Team Trump Power

WEEK ONE: This is the first week of the Best Loser contest at Fitness Forum Sports & Wellness. Noah and I are team members (aka Trump Power) and work out together 2 to 3 times per week. I wasn’t sure if Noah would want to do this since working out with mom isn’t really a cool thing. But I was wrong. There is so much to do at Fitness Forum that at times Noah will go one way and I’ll go another. He runs the track where as I power walk, he works out on different circuit machines then I do and he enjoys the Stairmaster while I like the elliptical machines. His goal is to get stronger, tone up, and build muscle where as my main goal is to lose weight!

This week Noah is working with Darek Morris, a fantastic personal trainer. He really motivates Noah by introducing him to new ways to build endurance and strength train. I’m working with Julie Rodriguez. She has created a fitness plan that will help achieve my goal! My workout is set up on a smart key. Some days I do cardio only and others I do cardio and weight training. All the activities are tailored to my fitness level so that I am burning the correct amount of calories each time to lose weight.

The staff at Fitness Forum is not only knowledgeable about exercise but also about eating right and maintaining balance in life. When I met with Julie about my exercise plan she was also able to make suggestions on my diet. I was able take her suggestions and create a healthy eating plan for both Noah and I to follow. We are eating more protein, less to no sugar, whole grains, and plenty of fruit, veggies and water. The great thing is that since we have changed our eating habits the rest of my household has followed suit.

There are many more weeks in this journey. I know we will have disappointing moments but our plans are to stay to STAY IN THE GAME! Thanks for your comments and support! Check out all the programs offered at Fitness Forum Sport & Wellness at www.fitnessforum.biz

Are you a tri-athlete? Do you want to become one or be faster or more competitive? Let us show you how.

Why should you tri?   There are many reasons including; to lose weight, to get fit, to prove it to yourself, running is boring, to be able to eat more food, to handle stress, to earn a cool t-shirt, to brag, and of course to meet new fun friends.

Many people have excuses why they “can’t” do a triathlon.  For example:

“I can’t swim.” (You can take lessons and learn how or techniques to swim faster.)

“I can’t afford a good bike.” (You can technically ride any type of bike so no valid excuse there! Upgrade later!)

“I don’t have time to train” (Sprint distance triathlon are often completed around 1.5 hours. You can squeeze in exercise during your normal day. Take the dog for a walk/jog, or swim some laps while your kids get a pool play date. Attend a cycling class as a de-stressor!)

“I can’t go that far.” (Sprint distance triathlons are 400-500 meter swims, 12 mile bike, and 3.1 mile runs – achievable distances.)

“Triathlons are so confusing” (Join us on Feb 25^th at 9 am for our first Triathlon Symposium.)

We will take the fear and confusion out of triathlon for you.

Are you already tri-ing but wanting to gain an edge?  The topics covered at the Triathlon Symposium will help your knowledge of the swim, the bike, the run, transitions and common  mistakes, nutrition, racing for women, racing “heavy” as Athena’s and Clydesdales and racing beyond the sprint distance. Several local triathletes including Ironman finishers, Kona qualifiers, and coaches will be speaking on the topics listed. The cost is only $10.  You become a triathlete the day you decide to do one.  For registration information visit: www.fitnessforum.biz.

Diabetes You CAN Manage

Mary Holm, General Manager

The statistics are staggering.  The American Diabetes Association reports 18.8 million people in the United States are diagnosed with diabetes.  It is estimated that 7 million people are diabetic but undiagnosed.  79 million people are pre-diabetic.  You may be one of them.  Potential dangers of uncontrolled diabetes are decreased wound healing, amputations, blindness, decreased sensation, and other organ damage.  Diabetes is often accompanied with cardiovascular disease and other illnesses that present quality of life issues.

If you learned that you were at risk to develop a serious, chronic disease that can have life-threatening complications, and had the chance to turn back the clock, would you?  Type II diabetes is preventable and reversible!  The first step to turn back the clock is knowing the risk factors for diabetes. Although some risk factors, like having a family history of diabetes or being over the age of 45 can’t be changed, there are important lifestyle factors that you can change, such as being more physically active and losing some weight if you are overweight.  Although Americans are aware of diabetes risk factors, there is still a disconnect between being aware of diabetes risk, and understanding what that risk means to them.

Learn how to manage, control, and even eradicate this disease from your life.  Byron Holm, M.D. and Meg Meznarick, dietician, will educate and equip you in this four part class.  For more information please visit www.fitnessforum.biz/HealthWellness.cfm

New Year’s Resolution? or Lifestyle Change?

A new year brings with it new hopes and ambitions – goals we may want to achieve this coming year. What does 2012 bring for you? What are your goals and resolutions? Are there aspects of your life that need a little adjustment? Are certain aspects of your life out of balance? Standing at the threshold of a new year, gives us pause to examine our lives more deeply – where we have been, and where we want to go. It is a time of goal-setting and resolve to figure out where we need to begin on our journey toward health and wellness.

Often many of us will make a new year’s resolution that is very well-intentioned, but sometimes we don’t always follow through or keep at it. Half-hearted resolutions do not have a lasting impact on our lives. This is because what is required is not a quick-fix fad diet, or going to the gym every once in awhile, or wishful thinking that our lives might improve if we just lost 20 pounds. What is needed is a lifestyle change – a total transformation and redefining of our Self. This may seem like an ominous task. We may say, “This is way too much for me.”  We may even convince ourselves that it’s impossible. But it is possible! And Fitness Forum Sports & Wellness is here to help you take the steps you need to succeed in your life goals. As someone once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

As a part of this first step, Fitness Forum offers a new program to help people engage in lifestyle changes that will promote a greater balance and a move toward total well-being – mind, body, and spirit. This step is called Lifestyle Coaching.

When Fitness Forum members first join, they meet with certified personal trainers for an initial fitness assessment to address physical wellness goals and develop a customized plan to reach these goals. At the conclusion of this assessment, members may then schedule a Lifestyle Assessment meeting with Dr. Sam Boys – the Lifestyle Coach. During this free 20 minute session, members will look at all aspects of lifestyle in order to achieve a more well-balanced lifestyle – physical, mental, emotional, social, financial, professional, relational, and spiritual. Once we look at these, we will identify areas that need more attention and focus and a little coaching and insight. At that time members will schedule a one-hour Lifestyle Coaching session to address these areas more deeply.

In these sessions, Dr. Sam will guide members in exploring and structuring many important aspects in their lives to lead toward a more balanced and purposeful lifestyle. He will offer resources and give members the tools they need to help them realize their goals and move toward their desired lifestyle change. All counseling sessions are confidential. Cost is $40 per session. For more information contact Fitness Forum Sports & Wellness at 574-936-2333.

Set Your Goals Today

By Mary Holm | General Manager

Goal (gol)n. 1. The mark set to bound a race; the end of a race or a journey – Syn. Objective; aim; ambition; purpose; target; aspiration; intention.

The mission of Fitness Forum Sports & Wellness begins: to assist others in reaching their God-given potential….. Without potential you can’t reach a goal. Without a goal you can’t develop your potential…..so the two go hand and hand in this journey of life. You are wired for a purpose. Do you believe it? Let us help you set your goals and use your God given potential to reach them.

To reach the goal of victory in the game, we practice the skill for the sport, strength and endurance train, focus mentally, eat nutritiously, rest adequately, surround our self with team encouragement and purpose, and listen to the coach’s strategy and direction. Sounds a lot like life!

If you’re an athlete or not you need all those components of an athlete’s discipline to live a fulfilling life. At Fitness Forum Sports & Wellness we offer almost limitless tools to help you reach your goal. Lifestyle Assessment is a well rounded look at your everyday and a great place to consider balance and wholeness. (learn more on page 5) Call it your personal “huddle” with the coach. What strategy do you need to play the game of life? Along the way, you will find other coaches to define your needs and refine your skill. Define your base line fitness metrics and plan a strength and endurance routine in your fitness assessment.(page 4). Get that smoking baggage off your back and lungs with your coach in Freedom from Smoking ( page 6). Tackle your weight loss resolution with team support in the Best Loser Team Competition! (page 2). Need support to stay on course? Join a friendly, encouraging, informative support group (page 7). Is nutrition your stumbling block to success? Try Cooking with Class (page3). Feel the need for a pep rally? Try group exercise in one of our 101 water and land classes! Be sure to check out the NEW Piloxing Class (pages 16, 17). Need that extra edge to reach your potential for success? Engage a personal trainer (page 26, 27), or sports performance trainer (page 10), attend the Triathlon Symposium (page 2), take swim lessons (page 12, 13), sign up for a racquetball or volleyball league (page 22), or dance class (page 28, 29).

We are your cheerleaders. Now get out there, play the game, and go for the goal! You are a winner!