Fitness Together Norwell: 30 Days to Glory

by Martha Hicks Leta

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*:

1. Begin in an athletic stance, feet shoulder width apart, feet slightly turned out, spine in neutral position, abs engaged.
2. 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.
3. Throughout the squat, your head is still up, eyes forward, shoulders back and chest out. Don’t collapse your spine and hunch downward.
4. 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

To set up an appointment with Mike, Alicia or Joe at Fitness Together in Norwell call 781-659-0034

To find a Fitness Together Studio near you go to FTGetsResults.com

Fitness Tip: Roll Away the Sore Muscle Blues

By Martha Hicks Leta

For many exercise enthusiasts, stretching is one of those things that gets treated like a boring inconvenience that doesn’t really affect our fitness quality. It’s not until we get injured or feel ourselves plagued by nagging stiffness that we start to consider that stretching might be worth taking the time.

Mike Ruggiero began his athletic career when he first strapped on a pair of hockey skates at the age of three. Several carloads of tournament trophies, athletic awards and fitness certifications later, Mike is now a trainer and owner of Fitness Together in Newton Centre. A certified personal trainer for over a decade, Mike says his years of getting bashed around on the ice have taught him well the importance of stretching muscles for maximum safety and performance.

One of Mike’s favorite stretching tools is the foam roller.  He says foam roller stretches should be done prior to any workout and can also be done while relaxing or watching TV.  When done correctly, roller exercises, also known as self-myofacial release (SMR), stretch muscles and tendons while breaking down soft tissue adhesions and scar tissue.  The myofacial release that comes with these stretches involves loosening the connective tissue that wraps and connects muscles, bones, nerves and blood vessels in the body. Roller stretching helps reduce the types of muscle and joint pain associated with IT band syndrome, lateral patella tracking, shin splints, plantar fasciitis and sciatic nerve irritation.

Here Mike takes us through a thorough course of foam roller stretching.

Check out Fitness Together Newton Centre

To find a Fitness Together Studio near you, go to FTGetsResults.com

A Redefinition Of The Word Tough

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By Martha Hicks Leta

So, you’ve done a few adventure races in the past year? You’ve slogged up muddy mountainsides and crawled under barbed wire through filthy water. You’ve jumped into a dumpster filled with ice, run through a gauntlet of fire, been electrocuted by a curtain of dangling wires and lived to tell about it. Or maybe you’ve run a few marathons in blistering heat, or competed in a triathlon? Think you’re pretty tough, right?

Meet Emily Shames, 19, client at Fitness Together in Newton Centre. When she’s not busy with her studies and at Wesleyan University, she’s a key member of the school’s winning volleyball and softball teams. Not tough enough for you? Here’s what Emily did with her summer vacation: While  you and I were barbecuing chicken and sipping cold Corona’s Emily spent a total of 42 days surviving in the wilderness of Utah. Still not impressed? She did it with only a rain poncho, a water bottle, a knife and a sweater. That’s it. No backpack, no tent, no mess kit, not even a wristwatch. Forty-two days in full-out survival mode, seven days of which were in complete solitude and another seven with no food at all, just water. That’s one tough young lady, my friends.

Emily says it was her training at Fitness Together that got her to the point where she could even consider facing such a daunting set of challenges. “The trainers at Fitness Together got me into the best shape of my life. The motivation and the determination I learned from them echoed in my thoughts during the entire trip, encouraging me never to give up no matter how tired or broken down I got.”

A longtime outdoor enthusiast, Emily signed on for the Boulder Outdoor Survival School, (BOSS) in Boulder Town, Utah with the goal of melding her interests in fitness with her studies in environmental science and archeology.  Known for being “the toughest survival school in the country,” BOSS prides itself in teaching participants “low-technology camping and hiking techniques, exploring how traditional cultures lived comfortably without all the modern gadgets.” During the course students spend their waking hours eking out an existence and hiking long distances, from 15 to 30 miles per day over rugged mountains and desert canyons.  And the company makes no bones about it, this is not a frivilous venture. Participants can expect to lose between 10 and 30 lbs. from the taxing physical demands and lack of food.

“It was the most intense hiking I have ever done,” says Shames. “We didn’t have camp to set up or food to cook so we hiked off trail from sunrise to sunset everyday. In 6 weeks, I covered over 300 miles! I can now make fire using nothing but sticks and friction. I can make rope out of plant fiber. I can make 3 different types of traps and know how to catch fish with my bare hands.”

This is “Survivor” without the cameras, safety nets or food reward challenges. Here the only reward is personal growth and satisfaction. “In six weeks I learned more about myself and the world around me than in all 19 years of my life. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.”

Trainers Elisa Sutherland and Derik VanDyke have seen a lot of success stories in their combined years as personal trainers at Fitness Together, but Emily is one of the greats.

“Emily has a rare enthusiasm for exercise. She comes to each workout with a brilliant smile and even when she’s soaked in sweat and exhausted, the smile doesn’t disappear,” says Sutherland. “I look forward to every session with her. She inspires me to workout a little harder and to have a blast at everything I do!”

VanDyke agrees. “No matter how hard or crazy I may make a workout, Emily is always so excited to learn and do anything I throw her way! This type of true enthusiasm and passion for working out really motivates me as a trainer, as well as a person!”

Whether your goals are to fit into that skinny pair of jeans or move personal mountains, the Fitness Together program clearly offers life-changing potential for those who are willing to commit the effort. Just ask Emily.

“Fitness Together has changed my life for the better. They have transformed me not only physically but mentally, too,” says Shames. “I want to say thanks to all of the Fitness Together trainers for all of their dedication to the clients and doing the impossible by making workout out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle fun!”
___________

Emily trains at FT Newton Centre with Elisa and Derik:

 

Elisa Sutherland Certified Personal Trainer

Ever since winning the 800 meter race at a mandatory middle school track meet, I was hooked on running. I ran for fun in high school, competed for the track team in college, and later moved on to marathons and trail races. I came to think of running as central to my identity. All my friends and family thought of me as the crazy girl who spent much of her free time on the pavement. A couple of years after finishing college, where I got a degree in elementary education, my knees started bothering me. I knew I needed to scale back the running and learn to stay fit in other ways. I got my start in this process at the National Personal Training Institute in Portland, Oregon. I had just returned from several years teaching English in South Korea, and I knew I didn’t want to be an elementary school teacher. While I enjoyed teaching itself, classroom management just wasn’t my thing. After an intensive, hands-on program, I was certified as a personal trainer through NPTI. My first job was at LA Fitness in Portland. While I worked there, I continued to learn more and explore the many corners of the fitness world. I picked up another certification as a running coach, and studied kettlebells with a RKC trainer (I recently became certified to teach Hardstyle Kettlebells). While I was still in Portland, I started to have some medical problems, and was diagnosed with Guillain Barre syndrome. After losing the ability to walk, going from a wheelchair to a walker, and then finally being able to walk and now even run, my understanding of health and fitness has changed a lot. Last summer I moved to Boston, but I continued to have trouble with double vision and vertigo.  In December I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Right now, I’m very strong; no one can tell that I have MS.  There have been a lot of medical advances in the last few years, so hopefully I can continue to hide my disease!  Having MS has taught me that while my body isn’t always trustworthy, there’s always something it can do.  I love helping people build confidence, mobility, and strength through their own power.  No matter what your injury or weakness, there are ways to get stronger and feel better!

Derik VanDyke  Manager/Certified Personal Trainer

Growing up sports and fitness were always a huge part of my life. From an early age, all the way up in to my high school years, I played football, basketball, baseball, as well as martial arts. I was also exposed to bodybuilding at a very early age, because my father was an amateur bodybuilder . I instantly grew to love that sport and knew that it would always be a huge part of my life. I loved the challenges and personal sacrifice it took to excel at sports and bodybuilding. Shortly after I graduated high school, I wanted to further challenge myself as well as do something good for my country, so I joined the army as a Combat Medic. I served 4 years as an airborne combat medic in the Army, with a 15-month tour in Southern Baghdad. Throughout my 4 years in the army, physical fitness was enforced on us, and was rewarded when one would go far and beyond expectations. With my love for fitness I went far and beyond what was expected of me, receiving “excellent” marks in fitness which helped lead me to make rank quickly. Before long I was leading young soldiers in physical fitness programs myself. Upon completing my 4 years in the army, I knew I wanted to follow my heart and do what I’ve always loved and that was fitness. I attended NPTI (national personal training institute), and graduated with an even greater knowledge of health and fitness. I am excited and highly motivated to be doing what I love and that is help people achieve their physical fitness goals, as well as their goals in life. I will work hard for you so you can attain the goals you set out for! “I’m not telling you it is going to be easy – I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it” — Art Williams

 

To find a Fitness Together Studio near you, check out FTGetsResults.com

 

FT Gets Results: Success Stories Across The Board

From our FT Studios, our new commercials highlighting 4 success stories.

Tracy Simpson
Achievements: Tracy lost 50 lbs and dropped six dress sizes. Tracy completed the Tough Mudder challenge last spring, a grueling10-mile military-style challenge.

FT Trainer: Tom Lavoie

Tracy first came to Fitness Together when she realized the baby weight she’d put on three years prior wasn’t going to come off without some major changes to her lifestyle. Tracy committed to her training and nutrition program and saw greater results than she ever imagined. “My trainers are amazing. They are the primary reason why I come here.” Since starting at FT Tracy has lost 50 lbs. and went from a size 14 to a size 2. She also increased strength and flexibility and has competed in the incredibly demanding Tough Mudder challenge. Trainer Tom Lavoie says, “She really has kicked up her strength in a big way. She’s continuing to grow, as far as her strength, flexibility, and improving her overall health.”

Mike Gurdjian
Achievements: Lost 66 lbs in 6 months. Improved health, strength and confidence

FT Trainer: Tom Lavoie

Mike had put on a lot of weight in college and really needed to change his lifestyle. In just six months Mike has lost 66 lbs and is wearing the clothes he wants to wear. ‘The trainers here make you accountable. They’re the best.” Mike’s trainer, Tom Lavoie is impressed with Mike’s commitment. “The results Mike has seen are off the charts. He’s really changed his lifestyle by making that commitment to himself and to his program.

Dave Norden
FT Trainer: Brendan Stapleton

Dave, age 46, came to FT with back issues, injuries and he needed to lose weight. In 8 months he’s lost 40 lbs., gained strength, confidence and a healthy lifestyle.

Next goal: The Boston Marathon.

Linda Norden
Achievements: Lost 25 lbs in 3 months and dropped four dress sizes. Improved strength, confidence, energy and sense of well-being.
Trainer: Brendan Stapleton.

Linda came to Fitness Together when she realized she weighed as much as she had when she was pregnant more than a decade ago. She had become self-conscious and was dressing to hide her weight. Says trainer Brendan Stapleton, “When I first met Linda, I knew we were going to be able to help her.” Linda dedicated herself to the fitness and nutrition program outlined by her trainer and lost 25 lbs. and went from a tight size 12, to a 4/6. Her trainer says, “The biggest improvement I’ve seen in Linda is her over all improved well-being, but everything has really improved 100%.” Linda agrees, “I’ve walked into many gyms and never showed up again. At Fitness Together I walked in, and I don’t ever want to walk out!”

For more info on Fitness Together and to find a studio near you check out FTGetsResults.com

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Kendra Petrone: It’s A Stretch

One thing I have to say about the personal trainers at Fitness Together – is that they definitely keep safety first. As a part of each personal training session, they do what’s called movement prep dynamic stretching for the first 5 minutes of each workout. It warms up the muscles and increases the blood flow to areas that will be used during session.

The last 5 minutes of my workouts are my favorite because we focus on stretching!

For me being pregnant I have to do a modified stretching routine — which means all stretches that I do — I have to either stand or sit as opposed to lying on my back and tummy. This is the best practice for any pregnant women who are in their 2nd trimester and moving forward. As my pregnancy progresses, the amazing trainers will work more with the bench and stability ball.

My co-worker Katie had an amazing stretch session as well. Trainer Brett and Katie worked on lower body so it was natural for her to stretch out the area that she worked! Brett performed assisted lower body stretches on Katie which are more effective because the muscles tend to relax more allowing for a better stretch.

Check back to see what happens at our PACK* workout!

Kendra’s Blog at Kiss108fm

*PACK by the way is FT speak for their group training sessions. A highly effective, low cost small group alternative to personal training.

Kendra trains at FTMedford

To find a FT Studio near you, go to FTGetsResults

Kendra’s Week Four: Eating The Rainbow

So now that I am in my second trimester I should be gaining about a pound a week and my trainers Maria and Kristine have told me that my body fat percentage should be be increasing slightly.

However, I lost inches everywhere!!! (my chest, arms, legs, and shoulders). I lost 6.5 inches from my total body and only gained 2.5 inches in my belly.. which is obviously needed being that I am pregnant.

My body fat went up .5% and I only gained 5 lbs! …but aside from my results (which even shocked me!!), when my trainer Kristine asked me what my fitness goals, nutrition goals and treats for myself would be she also asked if I was “Eating The Rainbow”

And I looked at her funny and said, “doing what?!” (haha)

‘Eating The Rainbow’ means eating all the foods with colors in the rainbow (since I can’t take Pre-Natal Vitamins because they make me sick). I thought this was the greatest line ever.

I will surely be Eating The Rainbow!!!

MY NUTRITION GOALS

To keep eating at least 6 meals (a variety of healthy foods)

MY FITNESS GOALS

To add in more cardio in between my training sessions, to keep up my endurance and heart rate

MY TREATS

I will plan a nice pedicure and maybe pre-natal massage for myself as a reward!

 

Follow Kendra’s workout blog at Kiss108fm. Kendra works out at FT Medford

To find an FT studio near you go to FTGetsResults.com

The earlier posts:

Kendra’s Wedding Party Workout: It’s In The Details

Week 4: Kendra & Katie Get Results

Kendra’s Week 3: You Are What You Eat

Week 2: Feel The Burn

Kiss108fm’s Kendra Petrone Joins The Wedding Party Workout

To take advantage of the special Kiss108fm discount download the coupon.

Kendra’s Wedding Party Workout: It’s In The Details

by Martha Hicks Leta

When Kendra Petrone signed on to participate in Fitness Together’s Wedding Party Workout, she went in with the goal of getting herself photo-ready for the slew of weddings and baby showers she would be taking part in during the coming months.

Along with all the social commitments, Kendra’s job as producer and on-air personality for the morning show at Kiss 108 FM often puts her in front of the camera for promotional events and concerts. In addition, Kendra’s work shooting small weddings, birthdays and special events for her photography business “Let’s Take A Picture” leaves her keenly aware that photographs can be pretty unforgiving.

So when Fitness Together partnered with Kiss 108 to promote the Wedding Party Workout, Kendra was really excited to begin training with Maria Pasquale Marques and Kristine Barry, who were really excited to get the chance to work with a local celebrity.

At Fitness Together in Medford, Kendra would undergo a fitness assessment and then participate in the 8-week program of nutritional coaching as well as one-on-one and small group training. But, as someone wise once said, all human plans are subject to revision by Nature and when Kendra discovered that she was newly pregnant with her second child, her training plans had to be revised.

While this may have seemed like a curve ball to the Wedding Party Workout promoters, it wasn’t much of one for Advanced Certified Personal Trainers Maria Pasquale Marques and Kristine Barry.

“As a matter of course, we customize our programs for each of our clients, so we always vary workouts to give a well-rounded alternative to the typical workouts of other gyms,” says Maria. That includes tailoring workouts for pregnancy.

And so, without much fanfare, Kendra’s Wedding Party Workout became The Healthy Pregnancy Workout.

Maria says there are very important factors to consider when training during pregnancy, with the primary focus centering on the well-being of mother and child. After getting her doctor’s clearance and guidelines, Kendra received a fitness assessment from her trainers who then designed her personalized program.

“Kendra was near the end of her first trimester when we started training. She was already at a decent fitness level and her weight was well within the normal range, so the goals were to maintain her ideal pregnancy weight with proper nutrition, boost her cardio to give her the stamina for labor and incorporate exercises that improved flexibility, strength and functionality.”

Kendra found the workouts were challenging, but noticed the positive results almost immediately. “Working with trainers Maria and Kristine has really given me more energy and has taken away a little of my nausea. Plus, I am doing things now that I never thought I could do before I was pregnant!”

Along with the challenging and fun workouts, Kendra also really appreciates the fact that her trainers remind her frequently to listen to her body. During each workout they encourage her to drink plenty of water, rest and modify anything that feels uncomfortable. And while most women worry about gaining weight during pregnancy, Kendra’s trainers say that with pregnancy challenges like heartburn and nausea, women should be more concerned about getting enough of the right calories.

“When we sat down to do a nutrition assessment with Kendra, we discovered she actually wasn’t getting enough calories,” says Maria. “So, part of the nutrition plan we set for Kendra was for her to take in about 300 more calories than she did with her pre-pregnancy diet. In her second trimester we want Kendra to be gaining about a pound a week and we also want her body fat percentage to be increasing slightly,” says Maria.

She says that the best remedy for maintaining energy and proper calorie intake is to have more frequent and smaller meals throughout the day.

Kendra agrees. “I learned it’s all about portions and food choice. I eat 6 times a day. I try not to eat the same foods every day and I use the Fitness Together online nutrition journal to log in my daily intake of food. It’s not complicated and it’s not overwhelming. It makes a huge difference when you see what’s going into your body.”

Maria says her new client is definitely embracing the whole Fitness Together Experience. “Kendra had a great retest! She raved about how amazing she felt while pregnant! Kendra lost inches everywhere that she could (chest, arms, legs, and shoulders). She lost 6.5 inches from her total body and gained 2.5 inches in her belly. Her body fat went up .5% and her weight went up 5 lbs. Perfection!”

Follow Kendra’s workout blog at Kiss108fm. Kendra works out at FT Medford

To find an FT studio near you go to FTGetsResults.com

The earlier posts:

Week 4: Kendra & Katie Get Results

Kendra’s Week 3: You Are What You Eat

Week 2: Feel The Burn

Kiss108fm’s Kendra Petrone Joins The Wedding Party Workout

 

To take advantage of the special Kiss108fm discount download the coupon.

 

 

Kendra: Feel The Burn

Week Two of Kendra’s Wedding Party Workout 

Kendra Petrone from Kiss 108′s Matty In The Morning Show

I completed Week 2 of the Fitness Together’s Wedding Party Workout — and I feel amazing. Working with trainers Maria and Kristine has really given me more energy and has taken away a little of my nausea!

When you’re pregnant- you may think your body isn’t able to do some of the workouts that you did beforehand but you can! You just need to be with a medically trained professional who has the knowledge to direct you.

One thing that I love the most about working out at Fitness Together in Medford, is that during all of my workouts– my trainers always tell me to stop… get water… and rest… so it’s not what you’re probably thinking (IE: trainers yelling at you like a bootcamp).

I promise you won’t be disappointed– oh and yesterday, I was on the treadmill next to an 85 yr old man who was doing the same workout as me– so no excuses– all ages can do this!!

You too can get the Kiss108 Deal. Download the coupon below and call a participating FT Studio near you.

For more information about The Wedding Party Workout Kiss 108 Deals, go to  FTGetsResults.com OR FTMedford.com

Catch up with Kendra’s workouts at Kiss108 and, of course, listen to Matty In The Morning on Kiss108.

MORE ABOUT KENDRA PETRONE

Kendra is the Executive Producer of the Matty Show, which means, she is in charge of selecting and booking all the celebrity guests, setting up the daily schedules, updating all the personality web pages, managing the social networking sites for the morning show and station, answering the listener emails, managing the Matty Show phone lines and overseeing the Matty Show internships. She can often be heard discussing entertainment and pop culture on air with Matty, Billy and Lisa! This past fall, she was a weekly contributor on FOX25′s “The X-Factor Recap”, and can currently be seen every week on FOX25′s Morning Show, as their official American Idol Expert. She joined the morning show team in April 2007, from WBZ-TV in Boston, where she started out as the Promotions Coordinator then worked her way to the Morning News Production Assistant alongside morning show anchors Paula Ebben, David Robichaud and Barry Burbank. Prior to WBZ, she interned at the Rock radio station Lazer 99.3FM in Springfield, where she was in charge of creating contests, prizes, organizing live events, and the daily shows schedules for all the radio jocks. She has a Bachelors Degree in Broadcast Communications, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and is also a member of the Beta Eta chapter of the Sigma Kappa sorority. Throughout her time at UMASS, she also worked for The New England Patriots during their 2001, 2003 & 2004 World Championship seasons and is still very involved with The Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley, located in Salisbury, Ma. For the past 5 years, she has helped coordinate the annual Methuen Festival Of Trees event to benefit the Methuen Historical Society; and NuPath, Inc’s annual Taste of Spring, that helps to provide a network of creative day services and residential options for people living with developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and acquired brain injury. She is married with a 1 1/2 yr old daughter who always keeps her life interesting along with being a part of New England’s most successful morning radio team. Every day brings a new and exciting challenge! She wants to hear from you… email her KendraPetrone@clearchannel.com

The Eric: The Workout No One Could Possibly Do

By Martha Hicks Leta

Eric Petersen loves training at Fitness Together in Norwell and it shows. A client since 2011, Eric completed the ten mile Tough Mudder adventure race with Team Boom Factor in May and within a week, while basking in the post-race delirium, signed on to run in the 13 mile Spartan Beast in September with FT Norwell Trainer Mike Eaton.

The 47 year old especially loves the social aspect of training and has made quite a few lasting friendships among clients and trainers alike. During any given Pack session, Petersen can be found waxing poetic about his favorite greasy foods while his fellow Pack members strain to complete their circuits. (Eric looks like Jack LaLane but eats like John Belushi and talks food like the fat guy stuck in a fit guy’s body that he his.) His favorite topic is sausage, particularly Santarpio’s sausage in East Boston as well as the hot dogs at Capitol Lunch in New Britain Connecticut. Not everyone enjoys listening to vivid descriptions of greasy food while struggling to keep their oatmeal down during a round of squat jumps, but Eric doesn’t care. He practically levitates while describing the gustatory delights of his favorite gut busters.

Eric loves training at Fitness Together in Norwell, but he kind of hates it, too.

He calls Mike Eaton “The Silent Assassin” and lately he’s taken to calling trainer Alicia Tasney, “Lucifer” or “Lucy” if he’s feeling too short of breath for the extra syllable. Sometimes, during an especially brutal workout, Eric will hide in a corner like a wounded coyote. “Get away from me, Lucy! I’m not talking to you,” he says to Alicia. “Walk away!”

But, says Tasney, Eric asks for it. Sometimes literally. Petersen arrived for a recent appointment and announced, “I’m giving you five minutes. Write a workout for me that no one could possibly do. Go.”

Never one to shrink from a challenge, Tasney wrote the workout and called it “The Eric.” This is the sweat stain left on the floor two-thirds of the way into the workout.

Rumor has it they’re thinking of having it permanently marked on the floor like a Hollywood Walk of Fame star: The FT Walk of Stain.

Some guys have sandwiches named after them, and who knows, perhaps somewhere there’s a Petersen Pepper Braunschweiger. Maybe there’s even an emblazoned sweat stain in his future, but for now Eric will have to be satisfied with having a workout named after him.

Give it a shot. Send me a photo of your sweat stain after and tell me what you think. marthaletaFT@aol.com

“The Eric”

Pullups, (Choice of grip)
Reps: 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1
Two full burpees after each set of pull-ups

5 Wall Walks

Spiderman Pushups
Reps: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
Two hanging dips after each set of pushups

24” Box Jumps
Reps:20

Burpee to Pullup (Full chest to the floor burpee, jump at the end to grab the bar for pullup)
Reps: 10,8,6,4,2

TRX Pike with push-ups. (Feet in TRX in plank position. Pike up, straighten, drop into pushup.)
Reps: 10,8,6,4,2

Alternating Wall Ball/Med Ball Slam with 16 lb Dynamax ball
Reps: 40,30,20, 10

__________

To find out more about “The Eric” contact the trainers at FT Norwell

To find a FT Studio near you, go to FTGetsResults.com

Kendra Petrone from KISS 108 Joins FT’s Wedding Party Workout

Matty In The Morning’s Executive Producer, Kendra Petrone, told us why she joined the Wedding Party Workout this summer:

“I’m in like 3 weddings – no joke, and I have baby showers left and right. And everyone’s taking my picture (ugh!), so I need to seriously lose major inches! FT’s personal trainers are helping me lose weight, tone up and get in picture perfect shape! Hey, if you are interested,  you can check my progress and watch me work out at FTGetsResults.com. And of course, listen in to Matty In The Morning on Kiss 108 for more on those 3 weddings, baby showers, and more…”

CLICK…CLICK…CLICK!
That’s the sound of the wedding photographer taking your picture. If you’re in the wedding party, you know these photos will be seen by many people for an eternity. So, how good will you look in the upcoming months when the big day arrives?

Or maybe you have a family reunion or just want to look good in a bathing suit this summer? There’s no better time to trade in your baby weight, beer belly and floppy arms for a slimmer, happier you. But, no need to fear – you won’t have to do it alone. The expert personal trainers at Fitness Together are here to help you look better, feel better and perform better, as you prepare for your big day.

YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN US
Bring your friends and family or work out with others just like you, who want to lose weight, tone up and be proud of how they look and feel on their special day.

When you join the Wedding Party Workout, you will exercise three times a week for eight weeks total with our expert personal trainers in a small group personal training environment. Fitness Together’s small group personal training (PACK Training) combines strength training, cardio conditioning and nutritional guidance to help you feel better and look better than you ever thought was possible.

GIMME THE SKINNY
The special deal? To celebrate Kendra taking the workouts with us, we’ve dropped our price to just $21.95/session. With the WEDDING PARTY WORKOUT, you get eight weeks (24 sessions) of Small Group (PACK) Personal Training, which includes three sessions per week and nutrition coaching. This is a limited time offer. We expect to sell-out these sessions, so call us today to reserve your spot! BTW, please inquire about special Wedding Party Workout savings for 1-on-1 personal training. Current FT clients may add 1 session/week to your existing program at these prices.

Whether it’s 1-on-1 or small group training – You’ll get better results when you get Fit Together.

Click on the pictures below to download the coupon.

Note, not all FT locations are running this special.  Visit FTGetsResults.com to find a participating location near you.

You can follow Kendra on her blog: http://www.kiss108.com/pages/Kendra.html