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
Dina Whalen, owner of Fitness Together of Lynnfield, announced this week that she has donated 200 gift cards to the LAA. The organization helps pay for equipment and other costs for the Lynnfield High School sports programs.
People can purchase a gift card for $25, and receive $100 worth of services from Fitness Together of Lynnfield, including PACK (small group) training sessions.
“Lynnfield High School is my alma mater and as a local business owner I am excited to be able to give back in some way,” said Whalen, owner of Fitness Together of Lynnfield. “I am a former athlete and understand the importance of the LAA and what it provides to the school’s athletic teams.”
Lynnfield HS Athletic Association
For more information about the LAA or to purchase a gift card, contact Linda Rugato, LAA, at 781-258-6447 or lynnfieldathleticassociation@gmail.com.
Check out FTLynnfield for more information or call 780-781-7591. To find a Fitness Together Studio near you go to FTGetsResults.com
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ABOUT DINA WHALEN
Dina Whalen, President CEO of Fitness Together Lynnfield
BS Sports Med, NSCA – Certified Strenth and Conditioning Specialist, ACSM – Health/Fitness Instructor, NASM – Golf Fitness Specialist
Dina Whalen has used all of her education and training to become a real life success story. Dina is a lifetime sports enthusiast, however she had struggled with her weight throughout her young adult years. Dina began to understand the importance of improving her health and took an active role in creating her own health and fitness program while at Sacred Heart University where she majored in Sports Medicine. With her phenomenal determination today she is in excellent shape and encourages others to join her in the quest for a lifetime of physical fitness. She has been a certified personal trainer since 2000 and has made great strides in not only improving her client’s health and fitness but there mental well being through constant motivation and encouragement. Dina has transformed her own personal success into the model that each one of her client’s could adhere to. In her early career while working at prestigious fitness centers such as the Wellbridge Athletic Club and Sports Club LA, she decided to bring her unique style and training program to a new level and opened Fitness Together. Dina takes personal training to the next level by offering “personalized personal training”.
Each individual has an individualized fitness program that combines Dina’s program as well as the ever evolving new trends in physical fitness. Dina and her team work with each client to ensure that their needs are meet and that their goals are accomplished. Dina and her staff take great pride in staying with you through each phase of your program. Not only are they attentive to your fitness needs but they understand how hard it can be to incorporate fitness into your daily schedule. Dina promises to deliver the greatest results in the least amount of time while keeping you on the proper path to physical fitness. Dina is certified with the American College of Sports Medicine as a Health and Fitness Instructor. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
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
Article clipped by our friends at the American Diabetes Association
from Eureka Alert
People who lift weights are less likely to have metabolic syndrome—a cluster of risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes, reports a study in the October issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
“Lifting weights may play a role in reducing the prevalence and risk of metabolic syndrome among U.S. adults,” according to the study by Peter M. Magyari, PhD, HFS, CSCS, and James R. Churilla, PhD, MPH, MS, RCEP, CSCS, FACSM of Brooks College of Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville.
9% of Americans Lift Weights
The researchers analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), an ongoing, nationally representative study of health risk factors. In the survey, respondents were simply asked whether they lifted weights; the responses were analyzed for association with the presence of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors linked to increased rates risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. People with at least three out of five risk factors—large waist circumference (more than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women), high triglyceride levels, reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL, or “good” cholesterol), elevated blood pressure, and high glucose levels—are considered to have metabolic syndrome.
Of 5,618 U.S. adults who had fasting blood samples for analysis, 8.8 percent answered yes to the question about lifting weights. Lifting weights was about twice as common in men than women: 11.2 versus 6.3 percent. It was also more common among younger people—lifting weights became less frequent for people aged 50 years and older.
White and black Americans were about equally likely to lift weights, while Mexican Americans were least likely. People at higher socioeconomic levels were also more likely to say they lifted weights.
Reducing the Odds of Metabolic Syndrome by 37 Percent
This cross-sectional analysis of the 1999-2004 NHANES data found a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome among people who reported lifting weights: 24.6 percent, compared to 37.3 percent in those who did not lift weights. After adjustment for demographic factors, lifting weights was associated with a 37 percent reduction in the odds of metabolic syndrome.
Several recent studies have evaluated the impact of exercise for prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. Resistance exercise, including weight-lifting, may have protective effects. Research has linked greater muscle strength and muscle mass to lower rates of metabolic syndrome. Since lifting weights increases muscle strength and mass, it might also help to decrease the development of metabolic syndrome.
The new study provides population-level data showing that people who lift weights are less likely to have the risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome. This suggests that incorporating weight lifting or other forms of resistance exercise into physical activity programs might be an effective way to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, both for individuals and in the population.
“Exercise professionals should strongly encourage the activity of lifting weights among adults of all ages to promote metabolic health,” Drs Magyari and Churilla conclude. These efforts should focus on groups with lower rates of weight lifting: women, older adults, Mexican Americans, and lower-income people. The authors acknowledge some significant limitations of their study—such as a lack of detailed information on weight lifting and other types of resistance exercise, including manual labor.
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To start lifting weights at a Fitness Together studio near you, or to learn more how FT Gets Results, go to FTGetsResults.com
About The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
The editorial mission of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research (JSCR) is to advance the knowledge about strength and conditioning through research. A unique aspect of this journal is that it includes recommendations for the practical use of research findings. While the journal name identifies strength and conditioning as separate entities, strength is considered a part of conditioning. The journal wishes to promote the publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts which add to our understanding of conditioning and sport through applied exercise science. The JSCR is the official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
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!”
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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
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
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!
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!”
By Martha Hicks Leta
