Merritt Clubs Blog

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Guess the Ravens vs. Steelers score for a chance to WIN a FREE SMOOTHIE!

Enter on Facebook Here OR Enter on the Web HERE

Good-luck!

With a particular pilgrim laden holiday on the horizon, our best health clubs' registered dietitians couldn't help but feel compelled to dish on why turkey is more than just delish. So what is it, besides taste, that makes turkeys one of America’s most beloved Thanksgiving staples? Momentarily stop the clock on your treadmill and check out our forkful of facts:

Every time you reach across the Thanksgiving table for a slice of turkey, you’re adding to your day’s protein intake. And we all know that our bodies need plenty of protein. The Center for Disease Control recommends that we eat anywhere between 13 and 56 grams per day, depending on our total body weight, age and lifestyle. It should also be noted that each 33 gram serving of breast meat alone is likely to net a person 6 grams of the invaluable stuff.

In addition to body enriching protein, that helping of mom’s roast turkey is also apt to be reach in potassium, B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. They’re all essential to maintaining health too, especially the selenium. Known as an immune system boosting antioxidant, it could help stave off that winter cold as well. And who wants to spend the holidays sneezing and miserable? Certainly not our best health clubs’ members and staff.

Do you desire beautiful skin, a persistent smile and a well rested state of mind? Well, a healthy serving of holiday bird can do that for you too, thanks to those B vitamins that we mentioned earlier and tryptophan. They play a critical role in melatonin and serotonin production, which are two other things that our bodies crave.

Lastly, holiday turkey tends to be very low in fat, unless of course your family loves to dunk a bird or two into oversized fryers. In that case, the low fat benefit will end up out the window. Plus, you’ll have the extra stress of having to make sure that the fryer doesn’t catch fire. To learn more from our best health clubs’ registered dietitians in time for Thanksgiving and other holiday meals, please contact us today.

With a particular pilgrim laden holiday on the horizon, our best health clubs' registered dietitians couldn't help but feel compelled to dish on why turkey is more than just delish. So what is it, besides taste, that makes turkeys one of America’s most beloved Thanksgiving staples? Momentarily stop the clock on your treadmill and check out our forkful of facts:

Every time you reach across the Thanksgiving table for a slice of turkey, you’re adding to your day’s protein intake. And we all know that our bodies need plenty of protein. The Center for Disease Control recommends that we eat anywhere between 13 and 56 grams per day, depending on our total body weight, age and lifestyle. It should also be noted that each 33 gram serving of breast meat alone is likely to net a person 6 grams of the invaluable stuff.

In addition to body enriching protein, that helping of mom’s roast turkey is also apt to be reach in potassium, B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. They’re all essential to maintaining health too, especially the selenium. Known as an immune system boosting antioxidant, it could help stave off that winter cold as well. And who wants to spend the holidays sneezing and miserable? Certainly not our best health clubs’ members and staff.

Do you desire beautiful skin, a persistent smile and a well rested state of mind? Well, a healthy serving of holiday bird can do that for you too, thanks to those B vitamins that we mentioned earlier and tryptophan. They play a critical role in melatonin and serotonin production, which are two other things that our bodies crave.

Lastly, holiday turkey tends to be very low in fat, unless of course your family loves to dunk a bird or two into oversized fryers. In that case, the low fat benefit will end up out the window. Plus, you’ll have the extra stress of having to make sure that the fryer doesn’t catch fire. To learn more from our best health clubs’ registered dietitians in time for Thanksgiving and other holiday meals, please contact us today.

Now that autumn is here, why not exercise your options with delicious, healthy pumpkins? They are rich in everything from vitamin A, phytosterols, carotenoids and fiber to tryptophan, potassium and vitamin C. So they’ll definitely help put a boost in your step and perhaps help improve your vision. Need ideas on what to make?

Pumpkin Spread with Rice Cakes

Try whipping up a batch of creamy, spicy pumpkin spread to enjoy with rice cakes, seasonal fruit or graham crackers. It may be made in advance and safely stored in the refrigerator for a few days. Here’s what you’ll need:

• ½ cup SPLENDA® Brown Sugar Blend
• 2 cups Fresh Pumpkin Puree
• 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 8 oz. Greek Yogurt

Toss the SPLENDA® Brown Sugar Blend, pumpkin pie spice and ground cinnamon together first. Then mix it into the fresh pumpkin puree. When you’re done, fold in the Greek yogurt until the ingredients are well blended and serve as desired.

Baked Pumpkin Croquettes

If you have at least ¾ cup of the spicy pumpkin puree leftover, consider making baked croquettes. Combine the spicy puree, minus the Greek yogurt, with the following ingredients and form the mixture into whole grain bread crumb coated croquettes:

• ¼ cup Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• ¼ cup Steel-Cut Oatmeal
• 8 oz. Chickpea Puree
• 1 tbsp. Chia Seeds

Once you have the croquettes formed, pop them into the freezer for two hours. Then preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. After it reaches temperature, bake the croquettes on a non-stick or greased cookie sheet until they are cooked through and brown. They may be eaten plain or with a sauce of your choosing.

To uncover more ways to exercise your options with pumpkins and other fall garden delights, please contact us. Our nutritionists are always willing to share information with Merritt Athletic Club members seeking to better manage their health.

All of us here at Baltimore's best gym and fitness club want to remind everyone that it’s Emotional Wellness Month. And as many family doctors have pointed out over the years, the condition of our bodies has the potential to impact our emotions. So this is the perfect week to sign up for a gym and fitness club membership.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends physical exercise, healthy eating, forming social bonds and developing relaxation routines as some of the best ways to achieve emotional wellness. And you’ll find opportunities to do all four at our Merritt Athletic Clubs locations. Just look at our list of health and wellness programs alone. It includes, but isn’t restricted to the following:

• Lunchtime Fitness Sessions with Personal Trainers
• Health Counseling and Wellness Coaching
• Get Fit, Stay Fit Support Groups
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Anti-Aging Workouts for Seniors
• Fit & Pregnant Classes

We’ve also got a short list of fitness club programs and amenities designed to help people toss away their stress. It includes group fitness, yoga, pilates, dance, aquatics, gymnastics and massage. Of course some folks may find sweating the stress out during a kickboxing class or elliptical workout helpful too.

Plus, there’s something for all members of the family, including the kids. They may enjoy our XRKade, camps, birthday parties and classes. Parents, on the other hand, rave about our onsite childcare services. They make it possible for moms and dads to get a workout in even when their kids’ regular babysitter is out of town.

To learn more about them and the other benefits of joining Baltimore’s best gym during Emotional Wellness Month, please contact us today. And when you do call or e-mail us, be sure to ask about our free e-book offer. It will help provide you with the secrets to achieving excellent health.

All of us here at Baltimore's best gym and fitness club want to remind everyone that it’s Emotional Wellness Month. And as many family doctors have pointed out over the years, the condition of our bodies has the potential to impact our emotions. So this is the perfect week to sign up for a gym and fitness club membership.

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends physical exercise, healthy eating, forming social bonds and developing relaxation routines as some of the best ways to achieve emotional wellness. And you’ll find opportunities to do all four at our Merritt Athletic Clubs locations. Just look at our list of health and wellness programs alone. It includes, but isn’t restricted to the following:

• Lunchtime Fitness Sessions with Personal Trainers
• Health Counseling and Wellness Coaching
• Get Fit, Stay Fit Support Groups
• Nutrition and Weight Management
• Anti-Aging Workouts for Seniors
• Fit & Pregnant Classes

We’ve also got a short list of fitness club programs and amenities designed to help people toss away their stress. It includes group fitness, yoga, pilates, dance, aquatics, gymnastics and massage. Of course some folks may find sweating the stress out during a kickboxing class or elliptical workout helpful too.

Plus, there’s something for all members of the family, including the kids. They may enjoy our XRKade, camps, birthday parties and classes. Parents, on the other hand, rave about our onsite childcare services. They make it possible for moms and dads to get a workout in even when their kids’ regular babysitter is out of town.

To learn more about them and the other benefits of joining Baltimore’s best gym during Emotional Wellness Month, please contact us today. And when you do call or e-mail us, be sure to ask about our free e-book offer. It will help provide you with the secrets to achieving excellent health.

A recent study found that children as young as 8 years old are already expressing dissatisfaction with their bodies. Kids fitness programs may be one solution if you’re concerned about the implications of children having a negative body image so early in life.

A recent story in Time Magazine says that almost half the children in Australia are unhappy with their bodies according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies. The figures are even worse when you look at kids who are overweight, and their dissatisfaction appears to grow with each passing year.

Experts are concerned about the findings because they didn’t expect to see these issues in children so young. This is also one of the first signs that boys appear to be as vulnerable as girls. You may remember a survey by the Girl Scouts a few years ago that found 31% of girls refuse to eat so they can lose weight. Here, young boys were even more likely than young girls to be trying to manage their weight.

It’s also reasonable to expect that these figures aren’t limited to Australia. Think about how many adults complain when comparing themselves to models and actors in magazines. It’s even more disturbing to think what this does to a child’s self-esteem and how it might interfere with them eating a balanced diet.

On the bright side, kids fitness programs can help turn this situation around. Young people can take pride in their bodies as they develop skills and improve their performance. They see that fun games and friendly interactions are more pleasant and effective than starvation diets. Plus, with a family gym membership, you’re providing an excellent role model for your kids and giving them the attention they need.

Contact us to see why parents and kids love our junior fitness programs. You’ll all feel better about your bodies and your future.