Pregnant and Fit: Andrea Goldstone

I’ve always been passionate about health and fitness, and as a high school and college athlete, exercise science was a clear path for me. I not only love working out and feeling healthy, but I also enjoy helping others accomplish their goals and changing their lives – which led me to Fitcorp. I worked as a trainer at our BRC location for 4 years, followed by 2.5 years as Client Service Manager at Fitcorp’s Summer Street location, and am now a General Manager at our Copley location. I’ve enjoyed every position I’ve held at Fitcorp and love working with a group of people who share the same passion for fitness as I do. It’s also a nice perk to have fitness equipment in your office, as there are no excuses for not exercising.

Last spring I decided that I wanted to get back on track with running and really focus on speed and less on long distances. I can honestly say through the Cardio Transformation group training program at Summer Street Fitcorp, I got myself into the best running shape of my life in a matter of 12 weeks. I recently ran a timed mile faster than what I did in college. At 29, I was pretty excited about this accomplishment! I also was able to run 7-8 miles comfortably. Previously 4 miles was about my distance limit. Speed and interval work was a huge missing link in my past running programs, and this program really brought the pieces together for me. In addition to 3 days of running per week and 2 days on the Stairmaster for cross training, I also strength trained 3 days a week.

On my one-year wedding anniversary in September, I found out I was pregnant and was very excited! I knew this would bring some changes to my work-out program but vowed that I would still continue to work out and have always said that I would exercise until the day I gave birth (We’ll see if I can keep that promise!). The first 2 months of pregnancy presented its challenges because I was so tired and not quite up to par, but I continued to exercise anyway. I subtracted the intervals and speed work from my program but continued running 3-4 miles a few days a week. I continued this until about 8 weeks of pregnancy at which point I found my running endurance was more of a challenge and my posture/gait was starting to change. For the next 4 weeks I split up my miles and incorporated them with my strength training (run a mile, do a circuit of strength work, run another mile, etc.). At 12 weeks, I decided running just wasn’t as enjoyable now that I’m pregnant and decided to work on the Stairmaster and elliptical for the rest of my pregnancy. Some people can run through their entire pregnancy and I envy them.

I’m currently 21.5 weeks and due on May 17. With the exception of battling a recent cold, I’ve stayed pretty consistent on my 5-day-a-week workout plan (5 days cardio and 2 days strength training). On the days I do strength training, I do 30 minutes of cardio, and on other days, I try to do 45 minutes - 1 hour. Exercise is definitely more challenging, but I feel so much better after I do it! Stretching is a bit more challenging now that I can’t lie on my back, but I find ways to do it. Stepping on the scale and seeing the numbers climb despite my efforts in the gym has been something I’ve had to adjust to. It really bothered me at first, but now I understand that it’s out of my control and I’m gaining weight because my baby needs it. I’ve realized that, even with this happening, I can still be fit!

I’ve read so many positive articles on exercising and pregnancy and I am keeping my fingers crossed that my labor will be short and sweet since I’ve kept my body strong and fit (Stay tuned for that update in May!). There’s not question about it, exercising while you are pregnant is harder, but you feel SO much better…it’s well worth the extra sweat. On that note, I’m heading to the Stairmaster! Stay tuned for next week’s workout…

Fitcorp is proud to help Women's Resource Center in Boston

Fitcorp is committed this year to helping the families from the Women's Resource Center in Boston have one gift under the tree this year for each of the family members. Help us help them. Gift cards are always great.

Please review the list of items. Let us know who you can purchase a gift for and what Fitcorp you can drop the gift off. Please bring your marked (with name of person the gift is for) and wrapped gift to any Fitcorp by Dec 22. Email cindy@otwadv.com or call us at 781-729-7229 for more details.

• Lexis Age 10. Toys”R”Us gift card
• Faith Age 2. Gift card to Toys”R”Us or age appropriate toy
• Marie Age 18. Gift card for a winter coat
• Female Age 3. Doll Set
• Chris Age 16. Clothing gift card
• Richema Age 18. clothing gift card
• Alexis Age 16. Clothing Gift card
• Caleb Months old. toys for infant or gift card to Target, Walmart or Toys”R”Us
• Male Age 14. Gift Card
• Samantha Age 17 College Dorm supplies

Did This Doctor Break the Law?

Just when it seems like things can’t get any worse for Tiger Woods, the whirlwind of speculation and rumors surrounding him have now become sports-related.

The New York Times website reported Monday that a Canadian doctor who treated Woods at least four times after his knee surgery in 2008, is now being investigated by the FBI for allegedly supplying professional athletes with performance-enhancing drugs.

The Canadian sports medicine pioneer, Dr. Anthony Galea, was found with Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Actovegin, a drug extracted from calf’s blood, in his medical bag at the U.S.-Canadian border in late September, and was later arrested on October 15, the report said. Prescribing HGH is legal in Canada, and is acceptable for some purposes in the United States, but using, selling, or importing Actovegin is illegal in the United States.

Galea became famous in the professional sports world for his development of a blood-spinning technique called platelet-rich plasma therapy, which is an FDA-approved injection-based therapy that speeds up a person’s recovery after surgery. He said he has been using HGH for personal use for 10 years but has never given it out to any professional athletes.

So, we at Fitcorp are wondering if the law is actually being broken here?

Read the article, and let us know what you think?

What do you have to lose but some weight?

We spend our days here at Fitcorp trying to convince the 60% of American's who are overweight that joining Fitcorp will make their lives better. They will feel better, look better and be healthier. It is so hard to see people choose an inactive lifestyle over a healthy lifestyle when the benefits of a regular fitness routine are so profoundly beneficial to everyone.
What makes our jobs here have significant meaning is when we hear back that we did "make a difference". It is the gas that keeps our engines going.
I mean we see folks every day making new and better choices with their lives but when it is validated, it is an amazing feeling.
Below is a letter that we received from a member who has tasted her own personal victory and she feels better now because of it.
We want everyone to feel the benefits of a healthier and more active lifestyle. That is why we are offering a once in a lifetime deal. It's our way of helping you get in better shape. Take the plunge at Fitcorp and you too can start feeling better each and every day.

What do you have to lose but some weight?
Gary Klechenski
President. Fitcorp.


Dear Scott:
As we wind up our Challenge this morning (I'll be there for the weigh-in soon), it seemed the appropriate time to offer some words of praise for Brendon and for the Challenge itself. While my team is finishing last (or, as Brendon in his typically positive way puts it, "tied for third"), and while I didn't lose as much weight as I'd hoped, I'll still come away a winner. Why? Because I'm wearing clothes I haven't been able to wear in 3 years. Because I am sleeping better and have more energy. Because my commitment to getting in peak condition and then staying healthy has been renewed. And because I have learned an amazingly broad range of new ways to work out. All of this is due to Brendon and his Challenge.

I've known Brendon for years now, through my membership at Fitcorp, and I have always liked him and had high regard for him (as I do for all of you who work here at Reservoir Place Fitcorp; your team is exceptional.). However, the experience of going through all these classes with Brendon has given me a new and profound respect for his knowledge, his professionalism, and his ability to inspire. Brendon demonstrated in every class his command of physical conditioning, and his ability to adapt exercises to accommodate individual needs. I am the oldest participant in this project, and I have rotator cuff issues, joint issues and I managed to break a toe in the last week, but Brendon never let my issues slow the class down nor allowed me to slack off. He seamlessly adjusted whatever we were doing (weights, core work, "boot camp", whatever) to make it possible for me to learn, get a good workout and remain a good team member, and he did so without interrupting the flow for the others.

Perhaps most importantly, Brendon has the gift to inspire his pupils. He may be demanding (that's the point of the Challenge, I think), but he is ceaselessly positive, too. He never, ever makes anyone (even me) feel inadequate or foolish, and he is endlessly encouraging, making us feel we actually cando it. And so we do. That's a gift.

The proof of all this is that I (and everyone I've talked to who participated) can't wait for Round Two. We know we're going to learn, that we're going to challenge ourselves, that we're going to be smarter and stronger and healthier, and that regardless of where we place in the contest, we're going to be winners. I'll never be able to adequately thank Brendon for all of that. We-and Fitcorp- are lucky to have him!


Best regards,
Laurie

Fitcorp Hosts Seminar for Boston’s Corporate Community on the Economic Benefits of Fitness and Wellness Programs

Last Friday, November 6, 2009 Fitcorp conducted a seminar for the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on the economic benefits of corporate fitness and wellness programs. Over the past 12 months the economic climate has made companies think long and hard about wellness initiatives. What has been interesting to us at Fitcorp is that for the most part, after careful consideration, our clients have opted to continue with the wellness and fitness benefits they provide their employees through Fitcorp. They determined that the up-side far outweighed the financial burdens. It is a proven fact that many of the health problems that are driving up health care costs can be avoided through diet, exercise and other preventive health measures. By promoting exercise, nutrition, smoking cessation and other health promotion programs we can improve the quality of one’s life and dramatically reduce healthcare costs. With the increase of healthcare initiatives in discussion in our legislature, this was a hot topic that we knew would be an interesting topic for many companies.
The seminar consisted of a panel discussion led by Mike Parent, Fitcorp’s Senior Vice President. The panelists were James Blue, President and CEO of The Bostonian Group, Helen Durkin, Director of Government Relations for the International Health, Racquet Assoication, and Tina Wiskow, Sr. Benefits Project Manager, John Hancock Financial Services.

Mr. Blue discussed how companies have seen their health insurance premiums increase by over 80% since 2000. Much of these costs are attributed to illnesses that are preventable. Clearly, there is a need for employers to help their employees establish healthy lifestyles. What money that is invested in preventative healthcare and wellness is paid back exponentially.

Ms. Wiskow described the types of health promotion programs that the John Hancock Financial Services has implemented over the past 10 years. Subsidized health club memberships, health risk appraisals, walking clubs and weight loss programs have been implemented. The result has been a win/win situation for the employee and John Hancock. As a healthier workforce has had a positive impact on the company’s bottom line resulting in lower health care costs, improved productivity, fewer medical claims and reduce absenteeism.

Finally, Ms. Durkin discussed two of the legislative bills that have been proposed on the federal level. The first is the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act. Under current law, employers and employees may be discouraged from offering or using a health benefit of membership to a health club. That's because while employees are not taxed for the benefit of using an in-house workout facility, they are forced to report the benefit of a membership to an off-site fitness facility as additional income. This forces employers to deal with more IRS paperwork and increases employees' taxes for using their benefits. This act would resolve this tax inequity.

The second bill proposed in Washington is the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act, which will significantly reduce physical fitness costs for the American public, giving them a greater incentive to join a fitness facility or purchase exercise equipment. This will help individual fitness facilities by making fitness facility memberships even more affordable.

The discussion was lively and gave us all pause to consider the real benefits we provide our employees when we bring wellness and fitness into our workplaces

Fitcorp has been helping Boston’s Business Community reduce their health care costs for over 30 years. For more information on how we can help your company call Mike Parent at 617 375-5600 x114.