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Run the Race

New Life Blog — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:38:44 GMT

Summer is an amazing time to get active OUTSIDE!! Sign up for a run (5K, 10K or a half marathon). There are so many activities to do. A sprint triathalon can be split between 3 people and each person takes their strong suit. What a fun way to complete a goal with friends. Training for a race or a particular goal is a great way to stay in shape and change up your routine. Remember these summer tips for heathy exercise because skin cancer is no laughing matter. Stay sun-safe and reduce your cancer risks. Try to schedule your activities before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid strong ultraviolet (UV) rays. If you have to be outside during these hours, stay in shaded areas whenever possible and apply a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 that provides broad-spectrum (UVA and UV protection. It always amazes me when I run out to the bank or an errand at lunchtime and it is 90 degrees and someone is running. Don't risk the possibility of having heat stroke or getting dehydrated. Get inside on those hot and humid days and stay safe!! Send us your finish line photos so we can post them on our facebook page!!
Happy July!!
Sandy

Eating Through the Summer Months

New Life Blog — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:11:00 GMT

We have a lot of people who use to take the "summer off" from exercise. Over the last year or so, we are seeing more people join the club because they have discovered that they eat and drink more in the summer. Regular exercise ALL year long is critical to keeping weight in control. We all love sitting by the pool or ocean with a soda and a bag of chips with salsa. While this is relaxing, it's probably not going to give you the beach body figure you are looking for and it MAY just give you a bit of a surprise in the fall when you go to put on those jeans or work pants.

Here are some tips for summer eating:

1. Watch your portions
2. Offset alcohol usage with B vitamins and Water
3. Instead of chips and salsa try thin pretzels and hummus or tabouleh
4. Consume fruit when you are craving sugar
5. Instead of soda, drink selter water and use 2 ounces of juice for flavor
6. Allow yourself the treat of ice cream once in a while (if the person at the drive thru knows your name, you go too often!)
7.Water, water, water.........................

Be sure summer gatherings with your friends and family are about the social interaction and catching up, don't make food be the major focus of the events.

Enjoy the season and we look forward to everyone sticking with their exercise plans.
We are running a Summer Boot Camp for 6 weeks at the club during OFF hours, so sign up today to stay on track!!

Riding a Stationary Bike

New Life Blog — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:59:00 GMT

Equipment Spotlight: Stationary Bike

Recumbent and Upright Stationary Bike

Before beginning your workout it is important to adjust the seat to the correct position for you. Sit on the bike and place your feet on the pedals. Your knee should have a slight bend in it when your leg is completely extended. When you find the correct position for you adjust the straps on the pedals to fit your foot comfortably. This will prevent your feet from slipping off the pedals during your workout.

The console will turn on as soon as you begin to pedal. You then have the option of pushing quick start or to select from a variety of workouts. These workouts include fat burn, cardio, random, manual, zone training, personal trainer, and hill plus. The workout buttons can be found on the display console.

Fat Burn- This workout is low intensity used to burn an individual’s fat reserves. The program adjusts intensity to maintain a heart rate that is 65% of an individual’s maximum heart rate.

Cardio- This workout is high intensity. It focuses on cardiovascular benefits as well as burning fat to the max. The program adjusts intensity to maintain a heart rate that is 80% of an individual’s maximum heart rate.

Random- This program changes levels with no specific pattern or progression. If your looking for a workout to keep you on your toes and prevent you from getting bored this is a good one to consider.

Manual- This workout allows you to change the intensity level of your workout when ever you choose to or you can keep your workout constant throughout.

Other workout programs include zone training, personal trainer, and hill plus.

When using the upright bike you can set your goal using three different measurements. Choose one from calories, distance or time. Set your goal and your workout will be complete once you reach your goal. When choosing a workout the display will prompt you to enter your age, time, and intensity level which you can do so with the number pad on the right of the display. After entering a number press enter. To change the time or level of intensity of your workout use the arrows labeled so. To turn the personal tv monitor on and off you must be pedaling, then press the red power button. To change the station you can you use the number pad on the left of the display. All that’s left to do is to enjoy your workout!

For more information visit us at: http://www.newlifehealthandwellness.com/About_Us.html

Finding the Right Shoe

New Life Blog — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:00:00 GMT

IF THE SHOE FITS

While some sports are played barefoot in other parts of the world, most of us are required and benefit from the use of athletic shoes. The purpose of an athletic shoe is to support your feet and protect them from stress as well as allowing you to achieve your maximum potential in the sport.

When you purchase your shoes, remember that your feet will hit the ground over 1600 times every mile you run. If your footwear is the wrong size or doesn’t fit your needs, you are going to find it uncomfortable, probably annoying, and even worse it could lead to injury. So what do you need to look for? Number one rule; you should NOT have to break in an athletic shoe. It should be comfortable as soon as you try it on.

The excellence of the shoe comes from the fit and the biomechanics. Your pronation factor is crucial to consider when choosing the right shoe. Pronation is the natural movement of your feet when they touch the ground. All feet roll inwards as the ball of the foot touches the ground. You can check this by looking at the wear patterns on your old running shoes. If you tend to wear out your shoes first on the outside, you probably tend to underpronate; if you wear out your shoes more to the inside, look for a shoe for over-pronators. You also need to know what type of foot you have, our feet are all built differently; some people have a lower arch and some people have a higher arch; still others have completely flat feet. All the different types of feet require different types of support in running shoes. So taking that into consideration, it is important to make sure you have the proper shoe for your foot type and pronation factor.

The biggest and most common mistake I see people make is to bargain shop for an inexpensive first pair of running shoes right off the clearance table. After all, who wants to pay a lot for shoes when you may not actually use them much? This observation makes sense, but this kind of thinking will likely lead you to quit after a couple of miserable runs. When purchasing from the clearance rack, more often than not you get a pair of running shoes that are malformed for your foot, too heavy or too light, or just plain do not fit right. This can potentially cause injury to your feet, legs, hips, or even your back. Forget bargains. What you need to start running is the right shoe, not the cheapest. Be sure that whatever price you decide to pay for the shoes, it’s because the shoe has the features that meet your needs….not because it’s a certain brand or is worn by a celebrity.

Email us at info@newlifehealthandwellness.com or call us for further information or directions on where to go to get the best advice. Check out our website as well!

Ellyptical Training Tailored to You!

New Life Blog — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:00:00 GMT

Equipment Spotlight: Total Body Trainer

The Total Body Trainer also known as the elliptical is a fun option for cardio if you are bored of the treadmill. To mount the elliptical grab onto the handles that do not move and lift feet onto the pedals. Once mounted press the start button and begin pedaling to start your workout. You can select quick start or select the program button that has the workout you would like to do. Once you have selected a workout the machine will ask you a series of question consisting of you weight and workout time (if you select quick start these questions will not be asked). Once you have entered the value for each question, asked by the machine, press enter. To adjust values use the arrow keys. To adjust the level of the elliptical use the arrow keys. The display on the elliptical allows you to see your level, heart rate, distance, speed, calories, and time.

Similar to the treadmill, the elliptical has various workout options. To start you workout quickly without entering in you weight or time desired press quick start. Otherwise you can select from variety of workouts including manual, random, fat burn, cardio, hill plus, personal trainer, and zone training.

The manual program allows you to adjust the level intensity when you want. Nothing changes automatically.

The random program sets up a random terrain of hills and valleys that is different each time you select the program.

The fat burn program is a workout that keeps your heart rate at 65% of your maximum heart rate. This program is best used if the person is wearing a chest strap that allows the heart rate to be read. The intensity level is adjusted to maintain the target heart rate.

The cardio program is similar to the fat burn program. The cardio program adjusts the intensity level to keep your heart rate at 80% of its maximum heart rate. This makes the cardio program more intense than the fat burn program.

The hill program consists of different intervals. The intervals alternate from intense exercise to lower-intensity exercise. On the display module the high and low intensity is represented by the red columns which will appear tall or short based on intensity. There are four phases that the hill program goes through. First is a warm-up which gradually increases resistance and gets the heart rate working towards the lower end of your target zone. The second phase is the Plateau where the program becomes a little more difficult but keeps it at a steady pace so that the heart rate is at the low end of the target zone. You should check your heart rate at the end of this phase. The third phase is the actual interval training. The machine will alternate between hills and valleys. The hills will increasingly get steeper and the valleys are for recover. Your heart rate should get to the high end of your target zone and you should check it at the end of this phase. The last phase is the cool down.

The personal trainer program and zone training program are two other options available on the elliptical. Keep in mind that when working out on the elliptical you have the option of working out in reverse mode. You simply select reverse mode and the machine will alternate from a forward motion for five minutes to a backward motion for five minutes and so on. The reverse mode can be used with the quick start, manual, and random programs. Another option the elliptical has to offer is the aerobics mode. This workout is similar to working out with a trainer. The message center will send messages such as use your upper body more, or use your lower body more, or increase your workload, etc. The aerobics mode can be used with the quick start, manual, and random programs as well. To select either the reverse mode or aerobics mode push the button that is locate next to the number pad

This is a great way to get in shape and have fun. Our Ellypticals all have TV's so you can burn calories while catching up on the lastest news, gossip or watching you favorite shows.

For more information visit us at: http://www.newlifehealthandwellness.com/About_Us.html

Why try Yoga??

New Life Blog — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:48:00 GMT

Is your dance card so full that finding time to take a breath of air seems impossible! You’ve read and heard that taking a yoga or meditation class would be highly beneficial but between work, family and community commitments, we barely have time to pet the dog let alone find time for self nurturing! Unfortunately all these obligations take a toll on our bodies and minds, leaving us exhausted and “stressed out”. Many of us start to wish someone would give us a time out just so we could close our eyes and catch our breath, even just for a moment.

Well the good news is, that even brief moments of stillness and deep breathing can literally alter our brain waves, helping to manage anxiety and depression, and even help lower blood pressure. A regular practice of hatha (physical) yoga combined with pranyama (conscience breathing) has been shown to help regulate weight, build strength, tone and reshape your body, and reduce stress and anxiety.. The word hatha means willful or forceful. Hatha yoga refers to a set of physical exercises (known as asanas or postures), designed to align your skin, muscles and bones. The postures are also designed to open the many energy channels of the body – especially the main channel, the spine so that energy can flow freely.

Yoga is amazing – even if you only practice for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of the practice. If you can do more than that, you will certainly experience more benefits. Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. Incorporating mindfulness and breath with the postures helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thinking patterns, which for many of us are the root causes of stress and anxiety. Once these patterns are recognized we begin to cultivate a more nurturing, positive attitude towards ourselves.

One of the most common questions people ask is “if I am not flexible, how can I do yoga?”. Actually, they are the perfect candidates.. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that’s a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lesions. Come as you are and you will find that a yoga practice will help you become more flexible.

This newfound agility will be balanced by strength, coordination, and enhanced cardiovascular health, as well as a sense of physical confidence and overall well-being. Give our yoga class a try, it might make you see yourself in a whole new light!

For more information visit http://www.newlifehealthandwellness.com/Group_Fitness.html Yoga is included with our regular membership!!

The Right Way to Get Fit this New Year!!

New Life Blog — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:28:23 GMT

Often times implementing lifestyle changes or starting an exercise routine can seem like a daunting task. On the other hand, maintaining the motivation and discipline to adhere to physical activity can be even more difficult. And in this information age the mass media often wields a double-edged sword-it brings needed information to the masses, but often when this information finally arrives to you and me it has been tainted by the need to sell advertising or watered down for fear of litigation. Here are some suggestions and tips to make exercise a part of your life:

If you keep on doing what you are doing, you will keep on being what you are being.

This is a cute way of re-stating one of our old high school physics lessons-the Law of Inertia- an object at rest will remain at rest or an object in constant motion will remain in constant motion unless acted upon by an outside force. If you’re already physically active- GOOD-keep at it! It is much easier to maintain your routine than to start from scratch. Spice things up a bit, vary what you do, but by no means retreat back to the sofa and remote. If you haven’t started yet, START! Walk, work in your garden, use an elliptical machine, lift weights-do something. Doing something is always better than doing nothing. You can always get some coaching here at Teamworks or get more information on your chosen activity later on. You all know the abysmal health statistics in this country. Let this be your outside force and not a heart attack or cancer!

Don’t fear the muscle-head! (or for you ladies, don’t fear the fitness chick!)

You know exactly what I am talking about. The hulking giant of a man in the gym who can’t bend his arms to drink his protein shake or the super skinny, tanned diva who always seems to let people know about her whole food organic food program. Folks, let me tell you-9 times out of 10 these people have no idea what they are talking about! These people are not products of their training, but they flocked to this type of training because they already had an affinity for it. In other words, big guys often get into weight lifting because they are already big and it is something they can excel at. Skinny women get into aerobics because they find it is easy for them to do with little weight to move around. Just because someone has a genetic gift towards throwing a baseball, does not mean they can teach you to be a first rate pitcher.

Secondly, aside from the gym muscle-heads, be wary where you get the rest of your fitness information. The majority of fitness books, magazines, and articles on the internet aren’t worth the paper they are written on. Recently, a student at a local high school where I work at left one of the popular muscle magazines lying around. Out of mere curiosity I decided to see what, if any, value this mag actually had. Out of a total of 268 pages, 161 full pages were dedicated to selling supplements and products! In fact only about 30 pages were dedicated to training programs advocated by the “elite” fitness and body-building gurus. All in all, I found about 5 tidbits of substantive information in the entire magazine! The best thing you can do, in my opinion, is go on a media-fast. Quit reading useless magazines, stop watching television and listening to the latest gimmick and hype, and stop the internet browsing of the latest “fad” exercise short-cuts. Why fear the muscle-head? Just don’t listen to them!

“Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint”

When-ever you have purpose or a long term vision of what you want to accomplish, self-discipline is virtually self-imposed. This is especially true when it comes to our health or physical activities. Envision where you’re trying to go, avoid the pitfalls of distractions, and preserve through the process. Think long-term and you’re well on your way to not only starting a new exercise program, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

I hope these tips help you to engage in a healthy lifestyle this new year!!
Check out our website at http://www.newlifehealthandwellness.com and see how our unique programs can keep you on track!!

The Myths about Stretching

New Life Blog — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:38:00 GMT

FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY

Here in America “stretching” is almost a cult fitness phenomenon. You would be hard pressed to find a fitness guru who did not advocate the myriad supposed benefits of stretching exercises. Many of you, perhaps, have a number of stretches you have been performing for years that you swear by. Yet more often than not I have discovered that the majority of people have no idea how to improve or maintain real flexibility or even how much “flexibility” constitutes enough. No fitness topic seems to generate more confusion or inspire more heated debates than the idea of stretching for flexibility.

Whenever I ask someone why they stretch invariably they reply that they are either loosening up their muscles, trying to prevent injuries, or that they are “warming up”. This is standard exercise doctrine for anyone who has grown up here in the U.S over the past 20+ years. These answers are based upon the following two premises: Muscles and connective tissues need to be stretched to improve flexibility and the more flexible one is the better off ones’ performance will likely be. My purpose in this article is to debunk this first myth. Next month we’ll talk about how much flexibility is enough and how to get started.

Stretching is not the best way to become flexible. Let me repeat that statement. Stretching, as we have come to know it, is not the best way to become flexible. Though this may come as a surprise to most of us, it is actually based on hard science and good common sense. Most of us rely on the elasticity of our tissues when we stretch. Yet as we age we begin to lose a good deal of our flexibility. This is because a life-time of activity builds up micro-trauma in our muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Whenever this trauma heals, it forms a scar which pulls the wound together, and in turn shortens the length of muscle and stiffens the ligaments and tendons. Furthermore, studies have shown that as we age, our tendons and ligaments, which are comprised of the fibers collagen (the tensile type of fiber) and elastin (the “stretchable” type of fiber), begin to shift their constitution predominantly towards collagen. Imagine the difference of trying to “stretch” a toothpick compared to a rubber band and you can see why this type of “stretching” just doesn’t make sense.

The other major reason why traditional stretching does not improve or maintain flexibility is a phenomenon called antagonist passive insufficiency. This is simply a fancy term given to a protective response of your nervous system. Based on previous experiences such as sitting all day, repetitive work tasks, or poor exercise techniques, your nervous system develops and maintains a comfortable length for your muscles. Whenever you attempt a new activity or stretching exercise, fear and tension kicks in and this reflex action of your nervous system prevents your muscles from reaching its full length. A good example of this action would be if you attempted to perform a traditional gymnast split. The truth is that the only reason why you can not perform a split like a gymnast is because of this nervous system principle, not because of your muscle length. Sound crazy? Take a look at any anatomical picture of your legs and you will see that your leg muscles boast independent suspension-in other words, your leg muscles from your right leg do not cross over into your left leg. Learn to rewrite your body’s software program and there is no reason why you can not have the flexibility of a gymnast.

Real flexibility has everything to do with the condition of your nervous system and joint health and nothing to do with the elasticity of your muscles, ligaments and tendons. Regardless of what you have been taught, or your current age or conditioning level, you can improve your flexibility and ability to move by re-learning the correct way to “stretch”. Talk to one of our personal trainer’s today on how you can start to learn some correct techniques or try out our weekly Yoga class. Keep your eyes peeled for next month’s article on how much stretching is enough and for a few new “stretches. Have fun, and learn how to stretch the functional way!

Sweet Poison

New Life Blog — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:45:00 GMT

Hi Everyone,

This was sent to me today and I thought It was important to send out. It is something I have read before and gives food for thought for anyone reading it!!

As many of you know, I am NOT a fan of any artificial sweetners. My son, who has Type 1 Diabetes does not do much "sugar free" items for these reasons...

I'd love to hear you thoughts!

SWEET POISON... A MUST READ!

In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick. She had stomach spasms and she was having a hard time getting around. Walking was a major chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so much pain.

By March 2002, she had undergone several tissue and muscle biopsies and was on 24 various prescription medications. The doctors could not determine what was wrong with her She was in so much pain, and so sick she just knew she was dying.

She put her house, bank accounts, life insurance, etc., in her oldest daughter's name, and made sure that her younger children were to be taken care of.

She also wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to Florida (basically in a wheelchair) for March 22nd.

On March 19, I called her to ask how her most recent tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but they believe she had MS.

I recalled an article a friend of mine e-mailed to me and I asked my sister if she drank diet soda? She told me that she did. As a matter of fact, she was getting ready to crack one open that moment.

I told her not to open it, and to stop drinking the diet soda! I e-mailed her an article my friend, a lawyer, had sent. My sister called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she had stopped drinking the diet soda AND she could walk! The muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% but, she sure felt a lot better.

She told me she was going to her doctor with this article and would call me when she got home.

Well, she called me, and said her doctor was amazed! He is going to call all of his MS patients to find out if they consumed artificial sweeteners of any kind. In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the Aspartame in the diet soda... and literally dying a slow and miserable death.

When she got to Florida March 22, all she had to take was one pill, and that was a pill for the Aspartame poisoning! She is well on her way to a complete recovery. And she is walking! No wheelchair! This article saved her life.

If it says 'SUGAR FREE' on the label; DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE on 'ASPARTAME,' marketed as'Nutra Sweet,' 'Equal,' and 'Spoonful.'

In the keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in 2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus. It was difficult to determine exactly what toxin was causing this to be rampant. I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.

I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous: When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus.

Many people were being diagnosed in error. Although multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, Methanol toxicity is!

Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially withDiet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers.

The victim usually does not know that the Aspartame is the culprit. He or she continues its use; irritating the lupus to such a degree that it may become a life-threatening condition. We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptotic, once taken off diet sodas.

In cases of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, most of the symptoms disappear. We've seen many cases where vision loss re turned and hearing loss improved markedly.

This also applies to cases of tinnitus and fibromyalgia. During a lecture, I said, 'If you are using ASPARTAME (Nutra Sweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting, pains, numbness in your legs,
Cramps,
Vertigo,
Dizziness,
Headaches,
Tinnitus,
Joint pain,
Unexplainable depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have ASPARTAME poisoning!' People were jumping up during the lecture saying, 'I have some of these symptoms. Is it reversible?'

Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
STOP drinking diet sodas and be alert for Aspartame on food labels! Many products are fortified with it! This is a serious problem. Dr. Espart (one of my speakers) remarked that so many people seem to be symptomatic for MS and during his recent visit to a hospice; a nurse stated that six of her friends, who were heavyDiet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence!

Diet soda is NOT a diet product! It is a chemically altered, multiple SODIUM (salt) and ASPARTAME containing product that actually makes you crave carbohydrates.

It is far more likely to make you GAIN weight!

These products also contain formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve 'tissue specimens.'

Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we SHOULD NOT store it IN our body!

Dr. H. J. Roberts stated in his lectures that once free of the 'diet products ' and with no significant increase in exercise; his patients lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period.

Aspartame is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that some physicians, who believed that they had a patient with retinopathy, in fact, had symptoms caused by Aspartame. The Aspartame drives the blood sugar out of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are NEUROTOXIC when taken without the other amino acids necessary for a good balance.

Treating diabetes is all about BALANCE. Especially with diabetics, the Aspartame passes the blood/brain barrier and it then deteriorates the neurons of the brain; causing various levels of brain damage,Seizures,Depression, Manic depression, Panic attacks,Uncontrollable anger and rage.

Consumption of Aspartame causes these same symptoms in non-diabetics as well. Documentation and observation also reveal that thousands of children diagnosed with ADD and ADHD have had complete turnarounds in their behavior when these chemicals have been removed from their diet.

So called 'behavior modification prescription drugs' (Ritalin and others) are no longer needed. Truth be told, they were never NEEDED in the first place!

Most of these children were being 'poisoned' on a daily basis with the very foods that were 'better for them than sugar.'

It is also suspected that the Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.

Dr. Roberts warns that it can cause birth defects, i.e. mental retardation, if taken at the time of conception and during early pregnancy. Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NEVER be given artificial sweeteners.

There are many different case histories to relate of children suffering grand mal seizures and other neurological disturbances talking about a plague of neurological diseases directly caused by the use of this deadly poison.'

Herein lies the problem: There were Congressional Hearings when Aspartame was included in 100 different products and strong objection was made concerning its use. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, and still nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.

Sadly, MONSANTO'S patent on Aspartame has EXPIRED! There are now over 5,000 products on the market that contain this deadly chemical and there will be thousands more introduced. Everybody wants a 'piece of the Aspartame pie.'

I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it is.

And isn't it ironic that MONSANTO funds, among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American Dietetic Association and the Conference of the American College of Physicians?

This has been recently exposed in the New York Times. These [organizations] cannot criticize any additives or convey their link to MONSANTO because they take money from the food industry and are required to endorse their products.

Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote and presented a bill that would require label warnings on products containing Aspartame, especially regarding pregnant women, children and infants.

The bill would also institute independent studies on the known dangers and the problems existing in the general population regarding seizures, changes in brain chemistry, neurological changes and behavioral symptoms.

The bill was killed.

It is known that the powerful drug and chemical lobbies are responsible for this, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting and uninformed public. Well, you're informed now!

Please print this out and/or e-mailto your family and friends.

Summertime Training Tips

New Life Blog — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:16:00 GMT

Spotlight on Functional Training

Summer is the time of year when most of us typically engage in more physical activities. As the weather warms up, so we New Englanders begin to venture outside the cozy confines of our homes. After being cooped up inside throughout the winter months, activities such as gardening and landscaping will soon seem like pleasant work again. Softball, golf, and running will certainly occupy some of our hobby time. Summertime means many of us will push ourselves towards a leaner, sleeker physique deemed fit for those weekend beach excursions.

With all of the various activities associated with the summer season comes a challenging array of physical demands and time commitments. We want to perform all of our activities well, look great and have fun, and reduce the potential of an unexpected injury. With these thoughts in mind, here are a few suggestions to put a spring in your step…..

If you are looking to get fit and lose weight for summer remember…

Take a long term approach for better health.

Although you can train in the short term to improve your physical appearance, the functional approach to a better looking body is a long term endeavor. Life-style changes are the foundation for all fitness goals. Slow, steady, realistic changes to reach your goals are the best approach and keep you off the yo-yo, binge approach to dieting and last minute exercise.

Understand the basics of how your body works.

For our bodies to function, we must bring nutrition into our body, circulate the nutrition to all of our cells, tissues and organs, and eliminate the waste by-products. All of these basic processes are influenced by the kinds of food and drink we consume, the level of physical activity in our training programs and lifestyle, and the way we think about and handle the stresses of life.

Avoid the “John Wayne” approach to training.

Our bodies are amazing organisms that operate with thousands of intricate processes designed to work interdependently. If our bodies are designed to function synergistically, why not train in the same manner? You’re chances of success improve substantially when you work together with other people to reach you’re goals. Seek out a friend or a motivated family member, join one of our classes, or get some help from a personal trainer, but by all means don’t go it alone. Training is a team approach.

Exercise safely and stay on schedule!! We have a nice air conditioned space inside for you to get the job done and enjoy the outdoors.

Our Trainers are available for help when you need it. Lee, Amanda and Sandy have slots for training, just give us a call for a FREE consultation and schedule your time.

Yours in health!!
Sandy

Happy Birthday!

New Life Blog — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:14:00 GMT

On July 1, we noted the 2 Year Birthday for New Life Health and Wellness. It went by quietly and with no fuss. I actually kept it to myself for the most part. (My daughter remembered which was pretty cool). On each of my own birthdays, I tend to look back on the year and reflect on if I am where I wanted to be last year. It was no different with the business. Reflecting on the last 2 years, I recall our Weigh to Wellness Programs which evolved into our Biggest Loser Programs and eventually led up to the Personal 90 Day Challenges. Each program brought new people into our business and new insights on how to best help those in need of becoming healthier. I am proud of the work we have done over these past 2 years. I am proud of the members who have stuck to their goals and really made it happen for themselves. I am grateful for the growing membership, based off of referrals, in spite of the economic downturn around us. I am grateful for the wonderful partnership with Mary Simone and her staff inside the Courtyard by Marriott.

Am I where I thought I'd be??? The answer is not quite. Just like a weight loss or lifestyle journey, you think it'll be easier than it actually is. You think that if your show up and do some of the work, it'll be like magic. There are times when things are going along fine and you run on auto pilot or you just get tired. But like every birthday, there is a re-focused commitment and resolve to continue the journey and reach the ultimate goal, even if has changed over time.

So if any of you are on a Life Change Journey and have stalled out, consider this your Happy Birthday message and get started again!!

If you like what your reading, take a look at our club !! You'll see the difference!

Does FEAR Holds You Back?

New Life Blog — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:12:00 GMT

I wish I had the answer to this question....... It is a question that I ask my personal training clients and gym members on a daily basis. Each time I ask "What is holding you back?", no one can really seem to give me a good answer. It's usually time constraints, kids, spouse or guilt. The funny thing is no one ever talks about FEAR ( False Evidence Appearing Real.) Many of my weight loss clients have so much FEAR based on what they see around them. The FEAR of not being able to acheive their goals because those around them are either giving them False Evidence or they feel the task is too daunting. It is the same for my health conscience clients who want to train for a race that is beyond what they've done before.

FEAR is one of those things that holds us back. FEAR is a barrier, not something that keeps us safe. Overcoming FEAR is what moves us forward. There may be bumbles and stumbles along the way, but that is all part of the journey as well as the joy of success.

If you are looking to push through the FEAR and move to the next place in your wellness journey, YOU have to take control. You have to schedule it, You have to Do It. FEAR is not real. So sign up for that Gym Membership , 5K race, or Marathon..........

Clear Goals are Smart Goals

New Life Blog — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:15:00 GMT

I was at a Corridor Nine Chamber event at the Willows in Westborough on Wednesday night and had a few interesting conversations with a variety of local business people. One particular conversation I had with Rick Roberge. He is someone I have a great deal of respect for as a person, as well as professionally. We were talking about my business and what my goals were for the next year. I told him what they were as far as numbers of members, etc and he said to me that my goals needed to be more personal. He asked me what I wanted to get out of my business. Then it dawn on me, LIFESTYLE is what I am looking for. Spending time where I want to spend it and work when I want to work.

I sat on that conversation for a couple of days and this morning it struck me that growing a business and weight loss goals have a lot in common.

When I speak with New Members or new Personal Training Clients, I'll often ask what they are looking to accomplish in hiring my club or me as a trainer. Most often the answer I get is "I want to lose "x" amount of pounds." What I get people to think about is what that will do for them. Losing whatever amount of weight will allow a person to have more energy, feel better in their clothes, run a marathon, play on the floor with their grandchildren, live pain free, live with less medications and so forth. Basically, weight is a just a symptom of what is making a person unhappy. People need to understand what results they need that will make their everyday lives better. So the next Monday you decide to "Start Your Diet". Remember, that the first 3 letters of DIET are "D I E". Maybe what you are really looking for is a new Lifestyle.

Happy Halloween

New Life Blog — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:05:00 GMT

I love Halloween. To me, it starts of the busiest time of the year with some fun! It is a time you can become someone or something else for a day! It is a time to be silly and just let loose. My kids are still young, but no so young that Halloween is a headache. We are having a blast getting the costumes ready, deciding whose coming over to go out with us and how will we EVER eat that much candy!! Oh yeah, there's candy involved........... For some people, that can be a real stresser OR it can be the PERFECT excuse to go off your plan for the next 2 months.

Here's what happened to me last weekend and I'll add my advice to follow. Last weekend my husband and I were at our weekly couples Bible Study group through our amazing church.

We rotate houses and food etc each week. This particular friend had out a large bowl of Candy Corns. Candy Corns are my absolute weakness. I LOVE THEM!! BUT, I CAN'T buy them because I can't (or won't) stop eating them. I'm sure you can guess what happened. I had so many, I couldn't sleep that night I talked with my friend the next day and I said "Why didn't you stop me?" He said "Sandy, it was so much fun watching you eat that entire bowl, none of us wanted to." and he proceeded to laugh hysterically.

So what do you do on Halloween as well as the rest of the holidays? First, you want to allow yourself some variances in your program. Don't beat yourself up if you completely blow it. It happens, just move on. Second, get a reliable friend (not like mine , who can help to keep you on track when you are faced with those situations, Third, get a workout partner, commit to a class at your gym, or sign up for a Turkey Trott so you'll have to keep training. Lastly, Plan, Plan, Plan!!!!! If you know that you go out to eat more during this time of year or will be attending lots of parties, get menus ahead of time and plan out what you'll enjoy without feeling too guilty or getting out of control.

The looming holidays can be daunting. Try to remember that they are not really about the food as it is about taking time to spend with your family and re-connect with friends. Enjoy this special time.

Goals, Guts, Glory

New Life Blog — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:01:00 GMT

Do you have goals you are looking to achieve? Do you have the guts to achieve them? I mean really......... do you really have the guts to achieve what you are setting out to do?? Everyone has goals, everyone wants to feel better, run faster, look better or have more energy. I hear it all the time. But when I give honest advice, feedback or direction, I often hear "I can't do that!!!" "You want me to burn how many calories???" "You said I should eat how many times a day??"

Do a "gut check" on yourself. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of the hard work? The pain you may experience? The results you might get? Do you not think you can change?

In order to get the glory. (And when I say glory, I mean YOUR results, YOUR happiness, YOUR personal glory, not what you feel someone else's should be.), YOU have to work hard. I have some really great members who are dedicated to getting their results. I see them come in daily early in the morning or late at night. They are tired, they have worked all day, they have taken care of their children, AND are NOW taking the time to take care of themselves. They are showing the guts because the goals are clear. Guess what? IT WORKS!!!

So many people find excuse after excuse and wonder why they "can't" get any results. I wonder have you've done your own "gut check" Are you working as hard as you really can. If you have the goals, and the guts to do the work, then you will achieve your own personal glory.

Join a great health club! Hire a trainer for a month to help you get over the hurdle, sign up for an exercise program dedicated to weight loss, get a workout buddy that is in better shape than you are (that is a HUGE motivator). Do it today before you have the holidays as another excuse to not get started!!

Why do skinny people go to the gym???

New Life Blog — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:21:00 GMT

I hear that question a lot in my daily life. People will come in and take a tour of our fitness center and see someone who is "skinny" and ask why that person needs to work out. Or I'll hear that the reason they have not worked out is because they don't want to be embarrassed to be around the "skinny" people.

I look around our center and I see all kinds of shapes and sizes. I don't see "skinny" people, I see people who are working hard to stay in shape and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Many of the "skinny" people may have other issues, such as no strength or muscle tone, maybe their bodies don't allow them to gain weight (yes, that is a huge problem). At 31 years old, I was at my "skinniest". I was 104 pounds. I was skinny, but man, was I unhealthy! My diet consisted of Pizza, Coca Cola, Gin (yes, the alcohol) in fairly large quantities and lots of Chinese Food. Was I skinny? ABSOLUTELY! Did I look great for having 3 kids? DEFINITELY! Did everyone think I was the life of the party? YOU BETCHA! Was I depressed? WORDS CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE!

What helped me was the gym. Getting into physical exercise that was good for my body, great for my mind, and enabled me to open up a dialogue with God to save me spiritually. My eating habits became healthier (not stellar), I became a better mother and advocate for my son, a better wife to my husband, and a better daughter to my mom.

Today, my entire life has changed into something 9 years ago, I could have ever dreamed. All because I was a "skinny"person going to the gym. So the next time you look at a "skinny" person at the gym, maybe strike up a conversation, you may have more in common than you think.....

Let me know your thoughts...............

Procrastination is a Killer

New Life Blog — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:05:00 GMT

We all hear that it is better to do things right away, than to put it off. Yes, the "to do" list is long and sometimes it seems overwhelming. Many of us just avoid getting started on those big projects, like painting a room, washing the dog, a big report for work. All these things are not critical to our health and it is easy to procrastinate on those things.

How about your exercise plan? What does it cost you to procrastinate on yourself? Procrastination regarding a healthy lifestyle leads to weight gain which can lead to severe health issues, depression and an overall feeling of hopelessness about turning it around. When people come to us it is usually after a period of procrastination regarding taking care of their own bodies. I hear similar stories about family issues, work issues etc. But the common theme among people is that they knew they were neglecting themselves and just kept putting it off. Many people have woken up one day and have gained a significant amount of weight or are told by a doctor that they have severe health issues. This is not the starting point you are looking for.

If you procrastinate on your job or a house project etc, it may not matter in the long run. But your health and wellness should not wait until it is convenient for you to pay attention. I always tell people that if they wait any longer to get healthy, it's not about death (that's the easy way out), it's really about the burden of needing someone you love to take care of you after having a heart attack or stroke. Those are the realities of procrastination. Is it worth it?

Start today! Call a friend and make a date to take a walk or join a gym. Hire a Personal Trainer. Take a Group Fitness Class. Schedule time for you to exercise and keep it like an appointment you would keep for a very important meeting. You have one body and one life with your earthly family, don't waste time procrastinating. Make the commitment to your fitness agenda and to your family. You'll be glad you did!!

National Donut Day

New Life Blog — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:19:00 GMT

I got to work today at 4:45am. I had a bit of breakfast on my way because I was planning to workout before my first client at 7:30. My routine to get the day started is to turn on the lights, unlock the closets, get the TV's on, turn on the music and turn on the computer. Well when I turned on the computer, the first thing I saw on the internet was that today was National Donut Day. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised and, quite frankly, disgusted that our country, with all of it's health care issues (i.e. Type 2 Diabetes etc), would be promoting one of the worst foods for your body. What about a "National Respect your Body Day" or a "National Exercise Day"?

Anyway, I decided to Bike my 12 miles, Run 4 miles, do some Weightlifting and Core work. After my 1 1/2 hour workout, I realized that just one donut would have erased all that energy. Glad I don't like donuts........... How about you???

What is the State of Your Personal Health Economy?

New Life Blog — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:42:00 GMT

We are hearing a lot about the state of our economy these days. How is it for your personally? How is it affecting your job? Your family? Your mood? How about your health? With many people cutting back on expenses, we are noticing that people are still joining our fitness center. That may seem strange to some of you reading this, but here's the thing, stressful times require an outlet. Your body craves an outlet. Many people have taken an inventory of their own personal health economy and have decided that instead of spending their hard earned money on food that won't make them feel better, or alcohol, which leaves you with a hangover, they will do something good for their bodies and improve their mindset. Exercise gives you a great feeling of accomplishment. Belonging to a place where people care about your situation helps you to know you are not alone. These are the key factors to what is going on in our fitness center today.

Take a Health inventory. Do you exercise 3-4 times a week? Are you on medication for cholesterol, High Blood Pressure etc? Has your health care professional told you to be more active or to lose weight? Do you eat 6 small meals a day? Do you drink enough water? Are you tired all the time? Can you play outside or dance around with your kids or grand kids for more than 5 minutes?

If you don't like your answers to these questions, your health economy may be in crisis. We'd love to be your bail out!

"Smart" Tips

New Life Blog — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:02:00 GMT

With Summer quickly approaching, there are many people coming to us wanting a quick fix from a long winter of not eating so great and not being as active as they shoudl have been. Here is a great way to set some goals and keep the commitment all year long>

Get SMART to Get Fit

If you want to succeed you need to get SMART about your goals.

SMART is a great way to help you stay on track and achieve your goals.

The S stands for Specific. Be specific about the goals you want to achieve. Forget things like, "I want to get in shape", "I want to add muscle", or "I want to lose weight", or "I want to increase my bench press."

Instead try things like "I want to run a 6 minute mile", "I want to add 10 pounds of muscle", "I want to lose 20 pounds of fat, or "I want to add 40 pounds to my best bench press."

The M stands for Measurable. This ties in very well with specific. You can't measure 'getting in shape", but you sure can measure 'running a 6 minute mile'.

With a Body Scan, you can also measure pretty accurately adding 10 pounds of muscle or losing 20 pounds of fat.

And of course, you can easily measure the poundage increase on your best bench press.

The specific and measurable aspect can be broken down even more to bring you closer to achieving your goals. For example, if you want to add 10 pounds of muscle, what other specific and measurable things must you do to reach your goal?

One could be that you must eat 6 high protein meals a day.

A second could be that you must eat a certain amount of calories and grams of protein every day.

You must train with weights three days per week.

You must add weight to your exercises at least every other workout.

All of these are specific and measurable. The more specifics that you have, the more likely you will add your 10 pounds of muscle as quickly as possible.

You can make a list of your daily, weekly, and monthly goals that you must do in order to meet your top goal of adding 10 pounds of muscle.

Each day, place a check mark next to each measurable and specific goal you achieved that will help you conquer your top goal. Obviously, the more checks you have, the more likely that you will achieve your goal.

In addition to specific and measurable, your goals must be A, or Attainable. The R stands for Realistic. As I've said before, it's important to set challenging goals.

Challenging, but attainable, that is. A goal of a 50 pound increase on your bench press max in 12 weeks would be a challenging goal, but also one that is possible.

However, setting a goal of bench pressing 300 pounds in 4 weeks when you currently bench press 75 pounds will do nothing but set you up for failure and frustration.

Obviously, weight loss is on the minds of many people, which is why so many fall victim to promises like "lose 30 pounds in 30 days without getting hungry and without exercising."

As a reader of this blog, you know that the above is neither timely nor realistic. But many people do fall for such things because they want results NOW! They are setting themselves up for failure. Please don't join them.

The T stands for Timely. If you do everything previously mentioned, it's still not enough. You must give yourself a deadline to achieve your goal. More importantly, if your goal is attainable and realistic, but also long term, break it up into smaller goals.

If you wish to lose 75 pounds, start with losing just 10 pounds in 2 months. Reaching that goal will motivate you further and before you know it, enough time has passed that you've lost the 75 pounds.

But if you focus solely on losing the 75 pounds, which could take a year or more to accomplish, your motivation and discipline could wane, and you could fail to follow through on what you need to do to make your goal a reality.

Making goals timely hold you accountable and creates a positive sense of urgency. You may think twice about eating that piece of cake when you know you are having a body composition test and pictures taken in 2 weeks.

In addition to getting smart, celebrate your successes. And I don't mean that you should allow yourself to dust off a gallon of ice cream in one sitting because you lost 10 pounds. That would be self defeating.

But you could treat yourself to a movie, or a pair of jeans you've had your eye on, or an extra hour of sleeping in on the weekend. Don't sabotage your wonderful efforts by giving yourself destructive rewards for accomplishing your goals.