Fitness Incentive
Transcription
Fitness Incentive
The official newsletter of Fitness Incentive since 1993 157 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon NY 11702 www.fitnessincentive.com e-mail: [email protected] BEST OF LI 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Volume 20 Number 1 Spring 2011 Wife... Mother... Trainer... World Figure Champion! The FI “Front Desk Elves” Amy Llinas-Lynch & daughter, Bella Tired of being in pain? Incentives would like to welcome Howard Schwartz, MD and Krystal Sukhdeo, RPA-C now offering Trigger Point Therapy and Pain Management Effective treatment for headaches, neck and back pain, hip pain, tennis elbow and knee pain. Most insurance accepted. Incentives Personal Wellness Studio, SPA, & Salon 157 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon Village, NY 11702 Spring at... New fashions coming this Spring! So Nikki green ARTs Anama HEONLY dragon alo Along with all our other great fashions Clip and save $25.00 Take $25.00 off your purchase of $100.00 or more now thru April 15th Cannot be combined with other discount offers. Excludes sneakers, heart rate monitors, & accessories. Must present coupon to receive discount. One coupon per customer. Expires 4/15/11. Cannot be combined with other discount offers. Excludes sneakers, heart rate monitors, & accessories. Must present coupon to receive discount. One coupon per customer. 157 Deer Park Avenue, 2 Spring 2011 FIT to Print Babylon Village 631.587.5766 @ FI Mind Over Muscle A Fantastic Spring we’ll see you at the awards party on May 18th at 8pm. World Champion Workout 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 FI S pring is always a busy time at Fitness Incentive, and never more so than this year. There is so much going on, it’s hard to keep up. But before we get to all that, a big “Thank you” is in order. That’s because you voted us the Best of Long Island for the fifth consecutive year! We work very hard to keep Fitness Incentive an exceptional place, and it is extremely satisfying and inspiring to know that you recognize and appreciate our efforts. We are dedicated to honor your selection by continuing to provide you with the cleanest, well equipped state-ofthe-art facility, stocked with the newest and best equipment, the best programming and the finest staff we can assemble. And we’re kicking off 2011 with some exciting programs - some old favorites and some brand new - that should get you’re heart pumping and have you looking your absolute best this summer. Starting with... Fitness Incentive has become a “home of champions.” Not only is Jim Cordova the reigning all-natural Mr. Universe, Amy Llinas-Lynch recently won the allnatural World Figure Championship. What makes this all the more amazing is that she did it just 15 months after giving birth to her beautiful daughter, Bella. How did she do it? Well, you can read the article on page 16 to find out. If you’d like to follow in her footsteps, you can join her new program, World Champion Workout, and discover for yourself, first hand, what it takes to build a championship caliber physique. WNBF World Figure Champion Amy Llinas-Lynch CHAMPION WORKOUT Dance Your #$@ Off! For those of you addicted to dance classes - you know who you are! - FI is very excited to have added an amazing new class taught by an even more amazing instructor. I’m talking about Shakin’ It, by Dawn Moore. If you’ve already tried it then you know what all the excitement is about. If you haven’t, well, you simply must. Dawn is a certified Zumba instructor, and if you like Zumba, this class takes it to another level. Offered on Wednesday nights at 7pm and Sundays at 10:30am. Check it out! It Never Gets Old...Really! Fantastic Four: Fit 4 Summer 2! What better way to celebrate the end of winter and start getting ready for summer? The contest is set to kick off on the very first day of spring - March 21st - and promises to be the biggest and best yet. We’re anticipating an even bigger turnout than last year, which had nearly 160 participants. With that in mind, we’ve taken steps to insure that the contest has as minimal an impact on the regular functioning of the gym as possible. To do this, we have opened up additional areas for the contest, and assigned trainers and their teams to specific spaces on specific days and times. This should significantly reduce over-crowding in any area of the gym and guarantee plenty of workout space for the non-participants. If you’ll be participating this year, best of luck, and Speaking of Champions, the natural body builder that has taken home more awards than anyone in the history of the sport also happens to call FI his home gym. I’m of course talking about Jim Cordova. Now, Jim is taking his expertise and making it even more accessible through video. Jim will be publishing a series of “How To” videos designed to share his unmatched knowledge of effective training. The first series will focus on Toning, and is particularly geared towards women. Future series will cover different topics, based on Jim’s heuristic and wildly successful approach to physique development. We’ll be sharing these videos with you through email, facebook and our website, so stay tuned for updates and follow those links! Like I said, FI - the home of champions! Amy is running the 8 week program as an intense bootcamp-style workout that will focus on agility, cardiovascular and weight training drills. And when Amy says intense, trust me, she means it. You will re-make your body and finish the program feeling like, well, a champion. The cost for the program is $160, and it is limited to 20 individuals. Stop by the front desk to sign up. I know I know - we keep saying it. But it’s nonetheless true - new things are always happening at FI. Take our recent equipment upgrades - 10 new True Treadmills and 31 new Keiser M3 Spin Bikes. Both arrived just in time for the new year, and both represent stunning upgrades. The True treads boast fully integrated touch-screen consoles that provide TV, iPod controls and dynamic control and feedback on your workout. The Keiser bikes are nothing less than a revolution in spinning (yes, that’s a little The new Keiser M3 spinning pun). There’s a full article about them on page 27, but to summarize the key points: fantastic design, amazingly smooth ride, state-of-the-art computer continued on page 31 Spring 2011 FIT to Print 3 N e w P r o g r a m sby Monica Jones By Dana Mancini TRX is For You! Suspension Training is the New Rage Fi’s Certified TRX trainers, Sharon Donnelly and Dana Mancini H ave you heard the buzz going around Fitness Incentive? People are asking… “What is TRX?” And while I'd love to sit here and explain the dozens of reasons why Sharon and I LOVE TRX Suspension Training, I’m going to keep it short and sweet, let YOU give it a try, and find out for yourselves! TRX is effective for ALL fitness levels. TRX training provides us with a versatile and effective training opportunity – regardless of age, gender or fitness level. We love that we can have a group of clients, each at a different level of fitness, doing the same exercises but each working at a different degree of difficulty according to their fitness needs. Once a basic form of an exercise is learned, we can increase the difficulty level by increasing the body angle (adding resistance) or by narrowing the base of support (bringing your feet closer together, reducing stability). One step farther away from or closer to the anchor – makes a TRX Chest Press go from beginner to intermediate in no time at all! You should also know that TRX training is a great way to help strengthen supporting muscles while in turn relieving some of the difficulty and pressure that can negatively affect or limit some traditional exercises for people with injuries (see Sharon's story below). Dana: “I often hear 'I can't do TRX, it is way too hard for me' – to which I respond, 'Absolutely not – if you want to work on the TRX, the TRX will work for 4 you!'” TRX is “all core, all the time”. “I want nice abs.” Sound familiar? This is a common request most personal trainers hear. Dana: “In my opinion, one of the most appealing benefits to TRX training is that not only are there very specific (and very effective) exercises targeting the abdominals on the TRX – but an intense amount of core strengthening is incorporated into every single upper and lower body exercise.” TRX training is designed to intentionally displace your center of gravity, which activates the core muscles forcing your abs to work during every single exercise! Think about it like this: every step you take, every time you get in or out of your car, every time you climb a set of steps – your body uses muscle strength to control its center of gravity during your movement. Our abdominal muscles are at work 100% of the time when training on the TRX. TRX is integrated, functional and…flexible. TRX training provides us with an opportunity to take all of the exercises we already know and love from the weight room and combine them into an integrated and functional set of exercises. Integrated exercises are multi-muscle movements that successfully incorporate strength, balance, coordination and flexibility into every exercise (hey, why not work on those abs while doing a biceps curl?) A large portion of traditional weight training exercises are performed in what is called the Sagittal plane – moving forward, backward, push and pull type of exercises, often while seated (e.g. seated cable row, or leg press). However, in our daily routines do we only move forward and backward? Are we always seated? No, we move left, right…forward, backward…diagonal, reaching, and twisting (think about putting those groceries away or shoveling the driveway? Or how about picking up after those kids?!) Therefore, shouldn't we train our bodies the same way? Sharon: “This is a big reason why the TRX helps prevent injuries!” The TRX allows us to move in multiple planes through different exercises, helping to train your body for those daily activities. And truth be told, most of us are guilty of slacking when it Spring 2011 FIT to Print comes to stretching! But many of the staple exercises done on the TRX provide us with what we like to call a “working stretch.” Ask one of us to show you a TRX Hip-Hinge (basically a single leg dead lift) and you'll feel what we're talking about! Sharon's Story: In November 2009, I had rotator cuff /biceps re-attachment surgery. My rotator cuff was completely shredded and my biceps tendon detached from the muscle. It required major surgery and a plastic anchor was placed in my biceps Anda pampers Amy Lynch tendon. After the surgery, I was told it would take a good year to completely recover. I was also told that I might not gain full strength back in my right shoulder. During this recovery time I started researching my injury on the internet. I discovered that the quarterback for the SuperBowl Champion New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees, had the same surgery that I had! I was told that the chance for full recovery was 60%, but Drew Brees was given a much better prognosis. I began to study his recovery blogs and noticed that his training routine included the TRX and he was able to get back to playing pro football, apparently stronger than before?! I then decided to fully research TRX training and see if it could do the same for me. Subsequently, I started TRX training and I saw amazing results. My shoulder strength and flexibility improved markedly. Many people commented on my recovery. I can whole-heartedly say that the TRX was integral in restoring my shoulder strength. People are talking: And here's what they are saying: Carmella Milano: “TRX is so painfully sweet.” Ashley Nissen: “It is an intensely satisfying full body workout!” Kim Mascolo: “TRX training has strengthened every muscle in my body. It makes me feel mighty!” **Hey men…are you scared? Men's Health named TRX as the year's “BEST TOTALBODY TOOL,” and we can give you an endless list of quotes from a long list of professional male athletes praising TRX training. Give us four sessions on the TRX system and we'll be writing about you in the next newsletter! We dare you… The bottom line: Incorporating TRX training into your workout regimen will benefit you in the weight room, in group fitness classes…and in performing the more demanding activities of daily living! Dana Mancini and Sharon Donnelly each hold multiple fitness certifications, including TRX. They offer small group TRX training at FI. Like more info? Email us at [email protected] Pr o f i l e s i n F i t n e s s Becoming Liz The Evolution of a Great Instructor Liz Romano leads her class Kelly L iz Romano is a true FI veteran. She has taught everything from Kickboxing to Cardio, from Rebounding to Step in all of its many permutations. A long-time personal trainer, she currently teaches Stability Ball and Cardio Sculpt and has spent most of her career at the advanced end of the teaching spectrum. In keeping with her desire to constantly learn and grow, Liz recently began teaching yoga. As with each addition to her professional repertoire, this expansion has yielded many enlightened insights. Sharon F2P: You've been associated with FI since the Grove Place days. LR: Yes, and it's truly been an evolution. I was not married then, had no children. Now, all the women I got to know in those early classes—their children are having children. This place is just amazing. I'm here 26 years! I remember when Step first hit, Corinne and I would use the same Step on that little stage, teaching together. But before I became an aerobics instructor, before I'd even taken my first aerobics class in that studio at Grove Place, I spent my gym time lifting weights. I actually used to lift competitively, years ago. This changed though, very soon after that first, fateful visit and those early classes with Corinne. And after maybe a month or so, she told me, “That's it…you have to teach!” And Cor herself taught me to teach. So that's where it began for me, in that tiny, one-room studio. F2P: What drew you to the Grove Place location in the first place? LR: A friend of mine, Lisa Lynch, was (and still is) a member. “Come and take this class with me,” she said. So I did. It so happened that I attended the most advanced class—Corinne's crazy 9:00 class—the hardest class you could ever attend. The class moved right, I moved left…it was hysterical. But that was it. I was hooked, and things progressed very rapidly after that. I've found that yoga promotes awareness of the mind-body connection which, as anyone who is serious about fitness will tell you, is absolutely vital to meaningful, lasting results. F2P: Your experience as a lifter would prove to be highly beneficial when you became a personal trainer. LR: Absolutely. I'd been teaching aerobics for a good while, and then, once Corinne moved into the Deer Park Avenue location and brought in the weights, I began to work as a personal trainer along with Kelly Wallace. Kelly and I were certified as PTs together. I thought it was a great fit for me, owing to my background with weight training. It had already been useful with the weight classes on the aerobics floor—Sculpt classes and so forth. The weight area was at that time still small, but it was an exciting new thing we could offer members. It was handson, which is always the preferred approach for me. F2P: You've now branched out even further, into yoga. LR: When yoga was introduced, I took a few classes here and there, but wasn't really committed. Then, suddenly, Hot Yoga was introduced. Spring 2011 FIT to Print F2P: What was it about Hot Yoga that seemed to strike a chord with you? LR: I think that most people who embrace yoga are first attracted by a kind of 'Hmm…let's see what this is really all about' attitude. Not necessarily the spiritual side—though that's a dimension that, for many, invariably follows. But honestly, the reason I was curious was, umm…sweating! Plus, I'd heard that the practice was very vigorous and intense…physically demanding on both the mind and the body. I worked with Angela Strynkowski, taking Chrisa commitment her classes and developing to her practice. She, in turn, began to weight train with me. Here is where it really kicked in for me. F2P: It sounds like once you were able to establish a connection between what you knew and loved—lifting—and what you learned about the benefits of yoga, it all fell into place. LR: Yes, in a way we each provided the other with a window into a part of the fitness world not fully experienced at that level before. As I've said, I've always followed a “learnby-doing” model. “See it, do it, learn it, teach it.” The books-and-studying method works for some people, but I respond more to “show me, let me touch and experience it…” I loved the Ashtanga practice, the Primary Series, which lead to my enrollment in A Jewel In The Lotus, the teacher training school established by Angela and Lisa Mondello-Morris, which was conducted here at FI last Summer. Angela is an amazing yogi with so much knowledge. Through the school I received my 200 hour RYT—Registered Yoga Teacher—certification. I have since completed my Hot Yoga certification training. I've found that yoga promotes awareness of the mind-body connection which, as anyone who is serious about fitness will tell you, is absolutely vital to meaningful, lasting results—no matter whether it's weight training, cardio, every exercise discipline. It's very much like just about anything that really engages and captivates a person: the deeper you get into your practice, the more you learn, the more you want to know. I've been involved with yoga, first as a student, and now as a teacher, for a while now, and I'm still working on that. I feel like I have so much more to learn. F2P: Having progressed through the various disciplines that you have: the early lifting, the aerobics instruction, personal training, now yoga, do you have a sense of what might be next? LR: I would love to embrace Pilates and I’m sure that at some point I will, especially with Dina being such an Norman tells Janese to “bring it on!” continued on page 19, col 3 5 S t a f f S p o t l i bygMonica h tJones By Paul Smith Sister Act Linda Bornholdt and Diane Tinnirello F rom our wonderful Front Desk staff, fresh from their stint this past holiday season as FI's resident elves, to our roster of peerless trainers and instructors, several of whom literally enjoy national recognition as leaders in the fitness industry, Fitness Incentive has no shortage of mega-stellar personalities. Combined, they help us extend to our membership an incredible variety of services and exercise options, addressing virtually every conceivable niche and requirement. This variety is what helps establish FI as a leading health club/exercise facility in the region, if not the nation. But the highly visible superstars are not alone in making FI the “Best of Long Island” (for five years now—and counting!). Many others also contribute to the outstanding quality members have come to expect, albeit a bit more quietly and with significantly lower profiles than their celebrity counterparts. Their contributions, however, are no less important. Their names may be known to far fewer people than some of the more visible personalities, but they are truly superstars in their own right. One often hears the word 'family' used in discussions of what makes FI special. In the case of the subjects of this feature the term applies literally, for in it we speak with two sisters who spearhead efforts that are among the most distinctive about FI and that are of supreme value to any family—childcare, and cleanliness. Few are more aware of the need for excellence in these areas, or are more responsible for ensuring that FI's excellent standards are maintained, than sisters Linda Bornholdt and Diane Tinnirello. Between them they have been with FI for a combined 28 years—a remarkable length of time for these remarkable women. We are lucky to have them both. “Fourteen years ago, when I started at Fitness Incentive, I was working at the Front Desk,” said Linda. “After a while, the nursery was getting very busy and I 6 heard that they were looking for somebody in childcare. I love children and truthfully, it was a better fit for me than the Front Desk work. I have babysat and minded children my entire life, including, as the third oldest of eight and the oldest sister, my own siblings. And it's never been a chore for me, even when I was younger…I truly enjoy it. In my time at FI, I've had the pleasure of babysitting numerous children, of Dynamic Duo: Linda and Diane both members and employees, and watching them grow up. It's great knowing FI will become the fitness home for many of them, as it is for their parents! After about a year, I heard that Cor was looking for someone to clean. She asked me if I knew anybody, and of course, I did! I told her I had the perfect person—my sister. 'They have to be crazy-clean like me,' said Cor. 'She might even be worse that you!' I said. 'She has always been crazy-clean, even as a little girl.' Diane has been here ever since.” “It's true,” said Diane. “I have always been this way. I like to clean, I know the members like to come to a gym that's clean…I like to come to a gym that's clean. Clean, and germ-free. To me, it isn't just about the way the gym looks, that it's neat, picked up, scrubbed. It's also about health, which matters in a gym where people are very active and are exercising and moving from place to place, machine to machine. Here, a medicine ball, there, Spring 2011 FIT to Print a free weight. Things you wouldn't think of, like the remote controls on the treadmill TVs, or doorknobs, or jumprope grips. To me it's important…it's important that these places and things be as clean as I can make them. It's what I like, what I prefer, so for me it comes easy to be sure that things are that way for everyone. I've been to other gyms over the years. I've watched the cleaning there. They don't clean things that I think have to be cleaned—things that I would, and do, clean. It's the way I am to notice these things and to clean the way I do.” “With the nursery, it's the same,” said Linda. “In a way, it's personal. Members will tell me that at other gyms, they weren't happy with the nursery. I know what that's like, because I've seen it myself, with my own daughter when she was little. As a member at other gyms, I have to say that I was never completely at ease with what I saw as far as the nursery. So my goal is to make sure that ours is what I would like to see if it were my child. One way I know that we've got the right approach is that the kids actually like to come to the nursery. I get a lot of satisfaction from knowing that our childcare is recognized by the members as something that's different…better…about Fitness Incentive.” The sisters grew up in Lindenhurst, and shared a room as kids. “Her side was always absolutely spotless,” said Linda, “you know, immaculate, with the dolls all lined up in a row. My side…wasn't. But I started babysitting as soon as I could convince moms and dads that I was old enough, and qualified.” Speaking with the sisters, one message that comes through clearly is that they both love to come to work, and really enjoy what they do. This affection contributes to the wholly justifiable pride The rooting section: Mary andof friend they communicate when “Little” the speak their attendance records, which would be the envy of the most dedicated of employees anywhere. “We've always worked,” said Diane, “always had jobs. We'd ride our bikes to work, or take one bus, then another. It's what we grew up with, what we know. We'd work after school, and at the end of the week, give our paychecks to our Mom.” “And we'd walk!” said Linda. “I remember continued on page 28 Group Ex by Kelly Wallace H.I.T Me! High Intensity Training Gets Results. you push yourself to your absolute limit? Because of the intensity of this training method you should not be able to go past the allotted time. So if you must spend two hours exercising at the gym this will be tough. What are the benefits of this type of training? It improves endurance and stamina and provides a more interesting way to exercise. The biggest What is High Intensity Training, and Is it for Me? A re you in an exercise rut? Looking for a new challenge? Feel you are just not seeing results anymore? If you have asked yourself any of these questions this may be just the workout you are looking for! It is called HIT, High Intensity Training. This is a 30- 40 minute workout where you push yourself to the max for short intervals of time. Going over this amount of time will bring you to the point of over training. Take note, that this form of exercise is not for everyone. If you have medical restrictions or injuries it may not be for you. The appropriate amount of exercise for each individual varies drastically based on age, genetics as well as lifestyle factors; nutrition, sleep and goals of the participant. Workouts are based on intensity (how hard), volume (how much) and frequency (how often). Many people spend hours at the gym each week doing the same exercises at the same intensity at the same time. The idea of HIT is to completely alter your exercise routine and force your muscles to "wake up". There is a huge level of honesty that comes with this form of exercise. Do you or will The biggest benefit found from this type of training is the amount of fat that can be burned... Supporters claim that you can be burning calories for a full 24 hours after the workout is completed! benefit found from this type of training is the amount of fat that can be burned during as well as after the workouts are over. It supporters claim that you can be burning calories for a full 24 hours after the workout is completed! Now how can Fitness Incentive provide you with these types of workouts? Well many spin classes are run on this principle. If you spin ask yourself - have you pushed yourself to your limit? We also have 30 minute classes on the schedule which work with this format. Jump and Drill is also based on this form of training. The treadmill can be used for this workout as well. After warming up for five minutes then push yourself for two entire minutes. The next three minutes are at bearable intensity then up Spring 2011 FIT to Print again to your maximum exertion for two minutes and so on until you hit that 30-40 minute mark. Remember, if you go past that time you are probably over training. Again, this workout is not for everyone but if you are looking for something new, need a change or a challenge try it! Yes, You Can… Carlyn Giuriceo's story All my life I felt that working out was a chore. Spending endless amounts of time pretending to enjoy running on a treadmill or lifting Carlyn weights was not appealing to me. Fitness classes were daunting since I never knew what to expect from them or if I could actually do the work outs, but I had to try! The first class I took was Kelly's Sunday morning kickboxing. I hid in the back so no one would see me as I struggled through the entire 60 minutes. I could barely do the jumping jacks, let alone the punching, kicking and lunges. But I said to myself, "If I can get through this it will only get easier." Week by week I found myself attending more of her classes: Bollywood Sweat, Interval Training and Jump & Drill. All of these classes are not only a great workout but they're fun and she always changes them up. Who knew that being out of breath and sweaty could be so entertaining? Not me. If you would have asked me 6 months ago if my daily schedule would revolve around the classes I take at Fitness Incentive, I would have laughed, but it's true. I cannot wait for my next workout. Fitness Incentive has given me courage to try new things both in the gym and out in the real world. This June I will be running my first 5k to raise money for my aunt's breast cancer foundation. It is something I have always wanted to do, but never thought I could. This year I can. This year I will. Kelly Wallace is a certified Group Ex instructor who manages the Group Ex program at Fitness Incentive. 7 Fitting Soul to Sole WEST ISLIP OFFICE 474 Montauk Highway • West Islip, NY 11795 10 (631) 321-8400 % OF F FI S BER ISLIP OFFICE MEM 529 Main Street • Islip, NY 11751 (631) 650-0900 EAST ISLIP OFFICE 375 E. Main Street • East Islip, NY 11730 (631) 859-8700 We specialize in gear from the beginner to the elite. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is ready to assist you. Opening New Doors Together from Babylon to Blue Point Saturday Group Run: Saturday Morning Group Trail Run - call for more info. Now forming a Walking Group - call for more info. [email protected] www.WinklerRealEst.com 35 East Main Street, Babylon Village 631.482.1914 P ure ower Electric, Inc. It's real... It's different... It's new.... RECONNECTIVE HEALING Experience what's caught the interest of prominent Doctors, Hospitals and Medical Researchers all over the world... From Service Calls to New Construction & Everything Else In-Between For additional information, please visit www.TheReconnection.com Nicole Fariello Suffolk - Nassau, Residential & Commercial, Licensed & Insured www.purepowerelectric-longisland.com 631.321.0004 8 Reconnective Healing Practitioner 631.678.6233 [email protected] Spring 2011 FIT to Print M e m b e r Pe r s p e c t i v e by Christine Jelly Get a Wiff of This... For latest event schedule, check www.fitnessincentive.com/Programs.htm Do Your Gym Clothes Pass the “Sniff” Test? whiffy reek,” whether you realize it or not. 1.) Throw a load in 2.) Forget about it 3.) Transfer to dryer the next day (or week) and dry as usual. Washing clothes is good; forgetting to dry them is not. You can never get away with it, not even “just this once.” H ave you ever followed someone on the circuit, been next to someone in a class or the Spin room and suddenly gotten a whiff of something…unsavory? Not garden-variety sweat, everyone gets caught by an antiperspirant malfunction now-and-then. I'm talking about an odor far more insidious – mold and/or fungus impregnated into innocent workout gear. The good news is that it's preventable. The bad news is that in small yet explosive doses, the wearer of the affected garments is sometimes rendered anosmic to its initially subtle effect. From Wiki: Anosmia is a lack of functioning olfaction, or in other words, an inability to perceive odors. Anosmia may be either temporary or permanent. Some people may be anosmic for one particular odor. This is called "specific anosmia" and may be genetically based. I suspected that I might be unusually sensitive to musty smells, as I am a scent nut. So I asked around. What do you think of moldy smelling clothes? Big deal or not so much? Overwhelmingly, it's considered to be A BIG DEAL. Here were some of the passionate responses to moldy clothes: “A festive mélange of good intentions and bad sod.” “Wet dog.” “Dank, corpsey flowers; honeyed foulness; cloying fungal perfume; nauseous sweetness; stagnant rosewater; sweet whiffy reek. Dead bread. Baked death.” As fitness enthusiasts with good intentions, I don't think any of us want to smell like, “baked death.” If you are treating your laundry as follows, there is a good chance that you smell like “sweet EVENTS... When damp laundry sits, be it in the washing machine or a laundry basket, it almost immediately starts to develop mold, a growth of fungi that lives and feeds and festers the longer it sits. Unless the load is transferred promptly, anything between an unmistakable hint of early-stage mold to the deafening blow of a full-fledged colony can be expected. Casual launderers may hope that no one will notice and they wear them anyway. Sometimes to our very own gym. More bad news. The smell “blooms” with body sweat. I'm here to tell you that I've never forgotten an encounter with moldy clothing and I forget to attend to my son's “Good Citizenship” award ceremony at Babylon Grade School. So everyone benefits by erring on the side of good laundering practices. Hard Truth: You are better off picking dirty clothes off the floor and wearing them than musty clothes. Let's say you are reading this and realize that you've got a towel load percolating as we speak. There's a Laundry Room Forum (really) on the Internet that deals with solutions. Everyone agrees that the clothes have to be rewashed. Rewashing does not mean rinse cycle plus Downey Simple Pleasures Lavender Serenity Liquid. It means a good quality detergent, plus one or more of the following additives: 1/2-1 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax. I like Borax because if 20 mules can't get the job done, nothing can. Wash in hot water, if possible. Dry promptly. Sweet exercising. Christine Jelley, a longtime FI member and perfume lover, has acted as a consultant to fragrance research and development companies. Spring 2011 FIT to Print Hot Yoga Mon. 9am, Wed. 12pm, Thurs. 6:30pm Members: FREE! Non-Members: $15 per class. 10 for $130 March Yoga For Beginners Workshop March 20th, 12pm - 2pm $20 by Dina SantaMaria. Fantastic Four Fit 4 Summer March 21st through May 13th 8 Week Fitness Contest - Thousands in prizes $700 for members, $800 for non-members. CandleLight Essential Stretch March 23rd 8:30pm $20 by Cathy Peacock Surya Yoga Workshop March 26th 1-1:30pm in the Yoga room. Price $20 for members, $30 non-members By Karen Britton KettleBell Clinics March 26th 6:50-7:50am (Intermediate) in the Yoga Room. 12:30 - 1:30pm (beginner) in the main room. $15. By Marianela Virella-Meilke Swim-a-Thon Raffle March 27th - April 10th. Benefits Winthrop Children’s Hospital. Tickets on sale at the front desk Trathalon Training March 28th at 7pm. Informational meeting. By Bob McKweon of South Shore Tri Coach. No charge. April Trathalon Training April 2nd at 9am. Informational meeting. By Bob McKweon of South Shore Tri Coach. No charge. AFAA Instructor Certification April 3rd. Register through the AFFA website. May Fantastic Four “Fit 4 Summer” Awards Party May 18th 8pm - 11pm. Free for all contestants, $20 for non-contestants. Tickets required. 9 E AT S M A R T ! By Rachel Ezelius, RD 21st Century Dieting Weighing-In on the Web I t's game day and you are ready for your guests to watch your big screen TV. Chicken wings & pigs in the blanket are heating in the oven, dips and chips are scattered around the room and the pizza is set to be delivered within the hour.... "Ahhh," you say, "what's going to happen to my diet?" A little self-talk has convinced you that Saturday is never a day to diet, Sunday is for finishing leftovers and you can start all over again on Monday. It's not until Monday when you step on the dreaded scale that you realize this strategy just is not working! Diets and the constantly 'being on one' and 'falling off one' are the reasons why they are never successful. The diet syndrome affects almost all of us, starting out innocently and somehow snowballing into an unhealthy cycle of starvation and gorging. The healthiest choice is to not diet at all but to eat well-balanced, small and regular meals. There are numerous studies, which have proven that gimmick free plans work, but being consistent can be the biggest challenge. Sounds impossible but there is actually a solution to staying off a diet (in the right way) and it’s called accountability. First, you must be accountable and honest with yourself. The best way to start is to begin a food journal and stick with it. It is easy to lose the momentum, miss a day or two and suddenly decide to give up. Research 10 has shown that dieters who track their weight and food intake reach their goals more often than those who don't. If a journal is used correctly (i.e. being honest with all of the food that you eat throughout any given day) weight loss is almost guaranteed. Recording regular meals and anything that you eat in between gives you a good idea how successful you are in staying within a calorie range. You may even discover some of the things you thought were so healthy for you (like that salad with chicken you love so much) actually aren't and the things that you thought were so bad for you, don't actually have a lot of calories! The truth is most people don't have a clue what Food journaling is a smart idea for everybody, since we eat out of habit without really thinking about what we are putting into our mouths. they eat and they eat far more then they would probably want to admit. You will be amazed how recording your food before you even make any dietary changes will add up to big positive weight loss results! This just proves that it is not actually what we are eating but the amount of the foods we eat that cause our weight to soar. The physical act of journaling isn't always what holds people back, but rather understanding portions and servings sizes make journaling cumbersome and pointless! There is help for that too. Online websites, such as the Eat Smart's Online Tracker, allow you to log your foods Spring 2011 FIT to Print as you eat them giving you immediate information about calories and the nutritional break down. Simply type in the foods you ate and select the appropriate portion size, and the program does the calculating. Maintaining a food journal is extremely valuable for any variety of personal goals. To set up an Eat Smart Online Tracker account you must first have a registered dietitian individualize your recommendations regarding calories, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, vitamin and minerals by evaluating your basic information, health concerns and goals. The most unique feature of the Eat Smart's Online Tracker is that a registered dietitian reviews it daily and you will receive personal feedback with praise, suggestions, or perhaps pep talks! During the review, problem areas are identified to help you reach your goal. Through your journal you may discover that you're not eating enough vegetables or maybe not getting enough of a particular vitamin or mineral. Problems can include, but are not limited to, not eating enough protein, going too long without eating or never eating an actual meal. Deficiencies are flagged and foods are suggested to add to make your diet more balanced. Meal plans are developed and can easily be copied into your food journal. Recipes are even available to make it easy. Journaling and reaching your weight loss goal really can be as simple as a click! Food journaling is a smart idea for everybody, since we eat out of habit without really thinking about what we are putting into our mouths. The medical field has told us that foods we eat have a direct correlation on our health, the way we feel, and our risk of diseases. It is time to be aware of what is going into your body. Getting control and being accountable is the first step in mindful eating. Online journaling adds another level of accountability where you may think twice before eating that 12th chicken wing. F or more information about Eat Smart's Online Tracker or for any questions please feel free to email [email protected] or call 631-587-5766 for more information. Rachel Ezelius is a Registered Dietitian who manages Fitness Incentive’s Eat Smart program. Questions? 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Diet and Nutritional Counseling Services Rachel Ezelius, Registered Dietitian • 631-587-5766 • [email protected] Spring 2011 FIT to Print 11 Pe r s o n a l B e s t by Bob McKeown Becoming Iron Man The Creation of a 3x Ironman @ FI Bob McKeown whole new world opened up and I was mixing my workouts between spinning and running. Monday night spin class @ 6 P.M. - NEED I SAY MORE? Welcome to the World of Carmella. I do not think I need to elaborate on Carmella, but her classes quickly became part of my regular schedule. Everything in life revolved around 6 P.M. spin on Mondays and Wednesdays. Carmella became my biggest motivator at the gym. She even let me do various spin fundraisers. Little did she know she was creating a monster! Soon, I mixed in some cardio H ow it all started...Walking up the stairs at work, out of breath and 35 lbs heavier, it all finally clicked. I did not possess the body my mind thought it did. I was not the athlete I was in college anymore. I was lucky if anything in the closet actually fit. Sure, I was still surfing, but the gut was getting bigger and the clothes were getting tighter. I knew something needed to change, not only for myself, but for my son. I knew he needed to see his Dad as someone who was active, happy, and motivated. What better way to teach a child than to lead by example. What about my students? Do I become the grumpy overweight teacher, or a motivator for leading a healthy lifestyle? If nothing else, my Dad was in better shape than me and was appearing in the Fitness Incentive commercials. Joining Fitness Incentive It didn't take long to decide that Fitness Incentive was the place for me. Keep in mind, as my journey began, I couldn't even run a half a mile without feeling the pain. I had a long road ahead of me! Spin with Carmella My workouts consisted of short runs on the treadmill and I was only adding about 10% a week to my running. I still didn't have the confidence I was looking for and there was no way I was even thinking about hitting a weight or cardio class at this time. One of the girls at the front desk had been encouraging me to take a spin class for a while. I eventually caved in, and was instantly hooked. It was the best workout I had done in 10 years. A 12 TJ gives me a bit of an interview and tells me he expects 110 percent! Is this guy serious? He would refuse my money if I wasn't committed? classes on the floor. Cor's insane classes were exactly what I was looking for. A class that pushes you to the limit and helps you to understand that the mind will give out before the body will. Yes, I am one of those guys that will jump around on a trampoline, go to a kick-boxing class, or hit Cor's “xtreme cardio.” I was probably made fun of in the guy's locker room for a good year! They eventually realized that these classes were the best workouts in the gym and they soon joined in. Endurance Racing So now I’m running, spinning, and taking Cardio classes! Can I even attempt to take some of these skills into the world outside the gym again? Without a 6 page story, I will just say that my fitness journey led me to the endurance community. I was instantly hooked and competing in any road race, duathlon, or triathlon that I could find on Long Island. I wasn't climbing the stairs at work out of breath anymore. I Spring 2011 FIT to Print was actually running up them. I soon teamed up with a professional triathlete who helped me create a training schedule that maximized my training without negatively affecting my family and work. It turned out to be one of the most demanding mental and physical challenges of my entire life. I met the most amazing and supportive people and was part of a great team. I finally reached the ultimate goal of becoming an Ironman, but soon realized that this was just another chapter in my new healthy lifestyle. Fantastic Four Contest & TJ Lynch By now, I'm competing in various distance triathlons across the country and have completed two Ironman races. As always, I reset my goals and focused on becoming stronger in my legs. My friend Christina recommended I join a contest and team up with TJ Lynch. He just happens to pass by me at the gym so I approach him. He gives me a bit of an interview and tells me he expects 110 percent! Is this guy serious? He would refuse my money if I wasn't committed? You have to understand, TJ sets the standard high and there was no way I would let him, myself, or my team down. I was instantly teamed up with three complete strangers (Joe Lloyd, Jeff Szabo, TJ Conlon) and we eventually all clicked. Each of us brought a different strength to the workouts and my constant emails and text messages probably drove them crazy. I knew our main competition was fierce. Billy Boyle was a past champion, Connor was one of the few people in the world to swim the English Channel, Joe Conte was a machine, and another fellow McKeown (no relation..LOL) had to be good. Billy was a former lacrosse teammate of mine and being a goalie, I knew his mental strength was unmatched. My team needed to be perfect! TJ put us through demanding workouts and he oversaw our nutrition to perfection. I can honestly say that my nutrition was perfect for the entire competition. I didn't cheat once! I wasn't sure if my desire to win was for myself, my team, or to prove my commitment to TJ. In the end, I realized it was all just part of TJ's plan to make each and every one of us the best we could be. FYI- WE WON! I continued working with TJ Lynch throughout the year. This past November I finished my 3rd Ironman in Arizona setting a personal record by over 2 hours. I spent many late hours in the pool and early mornings on the road. However, by utilizing all the services at Fitness Incentive, I was able to bring home that PR! I considered all the trainers and instructors at FI to be my “Performance Team”. continued on page 21 Mind Body Spirit By Dina SantaMaria Real Men Do Yoga The Perfect Compliment to Weight Lifting ! Improves breathing and vital energy ! Helps to balance and improve metabolism ! Promotes cardiovascular, joint and circulatory health ! Relieves pain, improves athletic performance ! Helps you look and feel younger than your actual age ! Strengthens your bones and muscles Mental Benefits: ! Helps you learn to relax, handle stress and lessen anxiety “Will practicing yoga make me lose my muscles?” “I am not flexible…I can't do yoga” “Will yoga compliment or Hurt my weight lifting regimen?” “Yoga is for girls…” ...“Can men do yoga?” S ound familiar? These questions and statements are all too familiar to me! I would like to answer some of these questions and “de-bunk” some common myths! Weight training and yoga compliment each other beautifully. Actually a regular yoga practice is a benefit to anyone and everyone; from weight lifters, body builders, athletes of all types, people old and young - from all walks of life. In this writing, I am going to focus mostly on how yoga can compliment a weight/strength training regimen. Baron Baptiste, world renowned yoga instructor and former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles Football team puts it beautifully: “Yoga is a full-body workout that creates both strength and flexibility. You need to have both. One without the other is a recipe for disaster.” Interesting!? Let's take a look at some of the benefits of a regular yoga practice: Physical Benefits: ! Creates a strong, toned, flexible body “Yoga is a full-body workout that creates both strength and flexibility. You need to have both. One without the other is a recipe for disaster.” ! Teaches you to quiet the mind and focus your mental energy whether on the weight training floor, on the golf course, in an important meeting at work, in a difficult yoga pose, running a marathon.. ! Encourages self-acceptance, selfrespect and love ! Encourages positive thinking Spiritual Benefits: ! Helps improve your body awareness ! Deepens the mind body connection ! Improves your awareness of the world around you and the needs of others ! Helps you to understand and live in the “now” These are all just a sampling of the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga. Before we explore how these benefits relate to weight training and men in particular…let's take a look at a few common myths and truths about yoga: ! Yoga is just stretching …it's easyWhile yoga is an excellent way to stretch the body's muscles it is much Spring 2011 FIT to Print !more than stretching. yoga in itself is an ancient science and philosophy. The physical aspect of yoga (Asana practice) is much more than simple stretching. Many poses and sequences take strength, balance and focus to execute. The word yoga means union or yoking…deep concentration, strength and mind-body discipline are needed to practice physical yoga. ! Yoga is just for women- it is true that currently, in our Western world…more women than men practice yoga. However, yoga is said to have been originally “created” BY men…FOR men (over 5,000 years ago). It is only until recently that women came to begin the practice. Many ancient, influential yoga teachers are men. ! You have to be flexible to do yoga – This is one of the most commonly believed myths regarding yoga. While some yoga poses do require a degree of flexibility and may be difficult for certain body types to execute…All yoga poses can be modified and can be performed to the needs of the practitioner. A qualified yoga instructor will guide you in modifications and poses that best suit your needs. While executing yoga postures…you should do them to the best of your ability and know that the effort you put forth and the focus will almost always reap you the benefits you most need. ! Yoga is boring and slow – There are many “types” or traditions of yoga. Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga are just two examples of the types of yoga that are quicker moving and really tend to increase the heart rate – resulting in a sweat breaking, cardiovascular workout in your yoga practice. Now let's take a brief look at some of the benefits of weight-training: Weight Lifting ! improves your metabolism ! makes you stronger ! gives you energy ! strengthens your bones ! improves muscular endurance ! lowers your resting heart rate ! improves your self-confidence And some common weight lifting myths and truths: ! Weight lifting is dangerous – Weight lifting if done with proper form and technique is not dangerous. With proper training you can experience all of the above benefits and more. The only way weight lifting becomes dangerous is if you do not control your movements or your ego and use bad technique. ! Weight lifting is bad for your joints – Again…if you use proper technique, continued on page 20 13 It’s Time to Get Your Windows Cleaned! Serving ALL of Long Island 218 E. MAIN STREET . BABYLON, NY 11702 Fully Insured We are a family owned and operated window cleaning company. We are always on the job site. Our entire staff consists of year-round professionals using no seasonal labor. We are committed to 100% Customer Satisfaction - GUARANTEED! 631-345-5760 516-735-2460 www.sparklewindowcleaninginc.com 18 Spring 2011 FIT to Print Group Ex By: Marianela Virella-Mielke NSCA-CPT Fitness - Now in 3D No Special Glasses Required! in VO2 max of about 10%, but had no effect on anaerobic capacity. The high intensity group improved their VO2 max by about 14% while anaerobic capacity improved by 28%. The study was done over a six week period. Both groups worked out 5 days per week. An attempt at visualizing the fourth dimension: take a point, stretch it into a line, curl it into a circle, twist it into a sphere and punch through the sphere. - Albert Einstein E nter 3D-FIT, a new FREE half-hour fitness class (Saturdays @ 7:25 am in the yoga studio) that I created based on Dr. Izumi Tabata's powerful circuit training method. 3D-FIT is designed to burn fat, while boosting cardio endurance and athletic performance. Moving through timed three dimensional, high-low movement segments, my 3D-FIT class uses minimal equipment and delivers optimal results. The heart of Tabata Training is four minute segments of intense interval training/circuit training. Inside of those four minute segments are timed work and rest periods. Tabata Training can be done with a variety of multi-joint strength or cardio based exercises. Tabata Training may be executed with barbells, dumbells, kettlebells or simple bodyweight exercises. Tabata Training was developed by Izumi Tabata at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, Japan. The institute recently conducted a study comparing the effects of moderate intensity endurance (aerobics) and high endurance intermittent training (tabata training intervals) on VO2 max and anaerobic capacity. The moderate intensity group training program produced a significant increase What do these results exactly mean for hard core Fitness Incentive members? It signifies that 3-D FIT has all the ingredients you need to help you build lean body mass, rev up your metabolism and get fitter faster! Since our body was engineered to move in various planes of motion and not all multi-joint or circuit exercises involve enough variety in positions, I have been careful to include my own 3D elements (forward, side, back, rotational movements) in this Tabata style class. I have also structured the class circuits and ending segments to reflect my multi-dimensional training style for a fit, balanced and coordinated body. The outcome is a vigorous, dynamic class that will take you to your next fitness level and allow you to see and feel your workout results. 3D-FIT is for intermediate and advanced levels only. Sorry, this is no Starbucks session. It is absolutely crucial that you warm up BEFORE you arrive to class and be responsible for cooling down afterwards. We will have a very brief intro to the exercises before we dive right in. In order to reap all the benefits of our in + out training time, please be prepared to bring in and take back any class equipment/objects to the main gym floor. Also, to enhance your 3-D FIT workout, please hydrate and eat something very light at least 1 hour before class. Let's get 3DFIT! Marianela Virella-Mielke, NSCA-CPT, holds several certifications in fitness instruction and training. In addition to teaching the 3D fit class, she is a personal trainer at Fitness Incentive. Spring 2011 FIT to Print Bec ming Liz continued from page 5 amazing source. You know, it's all sort of wonderfully endless…each thing opens out into the next. You think you're done with one thing, and move on to the next, only to find that they are interrelated. In order to keep yourself balanced, it's best to do a little bit of everything. I've incorporated yoga into my Sculpt classes, and the yogis in the class Yoga has helped Liz evolve as a person recognize it, and an instructor while those not practicing yoga don't. But they like it! They respond, I think, because it is consistent with one of my main themes: “strength, and stretch, strength, and stretch…” especially important as we get older and need to keep our joints more limber. I've seen the impact of this integration in members, who are capable of more than they otherwise would be. They've told me how they've felt their bodies open up. F2P: This integration, this 'crosspollination' between what are usually thought of as stand-alone disciplines, is something I'm hearing more and more about from fitness professionals. LR: I feel that fitness is a thing you do for your lifetime, it's going to be there forever…and I think that yoga, as much or more than anything I've done before, teaches that each thing—the diet, the cardio, weight training, yoga, and so on—is part of the same whole, and we draw the fullest benefit when we remember and practice this. I have no doubt that I get more out of the gym and working out now than I ever have before because I'm more aware than ever about how each activity touches the other and enhances it. For many, including myself, the philosophy of yoga extends beyond what you do in the gym. It changes your body, mind, and ultimately your life, for the better! Paul Smith manages Marketing for Fitness Incentive and is responsible for all the signs you see around the gym. He’s a regular contributor to these pages. 19 Wife...Mother...Trainer...And World Figure Champion: Two Years in The Life of Amy Llinas-Lynch O n November 13th, 2010, Amy Llinas stood centerstage in an auditorium in mid-town Manhattan. She'd just captured the first place title in the WNBF World Figure Model Championships —Tall Division. Beside her stood her winning counterpart from the Short Division, Melissa Kelley. Together, they were awaiting the announcement of the Overall Championship winner —the World Title. When the announcement came, the room erupted with cheers and applause from the audience, composed substantially of Fitness Incentive members and staff, who'd come to support Amy in her quest to capture the crown. She did. The title was hers. There Amy stood, smiling proudly and enjoying every minute of her victory, of this culmination of months and months of grueling effort. When her daughter, Bella, was passed up to her, there was a collective gasp of astonishment from the gallery. “Is that your child?” she was asked. “She's my child,” Amy answered with a laugh. “No, we didn't adopt her…see her father here? They look just alike…” Amy had laughed because in a way it was a fair question. What business did she—or any woman, really—have, winning a World Championship figure competition scarcely a year after having her first baby? It's a journey that for Amy began with a personal and professional goal, that took her into the gym at all hours, through hospital stays and then the nursery, and culminated on that New York stage last November. It required Amy to balance many demands; to wear many hats: wife, mother, personal trainer and instructor, competitor…while keeping her eye on the prize throughout. 11/25/2008: Thanksgiving Day. TJ and I tell our families the happy news: by the following Summer, we'll be parents! When I found out I was pregnant with Bella, I was actually getting ready to train to compete in the 2009 WNBF Championship—the same event I would eventually win in November of 2010. So competing had been a goal of mine before I became pregnant. My thinking at that time was, 'I'll train, and I'll compete right after the baby is born.' I was so intense and go-go-go that I thought that the four months after she was born would be enough to allow me to get ready for the competition. Ordinarily, four months would have been ample time. 16 12/16/2008 Reality check: Morning sickness! I am living on bread and water. It was weird. I went through a phase where I was so nauseous that carbohydrates were the only things that sounded good to me. I would eat bagels almost every day because they were the only thing I could keep down. The thought of any kind of meat was absolutely repulsive to me. Oddly, though my diet wasn't all that great, I wasn't taking in a whole lot of crazy calories…toward the end of my pregnancy, all I ate was Italian Ices.” 4/9/2009: I was beginning to sense that I was pushing myself… …over the limits of what my body could accept—just doing far too much. I began to say as much, but no one else seemed to be getting it! 4/24/2009: “You look fine, you're numbers are fine, you're doing fine…” I'm on my feet for 14-15 hours a day. This was partly because TJ had injured his foot, and I took on a lot of his clients. I needed to take it easier and I knew what was going to happen if I pushed myself too hard. “TJ, I'm going to end up on bed rest,” I said. “Oh, no, honey, you're fine…” “TJ,” I said, “you've never had a pregnant wife before! You really don't know what you're talking about!” And to prove it, I took him to one of my doctor's appointments. Naturally, they agreed with him! “She's fine, everything's fine.” I was like, are you for real? Are you kidding me? I brought him here so you guys could tell him that I need to back off a little bit. Instead, I got “she's doing great, she can handle it.” It was like a male conspiracy! 4/30/2009: Bed rest and medication. I was placed on bed rest and medication and would stay there for about 3 months. Couldn't get up, couldn't move. Amazingly and in spite of this immobility, I didn't really gain that much weight. When it was all said and done, I'd only gained seven pounds. Only seven, but I'd pay a very high price for those pounds in the form of lost muscle tissue. My body changed radically, but not how most people thought. Most said things like, “Wow, you gained so much weight!” I really didn't. Muscle weighs more than fat, and I'd lost a lot of it, and I gained a lot Spring 2011 FIT to Print of body fat in return. contractions from home. 5/10/2009: This morning, I went in to 7/9/2009: Happy birthday, Bella! labor! Right there, in the middle of the gym. I called TJ. “Honey, I think I'm in labor.” “That's really unlikely,” he said, “It's probably Braxton-Hicks.” Well, no. I know my body pretty well. I went to pick up a weight and I felt a little something tweak, and I thought, “Hmm…I think I'm in labor!” So, I ended up calling my doctor. “Oh, my gosh, come in right away!” he said. “Right now! Get here as fast as you can. Emergency room. Come right in.” So I got home and told TJ, “I need you to take me to the hospital right now. I'm not fine. I need to go now. I called the doctor, and he said come in immediately.” At the hospital, checked in, and sure enough, I'm in full-blown labor. I almost had the baby, and it would have been way too early—a little over six months at that point. The doctors came in and put me on a bunch of medications, one of which was magnesium sulfate, which any woman who has ever been premature will tell you makes you feel like you are going to die. None had any real effect. The best of them was the most extreme. It's actually an asthma medication called terbutaline and is delivered via a pump, similar to those used by diabetics, that is installed in your leg and delivers a big shot every four hours. A side effect—there are always side effects—is that it hypes you up. You're totally wired, so you cant sleep, but, being confined to bed, can't get up and do anything either. At this point, when you're in that state, they won't allow you to eat anything. So for three days, they wouldn't let me eat. I kept telling them, “I know my body! I eat every two and a half to three hours, and I promise you, if you just let me eat, the contractions will subside. Finally, I told them, “I can't do this anymore. I am about to die! I have to eat!” I ate, and sure enough, everything just halted. I know my body really well. After seven days of this, they finally gave me an epidural and bingo, I delivered. A Csection was never considered; she was fully in position—for three months! They didn't really do anything like induce me, because I wasn't actually considered 'full-term' yet. Even so, Bella ended up being three weeks early. She was fine, spent no time in the ICU, so it was great. The birth was made a bit tougher because, in a addition to being exhausted, my body was extremely tight and tense—a byproduct, actually, of being in shape. Years of training the abdominals meant that my body just wouldn't 'give'. Just locked up, it wasn't going anywhere, with a lot of pressure on my spine. 7/2/2009: I go into labor again, this time for real…it would last for seven days. I was incredibly worn out, because I was on the medication that won't allow you to sleep. Probably one of the most difficult experiences I've ever been through. I went repeatedly to the hospital, but they kept sending me home because I wasn't ready. They were monitoring my constant instructor, not say a word in your classes. Now, you're loud and clear. What's going on?” “I'll honestly tell you why,” I said, “Back then I was a new mom, and just couldn't breathe!” “I thought you were just shy!” she laughed. “I was gasping like a fish out of water!” But at this point, I'm starting to develop a routine and a schedule that allows me to manage my time and all these new responsibilities. It's not easy, not yet. This little one is totally dependent on you, you're deprived of sleep…a husband who's just as inexperienced as you are…just one thing after another, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Also, my metabolism was messed up…just creeping along. My diet would eventually need a lot of work. During this period, after Bella's birth, I ate whatever I wanted, really. For so many months, nothing had tasted good to me. Now, it was like, “I've got my taste buds back again!” 8/28/2009: “I want to compete again.” I'd decided that I definitely wanted to compete again, but I had to wait for my body to be ready. While you're nursing, your body is still producing leutenizing hormones, so you really can't go all-out. Hormone production varies from person to person…some stop producing right away, for others, it takes a while. But even from the earliest days of my pregnancy, I never let go of the idea of competing again, though there were times when it seemed impossible. It became clear that I wasn't going to be able to do it as quickly as I had planned, but I was determined to keep plugging away and just see what happened. I didn't put too much pressure on myself. That was key. A lot of women do that. I tried not to care too much about what other people might be thinking of me…I came to the gym, was out of shape, standing in front of forty people, continued on page 24 7/19/2009: Reality check: Who's body is this? A week after Bella was born I put on one of my competition suit and took some pictures—pictures the world will never see! “Oh my gosh,” I thought, “who's body is this?” My entire physique had changed. I looked ridiculous! I had so much to come back from. Amy & Bella 8/9/2009:Learning to manage the clock. A lot of women get very frustrated after having a baby. You must juggle so many things, particularly with a newborn. They require so much care and attention, especially if you're nursing. I remember that once I was back to work, I'd nurse Bella between clients, then jump right back out on the floor! It was just non-stop. You do burn more calories while nursing, but what they don't tell you is that you retain a lot more body fat, because you have to keep your milk production and supply up. Four weeks after Bella was born, TJ said “come take my class.” I couldn't even get up off the floor. Cor had also been asking me for a long time to teach a class. I used to teach in South Carolina, but at Fitness Incentive, I was strictly PT and had never taught. “OK Amy,” Cor said, “you're gonna teach Tuesday night…” “Are you kidding me? I can't even walk on the treadmill at this point, I'm so out of shape!” I will never forget that first class I taught. I was up there and I was dead silent. “You're just going to have to watch everything I do, I'm not in my best shape right now…” Sidebar: just a few days ago a woman came up to me after a class and said, “You know, you used to be such a quiet This photo and cover photo by Susan Eckert www.LIArtPhotography.com - 631-398-4487 Spring 2011 FIT to Print 17 Incentives Spa By Dr. Donna Brown Spring Cleaning Get Your Skin Ready for the Sun! Another extremely important aspect of skin health is proper cleansing. Cleansers should be chosen for your particular skin type. They should make your skin feel clean and fresh, not tight and dry. There are many different types of cleansers, but at Incentives, we feel that organic botanicals are the best way to wash away everyday dirt and grime. Again, there are many skin conditions including Rosacea and acne that require specific types of cleansers, so if you need help, a professional at Incentives will be glad to assist you. S pringtime is a great time for us to examine our skin care regime and make some important changes. Winter skin is extremely dry and requires us to use heavy moisturizers to keep it healthy. Warmer, moister conditions call for lighter formulas and less makeup. While it is always important to exfoliate, it is especially important during the spring. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skins cells by sloughing off the very top layer of the skin. This accumulated layer contributes to breakouts and overall dull looking skin. You have just come from a harsh winter with limited sun exposure, cold temperatures and heavy winds. These harsh conditions contribute to a buildup of dead cells that need to be removed. This can be accomplished by using topical exfoliators that work to rub off or eat away at dead cells. These should be chosen depending on whether your skin is sensitive, dry or acne prone. The estheticians at Incentives will always do a complimentary evaluation to help you determine which one is right for you. Exfoliation can also be accomplished with microdermabrasion. At Incentives Spa, our estheticians use diamondhead microdermabrasion machines which are free of harmful aluminum dust. Many people think that microdermabrasion is an abrasive treatment that will cause irritation and redness. On the contrary, it is a light, wonderful and relaxing experience that reveals new radiant skin when you leave. It is most definitely a pleasant experience and one where immediate results are evident. 14 Microdermabrasion is a light, wonderful and relaxing experience that reveals new radiant skin when you leave. Moisturizers should become lighter and contain different antioxidants that are more suitable for spring and summer conditions. For example, skin that is exposed to sun requires more vitamin C to prevent oxidation and aging. Some moisturizers will also contain SPF to help prevent sun damage. Serums are a way to boost the antioxidant protection to your skin and should also be re-evaluated in the spring depending on your needs. The staff at Incentives Spaand is always Greg Nicole Collins here to help you with any questions you may have about your particular skin. Our goal is to make you look your absolute best! So this spring, take some time to give your skin a little attention, not just your closets. Step into the Light - IPL Therapy What is laser IPL therapy? IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light, otherwise known as a Photofacial Laser. IPL involves minimal recovery time and can be quite effective in improving broken facial blood vessels The Clan andHansen diffuse brown spots, especially on Spring 2011 FIT to Print the face and neck and to a lesser extent on the hands and lower extremities. It is also useful for hair removal in fair skinned individuals. Dark hair responds the best with this kind of laser. Is this kind of technology safe? IPL technology is FDA approved and has been around since the early 1990's. Since then, it has been widely used and has an excellent safety record. The technology is designed to block out harmful light energy. Most people receive a limited series of treatments so "chronic" use is not a risk factor. How do dark spots (hyper pigmentation) go away? Usually the dark spots after the IPL treatment get progressively darker over the next several days. You should notice an increase in pigmentation. Some call it "coffee grounds". You should see the pigment gradually coming to the surface and peeling off over the next week or two. Depending on the amount of hyper pigmentation you have, you may need to repeat the treatment in a month. If you have a lot of sun damage, it can take 35 treatments. We recommend that our clients see our aestheticians for skin care in between their IPL's and use sun screen after any laser treatments. What about hair removal? Laser hair removal targets the melanin in the hair follicles that give that hair its color. A contrast between the darker melanin in the hair follicle and lighter melanin of fair complexions works the best for this treatment. The lighter colored hairs do not respond well to laser treatment because they are designed to target the darker pigment of brown to black hairs. Do not let anyone try to convince you that their laser will remove light or blond fine hairs - you will be disappointed with the results. The science isn't there to support the claims. On average, a person will need 6 to 8 treatments to get rid of unwanted hair. Treatments are spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, depending on the area being treated. While many doctors refer laser hair removal as a “permanent solution”, many people find they must have additional treatments to maintain results. If you do require maintenance hair removal sessions, they are usually only required once or twice a year. For any additional info, please stop by Incentives Spa for a complementary consultation. Dr. Donna Brown is a Chiropractor as well as the owner/operator of Incentives Spa. Questions? Email her at: [email protected] "Grandma would be so proud" ...Peter Gianotti, Newsday Excellent Wine Wednesdays! half off bottled wine Ladies Night! Every Thursday Ladies drink for half-price 999 Montauk Hwy, West Islip 631.321.8717 www.nonninarestaurant.com HARRIS PLASTIC SURGERY COSMETIC & RECONSTRUCTIVE PLASTIC SURGERY Stephen U. Harris, M.D., FACS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Chief of Plastic Surgery, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center CENTER FOR BREAST AND BODY CONTOURING COSMETIC BREAST SURGERY BODY CONTOURING OF RESISTANT AREAS BODY CONTOURING AFTER PREGNANCY BODY CONTOURING AFTER MASSIVE WEIGHT LOSS BOTOX, RESTYLANE AND JUVEDERM WE NOW CARRY SKINCARE AND SUNBLOCK BY SKINCEUTICALS TAN TOWELS YUBE PRODUCTS Ask About Our Botox VIP Program 500 Montauk Highway Suite H West Islip 631 422 9100 www.harrisplasticsurgery.com Spring 2011 FIT to Print Member AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLASTIC SURGEONS 15 Mind Body Spirit !controlled, non-impact movements, weight training will help improve the health of your bones and joints. Proper weight training strengthens the muscles, tendons and ligaments….thereby strengthening and improving the health or your joints. ! Weight lifting causes high blood pressure – While it is true that your blood pressure increases when you lift heavy weights, it should return to normal after finishing your set. This is how weight lifting helps to improve your cardiovascular health. People who weight lift with focus on strength training tend to have lower blood pressure than people who do not exercise or weight train. ! Weight lifting makes you bulky – Proper weight lifting will help you build lean muscle mass and since muscle is denser than fat you will look thinner at the same body weight if you increase your muscle mass. Body builders who compete and sport the big “bulkier” muscle look follow competitive, strict diets and weight training geared at hypertrophy – “growing” their muscles. A carefully designed weight training program for strength and health reasons will not result in “bulk”. Anyone reading this information can see some similar benefits that yoga and Weight lifting provide both physically and mentally. That alone should be enough to convince you how complimentary they are to each other. However, I feel it is important to further our exploration and see how yoga can help improve muscle strength and balance. A study was conducted at the University of California at Davis. Ten college 'couch potatoes' adopted a yoga routine for eight weeks. Each week, they attended from two to four classes during which they spent 10 minutes on breath control, 15 minutes of warm up exercises, 50 minutes doing yoga asana, and then 10 minutes of relaxation/mediation. At the end of the eight-week period, the researchers measured the students' fitness and discovered that their muscular strength had increased by up to 31%, their muscular endurance improved by 57%, their flexibility increased by 188%, and their cardio respiratory fitness improved by 7%. These results are pretty amazing when you consider that the study was only conducted for eight weeks.* Building muscle by lifting weights is usually the main focus in a weight / resistance training program. In yoga, your body provides the resistance which helps continued from page 13 to increase bone and muscle strength. Many poses in yoga are held for a certain amount of time or several breaths and some are done very slowly. Holding a pose or doing it slowly provides much more challenge to your muscles than allowing speed and momentum to take over which is often the case in traditional weight lifting. Balancing poses require tremendous muscle control to keep yourself from falling over which also helps strengthen and build your muscles. In weight lifting, you are often isolating a specific muscle (or muscle group) as you perform an exercise. This has been A regular Yoga practice is simply the perfect partner to your weight lifting practice! said to lead to short, tightened muscle(s). In yoga, while you are strengthening the muscles, you are lengthening them at the same time which more likely results in the muscles being elongated. yoga poses work the entire body and improve communication and muscle recruitment patterns. It allows the smaller muscle groups a chance to do their job, helping to open up and lengthen tighter, shorter muscles and strengthen weaker muscles; thereby bringing the body into better balance. The focus of yoga is not to overwork any specific muscle or muscle group (which is sometimes the case with weight lifting) resulting in less chance of injury. Yoga can help your muscles grow fit, balanced and strong. It can help open up tight spots and really lengthen shortened muscles! Yoga will improve your focus, your mind-body connection and your entire outlook on life! yoga helps reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve resting heart rate. Yoga builds lean muscle mass, improves breathing and enhances vitality! How can yoga not enhance your weight lifting regimen? A regular yoga practice is simply the perfect partner to your weight lifting practice! My goal in this writing is not just to 20 Spring 2011 FIT to Print share this information, but to hopefully get more weight lifters (especially men) to incorporate yoga into their lives. In that vein, I would like to further explore (briefly) some of the mental benefits of yoga especially for men. It is a well known fact that women in general are more in touch with their emotions and have more outlets for dealing with daily stressors. Men, on the other hand, tend to ignore signs of stress and as a result, their heart rate and blood pressure go up and other physical ailments develop. These physical changes brought on by stress are often accompanied by behavioral changes such as eating a less healthy diet, exercising less (or not at all) and even smoking or excessive drinking - thinking this promotes relaxation and to “try to take the edge off” . All of these things can lead to depression (an epidemic in men in the U.S.) Taking time out of your day to practice yoga, to sit, be quiet, focus on breathing and stretching deeply is a wonderful way to reduce stress. yoga has been proven to reduce blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate (all of the benefits listed above and more). It's a no-brainer antidote to stress, especially for men, who in general find it difficult to decompress and destress. Robert Bulgarelli, DO, FACC says "yoga gives you the opportunity to strip yourself down, to quiet yourself, to just really 'be'; and for many men, that may be the first time they've ever done that. The meditative aspect of yoga is the perfect avenue to help you figure out what's going on in your life." You need yoga today!!!! Men….give it a try! Women, if you are not already practicing yoga, give it a try and get the men in your life to come with you!!! Still not sure? Join me on March 20th for a Beginner yoga workshop. It is an introduction to yoga…think of it as yoga 101. I will walk you through basic yoga concepts and postures and show you how to best execute them and incorporate them into your fitness regimen! I will help you pick a yoga class best suited for you! This workshop will prepare you to take one of the many classes we offer at Fitness Incentive. Fitness Incentive has many yoga classes for all levels of practitioners…from beginners to advanced! Check the schedule for a class that fits your needs today! *DM 10/1/05 Muscle Fitness – Can yoga make you stronger? Dina SantaMaria is a certified Pilates, Yoga & Spin instructor, as well as a certified Personal Trainer. She manages the Mind, Body & Spirit program at FI. Questions? Contact her at: Dina@Fitnessincentive. com Becoming Iron Man Recently, my new favorite class is candlelight stretch! I try to incorporate this as my date night with my girlfriend, Gina. Is this part of training? Absolutely, you better have a good support system and you better make that person happy! Not the End The sport of Triathlon has totally reshaped my life. I am surrounded by supportive and caring people. We all share the same goal of living a healthy lifestyle while making everyone around us better. At work, I became very involved with the Wellness Program and coordinated large scale health fairs. My students are leading a healthy lifestyle through various programs and events. As a tri coach, I now work with endurance athletes ranging from beginners to Ironman athletes. As a father, my kids are running around the house with my goggles, medals, and swim caps on. It's just a matter of time until we all race together. I'm forever grateful to Fitness Incentive for providing the tools to make it all happen! Give it a TRI- you'll like it! Bob McKeown is an FI Member and 3x Ironman He is also a USA Triathlon Coach and the Owner of South Shore TRI Coach, Inc. He will be hosting a series of seminars on Triathalon Training at FI (details below) B ob McKeown will be hosting a series of Triathalon training seminars at Fitness Incentive this spring. Seminars will be offered in the basics of Triathalon training, as well as seminars focused on the specific components, including swimming, biking and running. The series can be taken in whole or in part, and is geared towards all levels of Triathalon experience. There will be two informational meetings that will go over the program content in greater detail: March 28th at 7pm and April 2nd at 9am. Both of these sessions are free, but you are requested to sign up at the desk, as space will be limited. Triathalon training is a great way to increase your focus on fitness and take your conditioning to another level. Despite the imposing sound of it, it can also be a lot of fun, and is offered in a variety of formats that make competing accessible and enjoyable. Recently, Janet Lang and her sister, Linda, competed in a tri-relay. There story is on the right. continued from page 12 The Twisted Sisters of Triathalon I n October, 2009 I went on a stormy Sunday to support my sisters who were competing in their very first sprint distance triathlon. It consisted of a 750 Meters swim, a 17.5K bike and a 5K run. At 5 am, the excitement started to build as soon as we got to the transition area. I watched them enter the water and got so caught up in the competition; the entire event from start to finish was thrilling. Watching them transition from swim to bike and from bike to run was a rush as I knew they had finished one feat and were on to the next. Having run 1/2 marathons myself, I must admit I was envious and a bit jealous that I was only a spectator. As I toyed with the idea of possibly competing in a triathlon the reality hit me, I would have to wear a bathing cap and wet suit. Anyone who knows me can see why this would pose a problem--my fashion sense and vanity were standing in the way--I would never wear the wet suit. Besides I am not a swimmer. The following tri season my sister Linda needed a runner due to a minor injury. We registered as a relay team. She would swim and bike and I would be the runner – thus the relay team Twisted Sisters was born. The event was the Great South Bay Tri in East Islip. We had a blast and I ran my best 5K time ever as the adrenaline rush that you can't help but feel came over me. We did two more events that season placing 1st and 2nd. We are looking forward to doing our first Olympic Distance Tri (1 mile swim, 22 mile bike and a 10K run) in June. Being a relay team is a great experience. Teams can be made up of two or three people each taking a leg. The experience of sharing the event with your friends is rewarding and creates such a sense of camaraderie. So find a team, start training and enjoy the rush. I promise you will never regret it! - Janet Lang Spring 2011 FIT to Print 21 Maintenance continued page 15Let's use a treadmill for our example - one by Toni from Caracci Fix It. Now. It Takes a Team to Keep It All Working T of the new True treads, more specifically! We happily received our new True Treads just before Christmas. Unfortunately, we have had some persistent problems with the cool, but thus far temperamental, touch screens. This type of “software” problem isn’t all that uncommon on new equipment. In fact, it’s usually the newest and coolest stuff that breaks down the most frequently - at least until they work out the bugs. To correct the problem required us to be in virtually constant contact, not only with our service company, but also with representatives from the manufacturer, True. Everyone involved, from the service men to the company techs were confused as to what was causing the problems, why the screens were freezing, and the TVs were not working, among other things! wenty-one Treadmills. Eighteen and aggressively follow up with service. Ellipticals. Four Expresso Bikes. And, most importantly, it keeps you on Thirty-one Spin Bikes. And who working equipment! knows how many pieces of equipment are in the weight room?!? This is a long way One of the most important aspects of from the eight treadmills that started us the maintenance system is the “Cards.” off at our old “Talbots” location on Main (pictured below) Every machine on the Street. I remember quite clearly the day floor has a small card on it that the three Precor EFX Ellipticals arrived - it identifies it for our staff. When there is The information that we gathered from was the dawn of a new FI. you, our members, Soon came the circuit The “card” - there’s one on every machine. If the machine you’re using has any type of problem, and from other staff machines and then the pull the card and bring it to the front desk. We’ll make sure it gets fixed asap. members finally weight room in the helped the True back….followed by the Representatives (who move to Deer Park flew in from out of Avenue! state just to fix them!) figure out what the At Fitness Incentive, we likely causes were. So take great pride in what what was the big we do. Whether it’s mystery? Apparently, striving to teach a better our members are so class, help a hesitant “electric” they were newcomer to FI, or to shorting the screens! make the perfect shake, In other words, static we are always looking to electricity was the take it to the next level culprit. True has now for our members. There is HAVING A PROBLEM? modified the touch one crew, though, that If this machine is malfunctioning screens to solve the floats behind the scenes: please bring this card to the front problem - but only The Maintenance team. desk. Let the desk staff know the time will tell! Like a good ref, when nature of the problem. If you they do their job best, received an error message, please The bottom line is you hardly notice them. note it when you submit the card. this: we want every Thanks for your help! piece of equipment on According to Wikipedia, the floor to be in there are three types of perfect working order. Maintenance: Breakdown, And if it’s not, we Preventative and an issue, we count on you, our want to get it back working as quickly as Corrective. These words in essence sum up members, to bring it to the front desk possible. what our Maintenance team at FI does and report the problem. You have now we try to keep your workouts on schedule become a key part of our system. So So if you're on a cardio machine, or any and disruption free! what can you do to help? piece of equipment for that matter, and you are having a problem with it - big or I came to inherit what we lovingly call First of all, take note of what is going small - grab “the card” from the machine “The Maintenance Crown,” approximately on with the machine when the problem and bring it to the Front Desk when you five years ago. At that time, we used a occurs. The more information you can have a minute. We’ll get on it massive green binder to keep records of provide to the Front Desk, the faster we immediately, if not sooner. all repairs, invoices, service calls, etc. can diagnose and address the problem. Needless to say, this caused many issues For example: With your help, our crack maintenance when we needed to find things later on! As team will do their utmost to keep all the we acquired more machines, more service 1- How long where you on the machine machines running, all of the time! companies and reps, we definitely needed for? to change our system. An Excel 2- How fast were you going on the spreadsheet eventually morphed into machine? newer technology: Google Calendar. “The 3- Did any error message pop up on the Calendar,” as it has become known at the screen? desk, not only tracks machine issues and 4- Did the machine feel different than repairs, but allows us to send out email normal? Bumpy or jerky? “invitations” to the staff to make them In addition to working with the maintenance team, 5- Anything and everything you can tell Toni Caracci is a certified Group Ex instructor, and aware of any issues. This system has truly us can potentially help us resolve the responsible for our “FI Minute” Videos. allowed us to keep everyone in the loop issue. TRUE TREADMILL 3K 22 Spring 2011 FIT to Print LOOKING TO UPDATE YOUR HOME? Put Our Team to Work! Custom Home Remodeling & Handyman Service A PPLIED C ONSTRUCTION S ERVICES,INC. “We Have the Team to Build Your Dream” 631-661-6820 73 Deer Park Ave Suite 2, Babylon Village www.appliedconstructionservices.com DINETTE 23 E. MAIN ST. BABYLON VILLAGE 669-4700 Proud of: Proud Sponsor Sponsor of: SPECIAL OFFER! 4th Annual 5th Enjoy one Enjoy one Village Babylon COMPLIMENTARY COMPLIMENTARY Classic ENTREE when you ENTREE when you purchase a second entree of equal or greater value. Valid Valid Anytime. Anytime.Sock Run 10K Dirty Up Up to to aa $6 $6 Value Value Sunday, August 23, 22, 2010 Sunday, 2009 8:00am Rain or or Shine Rain Shine www.dirtysockrun.com www.dirtysockrun.com Offer expires 7/15/08 Offer Offer expires expires 4/15/11 7/15/08 Cannot be be combined with with other discount discount offers. Discount Discount Cannot Cannot be combined combined with other other discount offers. offers. Discount excludes tax, tax, tip, and and alcohol where where applicable. Coupon Coupon is excludes excludes tax, tip, tip, and alcohol alcohol where applicable. applicable. Coupon isis void ifif purchased, purchased, sold, or or bartered for for cash. All All offers are are void void if purchased, sold, sold, or bartered bartered for cash. cash. All offers offers are subject to rules of use. subject subject to to rules rules of of use. use. A BABYLON VILLAGE LANDMARK SINCE 1948 Spring 2011 FIT to Print 23 ...World Figure Champion continued from page 17 teaching a class to women, some of whom were in better shape than I was! 1/28/2010: Reality check: the spirit is willing but the flesh… I have now come to realize that there is no way I could possibly be ready to compete by this Spring. While I had no stretch marks—thank heaven—my stomach was so flabby, and so jiggly…so jelly-like, that it was easy to think “Will I ever get back…” In a moment of panic, I actually cleaned out my closet and gave all my clothes away! I'm kind of kicking myself about that, now… 2/10/2010: Training calendar established, it's time to get serious. I've begun to seriously train to get back into 'normal' condition. Normal means the shape I need to be in to do my job, to be at least satisfied with the way I look, and to begin to even think about training for a competition. 3/12/2010: Progress. I began to see little changes, and think, “OK, it's coming back, I'll get there.” Little by little…not over night, that's for sure. For an outside observer, it might have appeared to come about quickly. It didn't. 3/15/2010: The 2010 Fit4Summer Contest begins. I told my teams, “All right, this is it…I'm doing it all with you.” And I did. This was when I got into the training mode again. 3/19/2010: Tale of the scale. It's been eight months or so after Bella was born. I finally start losing weight. 8/15/2010: Going for it. There's a two-week window needed to cleanse your body of refined sugar, important because sugar itself makes you crave more sugar. Once you get through that phase—and it's a hard phase to break through—you are in the mode. You're rolling. In a lot of ways, this is the hardest part, this 'detox'. In mid-August, I started to train in earnest for the competition. Intense training, proper nutrition. I'm going for it. What business did she— or any woman, really— have, winning a World Championship figure competition scarcely a year after having her first baby? 9/22/10: “It's not getting any easier…” I'd had blood work done post-pregnancy. My hair was falling out, I was really having a tough time. I ended up having pregnancy-induced hypothyroidism. It is characterized by trouble losing weight, trouble getting your body fat down. For me it was caused in part by the medication I was on. My whole hormonal composition was out of whack. My pituitary gland was not producing precisely correctly…I ended up back in the doctor's office for that and was placed back on medication. 9/21/2010: Keeping the priorities in order. There are a lot of them. Never once during my training did TJ or Bella come second. My family always came first; I made sure of it. I was up and training at three thirty in the morning. Coming into the gym, doing my cardio, then repeating it again at night. This was “contest training,” not normal training for me. It took an intense commitment. I had to make sure Bella was cared for, and had to come in before TJ went to work himself—his day was starting at 4:45am. I had to be home before then, before he left. A challenge, but once I got into the routine of it, and started to see the 24 Spring 2011 FIT to Print results and the changes in my body, that fueled my fire. So much of it is how you look at it. It could have been, “Oh, how in the world could you possibly get up and work out at 3:30 in the morning? You must be crazy.” For me, it was great. Nobody else was awake. I understood that this was time for me, by myself. Very important, I was to learn. Not only was I getting back in shape, but it was time during which I could clear my head, and be alone. This is something that a lot of new mothers miss. They don't have that “alone-time” anymore, that time for them. I started my day like that every day, and because of it, I was a better trainer, a better mother, a better wife…it helped me change the way I was looking at the whole thing. I could've dreaded the whole process. Instead I embraced it, I enjoyed it, largely because I put aside some time for myself every day. It was good for me and good for the whole family. All the enforced bed rest leading up to the birth, all the confinement, had left me stir-crazy. This contributed to my ability to get through all the training at off-hours. I'd been flat on my back so long that on those days when I'd think, “I don't feel like doing this,” I'd answer myself: “No, Amy, you get to do this. It used to be that you had no choice, no option. You could not do this.” I remember being in the hospital…I was in for about one week before I went on bed rest…and I remember having such sympathy, and such compassion, for anyone who had ever spent any time in a hospital, confined and not able to do anything. “When I can get up on my feet again,” I thought, “I'm going to make the absolute most of it.” That's how good it felt to be able to get up and move. 10/7/2010: Not widely known about post-pregnancy training… …is that your ligaments loosen while you are pregnant. A relaxin hormone is produced. So this was another hurdle…waiting for my joints and ligaments to tighten up. You are very susceptible to injury if you aren't really careful during this time. I've seen this. Women who “pushed through the burn.” You have to know your body well enough, but also have to know what all women's bodies are going through during pregnancy. You must be so in tune with your body that you recognize the difference between muscular burn and nearness to injury. A lot of women—and I've seen this happen, and heard about it—come back too soon, or improperly, after childbirth. The body is just not ready for all the pounding and punishment. So these women hurt themselves and there is a downward spiral that can lead to depression…you must be ready, physically and mentally, to continued on page 29 Look & Feel Your Best! L: SPECIA nics 3 Colo 50 for $1 COLONIC IRRIGATION SAFE PRIVATE CLEAN EFFECTIVE ! Increases Energy ! Improves Digestion ! Lose Weight ! Reduces Constipation ! Improves Skin Appearance ! 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Golub, PT Sports related injuries, Neck/Back Pain, Arthritis, Muscular disorders, Post Surgical, Tendonitis, Vestibular disorders, Pain management Corinne Brown’s Physical Therapist Highly Recommended by Cor Ionic Detox & Foot Bath Treatments Also Available CONCEPTS THE 309 Madison St., Suite 4, Westbury, NY 11590 FUTURE OF H E A LT H (516) 640-5322 WWW.CLEANSINGCONCEPTSINC.COM A B C ABSOLUTE BEST CARE PHYSICAL THERAPY No Fault, Workers Comp Most Insurances Accepted 1 John Street Babylon, New York (631) 539-2629 ASK ABOUT OUR BRING YOUR OWN BAG INCENTIVE ! ...For your convenience, Sherry’s is located in the heart of Long Island at the Gateway to the South Shore, Fire Island, and the Hamptons. Wheat and gluten free foods Organic produce, dairy and meat Whole grains, dried fruit, nuts & seeds Low GI (glycemic index) sweeteners Vitamins and supplements JUST FOR THE HEALTH OF IT! All natural body care and make-up 89 Deer Park Avenue Holistic pet food and supplies Babylon Village 631-661-5552 www.sherryshealth.com Spring 2011 FIT to Print Open 7 Days Mon-Fri 9am - 7pm Sat & Sun 9am - 5pm All Major Credit Cards Accepted 25 Feeling Overwhelmed? Do you feel overwhelmed by the chaos that surrounds you? Let us help you clear the clutter and bring order to the chaos in your home, your office, your life! And teach you how to keep it that way! Since 1969 Get back in control of your life. Contact us today. C H A S O ? ORGANIZE LONG ISLAND INC O R 631-748-9778 Susan Eckert D E R ! Alice Price CPO-CD R Professional Organizer [email protected] www.OrganizeLongIsland.com 631.398.4487 Happy 2011! It's a brand new year filled with exciting possibilities...so, have you heard about my Picture Me Now! program? What's included? ! A year of photos for your baby or young child. ! Four 1 hour professional shoots over the course of the year ! 1 free full retouched 8x10 and medium resolution JPG after each session with no additional purchase obligations. ! PLUS: a bonus heartwarming custom-designed slideshow set to music as a beautiful summary of your child's growth at year's end! ! A $1,080 value for $450! That's over 50% in savings! Follow me on FB (LI Art Photography) or my blog at www.susaneckertphotographyblog.com to be among the first to learn about upcoming events and specials. www.LIArtPhotography.com www.susaneckertphotography.com [email protected] 26 Spring 2011 FIT to Print Spindrome by Carmella Milano by Monica Jones The Bikes Are Alright! Here’s the Skinny on the New Bikes ur Star Trac spinners had let us down - this was the sad truth we finally had to acknowledge. Not even 3 years after they had been purchased, their persistent breakdowns and maintenance requirements had become a nightmare for spinners, instructors and especially the dedicated spin maintenance team. O We had to take the plunge for new bikes, and there was really only one choice: the stunning Keiser M3. This bike is like no other “spin” bike on the market. It’s a marvel of design. The most obvious advantage - nothing to sweat on! Keiser wisely put the wheel in the rear of the bike, away from the sweat-dripping head of the rider. The result - nothing to rust up front. Equally brilliant, they did away with the primitive knob-turning brake/resistence system. Not only were these systems crude, they were prone to breakdown and wear. Worse still, every bike was a little different, so every turn of the knob produced a slightly different result on every bike. When the instructor implored the class to take a big turn to the right, you never knew if you be climbing Everest or spinning free and easy. The Keiser M3 changed all that with a revolutionary magnetic braking system. Nothing touches the flywheel, so nothing wears out. And hidden in the back of the bike, the braking system is protected from sweat and corrosion, too. - Effective user-friendly program that stimulates an outdoor ride. - Ergonomic posture and drills that help cyclists improve technique and avoid injury. - A safe and individualized instructional approach to group cycling. KEISER m Display Key Display alternates betw. Power Output (WATTS) and Kilo Calories As with all new things, the Keiser’s take a little getting used to. The smooth ride is immediately felt and seductive, but there are a few things you should know to get the most out of you ride. Here’s an overview... 81 83 100 9:00 WATTS K CAL Heart Rate Monitor Trip Time GEAR Gear........Trip Distance (Resistance........Odometer) Most revolutionary of all - the on-board computer and shifting mechanism. Now you can keep track of your ride with exactness and ease. Moreover, your gear ratio is precise - no more turn-of-the-knob guess work. When everyone is supposed to be in 12th gear, you know if you are in 12th gear ...or if you are cheating! On top of all this, they are beautiful to look at. So what’s not to like? RPM Revolutions per minute 3 7 TRIP 24 - Effective use of intensity training to maximize your workout. -I mproves strength, endurance, flexibility between mind and body. Keiser M3's Computer Features and Benefits: The computer on the new bikes is a powerful teaching tool. The computer can assist both instructor and participant by providing immediate feedback as well as tracking ongoing improvement. By experiencing cadence, power output, gears and heatrate, the cyclist benefits from a better overall and more effective workout. The more participants understand the components of a proper workout, the further they can fine tune their performance. The goal is to work more efficiently and effectively to achieve better results. Benefits of the new Keiser M3's: Line 1 - RPM - Cadence: The RPM display counts the cyclists revolutions per minute on one crank arm (Cadence). Above 140 RPM the computer will not read and the word STOP will appear, cyclist is pedaling too fast. If the cyclist is out of the saddle and wishes to retain enough resistance pedaling, it should not fall below 60 RPM's. Line 2 - POWER: The power output is displayed in Watts and kilo calories. The computer switches back and forth between Watts (displayed for 8 seconds) and kilo calories (displayed for 2 seconds) throughout the ride. Line 3 - HEART RATE: If a participant is wearing a heart rate strap and once the computer locks into the signal, the heart symbol will blink and display heart rate. You MUST wear a polar heart rate strap for this feature (available at FI). Line 4 - PEDALING or ELAPSED TIME: The numbers shown reports the total time spent cycling and will reset to zero after 60 seconds of inactivity or if the computer is reset using the gear lever. Line 5 - ODOMETER/TRIP DISTANCE and GEAR: For the first 8 seconds, the odometer will display the total distance the cycle has been ridden on right hand side and gear setting on left hand side. After 8 seconds the odometer will display trip distance and gears from 1 to 24. To view averages RPM, Watts, and heart rate, at any point in the ride, stop pedaling for 3 seconds. This will flash your averages until you start pedaling again or until the computer goes to sleep after 60 seconds. To help you take full advantage of the Bike computers, Fitness Incentive is offering two accessories: Polar Heart rate straps: You need to wear a strap for the heart rate reading on the computer to function. Computer lights: By popular acclimation, FI holds its spin classes in semi-dark black-light lit conditions. This can make seeing the bike computer difficult. The computer light clips on to the handle bars and allows you to easily view the computer screen readouts. You can purchase the light for $10, or the light and heart rate strap together for $60. Stop by the front desk. Carmella Milano is a certified Johnny G Spin Instructor who manages the Spinning Program at FI. Spring 2011 FIT to Print 27 Yo g a by Valerie Cario Why Do Yoga If... ...from page 6 Yoga Improves Just About Everything. Really! all about modifying your practice to what's right for you. Unlike other workout classes, yoga instructors guide rather than rule. The goal of yoga is to do the perfect practice for you. In time, when practiced properly under an instructor's watchful eye, yoga can help heal internal and external injuries. W hy do yoga if you're a runner…Here is a million dollar question. If you're training for a marathon and work full time, why make the time to add a yoga session in here and there? The answer, my running friends, is that when you run you are tightening the hips and hamstrings and putting a lot of unwanted pressure on your precious knees. Yoga opens and releases all these areas, and by doing this, you can help increase your stride and maybe even increase run time since you are taking better care of your muscles. Yoga also strengthens the core (not just the 6 pack abs, but the deepest muscles that you can't even see), and every good runner knows that you're nothing without core strength in the long run because a weak core equals a weak lower back, which can cause lots of unwanted pain. Why do yoga if you want to lose weight…No we don't jump up and down for an hour, but one hot yoga class can burn anywhere between 500-800 calories depending on temperature and body weight. Yoga also gives you lean muscle. Ladies (most ladies) want LEAN muscle. This means looking more long and slender. When you are picking up weights and working the same leg muscles, you can actually start looking thicker. Yoga opens and lengthens muscles, making you look longer. You also walk a little taller after a yoga class, which helps make you look leaner too. And since yoga works muscles you didn't even know you had, it can guarantee a butt kicking workout. Why do yoga if you have an injury…Yoga is all about rehabilitation. Just because at this point you can't do a handstand because you hurt your shoulder doesn't mean you can't do yoga. Yoga can be vigorous or it can be slow and relaxed. It's 28 Sister Act Why do yoga if you're an athlete…Doesn't matter what sport you play or have played, yoga will improve your performance in athletics. Physically yoga has proven to help pitchers in baseball throw better, faster, and stronger. In golf, a simple warrior 2 adjustment can change your swing. Alternate nostril breathing has been shown to improve performance by balancing out the nervous system. Not to mention that a well stretched athlete will be less likely to injure themselves during a game. Why do yoga if you're me…The reason that I do, to teach, and always look to deepen and strengthen my yoga practice goes far beyond the physical. Although, I'm not going to lie, after I spend a few days away from my mat, I start to feel some aches and pains, tightness in my lower back and hips, so of course yoga keeps my body feeling good, but I need it for much more than my physical well being. The reason I keep my practice diligent is because yoga offers me peace of mind. When I first started practicing 5 years ago, I did it because I ran a lot and never stretched. I thought it was weird that I was only 18 and couldn't touch my toes. After I became kind of committed because of how great my body felt, that was when I noticed that my practice was the only time that I focused solely on me in the present (my body, breath, movement) and nothing else. My thoughts began to run less and yoga became my mental clarifying time. At this point in my life, I don't think I could survive without yoga. It allows me to accept myself for who I am, understand the beauty of the present, and set intentions that allow my life to be more positive and meaningful. Valerie Cario is a certified Yoga Instructor who teaches and conducts workshops at Fitness Incentive. Questions? Email us at [email protected] Spring 2011 FIT to Print Pinelawn, Wellwood Avenue, “More than down a Membership… to Lindenhurst. A lot of that work ...a relationship.” ethic comes down to us from our Mom. She was strict, but she had Do phrase? Once upon to you be.recognize When ourthis Dad passed aaway—I time, itwas was ten—Mom seen (and heard) had torather a lot around thework, gym. Itand waswe kind of all a “tag quickly find kids line,” and appeared in brochures and on pitched in. All things considered… schedules, on signage, on our video a single mom with eight kids, the screens and the web site…in fact, on a youngest yet born when whole slew not of documents and she was widowed, we think did a to promotional materials. In ashe way, it is prettyIncentive terrific job.” Fitness what 'Think outside the bun' is to Taco Bell, or 'You're in good hands' is to Allstate. Both sisters also speak of “the zone.” Most exercisers, especially But it is not merely a clever remark; runners, can relate. “When I get not just anyfrom intosome it,” glib saidcaption Diane, lacking “moving meaning or connection to the institution job to job, room to room, I'm in my it refers to. It was (and is) a own world. conceived, Absorbed well-considered by the work, thoughtfully by the order…complete one task, declaration of a Fitness Incentive begin another. Kind of 'check each mission statement, accurately describing off the until atask condition welist aspire tothey're achieve,all and checked off.'toTo me it's a very want our you experience, every time our front doors open each morning. satisfying state of mind.” “And while most people might Like allof the other gyms as scattered think the nursery a place around, there's a sign out front, a where that kind of absorption parking lot in back, and a construction might be impossible,” agreed of bricks and mortar filled with exercise Linda,weight “with machines, children laughing, rooms, treadmills, and moving around, it spin bikes. But anyplaying, analysis Ioffeel what too…the feelinginevitably of beingleads in your makes FI special back element and where you belong. through dozens of distinguishing I think a lot oftowhat we do issource of characteristics the ultimate FI's one-of-a-kind vibe: thesure people. provide comfort. Make that(Oh, and areisalso a whole lot cleaner than thewe gym a place where members the A whole lot!)The people canother feel guys. comfortable about where are theare, difference-makers. They out are they can relax and work what elevates FI above the colder, more feeling that their children are safe corporate national chain gyms. and cared for, and not have to worry that something, the machines and But is there specifically, equipment pose The a threat about the people? Staff,to oftheir course, health because dirtiness must connect withof members in or a positive way. This is standard operating goal; it germs.” is a given and goes without saying. Institutions that fail to do this don't It is very much to the benefit to last very But what bothlong. members andabout staffhow thatthe Linda members connect and Diane have with foundone-another? their niches How much of what makes FI unique here, at FI. The dedication and derives from these particular expertise they bring to their work relationships? In this newsletter feature, make it a better place forabout how we seek to learn a little bit everyone. Fitness could much of a role theseIncentive member-tonot be the Best of Long member connections play inIsland creating the special environment thatsister prevails without this amazing act.at Fitness who better than Stay inIncentive. the zone,And sisters! the members themselves to tell us? Paul Smith manages Marketing for Fitness Incentive, and is responsible for all the signs you see around the gym. He’s a regular contributor to these pages. ...World Figure Champion continued from page 24 resume training at that level. There is a tremendous amount of science to be considered…it can't be approached ignorantly or casually. 10/12/2010: Self-administered pep-talks. I'd say to myself, “I have 24 hours in a day, and a total of “x” number of days to train for this competition. Today, here and now, this is just 1 hour out of my day. I'll have 23 full hours left to see to all the other demands and responsibilities.” Here's where a lot of people get hung up. They look at the big picture, instead of hour-tohour, day-to-day. You have to have small goals each and every day. If you break it down that way, before you know it, you've reached your goal. If you keep it to small, daily goals, when you reach your goal you realize you have actually surpassed the original goal you set for yourself and what you set out to do, without having experienced the feeling of being overwhelmed. 10/27/10: Blood work, again. Right before the show I had blood work again, and the thryroid medication hadn't worked! It was a tiny dose of a natural therapy, a natural remedy, but it was not working at all. My doctor looked at me and at the blood work, and said “These numbers are not consistent with the person I'm looking at. What are you doing, and how are you doing it?” I told him, basically, that I knew the obstacles I had to overcome, I knew I had to push myself a little bit harder. In short, I overcame this obstacle mentally. He said, “I'm looking at these numbers and at you and honestly, I don't know how you're looking the way you are. I have no idea how you did this.” 11/1/2010: The home stretch. Honestly, I was really blown away by where I was able to get. I really was. I mean, I knew I could get into shape again once I really started, but I didn't have any idea I could get my physique to that competitive level, into championship shape to the extent that I did in that time-frame. It was especially true of my midsection. I could see every individual ab muscle. I was amazed by what I'd accomplished. And, of course, I compete naturally, so there are no tricks, no miracle pills, it's all nutrition and hard core training. 11/13/2010: The WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation) World Championships. The day of the championship, there were women from all over the world competing. Every one of them brought a championship physique. The competition was fierce. I went head to head with another competitor who had a great physique, had done really well in years past and had won the title two years previous. She was in the short class and I was in the tall. We each won our classes, and were then brought out for the overall. I was just, like, sweating. When they called my name, well, I can't tell you. All those 3:30 AM cardio hours… Every emotion possible just overwhelmed me…my daughter and husband joined me on stage, and it was the most amazing experience. It was almost like time stood still. No, it hadn't always been easy. Working full-time while a full-time mother, fulltime wife… It came down to a question Today, here and now, this is just 1 hour out of my day. I'll have 23 full hours left to see to all the other demands and responsibilities. of organizing the entire day, and being flexible when called upon to do so. Realizing that things don't always go as planned, and being able, when they don't, to re-organize and juggle pretty quickly…to be quick on your feet. Not rocket science, but definitely a combination of discipline and flexibility. A remark I heard more than once was, “Oh, yes, you had a baby, but you were in shape already…that's why you bounced back so fast…” Not at all. In terms of getting back into shape, especially the kind of condition you need to be in to compete, the shape I was in before Bella's birth was immaterial. It's one thing to know or assume that someone is good at a thing, but it's another to actually see them go through the process. Members and my clients were able to see how my body changed over the course of the pregnancy and in the months of training after the birth. They could observe for themselves the impact that proper training—nutrition and exercise—will actually have. They could see how the theory and practice were applied and the results that were generated. I now have a whole other level of rapport with members, especially with women who have themselves been through this. It wasn't like the impressions you might get watching a show like 'The Biggest Spring 2011 FIT to Print Loser', where the trainers are in shape and apparently have always been. Members and clients have seen for themselves that I haven't always been in this shape, that I had to fight back through the changes, work hard, and have my physique transform day by day. It works against the idea that many people allow to develop: “I can't do that, it's too hard…it's impossible.” They are defeated before they even glimpse what's possible. It's easy to reach a point where you think, “Oh, I can't.” You have to flip that around. Not “I can't do this,” but “How can I do it? What can I do to get through this?” When many people train, they are thinking about a million different things. But successful training requires you to concentrate on what you are doing. You have to get inside your body, and focus intently on the muscle you are working. Visualize the result you want. How you want it to look. You will achieve so much faster this way, as opposed to “I don't know why I'm doing this,” or “I'm thinking about what to fix for dinner, or laundry, or work…” There is a mind-to-muscle connection. Anyone can learn how to make it happen. S ince the competition, Amy has been very busy. She's been traveling a lot, appearing and speaking at seminars and workshops, most recently in Georgia, and Massachusetts. She has also been developing a program that will bring these workshops to Fitness Incentive. They will cover all phases of preparation and competition: training, posing and the walk, wardrobe, hair and makeup…everything that goes into training and preparing to compete. The workshops will be for everyone: people who are interested in competing, but also those who are just curious to see what goes into it and want to learn about what goes on behind-the-scenes in the world of competitive fitness modeling. Amy hopes the program will roll out sometime in the later Spring. It would be easy to see Amy's story as one of almost superhuman achievement, but she is quick to refute any such claims. Throughout the telling of the tale, Amy kept declaring that her accomplishment was more than anything evidence that there is nothing particularly unique or mysterious about achievement—it almost invariably comes down to dedication and hard work. Amy firmly believes that we all possess the innate ability to demonstrate our best efforts and reach a declared goal. “If I can do it,” she often repeated, “anyone can.” Paul Smith manages Marketing for Fitness Incentive, and is responsible for all the signs you see around the gym. He’s a regular contributor to these pages. 29 One Source for All Your Real Estate Needs Under One Roof BUNGER Surf Shop NY’s MOST COMPLETE SURF SHOP SINCE 1962 As both an Attorney and a Licensed NYS Real Estate Broker, Anthony Focarile is uniquely qualified to assist you with all aspects of residential & commercial real estate transactions, from finding or selling a home, to residential and commercial contracts, title search, and mortgage services. Mr. Focarile also provides credit counseling, foreclosure rescue services, as well as foreclosure searches and wills. Call today for a free consultation. 20% off your entire purchase with this ad Mortgage Broker Title Insurance Anthony N. 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Ask us for details. actual case by Dr. Proto restorative, aesthetic and implant dentistry Christopher Proto, D.D.S By Appointment 30 631.669.2330 Spring 2011 FIT to Print @ FI continued from page 3 It’s fast paced class based on the Tabata circuit training method, and it aims to “burn fat and boost cardio endurance. It’s a must-go class for all Marianela fans! Fit To Be Certified controls. If you’ve never tried spin, this may be the excuse you’ve been waiting for. If you have, you already know what I’m talking about. These are simply the best spin bikes ever made. And we have them, here, at FI. TRX Goes Alfresco! The demand for TRX training has driven it out of the gym...and onto the carport! Yes, TRX has gone alfresco. If you like working out in the great outdoors (albeit a parking lot), then this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. You're at FI and you’re outside - what could be better? If you’re interested in trying TRX Suspension training, stop by the front desk. It’s a great workout, surprisingly affordable, and now, it’s in the great outdoors. (for more about TRX, see the article on page 4). Iron man Bob McKweon, FI member, Fantastic Four champion and Iron Man Triathlete is also a Triathalon coach. His organization, South Shore Tri Coach will be hosting a Triathalon Training Seminar Series this spring at FI. This fast growing sport is a great way for fitness enthusiasts to take their training up a Fitness Incentive is culminating it’s second Instructor Training program with an in-house AFAA Primary Group Exercise Certification. The program will take place on Sunday, April 3rd from 9am - 6pm. You can go to http://www.afaa.com for more information. If you plan on attending, call AFAA to register and mention that you are from FI to get a home-field discount on the program. 2011 Swim-a-Thon When he’s not teaching yoga at FI, Ron Marino, is a better known as Doctor Ron of Winthrop University Hospital. Every year they host a Swim-a-Thon to benefit the hospital’s Child Life program. This year, the event will take place on Sunday, April 10th from 7am - 11am at the Hofstra University Swim Center. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children and students. You can also help the cause without getting wet by buying a raffle ticket or ten at Fitness Incentive. Tickets are on sale at the desk from March 27th through April 10th. This is a great cause that we are proud to support - please give generously. Meet Mike... Our newest personal trainer is Michael Fariello. Mike is an ASCM Certified Personal Trainer with 15 years of personal experience He knows how time consuming not to mention frustrating - it can be to work hard but not get the results you want. Thus his motto: "work smarter not harder". Mike is available for a free consultation. Stop by the desk if you would like to meet him. On Trial... We occasionally get the opportunity to check out new equipment on a trial basis, which is not only fun but also gives us an opportunity to learn about exciting new equipment before it goes viral. We recently enjoyed a 3 month trial with the Woodway Ecomill, the world’s greenest treadmill - primarily because you provide all the power. For what it’s worth, I personally loved it. It was probably the toughest treadmill workout I ever had, plus the ability to go from a walk to a near sprint and back to a walk in mere seconds was nothing like I had ever experienced on a powered treadmill. We’re looking to find a home for one or two of these in the very near future. Right now, we have another unique piece on loan - the Helix Lateral Trainer. This is a cardio piece that has a completely different take on the elliptical. Instead of moving north-south, this machine has you moving east-west. It’s hard to explain but pretty easy to get the hang of - you can watch a how-to video on our facebook site. The machine is tremendous at targeting the inner and outer thighs and the butt - areas that many of you tell us you are also looking to target. Try it out if you get a moment and let us know what you think! notch, as well as to compete in many “fun” (grueling?) events around the island and the country (see article on page 12). There will be two informational kickoff meetings - March 28th at 7pm and April 2nd at 9am. These are free and provide you with the details of the seminar series, which can be purchased in whole or in parts. Stop by the desk to register if you are interested. Fitness Goes 3D... Marianela has a long history of bringing exciting, innovative programs to FI, like Zumba and Kettletorch. Her followers have anxiously been awaiting her next move, and now it’s here: 3D FIT. 3D FIT is a free half-hour class that is taught by Marianela on Saturday mornings at 7:30am. (See the article on page 19.) Spring 2011 FIT to Print Peace, Love, Fitness... Time to spruce up your spring wardrobe? Check out the new distressed retro FI Logo Wear in the boutique. Very cool stuff, man. Pain Pain Go Away... We’re happy to welcome Howard Schwartz, MD and Krystal Sukhdeo, RPA-C to Incentives Salon & Spa. Dr. Schwartz and Ms. Sukhdeo are offering Trigger Point Therapy and Pain Management services through the spa. Their treatments are effective for a widerange of chronic pain, including headaches, neck and back pain, tennis elbow and knee pain. There’s no need to suffer - stop in for an appointment today, or call 631-893-3490. Have a Happy, Healthy & Fit Spring! 31 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID HICKSVILLE, NY PERMIT NO. 385 To Print Print To The official newsletter of Fitness Incentive 157 Deer Park Ave., Babylon NY 11702 [email protected] Designers and Builders of Award Winning Landscapes 2010 LIBI Double Diamond Exterior Passive Softscape 2010 LIBI Diamond Exterior Active Hardscape 2010 LINLA Gold Award Environmental Enhancement Single Family Residence Please call today to discuss how we can help you achieve excellence in your landscape ASSOCIATES LANDSCAPE CORP. Terri Associates 245 Orinoco Drive Brightwaters, NY 11718 631.968.4882 View our online portfolio at www.terriassoc.com