Saturday, January 30, 2016

Customized Cardio Program for Heart Health Month -- Cardio Together!

February is Heart Health Month!

Learn about our new customized cardio prescriptions, meet our new manager, and get an I Heart FT shirt to support the American Heart Association!

Ah, yes...February is nearly here, Valentine's Day is coming up and love is surely in the air! I've been married for just over 4 months already and definitely still feeling the romance! But don't forget about the symbol of all of our affection----the heart! That's right, February is Heart Health Month and at Fitness Together we want to do our best to raise awareness to support this cause.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, and that is something that we take very seriously as fitness professionals. Many of you may know that my father survived a major heart attack just a couple of months ago! Perhaps you also read our recent success story in Mimi Vanderhaven Newspaper about a 71 year old client named Bob who lost 85 pounds with us this year. If so, you may recall that his turning point before asking for help was surviving a heart attack! I think most of us have been affected by heart disease at some point in our lives. At Fitness Together, we have realized that most fitness professionals have dropped the ball when it comes to properly guiding clients through a safe and effective cardiovascular routine...That's why we're happy to announce the release of our new program, Cardio Together!

CARDIO TOGETHER:

The professionals at Fitness Together have recognized the need for proper training, program design and regular progress reports for cardiovascular activity. You will begin this program with an hour long consultation where you learn a variety of cardio topics...sort of a Cardio 101...The session is concluded with a short treadmill test so that we can determine your different target heart rate zones. Then, we will sit down together to develop a customized cardio prescription for you to follow and track on your own for 6 weeks. You will only need to come in once every six weeks to be tested again, and to receive an upgraded program to follow for the next 6 weeks. This program will be a great addition to our Fitness Together personal training and Nutrition Together healthy eating programs.

I Heart FT Shirts:

In attempts to further our support for Heart Health Month, we are giving away these I Heart FT shirts for a donation of just $20 (proceeds to the American Heart Association). You can bring a check made to "Fitness Together" or cash to the studio in exchange for your shirt. Our goal is to sell over 100 shirts to raise at least $2,000 for this cause. The shirts are a long-sleeved New Balance brand and a dry-fit material. They come in a men's round neck or a ladies' v-neck style.

**To sign up for the Cardio Together Program and/or to order an I Heart FT Shirt, simply click here and let us know:

A.) Do you want to sign up for Cardio Together
B.) Do you want an I Heart FT Shirt to support the American Heart Association (if so, let us know which size and style)

Our New Manager:

After being the owner/manager for the past couple of years, it's probably long overdue that I appoint someone to help me keep a closer eye on the day-to-day operations at the studio. My hope is that as we continue to grow, that this manager - along with the rest of our great team - will be able to help ensure that you're receiving the same great experience and service that you have become accustomed to. This individual has been with us through some of the ups and downs over the years, and has proven themselves to be a person of integrity that we can trust, certainly an incredible personal trainer and an all-around great person. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you...oh wait, you already know him...Adam Teplitz.

Please make sure that you have your e-mail contacts updated:
Sean Sullivan- SeanSullivan@FitnessTogether.com
Adam Teplitz- FTBrecksville@FitnessTogether.com

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns...

Have a Happy & Healthy Heart Health Month!

Respectfully,

Sean Sullivan
Owner, Fitness Together - Brecksville
seansullivan@fitnesstogether.com
8251 Chippewa Rd., Brecksville, OH 44141 I 216.212.1956 I fitnesstogether.com/brecksville

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Find New Strength This Year -- Benefits of Proper Strength Training

Find New Strength This Year — Benefits of Proper Strength Training

Jan 28, 2016

Reducing body fat, increasing muscle mass and burning more calories are all goals we have when we workout, right? Proper strength training can help you with each of these goals. Strength training isn’t just for men and women and body builders who “pump iron,” there are many benefits to your overall health and fitness from proper strength training.

Increased Muscle Mass

As your body gets older, you begin to lose muscle mass. Unfortunately, when you lose muscle, you gain fat. By incorporating strength training into your workout routine, you’ll slow down the muscle loss and build lean muscle, which ultimately burns more fat.

Weight Control

Strength training can help you control your weight. As you build muscle strength, you’ll burn more calories which will help you control and even lose weight. Your muscles will even continue to burn calories after your workout.

Manage Pain from Health Conditions

If you suffer from arthritis, back pain, obesity, heart disease or diabetes, strength training can help you manage your condition. The stronger your muscles are around these conditions, the greater of a chance you have to fight them off.

Better Balance & Flexibility

You may not think of strength training as a way to improve balance and flexibility, but as you build muscles, you’ll notice that your balance and flexibility will become better; which helps reduce your risk of injury.

Build your Mental Strength

Strength training can do more than build your muscles; it can also help build your mental game as well. As you move through the year and continue to work out, you’ll notice that your focus and mental sharpness improves. The coordination that strength training takes keeps your brain in shape and gives you a greater mental awareness for body positioning and body control.

As you fine tune your workout routine for this year, talk to your personal trainer about incorporating strength training. If you don’t have a personal trainer, you can find one at Fitness Together^®. A Fitness Together^® personal trainer will create strength training routines customized to your goals, ability, and your body. Find a Fitness Together^® studio at www.fitnesstogether.com.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Have a Nutritious 2016 -- Nutrition Together Can Lead the Way!

Have a Nutritious 2016 — Nutrition Together® Can Lead the Way

Jan 20, 2016

www.fitnesstogether.com/brecksville/nutrition

Everyone says they want to eat healthier, but do you know how to do it? Do you know what types of food are your weakness? Do you know what types of food you really like that are actually healthy? Eating healthy is more than cutting back on fatty foods and eating less sugar. Being nutrition-conscious requires a lifestyle change that results in you changing a few habits. Here are a few steps to take when changing your eating habits to become healthier.

Take Small Steps

Trying to tackle a major life change all at once is overwhelming and can lead to failure if not approached in the right manor. Like many things, to be successful, you should try to take it slow and make smaller changes that create building blocks to a successful evolution.

A Few Small Steps Could Be:

Begin each day with a nutritious breakfast
Get 8 hours of sleep; fatigue can lead to overeating
Give up second helpings
Eat a small nutritious snack ever few hours
Switch to lower-fat dairy products

By taking some of these small, less daunting steps before you take the big leap you have a better base in which to make the big change.

Pay Attention to What You Eat

How many times have you felt like you’re in a rut when it comes to your eating habits? You just “have the usual” or go for takeout. Do you really know what you’re eating? Taking the step to paying attention and understanding everything you’re eating is important to changing your habits. When was the last time you read a food label? If you start paying attention to ingredients and labels, you’ll be more conscious and aware of what you’re eating. Try keeping a food diary, where you write everything you eat. This will help you become aware of the amount of food you eat.

Make a Plan; Be Specific

As you begin this lifestyle change, make a plan and make it real. Start with buying fruit and taking it to work each day. Buy healthy cereal for a quick, nutritious breakfast, set a reminder on your calendar to hit the gym three times a week. Just saying that you’re going to do something often leads to little action and then you feel guilty because you haven’t met your goal. Writing a plan with details will help you accomplish your goals faster.

If you want to change your eating habits, it helps to have someone in your corner helping you make

Fitness Together owner Sean Sullivan promoting Nutrition!

good decisions. The Nutrition Together^® program at your local Fitness Together^® studio will show you how to make proper eating and lifestyle choices. Created by a registered dietitian specifically for Fitness Together^® to compliment your fitness program. Topics will cover how to eat light, grocery shop and making the right choices when eating out. If you’re ready to have a nutritious 2016 and truly live a healthier lifestyle, contact Fitness Together^® today. Visit www.brecksvillenutrition.com for more information and to get started.