Fitness Together - Providence

Why New Years Resolutions Fail

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:08:00 -0600

Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail

As New Year’s resolutions gain popularity this time of year, many jump on the bandwagon of losing weight, getting fit and living a healthier lifestyle. While we all can benefit from making these types of positive lifestyle changes, most resolutions fizzle out, unfortunately, before they even have a chance to settle in. So, why does this popular annual pastime of making New Year’s resolutions tend to result in failed attempts, false starts and lackluster efforts?

Well, actually, it’s quite simple.

● Resolution season brings colder temperatures and limited daylight.

● The start of the year is filled with busy life, work and family schedules.

● Doing what you’ve always done is a lot easier than trying something new.

So, what can you do to jump over these common resolution hurdles and finish strong in the quest for resolution success?

Commit to Getting off the Couch and Out the Door

The first step to accomplishing your health and fitness resolutions is to back your goals with a real commitment to succeed. You can’t wish your way to a healthier, leaner, more fit, stronger you. You have to make a real commitment that includes a support structure and lifestyle change focused on meeting your overall health and fitness goals.

One way to create a deeper level of health and fitness commitment is by working out with a group of friends or peers. As the temperatures hover around freezing and the temptation to cuddle in front of the fireplace instead of going to the gym burns strong, it is a lot easier to get yourself off the couch and out the door if you know someone is waiting to workout with you at the gym. This same peer-driven motivation to get you out the door on a cold winter day can be advantageous to your overall fitness when you workout in a group environment as well.

Research indicates that the presence of others around you during a workout session and the effects of competition can have a positive influence on your exertion and fitness performance levels.[1] The dynamics and high energy of working out in a small group setting with a handful of peers and a seasoned personal trainer can push you to work harder than you could have ever imagined, allowing you to enjoy overall improvements in your body’s health and fitness levels.

By incorporating a group fitness routine into your New Year’s resolution goals, you become a part of something bigger than yourself – an environment that is packed full of fitness commitment, motivation and encouragement.

Call in the Accountability Troops

Many New Year’s resolutions fail because people embark on the journey alone and let other items on their life calendar take priority over their goals. Set yourself up for resolution success by wrapping your goals with a strong support system that includes the right professionals and tools to do the job wisely and successfully.

By enlisting the help of a certified personal trainer, you will receive a customized workout that aligns with your body, ability and health/fitness level, as well as your New Year’s goals. A study in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research found that those who worked out with personal trainers resulted in greater individual strength, workout intensities and exertion levels during an exercise session.[2] Personal trainers are not only a great resource for holding you accountable to showing up for your workout, but also ensuring that you engage in a valuable workout session that benefits both the mind and body.

Another way to keep yourself accountable to health and fitness goals is by physically scheduling your weekly workouts into your personal, family and professional calendars. If you view your workouts as a serious appointment and dedicate specific time to a physically fit lifestyle, you will be less likely to skip your workouts when life becomes busy.

Furthermore, industry reports continue to find evidence that you don’t have to spend your entire day in the gym to reap the most benefits from your workouts. Short-term, high intensity workouts have been found to be a time efficient and effective approach for burning fat, increasing fitness levels and improving overall cardiovascular health.[3]

Out with the Old, In with the New

The same old workouts and lifestyle tendencies will yield the same old results. If you are committed this year to reaching new levels of physical fitness, it is important to change up your approach by combining a can-do attitude with new workout routines focused on measurable strength and conditioning goals.

It’s important to remember, though, that physical fitness is an ongoing process that doesn’t happen overnight. Instead of making rash decisions like cleaning out all of the food in your pantry or exercising seven days a week when you have rarely made it to the gym once a week, set yourself up for success by identifying incremental benchmarks (going to the gym three times a week, running a mile without stopping, bench pressing 100 pounds, etc.) that can help keep your overall fitness goals within reach and within perspective. This approach will keep you on the path to reaching new physical fitness levels throughout the year and provide you with the opportunity to celebrate your successes along the way.

By pushing aside old barriers and incorporating new lifestyle behaviors centered around commitment, accountability and positive attitudes, you are well on your way to investing in a healthier body and happier you for the New Year.

The certified personal trainers at Fitness Together will design workouts tailored to your specific fitness level and will push you just hard enough to turn your goals into life changing results.

Contact Fitness Together Providence at 401-369-7660 to learn more about how to look better, feel better and perform better this New Year with one-on-one personal training or PACK small group training.

[1] Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: “The Effects of Competition and the Presence of an Audience on Weight Lifting Performance,” 2003.

[2] Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: January 2008 - Volume 22 - Issue 1 - pp 103-111.

[3] University of Guelph; Journal of Applied Physiology, June 2007.

Fitness Together Providence Loses an Extremely Inspirational Friend

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:42:00 -0600

On January 12th,2012 Fitness Together Providence lost a dear friend named Will Archibald.Will was an inspiration to us all.While he encountered many challenges in life, the most recent being his spinal cord injury, he persevered and went on to get involved in kayaking, sled hockey, and mono-skiing. He didn't let anything hold him back. He had an infectious smile and a kind heart. As you can see in this video Will lived life to the fullest and will be missed. Please follow Wills journey at http://willarchibald.blogspot.com/ and help sponsor more people like Will at Help Hope Lives website so they too may live life to the fullest. We love you Will! http://www.helphopelive.org/services/catastrophic-injury-patients/

But I Do Cardio Every Day

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:14:00 -0500

Have you ever walked into the gym and seen almost every single piece of cardio equipment utilized? Better yet, have you ever walked into the gym and seen people waiting in line for a piece of cardio equipment? It is absolutely ridiculous and totally unnecessary. Of course cardiovascular exercise is exercise for the heart. Your heart is a muscle too, and it should be worked out on a regular basis. The point is that too many people these days are relying solely on cardio to lose weight. News flash people…It’s not going to happen.

Whenever weight loss is a goal, one of the first things most people think of is burning more calories. Yes, it is essential to have a caloric deficit to see the number on the scale go down (a deficit of 3500 calories will lead to a pound lost per week). The misconception is that you have to rely on cardiovascular exercise to do it. Not true. In some cases, doing excess cardio can make you fat (I will get into that later). Don’t get me wrong, I think cardio is great! Whether you enjoy running, biking, using the elliptical, climbing stairs, or walking the benefits are huge. Cardio helps to lower hypertension, decrease emotional stress, increase blood flow throughout the body which delivers nutrients to your muscles and organs, and, yes, it also burn calories. There are two secrets: change it up and don’t overdo it.

Why change it up? You see, your body is a machine that will slowly start to recognize the work you have it perform. If the work being performed is the same day after day, then your body will adapt and stop working as hard in order to get the same results. It’s the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. You won’t lose weight if you do the same thing over and over. Instead, your body will cling on to the extra calories and stored fat which can make you gain weight over time. So what should you do? You should change up machines. Use the stair master over using the elliptical. Run sprints instead of a long leisure jog. Do intervals. Use higher inclines. Try not to do the same activity two days in a row. Most of all…challenge your self! Working out would not be called “working out” if it was meant to be easy.

Stop fearing the weight floor! It’s not that scary, I promise. Lifting weights will help to speed up the weight loss process. You will be converting the stored fat (thanks to all that excessive cardio you have been doing) into lean muscle mass. Isn’t that what you want to do? The best way to go about this is to make sure you have a certified trainer instruct you on how to lift weights properly. You should work on a total body lifting program that involves major muscle groups in both your arms and legs. Aim to do this at least twice per week. After about 4-6 weeks it is a good idea to change up the exercises. This way, as with doing cardio, your body will not adapt and you will continue to see changes.

Most importantly, you cannot forget a good, quality nutrition plan. If you put crap into your body, you will look and feel like crap. The saying ‘you are what you eat’ stands true. Choose foods that are in their most natural state: fruits, vegetables, whole grains (oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice), good fats (olive oil, nuts, avocado), and protein sources (fish, lean meats, eggs). And don’t forget to drink lots of water (it airs in fat metabolism)! The nutritional concept to your body composition counts 80% in combination with your exercise routine. You don’t want to ruin all that hard work in the gym, do you?

I challenge you: set yourself a goal this week to try a new activity in your cardio regime. Keep it interesting. Get out on the weight floor. You may find that you actually enjoy it. And get off that treadmill already, will ya?!

Why weight loss requires strength training, even in women and seniors

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 14:42:00 -0500

Did you know that strength training is crucial for successfully losing weight and keeping it off? I'm talking about weight-bearing exercise. It doesn't have to be a huge, hulking workout where you're trying to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, it just has to be some basic strength training.

Why is strength training important for losing weight? Because a lot of people try to starve themselves into weight loss. They think it's all about controlling calories. Calories in, calories out. If you have a calorie deficit, you're going to lose weight, if you consume extra calories, you'll gain body fat. While that's true, it's only part of the picture. Sure, you need a calorie deficit to lose weight, but how does your body actually use calories? It's your lean body mass, that muscle mass underneath your body fat, that burns calories 24/7, allowing you to actually eat more calories without gaining weight.

If you manage to keep all of that muscle mass and bone density in place while you are losing body fat, then you can maintain the high metabolism that's associated with that lean body mass even while you are dropping body fat.

But if you starve yourself, you're going to lose all the muscle resources you already have. It's a mistake a lot of people make. They try to lose body fat by starving themselves, and as the body fat vanishes from their body, their muscle mass also disappears.

You see, the body is an adaptive system. It will adapt to whatever loads you place on it. So if you are a heavier person and you're carrying around body fat, then your body will adapt by creating stronger muscles to lift your body. It's almost like doing a leg press every time you get up out of the chair. If you weigh 300 lbs you're doing a 300 lb leg press, you see? Now if you were to drop 150 lbs of body fat and end up at 150 lbs, your body wouldn't need the same amount of leg muscle to lift you. It would eliminate those leg muscles through catabolic action. complex.”

While it eliminates this muscle mass, your metabolism begins to slow. Remember, it's the lean body mass that's burning calories day in and day out, even when you're doing nothing. If you reduce that muscle mass by allowing it to go away (by not challenging your muscles), then your metabolism is going to slow. A lot of people end up at a place where they've lost the body fat and they're lighter, but it's suddenly so much easier to put on body fat. They don't have the muscle mass they once did, they're not automatically burning calories, and if they overeat just a little bit, they'll start packing on the body fat again.

The solution to all of this, the strategy I want to focus on here, is to engage in strength training while you are losing body fat. If you do this, then you will be able to maintain the muscle mass that you already have underneath your body fat while you are in the process of losing the fat. This will leave you with a greater proportion of lean body mass to body fat, meaning that you will be slimmer, yet you'll have the muscles that you had when you were overweight.

If you get rid of enough body fat in this way, then those muscles may begin to show -- if you're a man. If you're a woman, don't worry. You're never going to bulk up. A lot of women are mistakenly afraid of strength training. They think that if they pump a few weights they're going to turn into Lou Ferrigno overnight. They think they're going to have this competition muscle-bound body from lifting a couple of weights. Believe me, that is not the case at all. Most of those bodybuilding women have trained for years, even decades, just to produce that kind of muscle mass. Women are not built to puts on lots of muscle mass, so don't be afraid that you'll bulk up. Women who are afraid of exercising because they think it's going to make them look bigger have it all wrong.

Let's take a moment to cover that myth here. Let's say you're a woman and you have more body fat than you want. You're trying to decide, "Should I engage in strength training as part of my weight loss program?" Some women say, "No, because I'll bulk up and it'll make me look fatter." That's a complete myth; it's totally false.

When you have a high percentage of body fat, that body fat is stored not only in the tissues that are obvious -- such as your hips and your midsection, your arms and legs and so on -- it's also stored intramuscularly, which means it's stored within the muscles of your body. It's sort of like the marbling of beef from a cow. If you slice a muscle from a cow, there's some fat inside the muscle -- that is the same kind of fat that's in our muscles when we have a high percentage of body fat.

That fat takes up a lot of space in the muscle, so it actually makes the muscle look bigger, because there's fat inside. When you start losing body fat, even if you're engaged in strength training, that intramuscular fat will begin to vanish. So even if your muscle mass begins to grow -- which, again, is very difficult for women to accomplish -- your overall muscle size is probably going to be smaller when you're at a lower percentage of body fat. The net change in your muscle size is going to be almost nothing, unless you really start to do strength training on a regular basis for a period of a year or two, and then you might actually begin to put on a little bit more muscle.

So with that crazy myth covered, let's get back to the main point here, which is that engaging in strength training will conserve the muscle mass you have now. Now here's why this is so important. It's very easy for your body to shed useless muscle. So if you're not using a muscle, your body will get rid of it over a few months. It's gone. But to gain that muscle back -- now that takes some effort! That could take months or years of strength training. It is much harder for your body to engage in anabolic reactions (to build muscle mass) than it is for your body to catabolize and get rid of muscles. So, if you decide you're going to starve yourself while you lose weight and get down to the minimum weight possible, and afterwards you engage in strength training, then you're going to find that it's a much more difficult process to gain lean body mass than it was to slim away what you had to begin with. Building lean body mass is a huge challenge.

It's also important to note that when people talk about weight loss, they throw that term around without really understanding what it means. Everybody says "I want to lose weight," but they don't really mean that. They mean they want to lose body fat; they don't want to just lose weight. A limb amputation will cause you to lose weight, but that's not what people have in mind! People want to lose body fat. So be careful what you wish for.

Scientists Finally Prove High Fructose Corn Syrup Risks/'Corn Sugar' Makers Hope You'll Buy The New Name

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:06:00 -0500

For the last several years, getting good answers about the health risks of High Fructose Corn Syrup has been difficult. There has been a lack of true scientific substantiation on either side of the debate.

Although many of us suspected this stuff really isn't healthy for us, we didn't actually know how it was affecting our bodies.

Well, a team of Princeton researchers has now released their official findings on a high fructose corn syrup study with (not so) shocking conclusions.

The Princeton researchers had been studying not only side effects of high fructose corn syrup, but how your body reacts when it's ingested. They discovered that rats which had access to high fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to basic table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.

They did two studies and here are a few excerpts from their findings:

The first experiment — male rats given water sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup in addition to a standard diet of rat chow gained much more weight than male rats that received water sweetened with table sugar, or sucrose, in conjunction with the standard diet. The concentration of sugar in the sucrose solution was the same as is found in some commercial soft drinks, while the high-fructose corn syrup solution was half as concentrated as most sodas.

The second experiment — the first long-term study of the effects of high-fructose corn syrup consumption on obesity in lab animals — monitored weight gain, body fat and triglyceride levels in rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup over a period of six months. Compared to animals eating only rat chow, rats on a diet rich in high-fructose corn syrup showed characteristic signs of a dangerous condition known in humans as the metabolic syndrome, including abnormal weight gain, significant increases in circulating triglycerides and augmented fat deposition, especially visceral fat around the belly. Male rats in particular ballooned in size: Animals with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained 48 percent more weight than those eating a normal diet. In humans, this would be equivalent to a 200-pound man gaining 96 pounds.

What does this mean to you as a consumer, chef, cook, parent and conscious adult who cares about what goes into your body? It means all these months that you've been reading labels and finding out what snacks and pre-packaged foods are laced with this obesity enticing ingredient (which seems like almost everything), the time has come to say good-bye. Sure a candy bar packs a punch and for lack of a better phrase, really satisfies you, but it will do more damage than eating an entire tray of cookies fresh from the oven (and then some).

This doesn't mean you have to quit eating what you love, but it does mean that cooking for yourself and your family is more important than ever. Use real ingredients, use sugars and fats of all sorts, but the time to hesitate is through when it comes to the ever present, High Fructose Corn Syrup. As a consumer you vote with your dollar and the more we chose foods (even if they're prepackaged) without this nasty ingredient, the better!

Read More about Princeton’s Findings on the University Website

http://www.thekitchn.com

Join the FT Providence cycling team and support the American Lung Association!

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Do you like to bike? Get in shape and have fun this fall with the Fitness Together Providence cycling team! Join the FT team in the American Lung Association’s Autumn Escape Bike Trek across Cape Cod. The adventure is suitable for experienced cyclists and novices alike, taking participants on a scenic tour of the Cape from Plymouth to Provincetown. The event offers a 3-day, 160-mile option and a 2-day, 105-mile version that will take place the first weekend in October. Work for a good cause, have a fantastic time and get an excellent workout. Overnight accommodations are provided at two YMCA camps along the route.

FT Providence owner Aaron Atwood will lead the studio’s team across the Cape and support the ALA fight against lung disease. Registration is $75 and includes accommodations in cabins at two summer camps, Camp Burgess in Sandwich on Friday and the Cape Cod Sea Caps in Brewster on Saturday. Each camp includes bathroom facilities and towels are provided. Breakfast and dinner will also be served, and along with refreshments available at the three daily Rest Stops, will support your ride with appropriate water and nutritious meals. Buses will be on hand for the return trip to the start on Sunday afternoon from Provincetown. Gear trucks will also be on hand to transport sleeping bags and overnight bags. Parking is available at the start free of charge.

Participants are asked to fundraise for the event with a goal of contributing $500. This donation will help the ALA in its mission to further research into lung disease and cancer and advocate for lung health. The organization needs your help in fighting against the third leading cause of death in America. By joining the FT team and the ALA you’ll support your own health, have a great time, and make a difference! Join the Fitness Together Providence team (click on FT Providence) or just support us with a donation at the following web site:

http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/e01/team.jsp?id=2861&tid=37840

For more information or to join the FT Providence team go to the check out the event web site at:

http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/home.jsp?id=2861

or contact team captain Aaron Atwood at

401-369-7660

ftprovidence@fitnesstogether.com

It’s Hot! Safe Exercise with a High Heat Index: Ask the Trainer

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Q: I like to run and bike outside during my lunch hour. It has been so hot and humid this summer that the weather has put a crimp in my routine! Do you have tips for getting a great workout despite the high temps?

A: The key to beating the heat and making summertime fitness progress is to have the facts. Hydration, exercise intensity, current fitness levels, clothing, and the heat stress index are all important factors to consider. Use this information to develop a strategy for healthy exercise:

Hydration and Heat Cramps

Drinking enough fluid, whether water or a sports drink, is imperative for exercising in hot or humid weather. You need to be hydrated in order for your body to produce enough body fluids and maintain proper temperature. Heat cramps can occur when you have lost a large amount of water and sodium chloride through sweat. See below for how to avoid them—acclimatization to the hot, humid weather can also help you avoid heat cramps.

Sweat cools your body by evaporating off your skin. Visible beads of sweat that don’t evaporate only dehydrate you without the beneficial cooling effect. If you let your body become dehydrated, you’ll find it much more difficult to perform even the lightest of workouts.

To avoid dehydration, weigh yourself before and after your workout and drink 20 ounces of fluid for every pound of body weight lost. Water isn’t the only thing your body loses when sweating. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride are also lost in sweat. Rehydration will occur faster in the presence of sodium, which can be gotten through sports drinks or electrolyte replenishment powders that can be added to water. Try Emergen-C or Coconut Water!

Exercise Intensity

Depending on the heat stress index you may need to reduce the intensity of your workout, particularly the first few times you are exposed to higher temperatures. The heart must work harder to pump oxygen during extreme heat and humidity, meaning that it is recommended that you use a heart rate monitor to make sure you are in a healthy heart-rate range.

Heat Stress Index

High humidity prevents sweat from evaporating. Use the heat stress index to determine the risk of exercising at various combinations of temperature and humidity. While a 90° F outdoor temperature is relatively safe at 10% humidity, the heat stress of 90° F at 50% humidity is the equivalent of 96° F.

When the heat stress index rises above 90° F, consider postponing your exercise session until later in the day or heading inside for a treadmill workout. Or, plan ahead and beat the day’s heat by working out early in the morning. It may not be your first choice, but at least you’ll be safe and still get a workout in.

When you go outside to exercise, refer to the heat stress index and consider the associated risks:

Below 80° F (27° C): Little or no danger under normal circumstances

80–90° F (27–32° C): Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure

90–105° F (32–41° C): Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible

105–130° F (41–54° C): Heat cramps and heat exhaustion likely, heatstroke is
possible

Over 130° F (54° C): Heatstroke is imminent

Fitness

Physical training and heat acclimation can increase your blood volume, helping to regulate body temperature more effectively. Interestingly, the acclimatization process can be completed in seven to 14 days of repeated heat exposure.

Clothing

Wear minimal clothing to provide a greater skin surface area for heat dissipation.

Hot weather workout clothing should be:

Lightweight with a “wicking”-effect to help sweat evaporate

Light-colored to reflect the sun’s rays

Wear a hat to protect the head and keep the sun off your face.

Check out this New York Times article reporting that research shows that drinking ice cold liquid before a workout can increase your exercise capacity significantly: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/health/nutrition/27best.html?_r=1

Fitness Together Providence featured in the Providence Business News !

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Fitness Together exercise studios in R.I., Mass. launch 6-month diabetes study

By Marion Davis
Contributing Writer

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – Forty-two Fitness Together franchises in Rhode Island and Massachusetts are conducting a study to gauge the impact of a 26-week individualized fitness training program on the blood sugar levels of people with type 2 diabetes.

The studios are enlisting a minimum of 50 subjects – men and women over 30 with a diabetes type 2 diagnosis who are at least 30 pounds overweight. They will get regular blood glucose tests and be monitored by a certified diabetes educator as well as personal trainers.

The franchise group will share the results with the American Diabetes Association of Eastern New England, whose Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes, it also sponsors.

“Diabetes is a major health issue affecting more than 24 million Americans, and our franchisees have told us they are happy to have a chance to make a difference,” said Jeff Jervik, president and CEO of Fitness Together Holdings Inc.

From July through December, the study will track participants’ weight loss, administer hemoglobin A1c tests – which measure average blood glucose and identify people at risk of complications – and track their blood pressure, medication use and sense of well-being.

To participate, a person must be cleared by a doctor to exercise and agree to six months of observation resistance training three times a week with a personal trainer; cardiovascular exercise a minimum of three times a week; an initial fitness evaluation followed by fitness re-tests every six weeks; documenting of all meals in a nutrition journal; and blood checks.

The studio owners have also pledged to raise a minimum of $40,000 for the ADA Eastern New England Chapter; donations can be made at the studios or on the group’s website, www.FTGetsResults.com, by clicking on the “Cardio for a Cure” link. Nonmembers who wish to participate in the study can also find a nearby Fitness Together facility on the site.

HIIT Training Explored!

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Q: I’m interested in HITT training. Can you give me an example of a high-intensity interval training workout?

A: Workouts at Fitness Together Providence often incorporate elements of high-intensity training. Remember those bike or elliptical sprints you do in between the plank and the squats? They would be an example of high-intensity exercise intermixed with muscular training.

Working out with kettlebells is another fun and ideal way to raise your intensity level and get a total body workout at the same time. For example, a kettlebell workout at FT might include a dynamic warm up followed by a series of the following exercises: Turkish Getup, Kettlebell Swings, Sumo Squats, Overhead Push Press, Pushups with a Single-arm Row, and a Kettlebell Halo.

Because high-intensity training is all the rage, a lot of research has been done to identify if and why it is effective. The American Council on Exercise recently did a study on the effectiveness of 20 minute high-intensity kettlebell workouts. They found that during the 20-minute workout, the average calorie burn was 272 calories, not counting additional calorie burn due to the substantial anaerobic effort. They found that participants burned over 20 calories a minute and raised their heart rates above 89% of the heart rate maximum. The researchers credit the brisk calorie burning to the fact that the kettlebell workout used a total-body movement that is done very quickly due to the interval-training format.

Researchers concluded that kettlebells can provide “one heck of a workout,” says Chad Schnettler. “This is good news for people who are looking for a very good resistance-training workout that will also help them lose weight. For people who might not have a lot of time, and need to get in a good workout as quickly as possible, high-intensity training definitely provide that.” Researchers cautioned that high-intensity training should only be done 2-3 days a week so the body can recover effectively. It is not ideal for everyone because it can put stress on the body’s connective tissues and includes the mental challenge of needing to push through a sometimes aerobically painful workout.

Got a fitness question? Send it to us at ftprovidence@fitnesstogether.com

FT Providence Steps Out with the American Diabetes Association!

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Join the Fitness Trainers at FT Providence to find a cure for diabetes and get in better shape!

Fitness Together is proud to be the American Diabetes Association's Official Health & Fitness Sponsor for Eastern New England's Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes campaign. We are committed to helping individuals with diabetes make healthy lifestyle changes.

FT Providence is joining the other Fitness Together studios from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to raise money for the ADA through our Cardio for a Cure campaign. Our clients, friends and their families throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island will run, walk, bike and swim to raise money for diabetes education and research. Our goal is to raise more than $40,000.

Fitness Together is also conducting a six-month type 2 diabetes study this June through December. The objective of our case study is to show that Fitness Together's holistic approach combining strength and cardio training with nutritional coaching can overcome diabetes and help get type 2 diabetics off medicine. With 42 studios participating, we hope to make a huge impact on the lives of many individuals and their families.

FT Providence is taking part in the study with local Jazz and Blues musician Kim Trusty. Kim is a Type 2 Diabetic and she is committed to getting in better shape and losing weight. She is training and doing cardio workouts six days a week. She's also participating in a nutrition program in conjunction with FT's Nutrition Together program. She is doing regular fitness assessments and is committed to improving diabetes awareness! Check out Kim's web site at www.kimtrusty.com. Contact FT Providence if you have questions about our work to overcome diabetes or for a free consultation!

Fitness Together will help send Bill Guy from Coventry RI to the 2010 Special Olympics

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Fitness Together, Providence is pleased to announce that they have teamed up with the Special Olympics to send Bill Guy from Coventry RI to the 2010 games in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is truly an honor to be able to help such an inspirational athlete accomplish his dreams. Here are a list of a few of Bill's great accomplishments

Bill has been a Special Olympic Athlete for over ten years.
Bill has served on the Special Olympics Board of Directors for the past three years.
Bill has traveled to Washington DC with the Director of Special Olympics to meet with Congressional Represntatives and succesfully lobby for funding to support the building of a Special Olympics Facility for the Rhode Island Special Olympics Athletes.
Bill serves on the Special Olympics Capitol Committee tasked with raising the funds to build the Rhode Island Special Olympics Facility.
Bill is a Special Olympics Global Messenger. Global messengers' are trained in public speaking to help bring the message of Special Olympics groups and organizations.
Bill is a camera technician for the Special Olympics groups and organizations.
Bill is a camera technician for the Special Olympics TV show "Special Olympics Magazine"
Bill participates in 8 Special Olympics Sports

Golf
Snow Boarding
Unified Basketball
Traditional Basketball
Unified Soccer
Traditional Soccer
Softball
Volleyball