A Warning About Weight Loss Products

Everyone is looking for the magic fat loss pill, unfortunately many companies that produce weight loss pills are putting their customers at risk in order to increase their bottom line.

This past Friday the FDA added 4 additional weight loss products to a list of 68 released in January 2009 that contain harmful compounds to consumers health. Some even contained prescription drugs in amounts that greatly exceed the maximum recommended dosages.

For more read the full article here.

And to view the list of weight loss products click here.

Many people across the country are taking weight loss products similar to these, if not some of these, in hopes of easily losing weight overnight. This type of thinking is unrealistic and short-sighted. Their is no pill, surgery, or procedure and never will be that will replace the benefits and effects of exercise. Their are no magic fat burners, no weight loss colon cleanse, no magic weight loss juice you drink, or any other magic product that makes losing weight easy. To lose weight it takes consistent work overtime. This includes working out (intense exercise, if it's not challenging your not working out) and making healthy nutritional choices.

If you will commit to a fitness program and follow a solid nutrition program for 6-12 months you will see better results than any weight loss pill you have taken in the past. More importantly you will improve your health, rather than potentially harm it.

Live Fit,

Josh

Ready To Commit To Fitness Program?

Get started today with our Skinny Jeans Challenge. Registration ends 4/30/09. For information call 724-698-7897

Spring Is Here!

Spring is here finally and as the weather becomes nicer more and more people will head out doors to start running again. Unfortunately, for many of these runners they will not last longer than a month. They burn out for a couple of reasons: 1) Injuries caused from running, 2)Boredom, and 3) Lack of results.

1) Many people develop overuse injuries due to running, especially after going with little to no activity during the winter. Take the repetitive movements of running and couple them with poor running mechanics and you have a recipe for disaster. You see when someones joints begin to ache and hurt when  running they will begin to develop a new movement pattern that allows them to run without the pain. (In Eric Cressey's blog he refers to these people as "Shufflers" because their running looks more like shuffling along rather than running, they could probably walk just as fast.) While this new movement pattern allows them to continue running a little longer it causes more damage to the joints, because now the person is running with improper mechanics.

2)Let's face it running is boring. Yes, outdoors is more enjoyable. But, how many times can you run the same route around your neighbor before you begin to get a bit tired of the scenery, even with the cute little dogs who sit at the end of their owners driveway excitedly waiting for you to run by each day.

3)Most who begin to run do so as a way to lose weight. Unfortunately, the weight lost in the beginning will soon return and overtime your body will gain fat. So the person gives up because they have put all this effort in, but not seen any results.

What's the answer to this? Functional Training. 

Live Fit,

Josh

Come Experience Functional Training

If you would like to experience functional training for yourself come try one of our Kettle Bell Boot Camp Classes.

100 Steps Per Minute Is Not The Answer!

Currently the US and UK guidelines recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days per week. But, just what is moderate exercise? According to researchers from the University of San Diego, "moderate exercise is walking at a pace of 100 steps per minute for thirty minutes."

However, this is not the answer for the average American who is significantly overweight and deconditioned. Yes, walking for 30 minutes at a pace of 100 steps per minute five days a week will improve heart health. But, that is one of the flaws of this research study and the US and UK guidelines. They are only looking at heart health or cardiovascular health and not looking at the underlying problem, obesity.

If Americans want to really see improvements in their health they will ditch their walking and running routines and begin using a proven exercise routine, such as resistance training and/or interval training, that will burn body fat, while improving their heart health at the same time. 

You see by only walking or running you will actually gain weight (body fat) in the long run. And I'm pretty sure gaining body fat is not going to improve your heart health in the long run. And guess where that weight gained will be deposited? Yep, on your hips, butt, thighs, and abdomen. This is even more of a problem for women as we are beginning to see research that shows running promotes the gain of fat tissue no the butt and thighs.

A simple to solution is to switch your exercise habits. If you currently only walk or run, beginning a resistance training program will switch your body into fat burning mode. 

Live Fit,

Josh

Come Try Kettle Bell Boot Camp!!

Switch your body into fat burning mode now by attending a Kettle Bell Boot Camp Class. This 30-minute workout will leave your heart pounding much harder than your 30-minute walk or run.

Updates!

Just wanted to give everyone an update.

1. As many of you are aware of we have expanded the size of our facility. Due to taking the wall down and painting things have been little bit cluttered. We are sorry for any mess or inconvenience. Unfortunately, we have one more inconvenience. On Saturday March 21st we will be closing at 12 noon so the carpet cleaners can come in can clean the carpet. 

2. We have added Training Ropes to our facility. You may have read about these in April 2009's Men's Health magazine, as they were rated as the #1 New Cardio Tool for 2009. Be the first in the area to try them out in one of our Kettle Bell Boot Camp Classes.

3. dotFit Bars Are Here! Try one of our new protein bars from dotFit. They have four great flavors: Peanut Butter, Iced Lemon, Blueberry, and Strawberry.

4. Nordic Naturals. We are now carrying Nordic Naturals Complete Omege 3-6-9 (Fish Oil) and Nordic Berries Chewable Multi-Vitamin. Nordic Naturals was rated as the #1 Consumer Choice for 2008.

Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy the changes we are making to our club.

Live Fit,

Josh

R.I.P. Treadmill

The treadmill is dead and is no longer the king of the cardio world. In this month's edition of Men's Health magazine they rated Art of Strength Ropes Gone Wild the number one new cardio tool.

We recently brought these same ropes into our club and have been using them in our workouts. It's unbelievable how fast they get your heart rate up, you don't notice your heart rate while your doing it, but the second you stop your heart is pounding out of your chest. A couple minutes of this blows an hour on the treadmill out of the water.

Men's Health also rated the TRX as the best new total body training system. This device takes bodyweight training to a whole new level of intensity. We have been using this for about 6 months now and have really liked the versatility of it.

This article just goes to show that the fitness industry is changing and is becoming more functional. We no longer need to suffer through using ineffective machine based exercises, because we have now have more effective tools to get the job done.

Live Fit,

Josh

To Try Out Both Of The Above Mentioned Tools Come In And Try One Of Our Kettle Bell Boot Camp Classes. For More Info. Go To www.Defined-Fitness.Com

New Physical Activity Recommendations

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a report in January, which suggested that Americans need to increase their physical activity levels to two and half hours per week of moderate physical activity, or one hour and fifteen minutes per week of vigorous physical activity for optimal health.

While neither of these recommendations is enough to achieve significant fat loss, they will help to improve your general health. A positive point of this report is that finally the government is beginning to recommend vigorous physical activity, what we call functional strength training, to improve health rather than only recommending the moderate low intensity activities.

By incorporating functional strength training you will improve your work capacity and ability to perform daily activities better. Increase your functional strength training from one hour and fifteen minutes per week to about 3 hours per week and now you've got a routine that will not only improve your health, but burn tons of fat off your body.

Live Fit,

Josh

Want To Increase Your Physical Activity?

Come and try one of our Kettle Bell Boot Camp Classes. This half hour workout will have your heart pounding, muscles burning, and sweat pouring off your body. For days and times or just more information call 724-698-7897.

Kettle Bell Boot Camp Now Included In All Memberships!

Our Boot Camp Classes are now included with all memberships. Previously these classes were only included in the All-Inclusive Membership Package, but now they are included with all memberships. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call us at 724-698-7897.

The Truth About Fortified Water

I'm sure you've all see the new fortified waters that are being advertised by Sobe, Vitamin Water, etc. They advertise about all the benefits of these waters and the vitamins and mineral they provide. But, are these new waters actually healthy?

To find out all you have to do is look at the nutrition label and you will find that many of these drinks contain 32 grams of sugar and 130 calories per 20-ounce bottle. A typical soda contains roughly 150 calories from sugar. Not much difference here huh?

These drinks can be especially disastrous if you are trying to lose weight. If you want to lose weight you cannot drink calories and need to avoid drinks containing calories. This includes: soda, fortified waters, juices, gatorade (even G2), and other sports drinks. 

Stick with plain water and unsweetened green tea, even an occasionally black coffee (no more than 1 per day) and you will save yourself many calories that would be stored as fat.

Live Fit,

Josh

Fat Burning Workouts

If you haven't tried one of our Kettle Bell Boot Camp Classes come in and try one this week and experience a workout unlike any you've had before.

The Crystal Ball of Weight Loss

Don't you wish there was a crystal ball that you could look into and find the answer for your weight loss? Well actually there is. It's not exactly a crystal ball, but it will get you the results you've been looking for. It's not as easy as taking a magic pill and the results won't come overnight, but it will bring you results if your willing to put in the effort.

So what is the crystal ball of weight loss? It's Functional Training.

Unlike the gyms of yesterday filled with machines and cardio equipment this method of fitness will have up and moving around using your bodyweight as resistance, along with kettle bells, dumbbells, barbells, and other fitness tools not found in traditional fitness centers.

Functional Training focuses on getting your body moving to improve coordination, strength, and endurance that can be used in everyday activities. We sit enough everyday, we do not need to sit on a bench or machine while doing presses. Instead, functional training will have you doing push ups or standing presses. The same as on a machine, but much more effective. With machines you are stuck with only one exercise that can be done on each machine, pretty boring huh? With functional training you have unlimited variations of each exercise, which means you never have to do the same exercise, to receive the same benefit.

If your ready to start losing weight and have fun get away from the ineffective and boring machines and start a functional training program.

Live Fit,

Josh

Never Tried A Functional Training Workout?

Come in today and try a Kettle Bell Boot Camp class were we will put you through a fun and challenging functional workout.

Obesity In America

I don't need to tell you that our society is becoming more and more deconditioned and overweight, all one needs to do is look around to figure this out. We are a direct reflection of our lifestyle, everything is easy and convenient. We sit almost all day and avoid movement at all costs. For example, emailing that report to a co-worker in the next cubicle rather than just getting up and walking it five feet over to them. Now, I'm not saying that by walking five feet a couple times each day is going to help you lose weight, but if we are too lazy to do that you can guarantee that we are too lazy to do more "strenuous" activities, like walk the dog.

So just how bad is America? The latest research has shown that for the first time in history there are more obese people in America than overweight people. Despite the fact that we are gaining weight Americans will spend $100 billion this year on dietary supplements, weight loss products, and surgeries. How can we be spending so much money and still gaining weight? Because this stuff doesn't work it's all short-sighted, gimmicky, and promoted as "fast and easy". No one wants to hear the real answer move more, workout out hard, and eat real foods, not the processed garbage found in a box. 

So get up and move around more each day, get off the machines at the gym and start standing while you exercise, and begin to eat real foods that have not been processed. It will take some time, but you will lose weight and get into better shape.

Live Fit, 

Josh