Merritt Clubs Blog

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.”

Topics: group fitness classes, exercise

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.

Topics: exercise, breast cancer

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. 

Topics: exercise, healthy lifestyle

Hello all! My name is Leslie and I am starting a blog! This blog, in fact. Until recently, my fitness experience consisted of hearing that it’s something that’s important. And, if I’m being honest, I’ve never really cared that much about being fit. I have never had a gym membership that cost me more than $10 a month, and I don’t know if I ever would have thought anything more than that would be necessary. I always thought going to the gym was horrible anyway and would cut into my sitting-in-front-of-the-TV-eating-Cheetos time.

Topics: exercise, working out

Topics: health, food tips, exercise, diet, fitness, fit tips, spiritual health

Topics: exercise, exercise diet, kids fitness, kids

Topics: Merritt Athletics, best gym in baltimore, Healthy Recipes, exercise, Merritt blog, fall healthy food, Fitness Tips, fitness, pumpkin recipes, healthly recipes, nutrition, merritt clubs, healthy eating

Topics: health, exercise, consultation, Weight Loss, diet, Fitness Tips, fitness, Awareness and Support, nutrition

Gary Desper adds back "The Healthy Years!"

“In my 20s, I was focused on starting a family, completing law school and beginning my career. I did not take anytime to care for myself. I ate what I wanted and exercise was something I dreaded. In August 2009, I weighed in at my heaviest ever at nearly 280 pounds and was very unhappy with how I felt and looked. Now in my mid 30s, I realized I was at risk of developing serious health problems that I might not be able to reverse and that could take years off my life. I became determined to take control of my health and change for the better. I knew I hadn’t put on the weight over night, so I wasn’t going to be able to take it off overnight either. I set realistic goals to improve my eating, exercise more and change my lifestyle. Early in 2010, I signed up for Merritt’s Biggest Loser and I have completed three rounds of the program so far. Through working with trainers Rob Stempel and Karen Martinez I have gained several new tools to help me with my personal fitness goals. Today I weigh 174 pounds. I’ve lost nearly 106 pounds so far. My young children have seen the changes in me and have become interested in making healthier choices. This is a life long journey and I will continue to work on being the healthiest I can be so I can fully enjoy my family and the many other good things in life.

Topics: biggest loser club, merritt’s biggest loser, workout, exercise, weight control, weight plan, goals, health clubs, member success, fitness, Lose weight diet, healthy diet, Member Success Stories, living healthy, weight loss diet

Taste The Six Pack

“Do you have abs”? This is a question that a friend of mine who is also trainer was asked by one of his clients. The quick answer, for anyone who is asked this is, YES! We all have “abs” which is the short name for the rectus abdominis, a large muscle in front of the abdomen that if weren’t there we couldn’t walk, lift things, stand upright, and our intestines and other organs would be falling out! So, yes, we all have abs. The specific question this client meant to ask is, “do you have visible abs, or the ever sought after six pack?” That is a very different story. So if we all have abs but most of us can’t see them the question is how do we get a six pack? Well the easy answer is exercise and a proper diet with a strong emphasis on proper diet. We all can’t see our abs but we can all taste them. Taste abs? What the heck do I mean right?! Well as you are reading this right now (as long as you aren’t eating anything) you are tasting what a six pack taste like. Six pack abs taste like seeing that bag of peanut M&Ms and walking past them. Six pack abs taste like not eating a piece of cake, not eating that bag of chips, not overeating, not overloading on carbs. This is a little trick that I taught myself to keep myself from eating junk food. I see something that would be delicious and I am tempted until I remember that NOT eating it is the way to the six pack.

Topics: gym health clubs, Personal Training, exercise, Weight Loss, baltimore gyms, weight loss and exercise, Baltimore Group Fitness, wellness, baltimore personal trainer, Personal trainer, fitness classes, six pack abs, weight loss programs, health club, fitness goals, group fitness