Tag Archive for 'Mullica Hill'

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Can’t Reach Your Fitness Goals? Try a Fitness Calendar

Published on February 20, 2013 in Fitness Fun. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

Personal TrainingResolving to shape up and build a better body in 2013 was the first step. Actually exercising and eating right is what gets you results. If you are having trouble reaching health and fitness goals, then creating a fitness calendar may be just the thing you need!

A fitness calendar can help you define your fitness goals, plan your workouts according to your schedule, and help you to fit exercise into your daily routine. Editors note: After reading this blog post, if you think a fitness calendar is not enough to help you achieve fitness goals then it may be time to look in to a personal trainer. It’s more affordable than you think and a personal traininer gets results. Visit our Personal Training section to learn more.

Fitness Calendar Steps:

1. How do you currently plan your time? Whether you use a calendar on your computer or smart phone or purchase a calendar or planner that you use specifically for fitness, decide where and how you want to schedule your workouts. You may also want to create a separate chart to track things like nutrition, body weight, and inches lost so that you can regularly track your success.

2. Come up with a summarized exercise plan. Make sure that you include a variety of workout options including cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and exercise programs such as yoga, swimming or stretching that can help you improve your flexibility.

3. Block out days on your calendar. Consider your personal workout preferences. Do you like working out in the morning? Or does a time later in the day better fit your daily routine? Commit yourself to doing your pre-planned workouts each day.

4. Be sure to vary your workouts. A good fitness plan should include a balance of stretching, toning, and aerobic activities. Be sure to schedule at least two days of resistance training and three days of cardio exercise. If you need help creating a workout plan, consult with a Future Fitness personal trainer for advice.

5. Goals and tracking. Whether it’s losing weight, increasing reps, or extending the duration of each workout, create a monthly goal for yourself and note it at the end of each month.

6. Reward yourself! Praising yourself will help make your goals more attainable and ensure that you stick with your new fitness plan. Plan a special day out after meeting your goals, buy yourself a new pair of jeans – choose something that will motivate you to push yourself to finish.

If you think a fitness calendar is not enough to help you achieve fitness goals then it may be time to look in to a personal trainer. It’s more affordable than you think and a personal traininer gets results. Visit our Personal Training section to learn more.

Fitness Trends for 2013

Published on November 12, 2012 in Fit News, Future Fitness Programs & Classes and Healthy Steps for Fitness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Experts in every industry and field are predicting the hot trends they see taking shape for 2013. Speaking of “taking shape,” the physical fitness industry is no exception. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has released its list of the top 10 fitness trends for 2013. They are as follows:

1. Educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals. For the sixth consecutive year, the trend in professionally qualified fitness instructors and trainers tops the list. The number of fitness professionals who attain accredited education and certification programs continues to increase, providing better results for those they instruct and train.

2. Strength training. This holds the number two spot for the second year in a row. Research now indicates that strength training also benefits the brain (refer to previous blog post) as well as the body.

3. Body weight training. Even when you can hit the gym, doing push-ups, crunches and other exercises that don’t require equipment is a great way to keep fit and toned. And when you can’t, body weight training keeps you from falling into a slump.

4. Children and obesity-related exercise. Programs designed to promote physical fitness and good nutrition among children will continue to increase. Sedentary activities and a steady diet of fast food are the main culprits contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic.

5. Exercise and weight loss. More and more people are beginning to understand that being thin isn’t necessarily synonymous with being healthy. Fitness programs that emphasize a balance of exercise and good diet choices to reach and maintain a healthy weight will continue to increase in popularity.

6. Fitness programs for older adults. With longer lifespans comes the risk of physical decline. Continuing their generation’s passion for personal independence, baby boomers will increasingly take to the gym to remain healthy and mobile as they age.

7. Personal training. An increasing number of companies and communities are promoting wellness programs that include personal trainers. Future Fitness provides one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer to members.

8. Functional fitness. Typically designed for older adults, these programs incorporate everyday activities that involve strength training to improve balance and coordination.

9. Core training. Strengthening core muscles improves the body’s overall stability, making programs emphasizing core muscle development popular among all age groups and workout disciplines.

10. Group personal training. Sort of an oxymoron, but small group classes led by a personal trainer for such regimes as boot camps will continue to trend.

Whatever trend may apply to you, fitness is never a fad! Future Fitness can help you make 2013 your best year yet!

 

Research Discovers that Exercises Builds the Brain: “Musclehead” Takes on New Meaning!

Published on November 7, 2012 in Fit News, Future Fitness Programs & Classes and Healthy Steps for Fitness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

We all know that exercise builds muscles, but newly released scientific research indicates that it may also build the brain – literally! A team at the University of Edinburgh followed more than 600 people who were 70 years old at the time the study began. The subjects provided details on their daily physical, mental and social activities.

Three years later, using imaging scans, the scientists found that the subjects who engaged in the most physical exercise had less shrinkage and damage in the brain’s white matter – the “wiring” of the brain’s communication system. The relationship remained even after factoring for such variables as age, health, social class and I.Q.

The study, reported in the journal Neurology, also indicated that exercise had a more positive effect in preventing brain shrinkage than engagement in mentally stimulating activities or having an active social life. While the authors of the study couldn’t rule out the possibility that people with less brain deterioration were just more likely to be physically active, they said that based on their findings, they would recommend that people take up physical exercise whatever their age.

If you’re already keeping your brain toned and pumped, you’re ahead of the game! If you’re looking for a fitness program that will be fun, challenging and beneficial – regardless of your age or fitness level – spend some time learning about all the great classes and programs Future Fitness offers. We now have something to improve every brain as well as every body!

 

Common Sense Exercise Tips

Published on October 26, 2012 in Fit News, Future Fitness Programs & Classes and Healthy Steps for Fitness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

If you’re considering starting a workout routine and have reached this blog for some advice, congratulations! If you’ve recently joined Future Fitness and want to be sure you have every advantage in keeping your commitment to a healthy lifestyle, here are five simple tips:

1. Consult a fitness professional – Have a professional assessment to determine what types of exercise will be most beneficial. You may learn that following a program based on aerobics or resistance training will get you where you want to go. You’ll also learn the areas in which you need the most attention, and how to avoid injury.

Future Fitness provides free sessions with a personal trainer, plus the industry’s leading instructors for all classes and programs. You can begin your program with complete confidence that you’ll enjoy the maximum benefits – as long as you follow the subsequent tips!

2. Follow an effective exercise routine – The American Council on Exercise (ACE) surveyed 1,000 ACE-certified personal trainers about the best techniques to get fit. They recommended a combination of strength training to help tone the entire body, interval training and cardio/aerobic exercise.

3. Choose a fitness regime you enjoy – Don’t take up a program that you’ll approach like a chore, or a fad workout that’s getting all the media buzz (unless you find that it really is a good program for you, and not just the celebrity who made it famous). For example, spinning may appeal more to you than walking on a treadmill (or vice versa).

Future Fitness members have an advantage in being able to take free demos of classes and programs, and in discussing the range of activities they like with instructors who can recommend the appropriate exercises.

4. Set realistic goals and be patient – If you’ve been a long-term couch potato, don’t expect to see a new slimmer, toned and ripped “you” in a few weeks. Trying to do too much too soon sets you up for injury and/or a lot of frustration. Either way, you’re more likely to give up.

Also, don’t strive for perfection or a goal that’s improbable based upon your physical limitations (which we all have). Talk with your instructor or trainer about your fitness goals, and the process involved in reaching them.

5. Be consistent – Achieving physical fitness is a process, and progress is made in increments. Schedule a regular time (at least three times weekly) for your workout. No matter how good your program, you won’t get results unless you do it consistently.

Get in the Swim with Aquatic Fitness Training

Published on October 10, 2012 in Future Fitness Programs & Classes and Healthy Steps for Fitness. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Aquatic exercise is all the rage as a new generation of fitness enthusiasts discovers its numerous benefits. Whether your goal is to improve your cardiovascular endurance, muscle tone, muscle strength, flexibility, blood circulation – or even your social life – following an aquatic workout program can help you achieve great results.

Also known as aquatic aerobics, aquatic exercise is ideal for the following:

  • Active baby boomers wishing to avoid further wear-and-tear on their joints through low-impact exercise
  • Those who have been inactive over the years but want to begin a fitness program
  • Those who have rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis or orthopedic disorders
  • Those who are unable to walk far enough to burn the necessary calories for losing weight

How it works: The buoyancy of water supports about 50 percent of body weight for a person immersed waist-deep, and 90 percent of body weight for a person immersed up to the neck. For this reason, aquatic exercise puts very little stress on bones, joints and soft tissues while still allowing for high levels of energy expenditure.

Also, water is a thicker medium than air. By moving in the water, the amount of resistance can range from 4 to 44 times that of air. This resistance can help in developing muscular strength and endurance for those who have been inactive, as well as helping to maintain strength for those who are currently active.

Other aquatic exercise benefits include:

  • Massaging effect – The hydrostatic pressure of the water on your body, joints, muscles and internal organs “massages” you while your exercise, greatly reducing the feelings of fatigue
  • Cooling effect – Because you’re immersed in cool water, you never feel overheated and sweaty
  • Social effect – Typically held in classes, aquatic exercise programs promote camaraderie among participants
  • Relaxation effect – Working out in water promotes a sense of general relaxation that eases the stress of daily life

Members of Future Fitness Centers can join one of our four fun aquatic workout classes. Experience for yourself the big difference that water exercise can make in your fitness level and sense of well-being. Any time is the right time for getting in the swim!