Fitness Together - Hardin Valley http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog Recently Added Blog Posts en-us Sat, 26 May 2012 05:38:20 -0500 Will West from the Sports Animal - 3/7/12 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/6651/will-west-from-the-sports-animal---3-7-12 <p>Watch as Will talks about his training for his first 5K race coming up!</p> Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:40:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/6651/will-west-from-the-sports-animal---3-7-12 Tackling my Fitness by Will West from the Sports Animal 99.1 FM http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/5554/tackling-my-fitness-by-will-west-from-the-sports-animal-99-1-fm <p>If you listen to the Sports Animal, by now you know that I&rsquo;ve been working out with Fitness Together for just over 2 weeks. The results have been awesome. The most accurate description that I can think of for Fitness Together is it&rsquo;s a healthy lifestyle makeover without affecting your lifestyle.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I&rsquo;m eating better. I have more energy. I&rsquo;m losing weight and I&rsquo;ve learned a ton. Here are the top 5 things that I&rsquo;ve learned in my first two weeks with Fitness Together:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>5) <strong>Man am I out of shape:</strong> It&rsquo;s only been a few years since I really stopped living a healthy lifestyle and the initial shock that came during my fitness assessment was down right depressing. Even if you&rsquo;ve only let yourself go for a few years you&rsquo;d be amazed how far your health can decrease in just a short amount of time.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>4) <strong>Accountability makes all the difference:</strong> Over the years it just became too easy for me to blow off going to the gym after a 10, 12, or 15 hour work day. Having that set appointment each day eliminates excuses. I treat it like a business appointment, leave my phone in the car, and simply do what I have to. It&rsquo;s great to know that there&rsquo;s no chance of talking myself into skipping a workout and it actually is a nice vacation from my workday 3 days a week.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>3) <strong>Man am I out of shape&hellip;and that&rsquo;s okay:</strong> Had I gone to a normal gym and found out how out of shape I was during my first Fitness Together workout I would have been mortified. There was none of that with Fitness Together. At Fitness Together you work out in a private fitness suite where you never wait on equipment and you never feel judged for your fitness level.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>2) <strong>I&rsquo;d worked out most of my life, but was doing it inefficiently:</strong> Here&rsquo;s a quick example: I suffered a back injury playing sports in high school that&rsquo;s caused me back pain for the better part of 2 decades. My Fitness Together workout has included a lot of work to my upper back and hamstrings which has taken the pressure off of my lower back and I&rsquo;ve been pain free. It would have taken me months in the gym to focus this much on the problem areas if I had tried this on my own. Having an educated trainer designing a workout specifically for my body has eliminated a lot of wasted hours doing exercises that wouldn&rsquo;t have been as beneficial.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>1) <strong>Man am I out of shape&hellip;but not for long:</strong> Just over two weeks in and I&rsquo;ve had numerous co-workers, listeners to the station, my boss, my girlfriend, and my family all comment on the difference they can see in my body. The first day I couldn&rsquo;t do 5 minutes on an elliptical trainer at 3 &frac12; mph. Now I warm up on the same machine for 15 minutes at around 5 &frac12; mph before I begin my workout. Things are progressing and it&rsquo;s a fun process to undertake.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Sat, 08 Oct 2011 22:02:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/5554/tackling-my-fitness-by-will-west-from-the-sports-animal-99-1-fm It's never too late! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4879/it-s-never-too-late- <p>Senior fitness</p> Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:19:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4879/it-s-never-too-late- Friday Fact or Fiction - Dead Lifts...Great exercise or back buster? http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4785/friday-fact-or-fiction---dead-lifts-great-exercise-or-back-buster- <p>Fact or Fiction Week 2 - Dead lifts</p> Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:41:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4785/friday-fact-or-fiction---dead-lifts-great-exercise-or-back-buster- Cardio before or after strength training? http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4706/cardio-before-or-after-strength-training- <p>Deternine your workout order by prioritizing goals.</p> Fri, 20 May 2011 07:02:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4706/cardio-before-or-after-strength-training- Join us for Train Your Trainer Day - Saturday May 7, 2011 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4610/join-us-for-train-your-trainer-day---saturday-may-7-2011 <p>Join us from 2-6 this Saturday as the clients and friends of Fitness Together "turn the tables" and get to train their trainers for our Second Annual Train Your Trainer Day.&nbsp; All proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association of East Tennessee.&nbsp; Food will be provided by Moe's and there will be great prizes raffled off as well.&nbsp; It should be another great day in support of a greate cause!</p> Thu, 05 May 2011 11:58:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4610/join-us-for-train-your-trainer-day---saturday-may-7-2011 Mid-day discounts at Fitness Together! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4477/mid-day-discounts-at-fitness-together- <p>Fitness Together Northshore and Hardin Valley are making it easier than ever to train with the best in your private suite!&nbsp; We are now offering mid-day discounts, so skip that greasy restaurant food and come get in shape instead!&nbsp; Contact Melanie at Hardin Valley (865) 229-7630 or Andrew&nbsp;at Northshore&nbsp;(865) 357-8663 to get started today!</p> Fri, 15 Apr 2011 08:59:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4477/mid-day-discounts-at-fitness-together- Fitness Together BIKE RIDE! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3720/fitness-together-bike-ride- <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;Join your Trainers and fellow clients as we discover the outdoor trails of TN!</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">First Ride:</span></strong> &nbsp;&nbsp; <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>2/19/11</em></strong></span></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">WHERE:</span></strong>&nbsp; Meet in Oak ridge on Melton Lake Pennisula.(the park beside the Flat Water Grill)</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Ride:</span></strong> Paved trail alongside Melton Hill Lake past the rowing club down to Edgemoor Rd and back.</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Time: 3pm</span></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What you need</span></strong>: Snacks/ water and bike! Maybe some cash to grab a bite/drink at the grill after the ride!</p> <p>&nbsp;<strong><em>BRING friends, kids and family, co-workers&hellip;etc&hellip;. Anyone is welcome and the trail will be fine for all riders!</em></strong></p> <p>Be ready to have fun!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>Fitness Together = Biking Together</p> Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:16:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3720/fitness-together-bike-ride- Creating Your 2011 New Year’s Resolution Recipe for Success http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3332/creating-your-2011-new-year-s-resolution-recipe-for-success <p><strong>Creating Your 2011 New Year&rsquo;s Resolution Recipe for Success</strong></p> <p>It&rsquo;s that time of year again when many of us make New Year&rsquo;s resolutions to improve our health and well-being. Unfortunately, we often have a tough time sticking to our goals, and by the time Valentine&rsquo;s Day rolls around, our best-laid plans may have gone by the wayside. That&rsquo;s why now is the time to create your recipe for New Year&rsquo;s resolution success.</p> <p>According to the dictionary, a &ldquo;resolution&rdquo; means both a firm <strong>decision</strong> and a firmness of purpose, or <strong>determination.</strong> The decision part of the resolution equation should be planned out carefully. Here are five tried and true tips for New Year&rsquo;s resolution success that incorporate both decision and determination:</p> <p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Set attainable goals.</strong> The biggest mistake people usually make in outlining their New Year&rsquo;s resolutions is to set unattainable goals. Try to set achievable goals so that you&rsquo;re ensured of success. It&rsquo;s important to understand that big changes come from a combination of many small changes over time. Instead of making a New Year&rsquo;s resolution to lose 30 pounds (and you haven&rsquo;t been at that goal weight since high school), why not set a goal to lose 5 pounds by Valentine&rsquo;s Day?</p> <p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Get support from a personal trainer.</strong> Change is always easier to accomplish when another person is cheering you on. Two heads are better than one when it comes to making decisions and the determination to complete your goals. Share your resolution verbally with someone you trust. Talk about your plans with another person and review them often, together. A verbal commitment can help people cement a firm decision in their mind.</p> <p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Plan ahead and outline a schedule for getting you to your goal.</strong> Tracking your progress is extremely helpful for keeping you on target. It also allows your support person or trainer to help you more efficiently. And don&rsquo;t forget to reward yourself with small gifts for succeeding with your weekly &ldquo;mini-goals.&rdquo;</p> <p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Never strive for perfection.</strong> Everyone has a temporary blip where they fall off the horse occasionally, especially under times of duress. Lapses are an important part of the process of making successful permanent changes. Share these temporary setbacks with your trainer and it will ultimately help you to strengthen your resolve.</p> <p>5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong>Visualize yourself <em>after</em> you&rsquo;ve attained your goals.</strong> Visualization can be a strong motivational tool for many people, particularly when they &ldquo;see&rdquo; the positive rewards of making those behavioral changes.</p> <p>&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;&shy;________________________________________________________________________</p> <p>You can achieve your goals with the help of Fitness Together. Fitness Together offers one-on-one sessions with experienced personal trainers who will develop a program tailored to your needs and goals. An important part of their program is Nutrition Together, which provides nutritional counseling to complement your workouts. Let Fitness and Nutrition Together help you create this year&rsquo;s New Year&rsquo;s Resolution Recipe for success.</p> <p>Here&rsquo;s to your health and happiness in 2011!</p> Tue, 04 Jan 2011 12:49:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3332/creating-your-2011-new-year-s-resolution-recipe-for-success Tis the Season for Fitness! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2993/tis-the-season-for-fitness- <p><strong>Tis the Season to Be Jolly and FIT</strong></p><p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>While the holidays can be a joyous time of the year, they can also be disastrous for our fitness and healthy eating routines. Tis the season for shopping, cookie baking, decorating, and parties&mdash;lots of parties with rich food everywhere. Do you ever wonder why some people manage to stay vibrant, happy, and fit over the holidays, appearing to let holiday stress roll off them like the rooftop icing on the gingerbread cake? You can be one of these holiday fitness success stories, too. Here are some simple tips to add sparkle to your holiday cheer by giving yourself the gift of health this season.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>Three Tips for Sticking to Your Fitness Routine&nbsp; </strong></p><p>During this oh so hectic time of year, a personal trainer can be very supportive.&nbsp; You can make a contract with a trainer to plan and be accountable for your fitness routine using a triple-pronged approach: daily cardio; strength training at least three days a week; and eating healthy, eating light, and eating often. Let&rsquo;s take a closer look at the three pieces of a good fitness routine and see how you can work them into your holiday schedule.</p><p>&nbsp;1.&nbsp; <strong>Daily cardio.&nbsp; </strong>Set a regular time <em>every day</em> to get those sneakers on and get out there and move a little! No marathons required. Just a thirty-minute dog walk, a few flights of stairs, or an extra few loops around the shopping mall will make a huge difference in balancing out your calories and shaving off stress. Your daily cardio will also give you energy, which will help keep your holiday demeanor bright.</p><p>2.<strong>&nbsp; Strength workouts. </strong>If sticking to your regular workout regimen during the holidays seems daunting, think of it this way: Carving out that time for you, and just for you, will not only help keep you healthy and fit but bring back routine into a time of year that lacks routine&mdash;often with negative health consequences. By making a commitment to keep your fitness up, you&rsquo;ll benefit both physically and mentally. Impress your family and friends by looking and feeling your best this holiday as a direct result of maintaining your workout regimen and staying accountable to your trainer.</p><p>3.<strong>&nbsp; Nutrition. </strong>The holidays are not a good time to try and lose weight! A much more realistic goal is to simply maintain your fitness level and body weight. You can accomplish this goal by planning ahead to enjoy small portions of your favorite holiday treats while eating healthy and light most of the time. Balance out those extra calories by maintaining your daily cardio and strength workouts so that you can partake in the holiday festivities without any deprivation.</p><p>&nbsp;Make a plan to stay accountable during this &ldquo;dangerous&rdquo; six-week time period and when the New Year rolls around, you&rsquo;ll have given yourself and your family the gift of staying vibrant, happy, and fit over the holidays, which is ultimately the best gift of all&mdash;the gift of good health!</p> Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:54:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2993/tis-the-season-for-fitness- Free Healthy Luncheon 11/18 at noon! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2800/free-healthy-luncheon-11-18-at-noon- <p>Join us at the Pinnacle Financial Center in Farragut November 18th from 12 to 1pm&nbsp; for a healthy lunch provided by Pam Lambert of Tastefully Simple Catering and some great fitness knowledge!</p><p>I will be speaking on the effects of muscle, cardiovascular activity, and weight training as they relate to weight loss! Come help us destroy some olds myths and learn how personal training can help guide you into a healthier 2011!</p><p>Betsie Hughes will also be there talking about Arbonne and all the natural products they have that can help you balance out your health from makeup to hormones!</p><p>call 865-249-7630 to reserve your spot today! Seats limited!</p><p>&nbsp;</p> Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:50:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2800/free-healthy-luncheon-11-18-at-noon- National Stroke Awareness Month: Be Healthy, Be Aware, Save a Life http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/7166/national-stroke-awareness-month-be-healthy-be-aware-save-a-life <p>&nbsp;</p><p>As we prepare for summertime activities, we typically are focused on achieving a strong, fit and healthy body. In honor&nbsp;of National Stroke Awareness Month this month, elevate your body&rsquo;s fitness to new levels by focusing on the&nbsp;importance of maintaining a brain healthy lifestyle, while understanding the risk levels and signs of a stroke.&nbsp;</p><p><br />According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), a stroke is a &ldquo;brain attack,&rdquo; as opposed to the most commonly&nbsp;known &ldquo;heart attack,&rdquo; that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that&nbsp;carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When this happens, part of the brain&nbsp;cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. While heredity can play a big part in the risk factors&nbsp;associated with stroke, lifestyle choices and patterns can be leading contributors to reducing the risk of this life&nbsp;threatening disease.</p><p><br /><strong>Three Important Factors to Lowering Stroke Risk<br /></strong></p><p>&bull; <strong>High Blood Pressure</strong>: High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and the most important controllable risk&nbsp;factor. According to industry research, there is a 55 percent increase in your stroke risk if you have&nbsp;prehypertension, which is blood pressure levels of 120 to 139 or 80-89 diastolic. Living a healthy lifestyle that&nbsp;can help to lower blood pressure levels includes exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol&nbsp;intake, avoiding tobacco, reducing caffeine consumption, reducing stress, reaching out to family/friends for&nbsp;ongoing support, and visiting your doctor regularly.</p><p>&bull; <strong>Healthy Diet</strong>: The way you feed your body not only contributes greatly to your body&rsquo;s overall health and fitness,&nbsp;but also works to lower your risk of heart and brain disease. Research suggests that low fat, low cholesterol diets&nbsp;that include dark vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, may reduce the risk of heart disease and&nbsp;stroke. In general, dark-skinned fruits and vegetables (kale, spinach, brussel sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, broccoli,&nbsp;<br />beets, red bell pepper, onion, corn and eggplant, prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries,&nbsp;raspberries, plums, oranges, red grapes and cherries) have the highest levels of naturally occurring antioxidant&nbsp;levels. Cold water fish contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids (halibut, mackerel, salmon, trout and tuna) and&nbsp;some nuts (almonds, pecans and walnuts) are a good source of vitamin E antioxidants.</p><p>&bull; <strong>Physically Fit Lifestyle</strong>: Constant, regular physical activity is the cornerstone to a fit body, healthy heart and&nbsp;strong brain. Physical activity 3-4 times a week in 45-60 minute increments is important for maintaining good&nbsp;blood flow throughout the body and to the brain, encouraging the growth of new brain cells, and significantly&nbsp;lowering the risk of heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. The personal trainers at Fitness&nbsp;<br />Together can help you put an individual or small group workout plan in action to help you elevate your health&nbsp;and fitness goals, while reducing your risk of brain and heart disease.&nbsp;<br /><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>Know the Risks to <em>Act FAST</em></strong><strong><em><br /></em></strong></p><p>The ASA reports that the chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after 55; however, the&nbsp;risk of stroke can affect anyone at any age. It is essential to know the signs of stroke so that you can act quickly if you or&nbsp;a loved one is showing any of the following signs. Time is of the essence when it comes to strokes.&nbsp;</p><p>The ASA has released a new stroke detection method called FAST, which stands for the four items to check in a&nbsp;suspected stroke victim &ndash; Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. Specific stroke warning signs include:</p><p>&bull; Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. Ask them to smile&nbsp;and raise an arm. If the face droops or looks crooked and/or if a raised arm droops down, then these are signs&nbsp;of a stroke.&nbsp;</p><p>&bull; Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Ask them to repeat a simple sentence like, &ldquo;The sky is&nbsp;blue.&rdquo; If they slur their speech or sound different, then this could be a sign of stroke.&nbsp;</p><p>&bull; Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Ask them to read a sign a short distance away with each eye. If they&nbsp;have difficulty making out words or letters that they normally can see, this could be a sign of stroke.&nbsp;</p><p>&bull; Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.&nbsp;</p><p>&bull; Sudden severe headache with no known cause.&nbsp;</p><p>By living a lifestyle that includes healthy food, fitness and awareness, you are equipping yourself with the tools to reduce&nbsp;the risk of disease and prepare yourself for identifying the signs of stroke for yourself and your family. Certified personal&nbsp;trainers at Fitness Together are available today to help you get started on living a heart and brain healthy lifestyle that&nbsp;focuses on consistent exercise and healthy eating. Contact your local Fitness Together studio to begin one-on-one&nbsp;personal training or group PACK training focused on a healthy you.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Sources</p><p>1&nbsp;American Stroke Association</p><p>2&nbsp;Neurology</p><p>3&nbsp;Mayo Clinic</p><p>4&nbsp;Alzheimer's Association</p><p>&nbsp;</p> Wed, 16 May 2012 13:55:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/7166/national-stroke-awareness-month-be-healthy-be-aware-save-a-life Friday Fact or Fiction - Exercise immediately improves your ability to learn. http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/7149/friday-fact-or-fiction---exercise-immediately-improves-your-ability-to-learn- <p>FACT!</p><p><br />As expained in <a href="http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/WH/fitness-fact-or-fiction" target="_blank">Amy Van Deusen's article for Women's Health</a>,&nbsp;exercise makes you ready to learn and it increases the production of stem cells which help develop new brain cells. "In a study at the University of Muenster in Germany, participants who ran sprints learned new words 20 percent faster than those who did nothing. Other research has tied physical activity to improve attention and memory as well."</p><p>Even better, check out what Christa Studzinski&nbsp;has to say in her <a href="http://www.fitnessrepublic.com/fitness/general-fitness/active-bodies-healthy-brains-exercise-develops-more-your-muscles.html" target="_blank">article for FitnessRepublic.com</a>:</p><p>"Adults who lead a physically active lifestyle seem to perform better on tests of cognitive function than sedentary adults. This effect is most pronounced in executive control, which is an important cognitive ability that allows us to schedule, plan, multi-task, monitor our own behavior and remember things in short-term memory (e.g., remembering a list of items you need from the grocery store). In addition, active adults tend to preserve their cognitive function as they age and may have a reduced risk for devastating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease."&nbsp;</p> Tue, 15 May 2012 06:02:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/7149/friday-fact-or-fiction---exercise-immediately-improves-your-ability-to-learn- Friday Fact or Fiction - Strength Training vs. Cardio http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/7085/friday-fact-or-fiction---strength-training-vs-cardio <p>And the answer is...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>STRENGTH TRAINING</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here's why as explained by <a href="http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/WH/fitness-fact-or-fiction" target="_blank">Amy Van Deusen, Women's Health</a>:</p><p><em>Contrary to long-held belief, strength training is&mdash;as new studies have shown&mdash;superior to steady-state cardio in caloric burn. In one University of Southern Maine study, participants blasted as many calories doing 30 minutes of weight training as they did running at a six-minute-per-mile pace for the same amount of time. Unless you're Lolo Jones, strength is your best bet.</em></p><p>But the truth is that you really need both to be successful. <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/332195-which-burns-more-calories-weight-training-or-cardio-workouts/" target="_blank">Craig Smith at Livestrong.com</a> points out the role of metabolism:</p><p><em>Before you plan to ditch the weights and increase your cardio, consider what happens to metabolism after your workout is completed. According to the ShapeFit fitness website, resistance training raises your metabolic rate long-term, while a metabolic increase from cardiovascular exercise lasts less than an hour. Muscle requires more calories to maintain than fat, explaining why resistance training --- which increases muscle mass --- raises your basal metabolic rate, or a measure of how much energy your body requires to sustain itself.</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>What is your workout going to be today?</p><p>&nbsp;</p> Mon, 07 May 2012 07:55:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/7085/friday-fact-or-fiction---strength-training-vs-cardio Knox Marathon 5K http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4237/knox-marathon-5k <p>Can you pick out the FT clients in this picture? Our FT&nbsp; team had a blast in the 2011 Knox Marathon !</p> Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:13:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4237/knox-marathon-5k Knox Marathon 5K Superstars! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4236/knox-marathon-5k-superstars- <p>Trainers and Clients enjoyed some great East Tennessee weather and outdoor cardio fun this past Sunday in the Knoxville Marathon 5K.&nbsp; We had a great turnout and burned away some unwanted calories! Maybe you would like to join us next year? Come in today to a FT location near you and tell the trainer you saw this blog for 2 FREE workouts geared to get you ready for Summer time!</p><p>&nbsp;</p> Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:06:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/4236/knox-marathon-5k-superstars- My First Blog http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3779/my-first-blog <p>All,</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I'm now in charge of the blog... watch out! I'll be posting articles and information for everyone so stay tuned. First up, one for all the ladiessssss....</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>http://articles.elitefts.com/articles/training-articles/this-is-for-the-ladies/</p> Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:08:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3779/my-first-blog AVOID these Holiday Foods! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3135/avoid-these-holiday-foods- <div><div><p>The holidays are here and you may already be feeling the holiday weight-gain guilt.&nbsp;We previously <a title="FYI Living: Holiday Weight Gain" href="http://fyiliving.com/nutrition/holiday-weight-gain-facts" target="_blank">reported</a> that a study found average holiday weight gain to be only 1 lb. However, the problem with this dreaded holiday pound? It&rsquo;s a pound that tends to stick around, and people typically don&rsquo;t lose the holiday pound they gained ever. That&rsquo;s right, ten years from now you will have your 2010 holiday binge pound still stuck to your thigh. But, what if you were to gain <em>no weight</em> this holiday season?</p> <p>Here&rsquo;s the other side of the coin: Avoid these diet saboteurs during the holidays to keep the scale down:</p> <p><strong>1. Egg Nog</strong>. Enticing you with whole milk, cream, sugar, eggs and alcohol, this drink has loads of the <a title="FYI Living: Heart Healthy Eating" href="http://fyiliving.com/nutrition/special-diets/heart-healthy-diet/heart-healthy-eating-101/" target="_blank">artery-clogging</a> saturated fat and cholesterol in the milk, cream and eggs. The sugar and alcohol help add plenty of calories, and if you get tipsy enough, you might have more than one cup. One cup is about 350 calories. Some better festive alternatives? <em>Hot apple cider with cinnamon or hot chocolate made with skim milk. Remember though&ndash;these are still treats, not something to have every day.</em></p> <p><strong>2. Cheesecake</strong>. That rich and sweet taste comes with a heavy calorie price tag. Using <a title="The Cheesecake Factory: Nutritional Info" href="http://calorielab.com/news/wp-images/post-images/cheesecake-factory-nutrition-facts-calories-08.gif" target="_blank">The Cheesecake Factory&rsquo;s nutritional info</a>, a slice can cost you anywhere from 510 calories (plain) to 1,265 calories (Brownie Sundae Cheesecake)!&nbsp;<em>Instead of the cheesecake</em> <em>opt for poached fruit, sorbets or chocolate-dipped strawberries.</em></p> <p><strong>3. Poultry with Skin.</strong> The skin is loaded with saturated fat.&nbsp;<em>A simple way</em> <em>to cut fat and calories&ndash;just take off the skin.</em></p> <p><strong>4. Potato Latkes</strong>. Potatoes are healthy, right? Not when fried in all that oil. Two latkes will knock you back almost 300 calories, with a lot of those calories from fat.&nbsp;<em>For healthier potato latkes, use egg whites instead of whole eggs and put the latkes in the oven at 450 degree until crisp instead of frying.</em></p> <p><strong>5. Candied Nuts. </strong><a title="FYI Living: The Magic of Grape, Wine, and Nuts" href="http://fyiliving.com/nutrition/special-diets/heart-healthy-diet/the-magic-of-grapes-wine-nuts/" target="_blank">Nuts</a> don&rsquo;t need to be fancied up with loads of sugar.&nbsp;<em>Reach for the plain, unsalted nuts instead.</em> And remember your portions&ndash;just a small handful will do the trick.</p> <p><strong>6. Spinach Dip</strong>. Just because it has a vegetable doesn&rsquo;t make it healthy. Unfortunately the nutritious <a title="FYI Living: Leafy Greens and Diabetes" href="http://fyiliving.com/nutrition/special-diets/diabetes-diet/leafy-greens-may-lower-risk-of-diabetes/" target="_blank">spinach</a> gets pushed to the sidelines as sour cream, cheese and mayonnaise take over. Just 2 tbsp. provides 140 calories and 15 grams of fat. And let&rsquo;s be honest&ndash;you&rsquo;re not just having 2 tbsp.&nbsp;<em>Instead dip veggies (not chips!) in salsa, hummus or black bean dip. </em>Or, bring your own spinach dip to the party using fat-free versions of the creamy stuff. No double dipping &ndash; the calories will add up.</p><br /><br />Read more at FYI Living: <a href="http://fyiliving.com/nutrition/weight-loss-diets/6-diet-destroying-foods-to-avoid-at-holiday-parties/#ixzz17otxmpPe">http://fyiliving.com/nutrition/weight-loss-diets/6-diet-destroying-foods-to-avoid-at-holiday-parties/#ixzz17otxmpPe</a></div></div> Sat, 11 Dec 2010 10:05:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/3135/avoid-these-holiday-foods- Aspire 8 Preogram Released http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2822/aspire-8-preogram-released <p><strong>How Hard Should You Exercise?</strong></p><p><em>Fitness Together of Knoxville introduces Aspire 8 to further customize each client&rsquo;s fitness program</em></p><p>&nbsp;<strong>KNOXVILLE, Tenn.</strong> &ndash; (Nov. 8, 2010) &ndash; When it comes to exercising, not all workouts are the same.&nbsp; And that&rsquo;s just the way Fitness Together wants it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The four Fitness Together studios in the area, located at Northshore Dr. &amp; Pellissippi Parkway, Hardin Valley, Farragut, and Bearden, are part of the leading franchise network of one-on-one personal training, specializes in tailoring workouts for each and every client&rsquo;s abilities, needs and goals.&nbsp; The science of crafting the right fitness routine just got better.&nbsp; The company recently unveiled Aspire 8, a proprietary program that will guide the studio&rsquo;s personal trainers as they match each client&rsquo;s aspirations to a custom fitness program designed to meet clients at their current fitness level and progressively move them forward.</p><p>&ldquo;If we have 60 clients, there will be 60 tailored workouts in one-on-one sessions at our private studio with a personal trainer,&rdquo; say Andrew Henderson and Craig Collier, owners of the Fitness Together franchises.&nbsp; &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the individual attention that gets results, pushes clients to excel, and takes the routine out of a fitness routine.&rdquo;</p><p>The Aspire 8 program was released nationwide to Fitness Together studios in July.&nbsp; The system will help Fitness Together trainers classify each client into one of four training zones based on their current fitness level. Then, the personal trainer will work with the client individually to build a customized program designed to progressively move that client toward higher levels of fitness. The workouts will continue to evolve and adapt to the levels of improved health and fitness for each individual client ensuring that they continue to improve.</p><p>&nbsp;&ldquo;The Aspire 8 program evolves with a Fitness Together client who is increasingly getting in better shape,&rdquo; Henderson and Collier added.&nbsp; &ldquo;It addresses the age-old question: How come I work out all the time but don&rsquo;t lose weight?&rdquo;</p><p>&nbsp;The results-oriented approach to exercising is one reason Fitness Together continues to excel as a growing national chain.&nbsp; And Henderson and Collier expect the Aspire 8 program to keep loyal Knoxville customers coming back, turning many into clients for life.</p><p>&nbsp;&ldquo;We approach health and fitness as a lifestyle, and our personal trainers and fitness studio play an incredibly important role in the lives of clients,&rdquo; Henderson and Collier added.&nbsp; &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not a volume business that focuses on dues versus usage.&nbsp; We&rsquo;re about a very high level of service for people in Knoxville who want real results that will last. We make the most of their valuable time each and every session in a way they won&rsquo;t get anywhere else.&nbsp; The Aspire 8 program will take that to the next level.&rdquo;</p><p>&nbsp;For more information about Fitness Together in the Knoxville area go to <a href="http://fitnesstogether.com/knoxville">http://fitnesstogether.com/knoxville</a>.</p><p><strong>About Fitness Together Holdings, Inc.:</strong><strong></strong></p><p>Based in Highlands Ranch, Colo., Fitness Together Holdings, Inc., is one of the world&rsquo;s largest wellness organizations. The parent company oversees Fitness Together Franchise Corporation, <a href="http://corp.fitnesstogether.com/">http://corp.fitnesstogether.com,</a> a one-on-one <a href="http://corp.fitnesstogether.com/franchise/">personal training fitness franchisor</a> established in 1983 that began franchising in 1996.&nbsp; In 2010, Fitness Together launched Nutrition Together, a nutrition and weight loss counseling program for their clients.&nbsp; Fitness Together Franchise Corporations also oversees Elements Therapeutic Massage, Inc.<em>, </em><a href="http://corp.touchofelements.com/">http://corp.touchofelements.com</a>, a <a href="http://corp.touchofelements.com/franchise/">massage therapy franchisor</a> that began franchising in 2006. Today, the combined franchise network has hundreds of franchises sold across the United States, Costa Rica, Brazil, Israel, Ireland, and Canada.</p><p><strong>Franchise Information:</strong></p><p>Fitness Together and Elements Therapeutic Massage are each actively selling franchises. If you are interested in changing your life and the lives of others, please visit <a href="http://corp.fitnesstogether.com/franchise/">http://corp.fitnesstogether.com/franchise/</a> and <a title="http://corp.touchofelements.com/franchise/" href="http://corp.touchofelements.com/franchise/">http://corp.touchofelements.com/franchise/</a> or call 877.663.0880 ext. 10 for more information about <a title="http://www.fitnesstogether.com/franchise/" href="http://corp.fitnesstogether.com/franchise/">franchise opportunities</a>.</p> Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:10:00 -0600 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2822/aspire-8-preogram-released Personal Training Gift certificates go on sale for the Holidays! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2500/personal-training-gift-certificates-go-on-sale-for-the-holidays- <p>If you are tired of working out in a run down, dirty , crowded gym then get yourself a gift certificate to start training with us at Fitness Together Hardin Valley! Train in a private room with your own trainer focused on you and getting the results YOU want! call us today! ALSO our gift certificates make a great gift for anyone on your list this holiday season!</p> Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2500/personal-training-gift-certificates-go-on-sale-for-the-holidays- Farragut 5K http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2395/farragut-5k <p>Fitness Together helped sponor the West Knoxville Chamber 5K run on Saturday 10/9/10. After the race Craig Callier and Dan Middlebrooks of Fitness Together Spoke with runners about our personal training service and how it could help boost there cardiovascular endurance and prevent injury while running. Chilly the Icebear mascot wanted to sign up for personal training as well for his upcoming hockey games!</p> Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2395/farragut-5k Corporate Wellness with Fitness Together http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2122/Corporate-Wellness-with-Fitness-Together <p>Would you like to decrease health care costs and absenteeism, increase productivity, and provide a healthier, happier work environment for your staff? If a corporate wellness program makes sense for your company then Fitness Together has a program for you.&nbsp; Below is a menu of programs we currently offer.&nbsp; Contact Fitness Together at 865-249-7630 or 865-357-8663 to see how we can take your &ldquo;Desk Junkies&rdquo; to the Finish Line!!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Health and Fitness Breakfasts and Lunches</span></em></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Get motivated and learn about current tips to help your team get fit and live well! A Certified Personal Trainer will present to your staff at your location over a healthy meal.</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Some topics include:</em></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">Weight Loss Fact and Fiction</p><p style="text-align: center;">Making Time for Exercise</p><p style="text-align: center;">Stress Relief Techniques</p><p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Desk Junkie to Finish Line</span></em></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Get healthy and build teamwork among your colleagues!</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>&nbsp;A six-week program ending with an ultimate fitness challenge. </em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Get Started Gift Pack</em></p><p style="text-align: center;">Initial and Final fitness evaluations <em>including</em> comprehensive reports</p><p style="text-align: center;">6-week workout program</p><p style="text-align: center;">Breakfast or Lunch Fitness and Nutrition Seminar Weekly Motivational Trainer Tips</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Ultimate </em></strong><em>Fitness Challenge (5K run/walk, Guided hike or bike ride, or any other event you can imagine!)</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Biggest Loser</span></em></strong><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>We will take your staff to new levels of fitness!! This 6-week program is designed to inspire weight loss, educate healthy eating habits, and encourage lifestyle modification for success! </em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>Get Started Gift Pack</em></p><p style="text-align: center;">Initial and Final fitness evaluations<em> including </em>comprehensive reports</p><p style="text-align: center;">Weekly weigh-in and body composition testing</p><p style="text-align: center;">6-week Cardio, Strength and Flexibility program</p><p style="text-align: center;">Fitness Breakfast or Lunch Seminar and Weekly Motivational Trainer Tips</p><p style="text-align: center;">&ldquo;<em>Putting it all Together&rdquo; </em>&ndash; Rewards Ceremony and Wrap-up&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>All packages include one Free personal training session for each participant at Fitness Together </em></strong><strong><em>and $100 off any package of 24 sessions or more!!</em></strong></p> Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/2122/Corporate-Wellness-with-Fitness-Together Marine Mud Run Sept 11th 2010! http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/1547/Marine-Mud-Run-Sept-11th-2010 <p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>The FT Hardin Valley staff finished 6th out of over 33 plus teams at this event recently!</em></span></strong></p><p>Come get down &amp; dirty and in shape all at the same time every September with our staff and clients!</p><p>This event helps support the local Marines here in Knoxville and their toys for tots program so bring a toy to donate!</p><p>sign up online at:</p><p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.mclknox.org/html/marine_mud_run.shtml</span></strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p> Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://fitnesstogether.com/hardinvalley/blog/1547/Marine-Mud-Run-Sept-11th-2010