the conscience that sparked my ability to not only consistently train with them, but to also workout on my own. After discussing my nutritional intake with Joe, I was also able to institute a healthy diet plan, which is bringing my weight back down to its proper level. Has it been easy? No. Has it been hard work? Yes. Has it been worth it? Definitely!
Joe Caruso Manager FT Norwell
Joe is a Certified Personal Trainer by the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength Conditioning Association. He has a degree in Exercise Physiology from UMASS Boston and is CPR and AED certified. This is Joe’s 7th year with Fitness Together.
Joe has been involved in personal training for nearly a decade and brings his own training experiences into his program design. His passion is strength conditioning for athletes. He has a deep knowledge of nutrition and cardiovascular training and enjoys coaching his clients in all the aspects of fitness.
Mike Eaton Certified Personal Trainer
Mike is certified as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and is also a Certified CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1).
Staying active and fit has always been an important part of Mike’s life. He was a three sport athlete at Plymouth South High School, playing varsity soccer, basketball, and track & field, and was the former school record holder for the long jump as well as the 4x100m relay team. He took soccer to the collegiate level and was a four-year starter and captain of his team during his senior year at Endicott College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design.
Through his experience as an athlete, Mike has learned the importance of proper strengthening and conditioning for long-term fitness. He integrates these concepts into his workouts and tailors his training to meet the specific health and fitness goals of each individual client. When Mike is not training, he enjoys golfing, snowboarding, and playing with his black lab, Chloe.
Alicia Tasney Certified Personal Trainer
Alicia Tasney first came to Fitness Together Norwell in April of 2008. Her interest in athletics began at a young age with gymnastics and she continued to hone her tumbling skills into her young adult life, becoming a gymnastics instructor along the way.
Alicia played Varsity basketball, lacrosse and competed in Track and Field for Quincy Vocational High School. While there she also became certified in Rehabilitation Science and served as the assistant coach for the girls’ varsity lacrosse team.
Alicia is certified in CPR, First Aid basics and A.E.D. Her favorite thing about training is helping people do things they never thought they could. “I have a client who could barely do half of a squat and couldn’t sit without using her hands. After 4 months training with me, she’s down 30 lbs and she climbed Mt. Washington for the first time this summer!”
Would you like to fire up your metabolism?
Burn some calories?
Finally get into shape?
Try Fitness Together for 21 days for just $225* between January 21- February 5.
We are here to help you ignite the spark inside you that will turn into a lean mean fat burning machine! All you have to do is take the first step and commit to working out for 21 days.
We’re betting that after that time, you’ll be hooked! Once a flame is started, it is hard to extinguish; make your body’s inner inferno unstoppable!
FT Westborough Trainer Jonathan Tuttle says: “I’ve been there, down the very same road as many of our clients have been. I dropped from a size 40” to a size 32”. It was hard! I decided to help guide people along the same path I’ve been down with the knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years. For me, it’s very rewarding to see the transformation happen from week to week, and watch a client’s mood brighten up as the quality of their life improves.”
*for small group training 3X/wk for 3 weeks. Or choose 1-on-1 personal training for $450.
There are more participating through Eastern New England, check out FTGetsResults.com
Please note, while all FT Studios will give you a free fitness assessment, not all FT Studios are participating in this special deal.
And to help you ignite your weight loss, and rewiring your brain for permanent fitness, check out our recent article, This Is Your Brain On Fitness
If you’ve ever been a regular member at a conventional gym, you’ve noticed that this is the time of year when those people, we’ll call them The Resolutionaries come out of the woodwork. The Resolutionaries are those folks who, on or about January 2, rush to renew the membership they barely used last year, promising themselves that this year, YES, this year will be different! They come in waves of inspiration and perspiration, clichés and good intentions in their brand new sneakers and sweats purchased with that sporting goods gift certificate given to them by a concerned relative. And then, just like that, most of them are gone again.
Maybe a few will successfully make the conversion to regular exercise, but without a lot of help, most will not. Maybe you’re one of those Resolutionaries and you already feel your commitment flagging. So, what’s the secret? How do you permanently convert those New Year’s Resolutions into real and lasting change this time?
You ready for it? The big secret? Here it is: People who exercise regularly and successfully do so because they’ve made it a habit to do so. That is, they’ve made it such an entrenched and engrained part of their very brains that NOT doing so leaves a gaping psychic hole through which the winds of loneliness and despair howl without mercy. Maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but when people who exercise regularly miss their workouts, they feel cranky and out of sorts much the way a smoker feels upon running out of cigarettes, except what they’re missing is the thing that’s actually healthy for them. Because the craving for that healthy reward is now engrained in their habits, they’ll get back to their routine as soon as possible. That, my friends, is what we all want.
So how do you get rid of the bad habits and create new ones? Without going into a college level course in neuroscience, suffice to say that changing entrenched habits and behaviors is no easy proposition. This is because your brain, we’ll call it Alice, has a greedy obsession with a chemical called Dopamine. Think back to any happy memory: that time your first love bought you that box of chocolates, or maybe the time your mother made you feel better after a tough day at pre-school by getting you your first Happy Meal. That sense of euphoria created by these experiences caused by a burst of dopamine in your brain. Alice really likes dopamine. It’s her Happy Pill. Once Alice discovers a trigger for dopamine, she will try to drive you back to that trigger again and again. For athletes, that trigger is exercise, or winning a trophy. For the rest of us, it’s French fries or chocolate. Thanks, Alice.
The good news is that your brain can be literally rewired in 14 to 21 days through daily practice of the behavior you wish to make a habit, exercise. After a few days of consistently practicing your exercise routine, your brain will start producing a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which makes the brain more supple, allows you to think more clearly and releases the old habits. It also increases the effectiveness of dopamine neurotransmission, which means the more you exercise, the happier your brain will feel, which will then cause your brain to drive you to exercise regularly. It’s kind of a win-win for your body and Alice!
So how do you get started? This is where your Fitness Together trainer comes in. During your fitness assessment, your trainer will or has discussed your goals with you and customized that program for you. Your trainer will then get you on track with these key components:
Boost your calorie-burning furnace by strength-training. The only scientifically proven method of enhancing the number of calories your body burns at rest (RMR) is to change your body composition meaning adding more muscle mass. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat (one pound of muscle burns approximately 9 times the calories as a pound of fat) so by increasing muscle mass through intensive strength training, you can increase RMR to a small degree. Strength-building exercises also help maintain your bone density and balance, two important factors in healthy aging.
Daily cardio adds to your burn. Here is where you have the greatest daily control over your total burn rate. Cardio is the greatest calorie burner in the least amount of time. Combine a daily cardio expenditure of a few hundred calories with your strength training workout calorie burn and you have a one-two punch which will guarantee to fire up your metabolism.
Power up your protein intake. Eating a small amount of lean protein at every meal is also an effective metabolism booster. Protein takes more calories to assimilate thereby raising your TEF to a greater degree than carbs or fat.
Eat small, frequent meals. And don’t forget to eat small frequent meals throughout the day (another proven metabolism booster) rather than consolidating your entire food intake into just one or two large meals. Eating metabolism-raising foods in small quantities, spread throughout the day, will also provide you with a stable blood sugar level and a constant source of energy needed for metabolism. It is also important that you do not skip breakfast or drastically reduce your calorie intake as it will be interpreted by your body as potential starvation and lead to a slowdown in your metabolism.
Get enough Z’s. Sleep deprivation actually has been shown to harm your body’s endocrine function and capacity to metabolize carbohydrates. Translation: when you don’t get a good night’s sleep you decrease your calorie burning potential. Aim for at least 7 solid hours per night to help your metabolism run more smoothly.
Practice stress reduction. Stress triggers the release of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. When cortisol bathes your body’s tissue it stimulates fat storage, particularly around the middle (the more dangerous location). Cortisol also slows metabolism. Practicing healthy stress reduction techniques such as exercise, listening to music, gardening or any other relaxation technique will lower the amount of cortisol and help you maximize your metabolic rate.
Making those appointments with your trainer week after week is what will most effectively replace bad habits of avoidance and sedentary living with good habits that lead to strength, fitness and a greatly improved appearance and sense of self. Keep those appointments, follow that program and you WILL see results!
If you’re looking for a great way to get started, take a proactive approach in 2013 by igniting your inner inferno and joining us for our IGNITE YOUR INFERNO 21 DAY CHALLENGE! Make the commitment to yourself to get the New Year off to the right start by forming a new habit of working out and getting your body fit and healthy. We are here to help you ignite the spark inside you that will turn you into a lean mean fat burning machine! All you have to do is take the first step and commit to working out for 21 days. We’re betting that after that time, you’ll be hooked! Once a flame is started, it is hard to extinguish; make your body’s Inner Inferno unstoppable!
The IGNITE YOUR INFERNO 21 DAY CHALLENGE is only available at participating Fitness Together studios. Don’t do a slow burn get ignited, call an FT Studio today for a free fitness assessment. To find a studio near you go to: FTGetsResults.com
By Martha Hicks Leta
