Merritt Clubs Blog

   

Karate Classes for Kids and Adults Make a Healthy Lifestyle Fun and Challenging

Posted by RaySa

Jun 12, 2013

We constantly hear studies that show that kids and adults both need to be active to have a healthy lifestyle. But for many people, that means running on a treadmill for a few weeks until it gets boring, or nagging kids to turn off the video games and go outside to play. Adults and kids should consider karate lessons as a way to start a healthy lifestyle, and obtain other benefits as well.

Health Benefits of Karate

Most karate classes start off with a warm-up that includes stretching, jumping jacks, push-ups, and other activities that will get your body moving and burning calories. Then karate itself will work all muscle groups, including your core which is essential to optimal health. Karate is also a cardio workout, and those that participate usually find increased flexibility, strength, and stamina.

Karate Teaches Self-Discipline, Self-Defense, and Confidence

Kids and adults alike struggle with confidence issues. Karate is a great boost in this area as you master different skills and work to earn new belts. It also helps participants in the area of self-discipline. Karate trains students to focus and concentrate, and these skills often translate to life outside of the dojo. Lastly, karate teaches self-defense. While the classes do not encourage aggressive actions, it is a side benefit that students will be able to defend themselves if they need to in an aggressive world.

Karate Classes for Adults and Children

Karate is one of the rare fitness classes that are taught for adults and kids. This is a great activity that families can learn together and practice skills at home, carrying fitness outside of the gym into everyday life. It's a simple way for families to spend time together and get healthy in a fun, enjoyable way.

If you live in Maryland, karate classes are offered for children and adults at Merritt Athletic Clubs in Buckingham, Canton, Eldersburg, and Towson. For information on additional ways to have a healthy lifestyle for the whole family, contact us. Also, check out our summer camps here!

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Topics: karate camps, Merritt Athletics, family fun, lifestyle changes, Merritt blog, karate classes, Fitness Tips, how to get healthy, how to get in shape, kids fitness, summer camps, Baltimore fitness, nutrition, best gyms

Lost Your Motivation? A Fitness Center Membership Might Help

Posted by RaySa

Jun 11, 2013

You made a resolution at the beginning of the year to get healthy and lose some weight. You decided to do it on your own, and things were going great for awhile. But now, a couple of months into it, you're losing your spark and your weight loss has reached a plateau. Treating yourself to a fitness center membership might be just the thing to get you back on course.

Variety Prevents Boredom

Maybe you invested in a machine to help you get fit. A treadmill or a elliptical machine are common choices and work well, but after using them everyday they get boring. A gym has many more choices to prevent you from getting bored. You can try different machines, and switch throughout your workout to help you stay interested and make the time fly by. Merritt Athletic Clubs have so many choices you will find yourself exercising longer because you're enjoying your workout time.

Group Classes

Many people think they'd like to exercise by themselves without any onlookers, but there are great benefits to taking a class with other people. You will find comaraderie in meeting people with similar goals, and make friends that will cheer you on. Try a class in pilates, yoga, aerobics, cycling, or give it your all in more intense classes like BodyPump, BodyCombat, or BodyAttack. Whatever your level, we will help you find a class that meets your needs.

Personal Trainers

There's a mindset out there that personal trainers are just for the elite. They are hired by the wealthy or the hard core bodybuilders. Personal trainers at Merritt Clubs are available upon request, and they can help in a variety of ways. Whatever shape you are in, they can evaluate your situation and give you direction to help you achieve your goals. With a few simple tips and encouragement, our trainers can help you get back on the right path.

Maybe you thought you're not a gym person, but your current fitness plan is starting to fizzle out. Consider all the benefits Merritt Athletic Clubs has to offer, and contact us. We love to help people achieve their fitness goals and enjoy a healthier life.

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Topics: Personal Training, Merritt blog, Fitness Tips, Baltimore Group Fitness, motivation, best gyms in baltimore, how to get healthy, how to lose weight fast, baltimore trainers, fitness solutions, group fitness

How to Follow a Healthy Lifestyle

Posted by RaySa

Feb 28, 2013

A healthy lifestyle will make you look and feel good. Eating right and exercising will give you a naturally high amount of energy to keep you active throughout the day. If you want to change your lifestyle and follow a healthy regimen, try these simple steps.

Get Enough Sleep

Your body depends on a full night’s rest to gain the strength it needs for the next day. Insufficient sleep will cause your body to feel run down and sluggish, even if you miss just an hour. Keep your sleep schedule as balanced as you possibly can to boost your energy level up.

Mental Health

Using your brain and exercising its ability is a key factor in eliminating stress. Reading a good book will allow your body to relax and keep your mind from thinking about the stressors in your life. Yoga and Pilates are excellent forms of exercise that release stress as well. Positive relationships with friends and family actually do the body good as well. Smiling and laughing reduces stress while negative relationships can cause worry and physical conditions such as headaches and stomachaches.

Good Diet

Eating nutritious meals full of fruits, vegetables, nuts, lean meats, and grains will keep you on the right track. Try to avoid sodium high and greasy foods as much as you can. These foods will also increase your physical performance and you’ll notice the difference week by week. Remember to drink plenty of water to provide nourishment to your body and flush out toxins.

Physical Exercise

You can prevent health issues by working out at least 3 days a week. Mild to moderate exercise is all you need to keep up with your healthy lifestyle. At Merritt Athletic Clubs, we have all different forms of exercise for you to participate in. You can choose from core, cardio, strength and interval training. We also have sports clubs such as running, aquatics, swim team, and basketball to keep your energy levels balanced.

If you’d love to participate in one or more of our clubs, contact us!

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Topics: Merritt Athletics, Personal Training, Merritt blog, Weight Loss, best diets, fitness and health clubs, Fitness Tips, best way to lose weight, best way to lose fat, how to get healthy, how to lose weight fast, best fitness tips, nutrition, group fitness

A Personal Invite From Trainer, Karen Martinez to A.L.I.V.E.

Posted by RaySa

Jan 29, 2013

Pictured: Trainer, Karen Martinez with A.L.I.V.E. participants.
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Topics: health fitness tips, Merritt blog, fitness program, merritt alive, reverse disease, A.L.I.V.E., how to get healthy, aggressive lifestyle intervention, new exercise, healthy diets

Make Personal Training Work for You!

Posted by RaySa

Jan 25, 2013

There are plenty of personal trainers out there willing to take your money and give you a workout. The question is - how do you know which traineris right for you?

Ask some key questions of yourself before approaching a trainer:

1. What is my goal (Weight loss? Overall toning? Better cardio health?)

2. How much time can I commit? (Most trainers will want to meet at least twice a week when beginning with a new client.)

3. Am I willing to change my diet? (Many trainers will ask to see a food log.)

4. By what date do I hope to meet my goal? (Be realistic - trainers are not magicians. If you are not sure what a realistic target is, most trainers are equipped to help with that.)

Then, with those answers in hand, ask some key questions of potential trainers:

1. What certifications do you hold? (There are many certifying bodies. Your goal here is to ensure that your trainer has attained the education necessary to ensure your safety.)

2. What is your training style? (Functional or real life training? Agility for athletes? Helping clients lose weight? You might also ask if the trainer has any prior clients you can speak to. Some carry a portfolio of before and after pictures, which are helpful if your goal is to lose weight or change your appearance.)

3. Do you carry insurance? (Trainers usually carry liability insurance. Some may be covered by their workplace.) By matching your desires to a trainer's style and abilities, you have the best shot of finding a training professional who can help you achieve your goals. Don't forget that you're in charge of the trainer/client relationship. Ask questions that ensure you are getting what you need and want from personal training.

Contact us for more information!

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Topics: Personal Training, Merritt blog, best trainers, health clubs, workout routine to lose weight, Fitness Tips, how to get healthy, fitness goals, best workout plans, best workouts, pt in baltimore, healthy diets

Eat Smarter with High Antioxidants that Help Support Your Immune System

Posted by RaySa

May 11, 2012

Start Eating Smarter

Eating the right foods can help lower your cholesterol, ward off disease and protect your heart. Go ahead power up your diet, your body with these Super Foods.

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Topics: Personal Training, health fitness tips, the superfoods, Fitness Tips, cholesterol and diet, nature made, disease and prevention, how to get healthy, how to lower cholesterol, fitness and wellness, get healthy, foods that lower, nutrition, what foods are superfoods

Reasons why you shouldn't weigh yourself every day

Posted by Maritza Rodriguez

Mar 22, 2012

There is an obsession with the number on the scale and people weigh in a lot in one day; when they wake up, before working out, after running, after a fitness class, after weight training, before they eat, after they eat, before going to bed. The most common one I see is people weigh in before and after working out and having a disappointed look. Are they expecting a big number after one workout that was probably an hour or less?

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Topics: weight loss workouts, workout routine to lose weight, Fitness Tips, loose weight fast, how to get healthy, weight loss healthy, get healthy, best fitness tips, nutrition, healthy weight loss

10 Super Healthy Foods You Should Be Eating

Posted by RaySa

Mar 14, 2012

There is a surplus of super-foods that may never see the inside of a shopping cart, if you don’t put them there. Some you've never heard of, and others you may have simply forgotten about. This list is the best of the bunch. Make a place for them on your table and you'll instantly upgrade your health.

Beets

These grungy-looking roots are naturally sweeter than any other vegetable, which means they pack tons of flavor underneath their rugged exterior.

Why they're healthy: Think of beets as red spinach. Just like Popeye's powerfood, this crimson vegetable is one of the best sources of both folate and betaine. These two nutrients work together to lower your blood levels of homocysteine, an inflammatory compound that can damage your arteries and increase your risk of heart disease. Plus, the natural pigments -- called betacyanins -- that give beets their color have been proved to be potent cancer fighters in laboratory mice.

How to eat them: Fresh and raw, not from a jar. Heating beets actually decreases their antioxidant power. For a simple single-serving salad, wash and peel one beet, and then grate it on the widest blade of a box grater. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon.

You can eat the leaves and stems, which are also packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Simply cut off the stems just below the point where the leaves start, and wash thoroughly. They're now ready to be used in a salad. Or, for a side dish, sauté the leaves, along with a minced clove of garlic and a tablespoon of olive oil, in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook until the leaves are wilted and the stems are tender. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Cabbage

Absent from most American kitchens, this cruciferous vegetable is a major player in European and Asian diets.

Why it's healthy: One cup of chopped cabbage has just 22 calories, and it's loaded with valuable nutrients. At the top of the list is sulforaphane, a chemical that increases your body's production of enzymes that disarm cell-damaging free radicals and reduce your risk of cancer. In fact, Stanford University scientists determined that sulforaphane boosts your levels of these cancer-fighting enzymes higher than any other plant chemical.

How to eat it: Put cabbage on your burgers to add a satisfying crunch. Or, for an even better sandwich topping or side salad, try an Asian-style slaw. Here's what you'll need.

4 Tbsp peanut or canola oil
Juice of two limes
1 Tbsp sriracha, an Asian chili sauce you can find in the international section of your
grocery store
1 head napa cabbage, finely chopped or shredded
1/4 cup toasted peanuts
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Whisk together the oil, lime juice, and sriracha. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss with the dressing to coat. Refrigerate for 20 minutes before serving. The slaw will keep in your fridge for 2 days.

Guava

Guava is an obscure tropical fruit that's subtly acidic, with sweetness that intensifies as you eat your way to the center.

Why it's healthy: Guava has a higher concentration of lycopene -- an antioxidant that fights prostate cancer -- than any other plant food, including tomatoes and watermelon. In addition, 1 cup of the stuff provides 688 milligrams (mg) of potassium, which is 63 percent more than you'll find in a medium banana. And guava may be the ultimate high-fiber food: There's almost 9 grams (g) of fiber in every cup.

How to eat it: Down the entire fruit, from the rind to the seeds. It's all edible -- and nutritious. The rind alone has more vitamin C than you'd find in the flesh of an orange. You can score guava in the produce section of higher-end supermarkets or in Latin grocery stores.

Swiss chard

Hidden in the leafy-greens cooler of your market, you'll find this slightly bitter, salty vegetable, which is actually native to the Mediterranean.

Why it's healthy: A half cup of cooked Swiss chard provides a huge amount of both lutein and zeaxanthin, supplying 10 mg each. These plant chemicals, known as carotenoids, protect your retinas from the damage of aging, according to Harvard researchers. That's because both nutrients, which are actually pigments, appear to accumulate in your retinas, where they absorb the type of shortwave light rays that can damage your eyes. So the more lutein and zeaxanthin you eat, the better your internal eye protection will be.

How to eat it: Chard goes great with grilled steaks and chicken, and it also works well as a bed for pan-seared fish. Wash and dry a bunch of Swiss chard, and then chop the leaves and stems into 1-inch pieces. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan or wok, and add two garlic cloves that you've peeled and lightly crushed. When the oil smokes lightly, add the chard. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until the leaves wilt and the stems are tender. Remove the garlic cloves and season the chard with salt and pepper.

Cinnamon

This old-world spice usually reaches most men's stomachs only when it's mixed with sugar and stuck to a roll.

Why it's healthy: Cinnamon helps control your blood sugar, which influences your risk of heart disease. In fact, USDA researchers found that people with type-2 diabetes who consumed 1 g of cinnamon a day for 6 weeks (about 1/4 teaspoon each day) significantly reduced not only their blood sugar but also their triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol. Credit the spice's active ingredients, methylhydroxychalcone polymers, which increase your cells' ability to metabolize sugar by up to 20 times.

How to eat it: You don't need the fancy oils and extracts sold at vitamin stores; just sprinkle the stuff that's in your spice rack (or in the shaker at Starbucks) into your coffee or on your oatmeal.

Purslane

Although the FDA classifies purslane as a broad-leaved weed, it's a popular vegetable and herb in many other countries, including China, Mexico, and Greece.

Why it's healthy: Purslane has the highest amount of heart-healthy omega-3 fats of any edible plant, according to researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The scientists also report that this herb has 10 to 20 times more melatonin -- an antioxidant that may inhibit cancer growth -- than any other fruit or vegetable tested.

How to eat it: In a salad. Think of purslane as a great alternative or addition to lettuce: The leaves and stems are crisp, chewy, and succulent, and they have a mild lemony taste. Look for it at your local farmer's market, or Chinese or Mexican market. It's also available at some Whole Foods stores, as an individual leafy green or in premade salad mixes.

Pomegranate juice

A popular drink for decades in the Middle East, pomegranate juice has become widely available only recently in the United States.

Why it's healthy: Israeli scientists discovered that men who downed just 2 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for a year decreased their systolic (top number) blood pressure by 21 percent and significantly improved blood flow to their hearts. What's more, 4 ounces provides 50 percent of your daily vitamin C needs.

How to drink it: Try 100 percent pomegranate juice from Pom Wonderful. It contains no added sugars, and because it's so powerful, a small glassful is all you need. (For a list of retailers, go to www.pomwonderful.com.)

Goji berries

These raisin-size fruits are chewy and taste like a cross between a cranberry and a cherry. More important, these potent berries have been used as a medicinal food in Tibet for over 1,700 years.

Why they're healthy: Goji berries have one of the highest ORAC ratings -- a method of gauging antioxidant power -- of any fruit, according to Tufts University researchers. And although modern scientists began to study this ancient berry only recently, they've found that the sugars that make goji berries sweet reduce insulin resistance -- a risk factor of diabetes -- in rats.

How to eat them: Mix dried or fresh goji berries with a cup of plain yogurt, sprinkle them on your oatmeal or cold cereal, or enjoy a handful by themselves. You can find them at specialty supermarkets or at gojiberries.us.

Dried plums

You may know these better by the moniker "prunes," which are indelibly linked with nursing homes and bathroom habits. And that explains why, in an effort to revive this delicious fruit's image, producers now market them under another name.

Why they're healthy: Prunes contain high amounts of neochlorogenic and chlorogenic acids, antioxidants that are particularly effective at combating the "superoxide anion radical." This nasty free radical causes structural damage to your cells, and such damage is thought to be one of the primary causes of cancer.

How to eat them: As an appetizer. Wrap a paper-thin slice of prosciutto around each dried plum and secure with a toothpick. Bake in a 400°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the plums are soft and the prosciutto is crispy. Most of the fat will cook off, and you'll be left with a decadent-tasting treat that's sweet, savory, and healthy.

Pumpkin seeds

These jack-o'-lantern waste products are the most nutritious part of the pumpkin.

Why they're healthy: Downing pumpkin seeds is the easiest way to consume more magnesium. That's important because French researchers recently determined that men with the highest levels of magnesium in their blood have a 40 percent lower risk of early death than those with the lowest levels. And on average, men consume 353 mg of the mineral daily, well under the 420 mg minimum recommended by the USDA.

How to eat them: Whole, shells and all. (The shells provide extra fiber.) Roasted pumpkin seeds contain 150 mg of magnesium per ounce; add them to your regular diet and you'll easily hit your daily target of 420 mg. Look for them in the snack or health-food section of your grocery store, next to the peanuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.

Antioxidants explained...

The science is clear: Plant foods are good for you. And the credit often goes to chemicals they produce called antioxidants. Just as the name suggests, antioxidants help protect your cells against oxidation. Think of oxidation as rust. This rust is caused by free radicals, which are unstable oxygen atoms that attack your cells, inducing DNA damage that leads to cancer. Thankfully, antioxidants help stabilize free radicals, which keeps the rogue atoms from harming your cells.

So by eating more antioxidant-rich foods, you'll boost the amount of the disease-fighting chemicals floating in your bloodstream. The result: Every bite fortifies your body with all-natural preventive medicine.

By: Paula Chaney, Personal Trainer at Towson

Have a Question? Ask a certified personal trainer or lifestyle and weight management consultant, click here

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Topics: health fitness tips, 10 super foods, super foods, Fitness Tips, recipes for healthy snacks, how to get healthy, healthy foods diet, nutrition, heath tips, powerful antioxidants

Lifestyle Change with Personal Trainer Eric “Scott” Landers

Posted by Eric "Scott" Landers

Aug 3, 2011

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Topics: Personal Training, weight loss and exercise, programs for weight loss, lifestyle diet change, how to get healthy, weight loss healthy, weight loss for women, weight loss programs, get healthy, diet lifestyle change, diets and dieting

Zumba Challenge

Posted by RaySa

Aug 2, 2011

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Topics: Weight challenge, weight loss and exercise, dance workout, programs for weight loss, Fitness workout, lifestyle diet change, how to get healthy, dance exercise, weight loss programs, diet lifestyle change, dance fitness, group fitness