Merritt Clubs Blog

   

Bring Your Exercise Journal to the Best Health Clubs in Baltimore

Posted by Juan De Cruz

Apr 22, 2015


 

If you keep meaning to work out but you're still sitting on the couch, you may want to get yourself an exercise journal to bring to the best health clubs in Baltimore. It’s a simple and surefire resource for staying on track.

Where to Get an Exercise Journal: There’s an exercise journal for every kind of gym member. Maybe you want to enter your data into the latest and most sophisticated mobile app. Maybe you’re happy writing on the back side of any scrap paper that’s lying around. Whatever works for you is the right system.

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Topics: Merritt Athletics, biggest loser club, Personal Training, Fitness Tips, Fitness for a Cause, Member Success Stories, group fitness

Bring Your Exercise Journal to the Best Health Clubs in Baltimore

Posted by Juan De Cruz

Apr 22, 2015

 

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Topics: Merritt Athletics, biggest loser club, Personal Training, Fitness Tips, Fitness for a Cause, Member Success Stories, group fitness

Four Reasons To Work Out At A Gym

Posted by Juan De Cruz

Apr 6, 2015

Many people prefer to work out at their home. They don't want to embarrass themselves because they are out of shape. They don't want to sweat (quickly) in front of others. They might be intimidated by the many machines and fancy classes that a gym offers.

However, there are many good reasons to get off of your butt and join a fitness gym today.

  • Try something new. Sometimes you need to try something new to find out that you really love something. You may find a fun new way to fit exercise into your schedule. It might be so much fun that it won't feel like work (as much).
  • Motivation. You will find motivation at a gym. Whether you find workout buddies to monitor and share your progress or bodies that you admire, you should find plenty of motivation at a gym. Maybe you might find a few classes that you hate to miss.
  • Childcare. Many people use the excuse that they can't exercise because of their children. Many gyms offer childcare, whether or not it is included in the monthly fee or not. Then, you have no reason not to exercise.
  • Personal Trainers. Whether you are just starting an exercise routine or you have been exercising a while, you might need a personal trainer to help you reach your goals. Maybe you need help setting realistic goals and meeting them. A personal trainer might just help you get on your way.

Though you might not want to join a gym, you might find yourself loving it once you do. You will find yourself with a whole lot of different opportunities to take classes and use different machines. This will change the way that you exercise. Then, if you use a personal trainer, you may reach your goals quickly and decide to push even harder. If you have children, you may also take advantage of a gym that offers childcare so you can’t use that excuse either.

Contact us or stop by today to see all that our club offers!

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Topics: Merritt Athletics, biggest loser club, Personal Training, Fitness Tips, Merritt Club Management, Fitness for a Cause, Awareness and Support, Member Success Stories, nutrition, group fitness

Four Reasons To Work Out At A Gym

Posted by Juan De Cruz

Apr 6, 2015

Many people prefer to work out at their home. They don't want to embarrass themselves because they are out of shape. They don't want to sweat (quickly) in front of others. They might be intimidated by the many machines and fancy classes that a gym offers.

However, there are many good reasons to get off of your butt and join a fitness gym today.

  • Try something new. Sometimes you need to try something new to find out that you really love something. You may find a fun new way to fit exercise into your schedule. It might be so much fun that it won't feel like work (as much).
  • Motivation. You will find motivation at a gym. Whether you find workout buddies to monitor and share your progress or bodies that you admire, you should find plenty of motivation at a gym. Maybe you might find a few classes that you hate to miss.
  • Childcare. Many people use the excuse that they can't exercise because of their children. Many gyms offer childcare, whether or not it is included in the monthly fee or not. Then, you have no reason not to exercise.
  • Personal Trainers. Whether you are just starting an exercise routine or you have been exercising a while, you might need a personal trainer to help you reach your goals. Maybe you need help setting realistic goals and meeting them. A personal trainer might just help you get on your way.

Though you might not want to join a gym, you might find yourself loving it once you do. You will find yourself with a whole lot of different opportunities to take classes and use different machines. This will change the way that you exercise. Then, if you use a personal trainer, you may reach your goals quickly and decide to push even harder. If you have children, you may also take advantage of a gym that offers childcare so you can’t use that excuse either.

Contact us or stop by today to see all that our club offers!

Read More

Topics: Merritt Athletics, best gym in baltimore, biggest loser club, Personal Training, best gyms in maryland, best gym in owings mills, Fitness Tips, best gym in towson, Reasons To Work Out In Gyms, Merritt Club Management, Fitness for a Cause, benefit of gym membership, baltimore personal trainer, baltimore personal training, Awareness and Support, Member Success Stories, nutrition, group fitness, gym membership

Protein Donuts…If You're Wrong I Don't Wanna Be Right!

Posted by Juan De Cruz

Mar 27, 2015

 

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Topics: Merritt Athletics, biggest loser club, Healthy Recipes, Fitness Tips, nutrition

Protein Donuts…If You're Wrong I Don't Wanna Be Right!

Posted by Juan De Cruz

Mar 27, 2015

 

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Topics: Merritt Athletics, biggest loser club, Healthy Recipes, good protein, Fitness Tips, High protein foods, cooking healthy, healthy dessert, eating healthy, nutrition

Nutrition and Strength Training Goals: A Woman's Perspective

Posted by Joanna Meade

Feb 12, 2015

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Topics: Personal Training, health fitness tips, women strength training, Merritt blog, Weight Loss, women and weights, women only, weight loss and exercise, Fitness Tips, best way to lose weight, fitness, women nutrition, Personal trainer, Baltimore fitness, diet lifestyle change, nutrition

Broccoli Parmesan Fritters

Posted by Joanna Meade

Feb 12, 2015

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Topics: recipes to get more vegetables, Healthy Recipes, Personal Training, health fitness tips, Merritt blog, Weight Loss, healthy lifestyle, Fitness Tips, best way to lose weight, recipes for healthy snacks, Broccoli, Personal trainer, Baltimore fitness, diet lifestyle change, healthy weight loss, healthy diets

5 Reasons Women Need to Squat More

Posted by Joanna Meade

Jan 29, 2015

Despite the snow last week, we still had intrepid ladies turn out for the Women and Weights upper body seminar. This week we hammered squat mechanics and practiced many progressions and variations of the squat. However, we didn’t have quite enough time to cover all the reasons ladies need to squat. Yes, that’s right, we need to squat. Coincidentally, on the same day we reviewed squats, this blog post showed up in my news feed and I felt inspired to make my own list. So, without further ado, here is my list of reasons why squatting is so important:

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Topics: Personal Training, Merritt blog, Weight Loss, women and weights, women only, Fitness Tips, squat, Personal trainer, Baltimore fitness

Women and Weights Week 2: Upper Body

Posted by Joanna Meade

Jan 20, 2015

Week one of Women and Weights is in the books. Last week we discussed the core, it’s importance in injury prevention and exactly what it feels like to engage your core. Then we went over several different exercises that test one’s ability to engage and maintain their core. This week we are discussing upper body movements. This is where we start seeing some major differences in the sexes. In general, men and women respond to resistance training in similar ways. However, differences exist between the sexes in overall muscle mass, strength and hormone levels. The upper body movements are where this becomes most obvious. Upper body movements are much more difficult for women. Why is that, you ask?

Men tend to be larger, have more muscle, they are leaner and have higher levels of the sex hormone, testosterone. These sex hormone related strength differences are mostly found in the upper body. Women possess lower body strength levels similar to men relative to their body weight, but men have greater upper body strength relative to their body weight when compared to women. According to top trainer and researcher Brett Contreras, women possess 40-60% of a man’s upper body strength. That being said, when comparing strength per-pound of fat free mass (i.e. bones and muscle) the differences become less apparent. Women’s muscles are capable of producing the same amount of force as men’s muscles.

In our women and weights seminar this week we will be discussing proper form and will practice a few movements to help ladies increase their upper body strength. Here are a few women specific strength training tips to get you excited:

  • Learn how to engage your core and maintain it while exercising. Many women starting a strength training program initially posses poor levels of core stability; they utilize an array of lumbar-pelvic strategies when lifting and often end up overarching (excessive hyperextension) the spine during planks, push ups, pull ups and deadlift movements. If you lose your stable core during an exercise, stop the movement and re-engage before continuing.

  • Work your weaknesses. If you are already really flexible, focus less on stretching and more on building strength and stability. Women tend to have greater mobility in the shoulders, hips, upper back and pelvis and are more likely than men to possess hypermobility.This hypermobility results in less stability and a greater risk of injury. Women are also more likely to over-prioritize cardio. If your cardio is already sufficient, work on building some strength.

  • Utilize eccentric movements in your training. Women have good reactive or elastic strength, but poor starting strength compared to men. This means it is easier for a woman to lower herself down from the pull up bar (i.e. muscles are lengthening, eccentric movement), than it is to pull herself up (i.e. muscles are contracting, concentric movement). Use caution with eccentric training, as this can cause greater microtrauma to tissues, resulting in greater muscle soreness. Additionally, don’t short movements. Keep working throughout the entire range of motion; don’t just drop off the pull up bar, or drop the bar on a deadlift. Concentrate on lowering all the way down.

  • Do several total body workouts each week. Women have an advantage in recovery time. They tend to fatigue less and recover faster, meaning they can train the same muscles frequently throughout the week. There is no need to spend one day each week on a specific body part (i.e. chest on Monday, back on Tuesday, glutes on Wednesday, quads on Thursday, etc.) like many of the men in your life may be doing. One day each week on certain body parts might not be enough to produce the changes you desire. However, please remember, there is no such thing as spot reduction. There is no amount of tricep extensions that will get rid of ‘granny arms’ if you aren’t fueling yourself properly and engaging in other strengthening movements.

For more training tips and some hands on advice come to Women and Weights Wednesday nights at 6pm at the Downtown Athletic Club. Even better, schedule a one-on-one appointment with me, or email me to join my newsletter. Women and weights will only last until February 11th. Also, much of the information here can be found in Strong Curves: A Woman’s Guide to Building a Better Butt and Body by Brett Contreras.

Joanna Meade (view bio) is an NSCA Certified Personal Trainer and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer at the Downtown Athletic Club. She can be reached at Merritt Athletic Clubs Downtown Club at 410-332-0906.

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Topics: Personal Training, health fitness tips, women strength training, Merritt blog, Weight Loss, women, Fitness Tips, Personal trainer, Baltimore fitness