September Class Schedule

August 31, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

Fall is the perfect time to start a NEW fitness routine. Often we get out of our regular routine during the summer months and September offers us the perfect opportunity to RE-GROUP and put our priorities in order.

We all know we should exercise often but sometimes we let other things get more of our attention. CLASSES can offer a wonderful variety for us. Our class schedule for September is full of some of your FAVORITES…like Drums Alive and Dance options as well as some NEW options like Balletone and MAX.

All of these classes are designed for all fitness levels and will allow for you to workout in a FUN, and SAFE environment alongside other men and women working toward a healthier spirit, mind, and body.

Remember that our classes are FREE with your monthly membership dues and that you do NOT have to pre-register for our classes…simply show up and be ready for some fun!

September 2010 Class Schedule

September Class Descriptions 2010

“What’s the number one reason people do not work out?”

August 19, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

Is it lack of money? Lack of motivation? Perhaps they lack the
ideal workout plan?

Nope. It’s TIME. Or rather the lack thereof.

“We know that 50 per cent of the population doesn’t [exercise]
and the most commonly cited barrier to exercise is lack of time.”
This quote comes from exercise researcher Martin Gibala, a
kinesiology professor at McMaster University in Hamilton.

I can testify: as a Personal Training for over 15 years I can tell
you that 60% of gym members quit in the first 3 months.
And that’s an industry stat across North America. 

Gibala put his theory to the test in a study that was published
in the Journal of Physiology. In it Gibala compared a group who
exercised “traditionally” — 90 to 120 minutes per day — with
another group exercising far less:  Only 20 minutes per day and
only three days per week.

That’s a whopping one hour per week folks!!

In just two weeks both groups showed improvement in both exercise
performance and oxygen uptake. (Remember, fat burns in the
presence of oxygen.)

The kicker is that both groups were almost identical in their
improvement.
Why? Because the brief exercise group trained with
greater focus and more intensity — exactly how I suggests you
train.

This is just one of dozens of studies that confirm the benefits
of shorter but more intense workouts.

However, there is a catch:  Train too hard and you will shut down
your fat-burning furnace. 

Your body perceives over-exertion done over an extended period of
time as a sign of pursuit. It can trigger an ancient hormonal
sequence that says, “I’m being chased by a tiger! Horde the fat!”

The body literally shuts down what it considers to be unnecessary
activity in favor of self-preservation. And guess what? Burning
off those hips and love handles is not a biological necessity.

You have to learn when to hit it hard AND when to rest and
recover.


Finally, you have to put yourself into the proper mental state in
order to see greater results in the shortest period of time.

Just remember these three key points:

    1.  Time is the greatest barrier to fitness.
    2.  Workouts can be short and very effective.
    3.  The body goes where the mind directs.

Until next time, train smart.

Deb :)

How many calories do you eat at the Fair?

August 18, 2010 by · Leave a Comment 

T05HR 

It’s Iowa State Fair time again in Des Moines.  Every year people flock to the fair to see shows, the butter cow, livestock, and of course to see what is the new food on a stick!  Last year it was salad on a stick……it didn’t really go over very well!  When you can get a pork chop on a stick or salad, most people will choose the pork chop!

A day at the fair eating fair food can kill your diet.  It shocks most people to see just how many calories are in their favorite fair foods.  Sometimes people think they are making the best choices only to find out they are assuming that just because it’s turkey its healthy….WRONG!

Here is a list of some of the most common fair foods available.  Check out what you eat and see how you FAIR!

Fair Foods

                                 Item Amount                Calories                    Carbs (g)               Protein (g)                 Fat (g)
Corn dog                                  1                     460                                     56                        17                         19
Cola                                           12 0z.            160                                     39                        - -
Carmel apple                          1 medium     270                                     56                          2                           4
Homemade Taffy                    ¼ pound        450                                    104                        -                            4
Roasted/Salted peanuts         ½ cup           460                                      14                        19                         36
Corn-on-the-cob w/butter       1 piece          170                                      32                          4                           3
BBQ Sandwich                               1               340                                      34                       15                          16
Beef Dog w/bun                              1               250                                     18                       10                          15
Deluxe Hamburger                        1               510                                     40                        26                          27
Funnel Cake                                   1 (6”)        280                                     29                           7                         15
Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza      1 Slice       390                                     42                          19                         16
Soft Pretzel                                 1 medium   190                                      38                            5                           2
French Fries                                 Large         450                                      57                            6                         22
Popcorn                                       4 cups         220                                      25                            4                         12
Ice cream cone               1 drumstick           225                                      23                            4                         12
Dippin’ dots Vanilla                  ½ cup           170                                      16                             3                        10
Dippin’ dots No sugar added-low fat ½ cup 123                                   13                             3                          6
Fried Twinkie                                1                    420                                   45                             2                        34
Fried Snickers                              1                    444                                    42                            4                        29
Cotton Candy                            1.5 oz              171                                      45                               -                       -
Smoothies (Berry)                    1 cup              350                                       80                           7                           1
Smoked Turkey Leg                    1                1,136                                        -                           152                      54
Brat w/ bun                                    1                     804                                     28                           36                    60.5
Dill Pickle                                       1                       32                                        8                             -                       -
Kettle Corn                                     7 cups           490                                     70                            3.5                 12.3
Lemonade                                      1 cup            210                                       52                              -                     -
Gyro                                                12 oz.             680                                       55                           31                  40
Snow-cone                                     1                    540                                     132                               -                   -
Fried Shrimp                        10-12 pieces         555                                       36                           35                  30
Frozen Banana w/chocolate        1                    240                                       53                              2                    4
Fried Oreo                                    1 cookie             98                                       11                           1.3                 5.7
Nachos w/cheese                      9” plate              861                                      70                            19                 59
Fried Onion Flower                   1 onion            1,320                                    140                            16                 72
Donuts Jumbo Twist                  7.5 oz.               907                                    108.6                          11                49
Root-beer Float                          ½ cup                  111                                       20                               1                  3
Cinnamon Roll                           1                          730                                    114                            14.5              24
Fudge                                          1.5 oz.                  199                                        25                               1               11
Frozen Yogurt in sugar cone      1                        476                                        94                               19               2
Malt                                              1 cup                     690                                       85                                13            33
Source: Calorieking.com (Fair foods)

 

 How much time will you have to workout to burn those extra calories you took in at the fair?? Go to Caloriesperhour.com

Look up your favorite activity and then put your current weight in and how long you will do it, and it will tell you how many calories you will burn.

Example: Average 160 lb. person will burn only 138 calories walking on the treadmill at 3.5 mph. This means you would have to walk on the treadmill for 4 HOURS to burn off one turkey leg!! Yikes!!!!!

So enjoy the FAIR!!

Deb :)