HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Page 14 March 2018
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
FITNESS TIPS FROM COACH VENUS
Let ’ s face it ; it ’ s a lot easier to take off your cover-up on the beach when your core is strong , right ? We all know it ’ s one thing to lose weight , but it takes time and effort to earn a six-pack . As always , it ’ s your choice , so pot belly or a six-pack , which would you choose ?
The U . S . government recommends adults get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week . According to the CDC , 80 % of American adults barely get 30 minutes per week , which sets them up for years of health problems . If exercise is so beneficial for you , why do so many people hate to do it ? As a Wellness Coach , I ’ ve heard tons of excuses , but my favorite are the ones I ’ ve used in the past :
• Time . I absolutely hate commuting to the gym .
• My body . At 100lbs overweight , my butt looked horrible in yoga pants .
• Sweat means a bad hair day .
• Soreness . I don ’ t like pain .
Life is all about perspective so let ’ s take the six-pack off the table for now and focus on how to move past the excuses long enough to reap the benefits of routine exercise . The first tip is to make exercise a habit . Start by taking the stairs instead of the elevator . You can also try parking in the last row at the grocery store or going for a walk after dinner . According to habit research , the average number of days to make a new habit stick is 66 . Of course , the more complicated the change , the longer it takes to solidify the behavior which is why it ’ s ok to take baby steps in the beginning .
It ’ s a scientific fact that exercise builds endurance , gives us a more efficient cardiovascular system , increases our energy level and relieves stress . Here are a few other benefits to consider from a different perspective .
• Time . Now , I work out 30 minutes a day from home .
• My body . After losing 100 lbs , my body is healthy and toned .
• Sweat cools the body and keeps me safe , we ’ ve all had bad hair days
• Soreness is a privilege I ’ ve earned
Keep in mind that exercise is just one portion of a successful wellness program . Eating and exercise are not separate issues . They are intimately connected to you , and when combined , they give you the best overall long-term health benefits .
Coach Venus , MBA , MAFM
HEALTH AND FITNESS CAN BE ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL
When
coming up with a fun , lowcost form of entertainment , your first thought may not be exercise or healthy eating . MaryBeth Hornbeck , County Extension Agent with UGA Extension , wants to challenge that thought . With a little bit of education , a safe place to ask questions , and a supportive group dynamic , exercise can become a fun way to improve your health .
This winter , she ’ s been offering Walk-a-Weigh three times a week at sites around the county , namely Johnson Park and AWAKE Coffee Community . The 8-week program is based on the most recent research surrounding weight control and healthy eating . Hornbeck has been thrilled with the reception for the pilot ; there are 50 participants in its opening season .
Each week , the class learns about topics like eating out healthfully , incorporating more fruits and vegetables and how to read the nutrition label . Hornbeck believes that the key to lifelong success is incremental changes that you can maintain for life .
The participants share their weekly successes and find solutions for their specific challenges in the kitchen or with exercise . To close the class , they walk together for 30 minutes , further discussing the topic and getting to know each other .
One participant said they signed up because they “ wanted to start the year off making better choices . Other programs I tried quickly became a chore . This seems more focused on healthy eating and lifestyle changes .” Another said , “ To be honest , I was not the most enthusiast person when my wife and daughter both asked if I would attend Walk-a-Weigh . I knew that we could benefit from a little exercise ( and I could lose about 15 pounds myself ) and the thought of sampling different healthy food sounded interesting . So , I said okay I would give it a try , and I am glad that I did .”
Walk-a-Weigh is an excellent opportunity to find like-minded friends or walking buddies . The class at Johnson Park utilizes the beautiful trail around the grounds . At AWAKE , the group walks through Olde Town Conyers or on the newest expansion of the PATH trail . Some participants even share other places they like to walk ! Having a group or a friend to walk with makes it more of a social engagement than a chore and that ’ s the whole point !
Due to the overwhelmingly positive response , UGA Extension plans to offer Walk-a-Weigh again in the fall . For more information , contact MaryBeth Hornbeck at 770-278-7373 or marybeth . hornbeck @ uga . edu .
MaryBeth Hornbeck UGA Extension Office
4-H County Extension Agent
If you are in the sphere of health and fitness in the East Atlanta area , you have probably already heard about Push by Alcovy Fitness . Push opened in the Fall of 2016 . The gym is located in Covington , right off the exit off of I-20 , on Turner Lake Road . Push is a breath of fresh air in the exercise world . The concept of Push is very similar to Orange Theory Fitness .
Photo by Jodi Atkins
The program is personalized for everyone because they take your age , gender , and weight and develop a plan that works best for you . The program is useful for anyone with any health condition . Each person comes in and is fitted for a heart rate monitor that is programmed with your information . The Push class is full of individuals who are all working towards their specific
$ 1 T O S T A R T
7275 Turner Lake Rd NW Covington , Ga 30014
W H E N Y O U S H O W T H I S P R O M O T I O N | ( 7 7 0 ) 7 2 8 - 1 2 3 7
goals . Pam Stillerman , the owner of Push says , “ it ’ s kind of like organized chaos ,” because half of the room is working on cardio and the other half could be working on circuit training . However , each classroom has a licensed coach who walks around and pushes you to maintain your orange or even red level heart rate , depending on what your goal . Pam says the program is successful because it is , “ a wonderful collection of psychology , physiology a n d technology .” The purpose is to physically push your body to the desired limits while using the technology of the monitoring system to continue to motivate your psyche . All three of these facets are
extremely attractive to the younger generation .
Push is also one of the few gyms in our area with childcare ! Which is one of the reason I was drawn to this gym . The childcare center is well-staffed with trained people who are also investing in these children while mommy and daddy are working out . Childcare is what sets Push apart from its covering gym , Alcovy Fitness which has been growing tremendously and has filled every inch of their building with devoted members and with that the Stillermans decided to branch off and start Push to target the market of the younger generation .
Liz Stillerman , assistant manager and professional ballerina , joined the team the fall of 2017 , as the Assistant Manager of Push and she has been an amazing addition to the team ! Do you know how exciting ( or scary ) it is to have a professional ballerina teaching your barre class ? Push is set apart from other gyms because their membership not only includes free weights , treadmills , ellipticals and weight machines but it also includes specialty classes . Barre is one of these , as well as the Push class and Cycle . Cycle is just like Spin , a high-intensity stationary bicycle riding class . The unique aspect of Push is that they include Barre as one of their classes . Barre classes are mostly done at high-end , singular studios , and the prices definitely reflect . At Push , Barre is included in your membership which means you are paying much less . The value of the membership is much higher than the affordable monthly price you would be paying .
All of the trainers at Push are certified as personal trainers . They have put in a lot of time and effort to being qualified to lead as the fittest community in America and are a dedicated group of people . The wonderful Pam Stillerman who founded Alcovy Fitness and Push serves along side Misty Ellington , the driven and highly motivated General Manager and Becky Vity , an empowering and engaging personal trainer . Take some time and check out their business announcement here in the eMetro Times and stop by for a visit at Push just off I-20 in Convington , Georgia .
Lauren Roberts Editor