By Cathy Schaum Owner, Fitness Together of Tyngsboro
Serving the greater Merrimack Valley, Nashua & Southern New Hampshire

In honor of President’s Day, once again, I am drawn to a famous quote by President John F. Kennedy: “Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”

President Kennedy was undoubtedly one of our most health conscious Presidents.  It wasn’t just the words President Kennedy spoke, but the initiatives made by his administration.  You can read about the Federal Government’s historical involvement in physical fitness at this link to the JFK Library.

Fast forward to 2012: We are late in February; are you healthier than you were at the end of 2011?  If you are involved in a consistent physical fitness routine, you should congratulate yourself!  However, if you are continuing to allow weeks, months, and years pass by without taking part in a safe activity geared toward improving your health, you need to re-consider your personal situation.

Our bodies are meant to “move.”  It is not uncommon for sedentary people to get chronic aches and pains.

Do you breathe heavily when taking a couple of flights of stairs?  Physically active people actually have more energy.

Do you have trouble reaching that ‘top” shelf, although it is within reach? Can you reach down and tie your shoes?  People who are involved in a safe strength training program actually become more flexible.

Being physically active has proven to be a great benefit for a person’s mind and also helps to reduce stress.

It is so very important that people recognize the importance of good health.  Ignoring a medical issue or obesity will not make it go away.  Taking action to become healthier is a matter of prioritizing health and creating new good habits.

If you need help and guidance, you should seek a professional.

I was recently interviewed by Kevin Willett on the “Friends of Kevin Radio Show” on WSMN 1590 Nashua.  You can listen to the interview and learn about our Fitness Together program – and learn more about Kevin’s show – via this link: www.friendsofkevin.com/fok_radio.

I am extremely pleased to inform you that we have moved our studio to a NEW state-of-art location at 73 Progress Ave., Suite 2, Tyngsboro.

If you or any member of your family would like a private consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact me at  978.649.6799.

In addition to our one-on-one private personal training, we are now providing cost effective and progressively challenging small group training.

You can link to our website at  FT Tyngsboro.  

Be sure to follow us on Twitter at “FTtyngsboro” and “like” our Facebook page: “Fitness Together Tyngsboro/Nashua.”

For more on Fitness Together or to find an FT Studio near you in Eastern New England check out FTGetsResults.com

Setting the incline on your treadmill mimics the terrain you might face when running outdoors. Many people choose a treadmill because it allows for exercising any time and in any weather. Whether you choose indoor or outdoor running, your body will get a good cardiovascular and muscular workout. Talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine.

Calories Burned
The number of calories burned with indoor vs. outdoor running is very similar as long as you use a 1 percent incline on your treadmill. Your speed also determines calorie burn. If you tend to run faster on a long open path than on a treadmill, you will burn more calories outdoors than indoors. It is important to note that many calorie-tracking products often are inaccurate. Choose one that allows you to input your weight and height for a close estimation of calorie burn. This allows you to determine whether you burn more calories with an outdoor run on hilly terrain or by using a treadmill set at an incline.

Level of Exertion
Your exertion level when using a treadmill on an incline may differ from that when you run outside. If you hold onto the bars or have trouble balancing on a treadmill, you may not be able to run at peak performance. On the other hand, encountering different types of hilly terrain over the course of a run may slow you down. For example, if you move from concrete to grass or sidewalk to dirt, you might not be able to keep up your speed as your body adjusts to the different surfaces. Observe your level of exertion during a hilly outdoor run vs. an indoor treadmill running session to determine which choice allows you to work out harder and which provides more benefits, both muscular and cardiovascular.

Reason for Running
If you run on hills purely for the health benefits, such as protection from heart disease or weight gain, running outdoors or indoors offers similar benefits. However, if you are running for a specific purpose, you might need to choose one or the other. If you are training for an outdoor race, running outside mimics the conditions you might encounter during the race. Outdoor training prepares you for running up and down hills while keeping your balance and form. If you are running to lose weight, using a treadmill may be optimal because the padded belt helps protect your knees and feet from impact injuries.

Considerations
If your outdoor run occurs on steep or high hills, a one percent incline on a treadmill isn’t likely to provide the same type of workout. While you’ll still burn calories and get your heart pumping on a treadmill, these effects might not be at the same level as an outside running session. Some treadmills allow you to set the incline to go up and down at different levels, which is a good way to set a course that is very close to what you might encounter outdoors. Look for these treadmills at gyms or exercise equipment supply stores.

Livestrong

For more information, or to find an FT Studio near you in Eastern New England, go to FTGetsResults.com

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Josh Rosenfeld, MS, CSCS
Owner: FT Sudbury, FT Wayland , FT Natick.

Josh talks about talks about the Fitness Together program as a sane solution to our nation’s exploding costs of obesity and diabetes care.

Josh has over a 15 years of experience in the field of health and fitness, and has worked in various settings including rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, and general fitness training. His educational background includes a BS in Biology from Hobart College and Masters degrees in Exercise Physiology and Sport Psychology from Ithaca College. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a Certified Health/Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Josh has also worked as a presenter and examiner for the ACSM certification preparatory course.

Josh opened the doors to Fitness Together Sudbury in January of 2002, and also currently owns Fitness Together Wayland and Natick.

FT Natick

FT Sudbury
FT Wayland

For more information on Fitness Together and to find studios in Eastern New England, please go to FTGetsResults.com

Or as others may rhapsodize: An Ode to CHOCOLATE, “food of the gods!”

It is well known that Giacomo Casanova was the most insatiable womanizer of all time. It is said that he called chocolate his “elixir of love,” drank it religiously before every love making tryst and used it in his seductions-the first love pro to tap into the timeless attraction between women and chocolate. Love and chocolate go even further back in time. Both the Maya and Aztec offered cocoa as a gift of love to the gods, prompting Carl Linneaus, the Swedish botanist and father of modern taxonomy to name the cacao tree Theobroma cacao, literally, “food of the gods.”

Dark chocolate – with a high content of nonfat cocoa solids – is now the new guilt-free super food! The scientific evidence is stacking up linking daily consumption of deep, dark chocolate with phenomenal health benefits. When it comes to choosing chocolate for health, the chocolate must be the flavonoid-rich dark variety. This is because dark chocolate has a much higher percentage of cocoa than milk chocolate and it’s the cocoa that contains most of the flavonoids-plant substances which provide your body with a host of health benefits. Natural cocoa powders (ground cocoa solids, aka the words natural cocoa powder unsweetened on the product label) had the highest level of flavonoids followed by unsweetened baking chocolates, dark chocolates, and semisweet chocolate baking chips. Milk chocolate and chocolate syrup had the least amount. Do your heart good-choose your chocolate wisely and opt for making your own sweet treats from cocoa powder.

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Fitness Together studios provide a full 360 degree to weight loss and diabetes maintenance including nutritional guidance along with fitness sessions. To find out more, please go to FTGetsResults.com

By the way, if we piqued your interest in Taza chocolate, here’s their site.

OR

$100 OFF Any 3-Month Program Good for Private 1-On-1 Personal Training or Small Group Training Programs
With Coupon Only • May Not Be Combined With Any Other Offer

Download Coupons here for DEDHAM/WESTBOROUGH

or for NORWELL / COHASSETT

OFFERS EXPIRE 4/17/2012

Reblogged from barefootbeing:

This is a perfectly sweet and delicate, yet filling salad that is super easy to make, and serves up beautifully. Walnuts and gorgonzola add a rich texture and taste that is so satisfying with the sweet pear. This recipe was adapted from this Barefoot Contessa recipe which I plan to try sometime. Ingredients: 1 bag Arugula/Spring Mix Lettuce (I added some baby spinach) ¼ of a red onion, thinly sliced 1 ripe Bosc or Anjou pear 1 Fuji apple; cored and chopped (toss with a bit of lemon juice to keep from …

But what is all that soda doing to your health?

The truth is, drinking soda can lead to more than just a bigger belly. The habit can be associated with asthma, heat disease, diabetes and much more.

Check out the infographic below before popping open the next can. May we suggest water instead?If you do care about your health and your body, however, take a look at the harmful effects of soda consumption over time. (If you click on the image you can view it in full.)

For more information about our full 360 degree Fitness Together programs, which include nutritional guidance, please go to FTGetsResults.com

Stapleton Must Sprint to Raise $4,000 in Just 7 Weeks

BURLINGTON, MA – In between training clients at his Fitness Together studio in Burlington, Brendan Stapleton is either training for a race or running in one.  In fact, when you discover just how much Brendan likes to run, (he once ran two marathons in 5 weeks) you can’t help but think of the intrepid Forrest Gump, running from coast to coast and back again.

Over the course of his career, Stapleton’s run in too many races to count. In the last year he has run in 4 full marathons, with his next, the Boston Marathon, coming this April. And when he’s not training or racing, he’s figuring out how to use his passion for running to raise money for charities.

Last year, Stapleton and four friends raised $25,000 for the Nashoba Learning Group, a school for children with Autism where his good friend and fellow running mate, Peter Argriros, is a staff member.

This year Stapleton will be running the Boston Marathon again, but this time to raise money for the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Over the past two years, Fitness Together Studios throughout Eastern New England have already raised over $70,000 for the ADA to help find a cure for diabetes.

“Type 2 Diabetes and obesity represent a huge impact on our society, our health care system, our work force and our economy, “ says Steve Lichtman, owner of four Fitness Together Studios and Representative for the Fitness Together Eastern New England Owners Cooperative.   “At Fitness Together, we’re helping a lot of people to get healthy, to lose weight, to lower their blood glucose levels and improve their overall productivity and sense of well-being. We want to keep doing all we can to bring an end to this disease.”

This year, Stapleton’s biggest challenge may not be training for or finishing the race with a respectable time, but rather raising a lot of money in a short amount of time. In order to secure a number for the race, a runner must agree to raise a minimum of $4,000 for a charity recognized by the Boston Athletic Association or be personally responsible for handing over that amount. Last year Stapleton began his fundraising efforts for the Nashoba Learning Group in early December. This year he’s getting a late start. “I got word that I had a number for the marathon in late January and the funds are due by April 1, so we’re about two months behind in the fundraising.”Still, Stapleton says he’s got this. Between support from Fitness Together studios, his clients and his own network he hopes to raise twice as much as the minimum $4,000. He’ll be selling corporate sponsorship packages that include the company logo on his race day shirt and on his fund raising web site, as well as well as mention in any publicity pieces.

To donate online to Brendan’s Run for the ADA go to Diabetes.org

Or send checks made out to the American Diabetes Association to:
Brendan Stapleton
c/o Fitness Together Burlington
212 Cambridge St.
Burlington, MA 01803

For more information about FT Studios across Eastern New England, please go to FTGetsResults.com

Tom Lavoie
Owner Operator Trainer FT Reading, MA

Tom lost 70 lbs and changed his life by following the program he now uses to train others at Fitness Together.

All our FT Trainers are here to help you achieve your fitness goals and have fun while you are doing it! I have learned first hand what kind of impact fitness can have on your life, having lost over 70lbs of “baby fat” myself. From being able to run faster or jump higher, just get out of bed without pain in the morning, or increasing your overall health, Fitness Together trainers want you to feel comfortable with your experience and with each individual studio’s intimate design. Every trainer at our Fitness Together studios are eager to start you on a journey that will change your life forever. Contact us at any time to start your journey!

FT Reading

Find a studio near you at FTGetsResults

More about me:
I am a graduate of Salem State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine. I have earned certifications through the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (ATC), as well as the National Strength and Conditioning Academy (CSCS). I spent the early part of my professional career as an athletic trainer for high schools and various semi-pro sports teams. For the past 12 years I have been working with clients one on one to achieve their fitness and life goals. I have extensive experience working with young children, elite athletes and the elderly achieve these goals.