Merritt Clubs Blog

As the saying goes, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Among the world’s most popular fruit, there’s a lot of truth to this old adage. Apples are high in fiber, Vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants. They are filling and can be used in a variety of ways: sweet recipes, savory recipes, juices, sauces, drinks…the list goes on and on.

It’s a joke in my family that whenever someone asks, “How are you?”, the answer is always “I’m fine.” When I was young and would call my grandparents, they were always fine, and so were we. When my Dad was sick, and even until the day before he passed, friends, family, and doctors asked him how he was and he always said, “I’m fine.” And even now, when I’m feeling stress and anxiety (and lately there’s been a lot of that for me), people ask, “How are you?” and my answer is always (and will continue to be) “I’m fine.”

In 1997, my grandmother lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 73. Since I was so young, most of my memories of her consist of how magnanimous she was, that she inspired my love of sewing, and the little blue pillow she carried around to make herself more comfortable.

Staying active and fit is not just for the top athletes in prime shape. Whether you have a physical limitation which reduces the amount of time you can walk or a recent or chronic injury preventing you from moving at your max, there are still ways for you to squeeze in those walks. The key to exercising when you have a limitation or injury is to not overdo anything. Stay within your limitations by taking short walks and listening to your body. By heeding to the following suggestions, you will be able to stay fit and active through your recovery by taking short walks throughout the day. 

School hasn’t even been back in session for a full month, and yet, do you find yourself already bored packing the same lunches day after day? Does that PB&J look a little lackluster? Are you stumped for ideas of how to spice up both you and your kids’ lunch boxes? Look no further for a little inspiration to keep lunches not only fun and different, but healthy and full of essential nutrients to power your family through school and work, and to keep them energized through after-school activities, sports, and gym time.

Public schools started last week, and classes are now in full swing. Time to focus on improving students’ performance in the classroom. Most people agree that physical activity is essential for healthy growth and development of the body. But did you know physical activity also has positive effects on the brain and on school performance?

When Tribe Team Training came to Merritt Clubs a few years ago, I fell in love with everything: the unique exercises and formatting of the sessions, the team and coaches, the massive improvements I saw during each six-week season. I didn’t participate in sports growing up. So for the first time ever, I found myself working out alongside others and actually achieving more personally as a result of the encouragement (and, at times, friendly competition) from my teammates.

Going to the gym on an empty stomach isn't for everyone. Though you burn more calories working out without eating first, it is likely that you will not have enough energy to do an intense workout. Eating a small pre-workout meal will give you adequate fuel and nourishment to build the muscle you want. Save the hearty meal for a post-workout because if you eat a full meal beforehand, you will be tired and it will lead to stomach cramps.

With fall looming in the distance and signs of Back to School sales in abundance, it seems like we blinked our eyes and summer is quickly coming to an end. Fortunately, there are still several weeks left of sunshine, long days, warm nights, and fun-filled activities. Make the most of the rest of the Dog Days of Summer and check some items off your summer bucket list before breaking out the sweaters and snow boots. Have a last hurrah, get out of the gym and get your exercise in while spending time with your friends and family. Here are some fun and active ways to make the most of the rest of your summer.   

After teaching BODY PUMP last night, a member told me that I always make the workout look easy. Well, that was news to me! It was a tough class and at times I felt like I was struggling to complete a block of work. But, it made me think…why is it that some days we are bursting with energy and others we have to fight to finish (or even begin) a workout? And, what can we do to push through when fatigue or the occasional lack of motivation threaten to derail our daily exercise routine?